Church-history of the government of bishops and their councils abbreviated including the chief part…

§ 32. CCXXXI. On this great occasion Pope Stephen (being far unable now to call General Councils) sends to the King of France, to entreat him to send some wise Bishops to a Council at Rome, who sent him about a dozen, who, with some others, agreed against Constantine's Election, and such other for the time to come; and damned a Synod that Constantine had held; and also passed their judgment for Images.

§ 33. But here was a great difficulty, (such as often after happened) Whether Constantine's Papal Acts were valid; and the Council decreed that they should all be void except his Baptizings, and his Consecrations: And so those Priests that he Consecrated, when they were after duly chosen, officiated without a new Consecration.¹ Either he was a real Pope, or no Pope. If a Pope, then by the Canons Stephen was no Pope, and so the Succession there failed. If no Pope, then, 1. How come his Consecrations to be valid? 2. Are not Presbyter's Ordinations better than a Lay-mans? 3. Then the Universal Church had no Head, and so was no Church (with them) while Constantine was Pope.

§ 33. But here was a great difficulty, (such as often after happened) Whether Constantine's Papal Acts were valid; and the Council decreed that they should all be void except his Baptizings, and his Consecrations: And so those Priests that he Consecrated, when they were after duely chosen, officiated without a new Consecration.¹ Either he was a real Pope, or no Pope. If a Pope, then by the Canons Stephen was no Pope, and so the Succession there failed. If no Pope, then, 1. How come his Consecrations to be valid? 2. Are not Presbyter's Ordinations better than a Lay-mans? 3. Then the Universal Church had no Head, and so was no Church (with them) while Constantine was Pope.

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