Rogers on Article XXI: Of the Authority of General Councils

The propositions.

1. Generall Councells may not be gathered together, but by the commandement, and will of Princes.

2. Generall Councells may erre.

3. Generall Councells haue erred, euen in things pertaining vnto God.

4. The things ordained by generall Councells, are so farre to be embraced, and beleeued, as they are consonant to Gods holy word.

1. Proposition. Generall Councells may not be gathered together, but by the commandement, and will of Princes.

The proofe from Gods word.

GReat is the power, and authoritie of Kings, and Princes by the word of God. For as the defense of Religion is committed vnto them: so must they see that all men doe their duties. That these things the better may be performed, they are, as iust occasion is offered, not as men vnder the power of others, to Simon, but as Supreame gouernours, within their own terretories, and dominions, to command all sorts of men to meete together, and that either to the implanting of the truth where it is not; or to the suppressing of sinne, errors, idolatrie, and superstition, where, or in whomsoeuer it doth arise, or is rooted. Such Councells were holden, both in the time of the Moisaicall gouernement, by the commandement of the most godly Kings, Dauid ¹, Salomon ², Asa ³, Ezekiah ⁴, and Iosiah ⁵, and since the Gospell hath bin receiued into kingdomes, and Commonweales, by Christian Princes, kings, and Emperours, who gathered Councells both Generall, as the Nicene was by Constantine the great ⁶, the Councell of Constantinople, by Theodosius the elder ⁷, the Counsell of Ephesus, by Theodosius the younger ⁸, the councell of Calcedon, by Marcian ⁹, & Nationall, and Prouinciall, so the Counsell at Frankford, Rhemes, Taron, Arelot, and Moguntia, by the will, and commandement of Charles the great ¹⁰, at Matison, by Gunthranus ¹¹, at Paris, and Orleance, by the direction, and appointment of Childebert ¹², were kept, and holden.

And neuer yet hath there bin a councell, either Generall, or nationall, or whatsoeuer (I only except the councells held by the Apostles, and Apostolicall men in a troublesome state, and time of the Church, there beeing then no Christian Princes, & Emperours to countenance the truth) either begun or ended, to the glorie of God, but it hath bin, I say not called onely, but confirmed also by some godly Emperour, King, or Queene. This in effect is granted by all reformed Churches ¹³.

The Errors, and adversaries vnto this truth.

This assertion hath bin oppugned, and that diuersly both by the Papists, and Puritanes, For the Papists they say,

Emperours, and kings be the Pope his Summoners, but of themselues are no absolute, and powerfull commanders, and callers of Councels ¹⁴.

There ought no councel to be kept without the determinate consent of the Bishop of Rome ¹⁵.

No councell euer yet had firme, and lawful authority, which was not confirmed by the Bishop of Rome ¹⁶.

The Popes of Rome, (and not Christian Princes) haue the authoritie, and power of making lawes ecclesiasticall, and of calling Councells ¹⁷.

And the Puritanes do thinke, that priuate persons without the leaue, or priuitie of Princes, may summon assemblies about Church causes at their pleasures, and consult about the publike affaires of the Church. Of this minde was Beza ¹⁸, and be the disciplinarians both of South ¹⁹, and North Brittaine ²⁰.

Others (aduersaries to both Puritanes and Papists) are of minde, that were the Pope a good man (as he is nothing lesse) he might, and hee being wicked, other good Bishops (though subiect vnto Kings, and Emperours) may summon Counsells at their discretions. An error of Seluererus ²¹.

The Muscouites haue a fancie that since the seuenth generall Counsell that was, neither Prince, nor Pope, nor any other men els haue power to call a generall counsell ²².

2. Proposition. Generall coucells may erre.

The proofe from Gods word.

Generall Councells, consisting, first of men, who may erre, nothing more easily (for all the imaginations of mans heart are onely euill continually ²³, euen from his youth ²⁴, but God onely is true, and all men are ²⁵,) yea, and euery man is a Liar ²⁶.

Next, of men differing in yeares, riches, learning, iudgement, calling and authoritie: whereby distractions of opinions often doe arise.

Thirdly of many mē, wherof the wicked be for nūber commonly the maior part, and the better in outward countenance of the world.

Lastly of men, not al, nor alwaies either gouerned with Gods holy Spirit, and word; or gathered together in the Name of Christ: none of sounde iudgement in Religion, do doubt but they may erre.

If Paphmitius had bin absent at Nice, that Councell had erred ²⁷.

If Hierome had bine away at Calcedon, that Councell had erred ²⁸.

