A new history of ecclesiastical writers containing an account of the authors of the several books of the Old and New Testament, of the lives and writings of the primitive fathers, an abridgement and catalogue of their works ... also a compendious history of the councils, with chronological tables of the whole / written in French by Lewis Ellies du Pin.

ZOSIMUS.

POpe Innocent I. dying the 12th. of March, 417. Zosimus was promoted into his Place upon the 18th. of the same Month. Though he sat but One Year, Nine Months, and some * 1.1 Days in the Roman See, yet he very much exerted his Authority in the Disputes which he had with the Bishops both of Africa and Gaul. This appears by his Letters, which we are now to discourse of according to the Order wherein they ought to be placed. To understand those which concern Africa, we are to know, That Coelestius, Pelagius's Disciple, having been con∣demned in the Council of Carthage, assembled in 412. thought it convenient to appeal to the Pope, contrary to the Order and Custom of that Time. The Africans did not much trouble themselves about that Appeal; neither did he much value it himself; for without taking it out, he went to Ephesus, where he found means to be Ordained Priest. Some Years after he came to Constantinople; from whence he was Expelled by Atticus, who discovered his Error, and writ against him to Thessalonica, to Carthage, and into Asia. That happened at the same time that Zosimus was raise to the Popedom. Coelestius being informed of it, came imme∣diately to Rome, to prepossess this new Pope, and to ingratiate himself with him, by making him a Judge in his Cause. And indeed, Zosimus finding this a fit Opportunity to promote his Design of Encreasing his Authority, and drawing to himself the Appeals of Causes judged in other places, he failed not to hearken to Coelestius, and to admit him to justifie himself. He left all other Businesses, to stick particularly to this. He made Coelestius appear in St. Cle∣ment's Church; examined the Heads of the Accusation that was formed against him. He caused him to make a Confession of Faith, whereby he disowned the Errors which Heros and Lazarus had laid to his Charge. He enquired after the Qualifications of those Accusers; whom he found (as he saith) to have been wrongfully Ordained, Expelled out of their Bishop-ricks, and separated from the Communion of the rest. Zosimus, though much prepossess'd in

Coelestius's behalf, yet durst not give Judgment in his Case without writing to the African Bi∣shops; but he did it after such manner as sufficiently discovered how much he favoured him: For after he had writ all this that we have said, he declares, That if Coelestius's Accusers came not to Rome within Two Months, to Convict him of maintaining other Opinions than those which he then professed, he should take it for granted that he was Innocent. At the latter end, he declares all these Questions to be only vain Subtilties, and unprofitable Contests, which rather destroy than edifie; and are Effects of an imprudent Curiosity, and of too great an itch of Speaking and Writing. This Letter was written about July, in the Year 417.

After the writing of this Letter, Zosimus received one from Prailus, Bishop of Jerusalem, in Coelestius's behalf, with Pelagius's Confession of Faith. This News, the Absence of the Accusers, and the Silence of the Africans, who returned no Answer to his Letter, confirmed him in the Judgment which he had made of Coelestius's Doctrine. He deals with their Accu∣sers, as with most unworthy Persons. He upbraids Lazarus, as one that made it his practice to accuse the Innocent; and as one that had been condemned by Proculus, Bishop of Marseilles, in a Synod at Turin, for having falsely and calumniously accused Britius, Bishop of Tours. He adds, That having been Ordained Bishop of Aix, some time after, by the Favour of Constantine the Tyrant, he retained the Shadow of the Priesthood so long as the Power of that Tyrant lasted. As for Heros, he reproacheth him for following the same Party, and for doing Violence. Afterwards, he tells the African Bishops, That they were to blame, in being so easily persuaded upon the Word of those Accusers; and makes no scruple of declaring Pelagius and Coelestius Innocent, seeing their Accusers had not appeared.

