and their Councils abridged 3t9 their Heads : But they are careful, [Neguis pufrllanimus ex hoc fat-10 fcandalum accipiát, left weak minded perfons fhouid be fcandalized by this : And they tell us as a wonderful providence of God, That fo great was the'reverence to the.Ghurch of Rome, that even when fuch Men invaded the Popedeme unlawfully, being even- in the Churches cenfure ra- ther Apofeatical than Apoflolical; yet thole thatdid but hear whowai Pope (efpecialty the Northern Countries that were far of) obeyed them fo, that any Man may underfland by how great a providence God Governeth the univerfal Church, which when it was fa on Fire at the will of Whores, and all mifchiefs and fcandals did increafe, and it was feared it would be divided by a great fchtfine; yet God defended it from all herefy and fcbifine, all Nations perfafled in one bond of -Faith, and Covent of Obe- dience,] Indeed Gods providence is wonderful that faveth his true Church from fuch wicked ufurpers; and keepeth a Union of all inChrift Bali this is nohonour to the wicked ufurpers when now fifteen fehifines had divided them, and many more afterward; nor was it any honour or biding, to them that gave up their Kingdoms to fuch ufurpers. If thefe were no Popes, but intruding Whore-mongers; was it a blef- fing to theWorld to be deceived, and to take thofe for Popes, that indeed were none. But had not they then a Teeming Church, and indeednone, when an of ential part was Null. §. 25. CCCVIII. They fay that Anno goo, A Council at Soiffons ordered fume Reformation. §. 26. Leo called Philofophus Son to Bafilius Macedo, this while was Emperour in the Fall, who being formerly fufpefted and impri- foned by his Father, upon fome fuggeftion of Photius, andSantabacenüs was revenged on them, when he Reigned, and depofed Photius, and put him into a 1ldonaflery. This is the reft, that Ambition procureth. Thus Sin is the mifery of the Sinner. Alexander his Unckle was Gar- dian to Conflantine Prophyrus Lea's Son, the Father being Dead : Ni- cholas had before been made Patriark, and upoe offence depofed, and Euthymius put in, his place. But Alexander depofed Euthymius, and reftored Nicholas: and having (pent thirteen Months in Drunkennefs -and Luft, Bled to Death; andConflantine, feven Years old, with his'Mo -.. ther .Zoe Reigned alone : Conflantine Ducas rebelling, is fubdued t The Bulgarians Conquered by Leo Phocas General; who thereupon afpiring to the Crown, was flair]. Eight Years after, Zee is removed, and one i BILL Ye- Romanus Lecapenus. madeGuardian ; and Cofar, He advanced three of Hi1f,T. 8> ' his Sons to the like honor, to flrengthen himfelf, and made his other e.15. Son Theophilail Patriark, inftead of Stephen, though he was but fixteen Years old. He Married his Daughter to the Bulgarian King; and then began to defpife the Emperour, and prefer himfelf. God.puni- - - Ihed this, by permittinghis own Son Stephen, to depofe and banith him into an Ifland: At lafl Conflantine awaked, and depofed them all, -and '> ruled himfelf, in Drunkennefs, and Debauchery fifteen Years, and then dyed
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=