278 FIFTH PAPAL ASSUMPTIONSOVEREIGN AUTHORITY. thing be reasonably ordered, it may by his help, the divine grace assisting, be perfected."' We may observe, that popes allowed the validity of imperial laws. Pope Gregory I. alleges divers laws of divers emperors concerning ecclesiastical affairs, as authentic and obligatory rules of practice.' 16. Divers churches had particular rights of independency upon all power without themselves. Such as the church of Cyprus in the Ephesine synod claimed and obtained the confirmation of. Suchwas the ancient church of Britain before Austin came into England. "The Welsh bishops are consecrated by the bishop of St David's, and he himself in like manner is ordained by others, who are, as it were, his suffragans, professing no manner of subjection to any other church."' V. Sovereign power immediately by itself, when it pleases, exer- cises all parts of jurisdiction, setting itself in the tribunal; or mediately executes it by others, as its officers or commissioners. Wherefore, now the pope claims and exercises universal jurisdic- tion over all the clergy; requiring of them engagements of strict submission and obedience to him ;4 demanding that all causes of weight be referred to him; citing them to his bar, examining and deciding their causes; condemning, suspending, deposing, censuring them, or acquitting, absolving, restoring them, as he sees cause, or finds in his heart;' he encourages people to accuse their pastors to him, in case any infringes his laws and orders. But, in general, that originally or anciently the pope had no such right appropriated to him may appear by arguments, by cross in- stances, by the insufficiency of all pleas and examples alleged in favour of this claim; for, - 1. Originally there was not at all among Christians any jurisdic- tion like to that which is exercised in civil governments, and which now the papal court executes; for this our Saviour prohibited, and St Peter forbade the presbyters xarcenupfeúery rwv xXílpeuv, 1 Pet. v. 3. Meedomino imperatori præsentanda decrevimus, poscentes ejus clementiam ut siquid hic minus est, ejus prudentia suppleatur, si quid secus quern se ratio habet, ejus judicio emendetur; si quid rationabiliter taxatum est, ejus adjutorio divina opitulante dementia perficiatur.Conc. Arel. IV. cap. 26, ann. 813, sub Carob M 2 P. Greg. I., Ep. xi. 56. 8 Episcopi Wallies a Menevensi antistite sunt consecrati, et ipse similiter ab aliis tanquam suffrageneis est constitutus, nulla penitus alii ecalesics facts professione vel subjectione. Girald. Cambr. Itin. ii. 1. 4 Bell. ii. 18, 26. 5 Per hoc illam de tota ecclesiajudicare. P. Gelas. L, Ep. iv. Cunctos ipse judica- tures a nemine est judicandus.Dist. xl. cap. 6. Caus. 2, qu. 7, cap. 45, &c. Sacra statuteet veneranda decreta episcoporum causas, utpote majora negotia nostrm defi- niendas censures mandarunt. P. Nis. L, Ep. xxxviii.
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