Roman Forgeries

Speaking lies in Hypocrisie, having their Conscience seared with an hot iron.

Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the Faith.

But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.

TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE Sr ORLANDO BRIDGEMAN KNIGHT and BARONET One of HIS MAJESTIES Most Honourable Privy Council;

The AUTHOR Devoteth his best Services AND DEDICATETH The VSE and BENEFIT of his Ensuing Labors.

A Premonition.

THe Bishops of Rome, in the persons of Zozimus, Boniface, and Celestine, Successively opposed the Sixth Council of Carthage, consisting of 217 Fathers (among whom the great S. Augustine is acknowledged to be one:) in the matter of [viz 〈◊〉 all the world to the Roman Chair.] Appeals: which was the first step made by that irregular Chair, to the Exorbitant Supremacy which they afterward claimed. In vindicating that Claim before the Council, they produced two counterfeit Canons, fathered upon the Oecumenical Synod at Nice; which were by the Records of Carthage, Alexandria and Constantinople, in the presence of all those Fathers, in the sixth Council of Carthage, detected to be forgeries, as well as by the Tenor of the undoubted Canons of the Nicene Council it self, which are contrary to those by the Roman Church pretended; and so they were esteemed by the Fathers in that sixth Council, who were startled at the sight of those New unheard of Monsters, at their first Publication, above 1200 years ago.

Vpon this Passage, I redoubled in the Book an observation (to make it more remarkable,) which you will find cap. 2. pag. 9. to this purpose, That in the first General Council of Nice it was ordered, that the chief in every Province should confirm the Acts of his inferior Bishops; And if any Trouble did arise which could not be decided by the Metropolitan, Provision was made Can. 5. (in words so clear and forcible, that none more plain can be put into their places) that the last Appeal should be made to Councils, and that the Person condemned in any Province should not be received, if he fled to others. That Parenthesis (In words so clear and forcible, that none more plain can be put in their places) relates to the CANON it self: which here follows that you may see how forcible it is, and how much plainer then the very Words into which I had contracted it. It is worthy your Consideration, as on of the most Important Records in Antiquity, consented to by all the Popish Compilers of the Councils themselves.

Can. 5. Concerning those that [This is the Canon opposed by the Forgeries.] are Excommunicated, whether in the order of the Clergy or the Laitie, by the Bishops in every several province, let the Sentence prevail according to the Canon, that they who are cast out by some, be not received by others; But let it be required that no man be excluded the Congregation, by the Pusillanimitie, or contention, or any such vice of the Bishop. That this therefore might more decently be inquired into, we think it fit, that Councils should every year throughout every Province twice be celebrated, that such Questions may be discussed by the Common Authority of all the Bishops assembled together. And so they that have evidently offended against their Bishop, shall be accounted Excommunicated according to reason, by all; till it pleaseth the Community of Bishops to pronounce a milder Sentence on such But let the Councils be held, the one before the Quaaragesima before Easter, that all dissention being taken away, we might offer a most pure Gift unto God: and the second about the middle of Autumn.

Had the Canon said, The last Appeal shall be made to Councils, they that are accustomed to such shifts without blushing, might easily have evaded the Words, by affirming the Bishop of Rome to be particularly excepted, without any need of expressing the exception; because by the general and Tacit Consent of all, he is above the Limits of such Laws, and above the Authority of that, and all other Councils. Thus they might still render the matter doubtful by their Subterfuges and Pretences; as indeed they do, in evading one expression of the Canon it self. For whereas the Fathers say, Let the Sentence prevail according to the Canon, that they, who are cast out by some, be not received by others: Those Popish Hirelings make an exception of the Bishop of Rome, where the Oecumenical Synod maketh none: and might as well except him here, though the Council had said in terms, The last Appeal shall be made to Councils. For the last Appeal to any subordinate Authority, over which the Council had any Legislative Power, was ordered, they might say to be made to Councils: But the Bishop of Rome being the Head of the Church, and having the supreme Authority over all Councils, was not thought of in this Canon: nor was fit he should be at all mentioned, because that would imply he was under their authority. The Prodigious Height of their usurped Claim being their sole Defence, and their incredible Boldness the amazement of ignorant People, which is their chief security.

But the Council adding to the former expression this clause, That Councils should every year, throughout evry Province, twice be celebrated, (for this very end) that such Questions may be discussed by the common authority of all the Bishops assembled together: it puts an end to the business: especially when they add, That they who have evidently offended their Bishop, shall be accounted excommunicated according to reason, till it pleaseth the community of Bishops to pronounce a milder Sentence. …