At any time (if some be beleeued) be the Pope of Rome not present at such meetings, either per se or per Legatum, by himselfe, or his Legate, no Councell but must erre ²⁹.

Therefore Councells may erre.

That which one Counsell doth establish, another will disanull. They will not (wee must thinke) reuoke, that which is well decreed. Therefore councells may erre ³⁰.

The adversaries vnto this truth.

Therefore erre doe the papists which say, that the holy Spirit is the director of all Councells, and

That councells cannot erre.

3. Proposition. Generall Councells haue erred, euen in things pertaining vnto God.

The proofe from Gods word.

Councells both generall, and particular haue erred, and that in matters of Faith ³¹.

For in the holy Scriptures wee finde, that it was ordained, If any man did confesse that Iesus was the Christ, hee should be excommunicate ³², which could not be but by a Councell.

A councell was gathered to suppresse Christ, and his doctrine ³³.

A councell consulted how they might take Iesus by subtilty, and kill him ³⁴.

A councell sought for false witnesse to put him to death ³⁵.

By a counsell Iesus was bound, led away, and deliuered vnto Pilate ³⁶.

A councell iudged our S. Christ to be both a deceiuer ³⁷, and a blaphemer ³⁸.

A councell corrupted the Souldiers, and willed them to tell a Lie ³⁹.

A counsell withstood Peter, and Iohn: and commanded them that in no wise they should speake, or teach in the name of Iesus ⁴⁰.

A councell both caused the Apostles to be beaten, and commanded them also that they should not preach in the name of Iesus ⁴¹.

In auncient writings of credit, wee may read, how (contrarie to Gods word), by Councells, Arrianisme hath bin confirmed; as by the Councell at Ariminum ⁴².

By councells the traditions, and bookes of foolish men, haue bin made of equall authoririe with the word of God; as by the counsell of Trent ⁴³.

By councells hath bin established both the adoration of images, as by the second councell of Nice; and the Inuocation of creatures, as by the Tridentine councell. ⁴⁴

By councells the authority of princes hath bin empaired, & the Pope, and Clergie, advanced aboue all earthly Princes; as by the Councell of Lateran ⁴⁵.

The consideration of the premises, and the like, mooued S. Hilarie to call the Synode of Mediolane, The Synagogue of the malignant ⁴⁶, and

S, Augustine to write vnto Maximinus: Neither ought I to obiect against thee the Synode of Nice; nor thou against mee the Synod of Ariminum ⁴⁷, and

Nazianzene openly to pronounce, that Hee neuer sawe any good end of a Councell ⁴⁸, and

The French king his Embassadour to say vnto the chapter of Trent, that scarsely any good at all, or very little, came by Councells vnto the state of Christendome ⁴⁹, and

Cornelius Bishop of Bitonto, to breake out into these words in the face of the Councell at Trent; I would that with one consent wee had not altogether declined from religion vnto superstition; from faith vnto infidelitie; from Christ vnto Antichrist; from God vnto Epicures ⁵⁰.

Aduersaries vnto this truth.

This notwithstanding the Papists doe continue in an opinion that councells cannot erre ⁵¹.

4. Proposition. The things ordained hy generall Councells, are so farre to be embraced, and beleeued, as they are consonant to Gods holy word.

The proofe from Gods word.

Generall councells we simply condemne not: yet doe wee not ground our faith vpon any councell, but onely vpon the written word of God.

Therefore in generall Councells whatsoeuer is agreeable vnto the written word of God, we doe reuerendly embrace; but whatsoeuer is contrarie vnto, or besides the will of God, reuealed in the holy scriptures, wee doe carefully auoid.

And so are wee commaunded to doe euen by God himselfe.

Whatsoeuer I command you, take heed you doe it: thou shalt put nothing thereto; nor take ought therefrom ⁵².

Walke ye not in the, ordinances of your fathers; neither obserue their manners &c. I am the Lord your God: walke in my statutes, and keepe my iudgements, and doe them ⁵³.

Though that wee or an Angell from heauen preach vnto you otherwise, then that which wee haue preached vnto you, let him be accursed. As wee said before, so say I now againe, If any man preach vnto you otherwise, then that yee haue receiued, let him be accursed ⁵⁴.

And so thinke the Churches reformed with vs ⁵⁵.

The adversaries vnto this truth.

Contrarie hereunto are the opinions of the Papists. For of them

Some doe thinke, that the decrees of Councells doe binde all nations; as Pope Hormisda decreed they should.

