XVI. Of Councils. (Book 16)
HE believes that the Faith of his Church may receive new Additi∣ons every day: And that he is not only oblig'd to believe what Christ taught, and his Apostles; but also e∣very Definition or Decree, of any Gene∣ral Council assembled by the Command of the Pope. So that as often as any thing is issued out by the Authority of a∣ny of these Church-Parliaments, and order'd to be believ'd; he thinks himself under pain of Damnation, immediately bound to receive it; and having added it to his Creed, to assent to it with as Firm, Stedfast and Divine a Faith, as if it had been Commanded by Christ him∣self, and Decreed in the Consistory of Heaven. And by this means he never comes to understand his Religion, or know what he is to Believe; but by the continual Alterations, Additions, Di∣minutions, Interpretations, of these Councils he is preserv'd in a necessary Confusion, and tho he changes often, yet he fondly thinks himself always the same.
HE believes that the Faith of his Church can receive no Additi∣ons; and that he is oblig'd to believe nothing, besides that which Christ taught, and his Apostles; and if any thing contrary to this should be defin'd and commanded to be be∣liev'd, even by Ten thousand Coun∣cils, he believes it damnable in any one to receive it, and by such De∣crees, to make Additions to his Creed. However, he maintains the Necessity and Right of General Councils law∣fully Assembled; whose business it is, not to coin new Articles of Faith, or devise Fresh Tenets; but only, as of∣ten as any Point of Receiv'd Doctrine is impugned or call'd in question; to debate the matter; and examine, what has been the Belief of all Na∣tions (who are there present in their Prelates) in that Point. And this