§ 47. CCXXI. An. 692. Was the famous great Council called the Quini-Sextum at Constantinople, by Justinian 2d's Order; why it should not be called a 7th General Council, I know not. It was called by the persuasion of Callinicus Constant. to make a full Body of Canons for Practice, because the 5th and 6th Councils made none. Binnius saith, It could not be a General Council,1 because the Pope was not there by himself, or his Legates, and yet confesseth that neither was he or his Legates at the first Constantine Council, and yet it was universal. And why doth not another Bishops absence (E. G. Alexand. Jerusal. &c.) null a General Council as well as the Popes? The Papists rail at this Council as a Convention of Malignants, (Bin. p. 154.) and against Balsamon, that defendeth it as a wicked Greek Impostor; (the word [wicked] in these Mens writings is a term of art and interest, and no moral term.) They recited abundance of old Canons, many of great use. One would wonder whence the anger against them ariseth. It was per summam nequitiam, saith Binnius, that they called themselves a General Council: And the Holy Ghost was not with them, because the Pope was not with them, (p. 154, 155.) and they ordained many things contrary to Apostolical Constitutions, and the Canons of General Councils. Reader, you see here, 1. How little trust Papists lay on that part of Tradition which dependeth on Councils? 2. That it is the Pope (one Man) that is the certainty of Tradition and Judgment, without whom Councils are nothing. 3. That if the Pope be absent, all the other Bishops assembled in Councils by the command of Emperors, may be called Knaves and wicked Malignants. Alas how few Bishops adhered to the Pope, (when Italy was not yet cured of Separation from him) in comparison of those that met in these Eastern Councils which they revile! 4. You see here, how far they are from truth, that say the Universal Church still cleaved to the Pope, when most (by far) of the Bishops in the world forsook him! you see Luther was not the first.
§ 47. CCXXI. An. 692. Was the famous great Council called the Quini-Sextum at Constantinople, by Iustinian 2d's Order; why it should not be called a 7th General Council, I know not. It was called by the persuasion of Callinicus Constant. to make a full Body of Canons for Practice, because the 5th and 6th Councils made none. Binnius saith, It could not be a General Council,1 because the Pope was not there by himself, or his Legates, and yet confesseth that neither was he or his Legates at the first Constantine Council, and yet it was universal. And why doth not another Bishops absence (E. G. Alexand. Ierusal. &c.) null a General Council as well as the Popes? The Papists rail at this Council as a Convention of Malignants, (Bin. p. 154.) and against Balsamon, that defendeth it as a wicked Greek Impostor; (the word [wicked] in these Mens writings is a term of art and interest, and no moral term.) They recited abundance of old Canons, many of great use. One would wonder whence the anger against them ariseth. It was per summam nequitiam, saith Binnius, that they called themselves a General Council: And the Holy Ghost was not with them, because the Pope was not with them, (p. 154, 155.) and they ordained many things contrary to Apostolical Constitutions, and the Canons of General Councils. Reader, you see here, 1. How little trust Papists lay on that part of Tradition which dependeth on Councils? 2. That it is the Pope (one Man) that is the certainty of Tradition and Iudgment, without whom Councils are nothing. 3. That if the Pope be absent, all the other Bishops assembled in Councils by the command of Emperors, may be called Knaves and wicked Malignants. Alas how few Bishops adhered to the Pope, (when Italy was not yet cured of Separation from him) in comparison of those that met in these Eastern Councils which they revile! 4. You see here, how far they are from truth, that say the Universal Church still cleaved to the Pope, when most (by far) of the Bishops in the world forsook him! you see Luther was not the first.
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