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

17. WHEN therefore we had heard God himself speaking to us in his word, and had seen and considered the illustrious Examples of the Ancient and Primitive Church, and that the expectation of a General Council was very uncertain, and the event that would follow it much more uncertain; and especially when we had the utmost certainty what was the Will of God, and therefore thought it a Sin to be too solicitous and anxious what the opinion of Men might be: After all this I say we could no longer deliberate with flesh and blood; but proceeded and have accordingly ⟨p. 128⟩done that which may both lawfully be done, and which hath already been often done, by many pious Men and Catholic Bishops, that is, to take care of our own Church in a Provincial Synod. For so we see the ancient Fathers ever took that course, before they came to a General and Public Council of the whole World; and there are still extant the Canons made in Municipal or Provincial Councils at Carthage under St. Cyprian, at Ancyra, Neocaesarea, and at Gangra also in Paphlagonia; all which, as some think, were held before the name of the Nicene General Council was thought of. And in this manner without any General Council by a private dispute they of old opposed the Pelagians and Donatists. So when Constantius the Emperor openly favoured Auxentius a Bishop of the Arian Party, Athanasius a most Christian Bishop did not appeal to a General Council, in which he saw nothing could be done, by reason of the Power of the Emperor, and the great partiality and stiffness of the Faction; but to his own Clergy and People, that is to a Provincial Council.

17. WHEN therefore we had heard God himself speaking to us in his word, and had seen and considered the illustrious Examples of the Ancient and Primitive Church, and that the expectation of a General Council was very uncertain, and the event that would follow it much more uncertain; and especially when we had the utmost certainty what was the Will of God, and therefore thought it a Sin to be too sollicitous and anxious what the opinion of Men might be: After all this I say we could no longer deliberate with flesh and blood; but proceeded and have accordingly ⟨p. 128⟩done that which may both lawfully be done, and which hath already been often done, by many pious Men and Catholick Bishops, that is, to take care of our own Church in a Provincial Synod. For so we see the ancient Fathers ever took that course, before they came to a General and Publick Council of the whole World; and there are still extant the Canons made in Muncipial or Provincial Councils at Carthage under St. Cyprian, at Ancyra, Neocaesarea, and at Gangra also in Paphlagonia; all which, as some think, were held before the name of the Nicene General Council was thought of. And in this manner without any General Council by a private dispute they of old opposed the Pelagians and Donatists. So when Constantius the Emperor openly favored Auxentius a Bishop of the Arrian Party, Athanasius a most Christan Bishop did not appeal to a General Council, in which he saw nothing could be done, by reason of the Power of the Emperor, and the great partiality and stiffness of the Faction; but to his own Clergy and People, that is to a Provincial Council.