OBJECTION FROM THE INDEPENDENT THEORY. 413 that Christendom stands divided under divers temporal sovereignties; for their resolutions may intrench on the interest of some princes, and hardly can they be accommodated to the civil laws and customs of every state. Whence we see that France will not admit the decrees of their Tridentine synod. Ans. 8. There was no such inconvenience in themwhile Christen- domwas in a manner confined within one empire; for then nothing could bé decreed or executed without the emperor's leave or to his prejudice. Ans. 9. Yea, as things now stand, it is impossible there should be a free council, most of the bishops being sworn vassals and clients to the pope, and by their own interests concerned to maintain his exor- bitant grandeur and domination.' Ans. 10. In the opinion of St Athanasius2 there was no reason- able cause of synods, except in case of new heresies springing up, which may be confuted by the joint consent of bishops. Ans. 11. As for particular synods, they only signify that it was useful for neighbour bishops to conspire in promoting truth, order, and peace, as we have otherwhere showed.' Councils have often been convened for bad designs, and been made engines to oppress truth and enslave Christendom. That of Antioch against Athanasius, of Ariminum for Arianism; the second Ephesine to restore Eutyches and reject Flavianus; the second of Nice to impose the worship of images ;* the synod of Ari- minum to countenance Arians. So the fourth synod of Lateran (sub Inn. III.) to settle the prodigious doctrine of transubstantiation, and the wicked doctrine of papal authority over princes; the first synod of Lyons to practise that hellish doctrine of deposing kings; the synod of Constance toestablish the maim of the eucharist, against the Calixtines of Bohemia. The Lateran (underLeo X.) was called, as the archbishop of Patras affirmed, " for the exaltation of the apostolical see;"' the synod of Trent to settle a raff of errors and superstitions. Obj.II. [XIII.] It may farther be objected,that thisdoctrine favours the conceits of the Independents concerning ecclesiastical discipline. I answer, no; for, Hist. Trid., p. 67. A free council. P. Leo I., Ep. - R Ai la vüv znaú¡.cevar xap' ausrw oúvaóor vroiay ixoumry süloy;v aiviar, &c.Athan. de Syn. p. 873. 3 Subrependi enim occasiones non pretermittit ambitio, et quoties ob intercurrentes causas generalis congregatio facta fuerit sacerdotem, difficile est ut cupiditas impro- borum non aliquid supra mensuram suam non moliatur appetere. LeoM, Ep. lxii. ad MaximumAnt., Ep. . * In all the former editions this word " images" has been unaccountably printed " babies." En. 4 Pro apostolicse sedis exaltations. Lat. Syn., sess. x p. 120.
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