The safe religion, or, Three disputations for the reformed catholic religion against popery proving…The safe religion, or, Three disputations for the reformed catholike religion against popery proving…

Can we think that Augustine and the rest of the Bishops in these Councils did not understand what they did, and purposely restrain the Roman ambition?

Can we think that Augustine and the rest of the Bishops in these Councils did not understand what they did, and purposly restrain the Romane ambition?

The case also which is related in Augustine between the Catholics and the Donatists shows how far they were in those days from dreaming of the Roman decisive judgement. The great controversy was, who had the true Church the Donatists, or the Catholics? And the Donatists great Arguments were, that Caecilian had been ordained by Traditors, and therefore his party and those that communicated with them were not the Church nor to be communicated with. Mark now how the Catholics plead this cause. 1. They procure it heard by the Emperors Cognitor, Marcellinus; and not by the Pope. 2. They never once fetch their proof that the Catholic Church was theirs from their agreement with Rome, or subjection to the Pope, nor once in all their mention of the Catholic Church do give the Popish description of it, or fetch it from the Roman Bishop as the head; but over & over again they prove that their Church is the Catholic Church because it is [That which beginning at Jerusalem, is transfused over all the world.] and frequently they give this same description of it, and hence prove it out of Scripture, as is apparent in Austins writings at large. They never say, the Catholic Church is the Roman or that which submitteth to the Pope. 3. Note (which is the chief thing that here I do intend) that it was publicly proved in the conference that first Melchiades Bishop of Rome, with other Bishops were appointed to hear the business between Donatus a nigris Casis, and Caecilianus, and that they absolved ⟨p. 345⟩Caecilianus, and condemned Donatus And then that the Donatists rested not here but appealed to the Emperor, and the Emperor caused a certain number of Bishops to meet at Arles to hear over all the cause again, and these Bishops not agreeing (though they were most of them against Donatus) the Emperor Constantine was fain to determine the matter himself, who absolved Faelix and Caecilianus, and condemned the Donatists, yet giving them liberum arbitrium, as it was called then, or Liberty of conscience, as it is called now. So that the Bishop of Rome acteth but as appointed with others; and his judgement is not that highest from which there is no appeal; for the Bishops at Arles must judge of all again, and the Emperor after them. Of all this see Augustine in Brevicul. Collation cum Donat. throughout, specially pag 288. (Edit. Paris.) & lib. ad Donatist. post. Collation. cap.