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1.2. Of Pelagius the Brittish Heretick.
3.4. &c The speciall Points of his Heresies: condemn'd by severall Popes▪ Synods &c.
11. Brittany infected.
12. Of Vigilantius his Heresies.
1. HEre it will be seasonable to treat of the New blasphemous Heresy of Pe∣lagianism, which now began to infect the world. The Authour of it was Pelagius, by
birth a Brittain,* 1.2 for which cause S. Augustin stiles him Pelagius by Sirname Brito:* 1.3 and S. Prosper more expressely calls him the Brittish Serpent. And hereto consent S. Beda, Polidor Virg••ll and generally Modern Historians. But whether his originall came from the Roman Provinces in Brittany or the Scottish, some doubt may be made,* 1.4 considering S. Hierom in severall places mentioning him calls him a Scott, descended from the Scottish Nation bor∣dering on Brittany: and elsewhere, he says that he the most stupide of men, was stuffed with Scottish pulse.* 1.5 Not withstanding the Authour of S. Albanus his life in Capgrave affirms that he was Abbot of that famous Monastery of Bangor, where two thousand and one hundred Monks under the Discipline of one Abbot did get their living by the labour of their hands.
2. Certain it is that he was a Monk, for by that title he is call'd for the most part by the Bishops in the Councill of Diospolis, because he had no Ecclesiasticall degree. And S. Augustin saith,* 1.6 After many ancient Heresies, a New one is lately risen, not invented by any Bishops or Preists, no nor so much as inferiour Clarks, but by a sort of Monks, which dispute against the Grace of God.* 1.7 Isidor the Pelusiot adds that he was a vain stragling Monk, incorrigible, one who wandred from Monastery to Monastery smelling out feasts, and fawning on Magistrats for their good chear &c. observing withall that it was in his old age that he fell into this Heresy, whereas before he had liv'd, according to S. Augustins testimony, in repute for his sanctity and Christian life of no ordinary per∣fection.* 1.8
3. The speciall Points of his Heresy are thus sett down by Sigebertus: In Brittany, saith he, Pelagius endeavoured to defile the Church of Christ with his execrable doctrines: Teaching that man may be saved by his merits without Grace: That every one is directed by his own naturall Free will to the attaining of iustice: That infants are born without Originall sin, being as innocent as Adam was before his Transgression: That they are baptised, not to the end they should be free from sinn, but that they may by Adoption be ad∣mitted into the Kingdom of God: And though they were not baptised, yet they should enioy an eternall and happy life, though excluded from the Kingdom of God.
4. These Heresies began to appear in pu∣blick about the year four hundred and four or five: and being taken notice of by Pope Innocentius, Pelagius compos'd a Letter of Purgation, which was presented to his suc∣cessour Pope Zozimus. After which he went into Palestina, not daring to come to Rome to clear himself. And his Doctrines being re∣prov'd by S. Hierom in the East, and by S. Au∣gustin in the West, Pelagius appeald to the iudgment of a lawfull Synod: which was assem∣bled at Diospolis (or Lydda) in Palestina, and his accusors Heros and Lazarus, two Bishops from Gaule, by reason of the sicknes of one by the way, not being able to appear in the Synod, Pelagius gave such captious answers to the interrogations propos'd to him by the Bishops present, that he escaped a censure, and was acknowledg'd an Orthodox Catho∣lick.
5. About the same time his prime Disciple Caeletius was condemned for his Heresies in a Synod at Carthage, from which he appeald to the Roman See, yet not daring to pursue his Appeale, he fled into Asia, and there by fraud obtained the degree of a Preist. After which another Synod of Numidia at Milevis again condemned the same Errours. A Copie of both which condemnations being sent to Pope Innocentius, he approv'd them, and excommunicated both Pelagius and Celestius, yet with a condition, that upon their revo∣cation of their Errours they should be re∣stor'd to Catholick Communion.
6. Their Heresies notwithstanding spreading abroad, the African Bishops of both Councils deputed S. Augustin by common consent to confute them: And with what diligence and efficacy he perform'd this charge, his glo∣rious labours doe to this day admirably testify.
7. S. Innocentius being dead, his Successour Zosimus received an Appeale from the iudg∣ment given by another Councill of Carthage against Celestius, who came to Rome, and pre∣senting to the Pope a Discourse touching his Doctrine, which he profess'd to submitt to the See Apostolick: pretending likewise to subscribe to the Letters written by Pope Inno∣centius to the two African Councils, in which his Heresy, by which he denied Originall sin, was principally condemn'd: Hereupon Pope Zosimus favourably interpreted his Libell or Discourse, and delayd his absolution only two months, till he could receive an answer from the Africain Bishops.
