260 CANONS OF COUNCILS PASSED WITHOUT HIS CONSENT. But this pretence, as it has no round in the divinelaw, or in anyold canon, or inprimitive custom, so itcrosses the sentiments and practice of antiquity; for that [because], in ancient synods, divers things were ordained without the pope's consent, divers things against his pleasure. God has promised to bless particular synods, Matt. xviii. 19, 20. What particular or formal confirmation did St Peter yield to the assembly at Jerusalem? That in some of the first general synods he [the pope] was not apprehended to have any negative voice, is by the very tenor and air of things, or by the little regard expressed toward him, sufficiently clear. There is not in the synodical epistles of Nice or of Sardica any mention of his confirmation. Interpretatively, all those decrees which thwart these pretences may be supposed to pass [have passed] without his consent; for if these are now good, then of old they were known and admitted for such, and being such, we cannot suppose the pope willingly to have consented, in derogation, to them. Wherefore, the Nicene canons, establishing ecclesiastical adminis- trations without regard to him, and in authority equalling other metropolitans with him, may be supposed to pass [have passed] without his consent. The canons of the second general council, and of all others con- firming these, as also the canons of all synods which advanced the see of Constantinople, his rival for authority, above its former state, first to a proximity in order, then to an equality of privileges, with the see of Rome, may, as plainly contrary to his interest and spirit, be supposed to pass [have passed] without his consent ;1 and so divers popes have affirmed. If we may believe Pope Leo (as I suppose), the canons of the second council were not transmitted to Rome; they therefore passed, and obtained in practice of the catholic church, without its consent or knowledge. Pope Gregory I. says that "the Roman church did not admit them; "' wherein it plainly discorded with the catholic church, which with all reverence did receive and hold them. And in despite to thecanon of that synod advancing the royal city, [Constantinople], to that eminency, Pope Gelasius I. would not admit it for so much as a metropolitansee.' O proud in- toritate confirmat, et continuata moderatione custodit pro suo scilicet principatu, &c. P. Gelas. I., Ep. xiii. ad Episc. Dard. Vide p. 647, Tract. de Anath. Persuasion taw in nullo penitus suffragatur, quorundamepiscoporum ante 60, ut jactas, annos, nunquamque a presdecessoribus tuis ad apostolicse sedis transmisse noti- tiam. Leo, Ep. liii., ad Anat.; Conc. Constant., can. iii.; Concil. Chale., can. ix., xvii., xxviii.; Syn. Trull., can. xxxvi. 2 Romana autem ecclesia eosdem canones vel gesta synodi illius hactenus non habet, nec accipit ; in hoc autemeandem synodum accepit quodest per eam contra Macedonium definitum. P. Greg. M., Ep. vi. 31. The same Pope Leo I. affirms, Ep. liii. s ejus civitatis qua) non solum inter sedes numeratur, sed nee inter metropoli- tanorum jura censetur, &c. P. Gelas. I., Ep. xiii., adEpisc. Dard.
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