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

21. THUS we see some Councils to have been contrary to other Councils; and that as Pope Leo quashed the Acts of Adrian, Stephen of Formosus, John of Stephen; and that as Pope Sabinian commanded all the Writings of Pope Gregory to be burnt as perverse and wicked; so very often a latter Council has abrogated all the Decrees of a former. The Council of Carthage decreed, that the Bishop of Rome should not be called the highest Priest, or the Prince of the Priests, or by any other such like Title: but the latter Councils have not only called him the High Priest, but the Great Pontiff, and the Head of the Universal Church. The Eliberitan Council decreed, that it should not be lawful, that what was worshipped should be painted on the Walls of the Churches. The Council of Constantinople decreed, that Images ⟨p. 170⟩were not to be endured in the Christian Churches; on the other side, the second Council of Nice did allow them not only to be erected in Churches, but also to be worshipped. The Lateran Council under Pope Julius the II. was called for no other purpose but to rescind the Decrees of the Council of Pisa: thus the latter Bishops frequently oppose the forgoing, and some Councils dam up the Lights of others; and these men will not be bound, even by their own Councils, any farther than they please and is for their Convenience, and [Greek or Hebrew], brings Grist to their Mill. The Council of Basil decreed, that a Council of Bishops is above the Pope; but the Lateran Council under Pope Leo, decreed the Pope to be above a Council. And the Pope doth not only carry himself so as if he thought so; but also if any man is of the Opinion of this Council, he commands him to be reputed a Heretic. I pray Sir, what would you do here? whatever you say or think, either the Pope or the Council will make you a Heretic, and all the Popes for some Ages, have opposed these Truths of the Council of Basil; and therefore in the esteem of the Council of Basil, all the Popes, for all these last Ages, are Heretics. The same Council with one Voice, deposed Pope Eugenius for Simony and Schism, and named Amideus for his Successor. But yet Eugenius did not regard the Decree of the Council, and although he was a Simonist and a Schismatic, yet he did not cease to be the Successor of St.

21. THUS we see some Councils to have been contrary to other Councils; and that as Pope Leo quash'd the Acts of Adrian, Stephen of Formosus, John of Stephen; and that as Pope Sabinian commanded all the Writings of Pope Gregory to be burnt as perverse and wicked; so very often a latter Council has abrogated all the Decrees of a former. The Council of Carthage decreed, that the Bishop of Rome should not be call'd the highest Priest, or the Prince of the Priests, or by any other such like Title: but the latter Councils have not only call'd him the High Priest, but the Great Pontiff, and the Head of the Universal Church. The Eliberitan Council decreed, that it should not be lawful, that what was worshipped should be painted on the Walls of the Churches. The Council of Constantinople decreed, that Images