8. Pelagius likewise using the same arts, endeavoured to surprise Pope Innocentius, by a Book of his Doctrin written with such am∣biguity of words, that his Hereticall senses could not be discovered but by readers of a more then ordinarily sharp sight and iudg∣ment. This Book was likewise presented to Pope Zosimus: To which was added a Symbol of his Faith directed to the Pope and compo∣sed so artificially, that it hath been printed as a Sermon of S. Augustins (the one hundred ninety first in number) by changing the be∣ginning and end of it, instead of Beatissime Pater, saying Dilectissimi Fratres. At the arrivall of which Treatises at Rome, there was great ioy, as if the Hereticks had been con∣verted. Of which Pope Zosimus informing the African Bishops, they again assembled at Carthage, and carefully pondering these things, they wrote back to Pope Zosimus, signifying to him, that it was not sufficient that Celestius should in grosse subscribe to Pope Innocentius his letters, but that he should also anathematize expressly the words im∣piously sett down in his own Libell. They
likewise detected the fraud by which Pelagius in his Libell had vayled his hereticall sense.
9. Hereupon Celestius being urged by Pope Zosimus to pronounce anathema against the Doctrins objected to him by Paulinus a Dea∣con, and which himself had manifestly inserted in his own Book, privately with∣drew himself from his tryall: thereby shew∣ing that his submission to be corrected by the See Apostolick, was false and hypocriti∣call. At the same time severall Writings of Pelagius likewise were discovered, in which his Heresies manifestly appeared.
10. Pope Zosimus therefore without any further delay, imitating his Predecessour In∣nocentius, saith S Augustin, did a second time with the like authority condemne their Doctrins and excommunicate their persons. Which Sentence of Condemnation was solemnly first of all in a Synod pro∣nounced by Sixtus a Roman Preist, afterwards Pope, whom the Pelagians had esteem'd, but injustly, a principall Patron of their Heresy. Which Heresy having been proscrib'd by so many Synods, and more then once by the Roman See, the Emperour Honorius also publi∣shed an Imperiall Sanction, by which he not only banish'd Celestius and Pelagius out of Rome, but ordained that whosoever should teach the same Doctrins, being thereof convicted in iudgment by whomsoever, should have the same punishment of Exile inflicted on them. Which Decree he com∣manded to be published through the whole Empire. These were the Acts of many years, which to avoyd interruptions are summ'd up together.
11. Notwithstanding all this care of all Sorts of Magistrats, both Ecclesiasticall and Temporall, to extirpate this execrable Heresy out of the world, yet by reason it directly favourd the corruption of Nature, human Pride and sensuality, it continued in most countreys, and particularly in Brittany it made so generall a progresse that the neigh∣bouring Churches of Gaule thought necessary to send into this Island two of their most eminent Bishops, and this two severall times, to represse it: Which how they gloriously performed, shall shorly be shew'd in due place.
* 1.912. At the same time, as Pelagius infected Brittany, so did another infamous Heretick infect Gaule likewise. That was Vigilantius, concerning whom S. Hierome thus writes, Gaule alone was a countrey that produced no monsters of Heresies in former times.* 1.10 But on a sudden there arose one Vigilantius, who may more justly be called Dormitantius, who being full of an unclean Spirit entred combat against the Spirit of Christ, and denyed that the Sepul∣chers of Martyrs ought to be venerated, condem∣ning likewise the devout Vigils celebrated before the Festivalls of Gods Saints. Which Errours of his are detested by the whole Catholick world. He also imitating Iovinian,* 1.11 at feasts decla∣med against Fasting, prefer'd riches before voluntary▪ proverty, and Mariage before Virginity.
XXIV. CHAP.
A. D. 404.
August. Epist. 106. Prosp. carm. de Ingra••.
Hieron. in Praefat. ad l. 3. coat. Pelag.
Ap. Capgrav. in Albano. I••. ••inmutheus.
August. de Gest. Pelagy cap. 35.
Isi••. Pelas. l. 3. Epist. 314.
Aug. l. 3. de peccat mer. c. 1. Sigeber••. A. D. 404.
A. D. 406.
Hiero••. Ep. ad Ripar.
A. D. 407.