The apology of the Church of England, and an epistle to one Seignior Scipio…

12. BUT some of his Party may reply, that the Emperor then called the Councils, because the Bishop of Rome was not then arrived ⟨p. 121⟩to that height of Greatness; and yet he did not even then sit with the Bishops, or at all interpose his Authority in their Deliberations and Consultations:¹ Yes, as Theodoret acquaints us, Constantine the Emperor did not only sit with the Bishops, but admonished them to determine the Controversy then depending, out of the Prophetic and Apostolical Writings. In this Disputation (said the Emperor) concerning Divine things there is set before us, which we ought to follow, the Doctrine of the Holy Ghost; for the Books of the Evangelists and Apostles, and the Oracles of the Prophets do sufficiently show us what we ought to think of the Will of God. ²Theodosius another Emperor not only sat amongst the Bishops, (as Socrates saith) but also was Moderator of the Dispute, and rent the Papers of the Heretics, and approved the Sentiments and Doctrine of the Catholics. And in the Council of Chalcedon the Civil Magistrate (who under the Emperor governed that Council) condemned three Bishops, Dioscorus, Juvenalis, and Thalassius by his Sentence for Heretics,³ and gave judgment that they should be deposed from that degree. In the Third, the Constantinopolitan Council, the Civil Magistrate not only sate with the Bishops, but also subscribed the Canons with them: We have read (said he) and subscribed them. In the Second Council of Orange, the Ambassadors of the Princes being Noble-men themselves, sate and not only voted concerning Matters of Religion, but also subscribed amongst the Bishops; for thus it is written in the end of that Council. Petrus Marcellinus and Felix Liberius two Noble ⟨p. 122⟩and Illustrious Praefecti Praetorio] of Gaul, and Patricians have consented and subscribed. Syragrius, Opilio, Pantagathus, Deodatus, Cariatho and Marcellus honourable Men (and Magistrates) have subscribed. But if the Praefecti Praetorio, and Patricians, or Noble-men could then subscribe the Councils, may not Emperors and Kings do it now. There were no need to prosecute so plain and apparent a point as this is, but that we have to do with a parcel of Men who use to deny the clearest things, oven those things which lye plain and open before their Eyes, out of a contentious Disposition and a desire of Victory.