Some, as Pope Gregory the great, supposed that some coū sells, and namely the councell of Nice, of Constanstinople, Ephesus, and Chalcedon ⁵⁶, some, as Campian ⁵⁷, thought that all councells were of equall authoritie with the word of God.

Others, as the Guisiā faction in Frāce, be resolued in matters of religion to follow the footesteps of their ancestors, though (Gods word, and) a thousand councells decree to the contrary⁵⁸.

Footnotes

1. 1. Chr. 13.i, 2.
   ↩
2. 1. king. 8.1.
   ↩
3. 2. Chr. 15.9.
   ↩
4. 2. Chr. 29.4.
   ↩
5. 1. Chr. 24.29.
   ↩

6. Ruffin. l. 10. c. 1. Euseb. de vita Const. l. 3. c. 6. ↩

7. Theod. l. 5. c. 9 ↩

8. Euagr. l. 1. c. 2. ↩

9. Leo epist 43.53 ↩

10. Aventin. Carranza, summa Concil. Carion. lib. 3. ↩

11. Turon. l. 8. c. i0 ↩

12. Magdeburg. eccles. hist. Cen. 6. [?]ap. 9. ↩

13. Confess. Helv. 1. ar. 26. & 2. c. 30. Bohem. c. 16. Belg. ar. 36. Saxon. ar. 23. VVittemb. c. 35. Suc[?]icain perorat. ↩

14. Harding. confut. par. 5. cap. 6. § 3. ↩

15. Harding. ↩

16. Duraeus cont. VVhitak. l. 2. Cardil. in d[?]fe. Concil. Triden. disp. 1. ↩

17. Test. Rhem. an. Matth. 16. ↩

18. Perpla[?]et autem mihi quod de conuentu absque vlla principum, aut civitatum authoritate priua [?]im instituendo, sc[?]ibis, Beza epist. 68. pag. 292. ↩

19. VVitnesse their Classicall assemblies, at Commencements, Faires, &c. See Discipline groundes. ↩

20. The approbation, or disallovvance of a general Assembly, hath beene, and should be a matter, and cause spirituall, and alvvaies cognosced, and iudged by the Church, as Iudges competent vvithin this realme; say certaine Scottish Ministers in their letters vnto the Lords of the Kings priuie Councell in Scotland, vvhich letter is printed in the said Lords declaration &c. published an. 1606. and printed by Rob. Barker. ↩

21. Analyct. pag. 35. ↩

22. Surius comment. an. 1501. pag. 30. ↩

23. Gen 6.5. ↩

24. Gen. 8.21. ↩

25. Psal. 116.11. ↩

26. Rom. 3.4. ↩

27. Sozom. lib. 1. c. 33. ↩

28. B. Ievvel del. fol. 58. ↩

29. Roffen. contra Luther. ↩

30. Test. Rhem. an. Joh. 16.13. ↩

31. Confess. VVittemb. cap. 33. ↩

32. Ioh. 9.22. and 12.42. ↩

33. Ioh. 12.47. ↩

34. Matt. 26.3, 4. ↩

35. Mar 14.53.55. ↩

36. Mar. 15.1. ↩

37. Matth. 27.63. ↩

38. Luke 21.71. ↩

39. Matt. 28.12, 13 ↩

40. Act. 4.5, 6, 18. ↩

41. Act. 5.40. ↩

42. D. Hieron. in vita Damasi Papae. ↩

43. S[?]s. 4. de[?]r. 1. ↩

44. Brev. Rom. ex decr. S.S. Concil. [?]rid. r[?]stitut. & edit. a [?]io 5. ↩

45. Concil. Later. cap. 5. apud Innocent. ↩

46. Hilar. epist. ad Const. Imper. ↩

47. D. Aug. contra Max. lib. 3. ↩

48. Naz. ad Pr[?] c[?]p. epist. 42. ↩

49. Orat. Synod. Legat. regis Fan. an. 1562. ↩

50. B. Ievvels def. par. 1. fol. 39. ↩

51. Test. Rhem. an. Ioh. 16.13. ↩

52. Deut. 12 32. ↩

53. Ezek. 20.18, 19 ↩

54. Gal. 1.8, 9. ↩

55. Confess. Helv. 2. c. 18. Bohem. c. 1. Gal. ar. 5. Belg. ar. 7. VVittem. c. 33. ↩

56. Greg. [?]. l. 1. epist. 24. & l. 2. epist. 49. ↩

57. Campian. rat. 4. ↩

58. Calvin. epist. [?]ulling. fol. 231. ↩