§. 84. CCXXXIV. We come now to a great Council at Frankford, called by Charles Mag. present, and by Adrian. And as late as it is, all the Historians cannot tell us whether it was Universal, or what they did. Some say it was a General Council, because Charles summoned it as such, and 300 Bishops were there. Others say No, it was but Provincial, because none of the Bishops of the East were there,1 (a sufficient reason; and the like may be brought to prove, that there never was a General Council in the World▪ so called from the whole World, but only from the whole Empire.) That they dealt with the Case of Elipandus Bishop of Toletum, and Faelix Urgel. is agreed on, but what they did about Images is not agreed on. Ado; Rhegino, Aimonius Urspurg. and many Historians say, They condemned the Nicene Council that was for Images. Even Baronius is of the same mind, thinking the Liber Carolinus deceived them. He proveth this to be the common judgment ⟨p. 237⟩of Historians, and ancient Writers. Bellarmine *(his Brother) is of the same judgment. And is not their Concession more than twenty later Mens denial? Yea Genebrard concurreth; yet Binnius leaveth his Master Baronius, and giveth his Reasons against them. And he doth well prove, that it could not be by ignorance and surprise, that the Frankford Council should condemn the Nicene; and he is loth to think that they were wilful Heretics, especially when they profess to follow Tradition: But he knew that the 7th Constantin. Council against Images, profest to follow Tradition. And if French Men will make us Heretics for speaking English, it is no wonder if we make them Heretics for speaking French. If Men will Hereticate others for Images, or Ceremonies, or Words, others will measure the like to them. This kind of Hereticating is circular, and hath no end.
§. 84. CCXXXIV. We come now to a great Council at Frankford, called by Charles Mag. present, and by Adrian. And as late as it is, all the Historians cannot tell us whether it was Universal, or what they did. Some say it was a General Council, because Charles summon'd it as such, and 300 Bishops were there. Others say No, it was but Provincial, because none of the Bishops of the East were there,1 (a sufficient reason; and the like may be brought to prove, that there never was a General Council in the World▪ so called from the whole World, but only from the whole Empire.) That they dealt with the Case of Elipandus Bishop of Toletum, and Faelix Urgel. is agreed on, but what they did about Images is not agreed on. Ado; Rhegino, Aimonius Urspurg. and many Historians say, They condemned the Nicene Council that was for Images. Even Baronius is of the same mind, thinking the Liber Carolinus deceived them. He proveth this to be the common judgment ⟨p. 237⟩of Historians, and ancient Writers. Bellarmine *(his Brother) is of the same judgment. And is not their Concession more than twenty later Mens denial? Yea Genebrard concurreth; yet Binnius leaveth his Master Baronius, and giveth his Reasons against them. And he doth well prove, that it could not be by ignorance and surprize, that the Frankford Council should condemn the Nicene; and he is loth to think that they were wilful Hereticks, especially when they profess to follow Tradition: But he knew that the 7th Constantin. Council against Images, profest to follow Tradition. And if French Men will make us Hereticks for speaking English, it is no wonder if we make them Hereticks for speaking French. If Men will Hereticate others for Images, or Ceremonies, or Words, others will measure the like to them. This kind of Hereticating is circular, and hath no end.
- 1It was such a Western General Council as that at Trent was for extent
- *Lib. 2. de Imagin. cap. 14. Even Dion. Petavius after all saith, In which Synod of Frankford, the 7th General Council was rejected by the Bishops that were ignorant •f its Decrees, An. 794. Hist. l. 8. c. 7.