Zosimus's First Letter was carried by Basiliscus, a Subdeacon, who cited Paulinus to the Pope's Tribunal; but he did not concern himself to appear: And the African Bishops were not at all moved by Zosimus's Pretension; on the contrary, they stood by the Judgment which they had given firmly; which also had been confirmed by his Predecessor. They told him plainly, That this Cause being born in Africa, and judged there, Coelestius could not Appeal, nor he take Cognizance of it. Lastly, They made a Protestation, to prevent Zosimus pro∣nouncing Judgment by default in the behalf of Coelestius and Pelagius: Yea, they went fur∣ther, for without waiting for the Pope's Judgment, they confirmed what they had done, and condemned the Doctrine of Pelagius and Coelestius a-new. Having taken this Precaution, they writ again to Zosimus, and sent him all the Acts of what had been done in Africa against Coelestius: shewing him at the same time, That it was not enough to oblige Pelagius and Coele∣stius to approve in general what was in Pope Innocent's Letter, but that they ought to be made to acknowledge particularly all the Catholick Truths that were contrary to their Errors.

Zosimus having received these Letters, with the Advertisements of the Africans who had likewise written to Court about the business, durst not go any further, and was contented to assert his Authority, by writing to them, That though he had power to judge all Causes, and none had any right to reform his Judgments, yet he would do nothing without communi∣cating it unto them: That he was surprized, that they should write to him as if they had been persuaded that he had given credit to all that Coelestius had said to him: That he had not proceeded so fast; because too much Deliberation cannot be used, when a Supreme Judg∣ment is to be pronounced: and, That after the first Letter which he received from them, he left all in the same Condition that it was before. This Letter, of the 19th. of March, 418. is the Tenth in the usual Order of Zosimus's Letters.

It appears by this, that the Pope began to alter his Mind, concerning Coelestius, and to mistrust his Sincerity. But he was fully convinced of his Double-dealing, when the time of Judgment came: for having caused him to be cited to come and condemn the Six Articles that were laid to his Charge clearly, if he would be absolved of the Judgment that was given against him in Africa, he not only refused to appear, but fled from Rome. Zosimus, provoked to see himself deceived, wrote to all the Bishops a long Letter, wherein he condemned Coelestius's Articles, and Pelagius's Writings. This Letter is not all extant, but only some Fragments of it produced by St. Augustin and Marius Mercator. It was very long, and contained the whole History of this Affair. He gave this Judgment after April, in the Year 418.

Zosimus had likewise some Contests with the Bishops of Gaul. The Churches of Arles and Vienna had long disputed the Right of Primacy, over the Provinces of Gallia Narbonensis, and Viennensis. This Contest had been laid a-sleep for some time by a Decree of the Council at Turin, which ordained, That in Expectation of an absolute Decision of that Quarrel, both Churches should enjoy the Right of Metropolis over the Churches that were near to each of them. But Zosimus was no sooner promoted to the Popedom, but he declares for Patroclus, Bishop of Arles; and granted him by his Letter all that he could wish for: For he gave him, in the first place, the Right of giving Formed Letters to all the Ecclesiasticks of Gaul that would come to Rome; forbidding absolutely that any should go out of Gaul without that sort of Let∣ters from him, whereby it appeared what they were, and whence they came. This Privilege did belong to the Church of Arles; as indeed Zosimus saith, That he granted it not to Patroclus, because of his Church, but for his Deserts. Meritorum ejus Contemplatione. The second Advan∣tage which Zosimus would have Patroclus enjoy, was annex'd to the Dignity of his Church,

and concerns the Metropolitical Rights which he ordains him to have over the Province of Gallia Viennensis, and both the Narbonenses, which implies the Right of Ordaining all the Bi∣shops of those Provinces.

Lastly, Zosimus annexed to the Bishoprick of Arles, all the Parishes and Territories which formerly belong'd to it. He added, That all the Contests that should arise in the Provinces of Gallia Viennensis, and Narbonensis, were to be carried to the Bishop of Arles; except the Bu∣siness was of Consequence; in which case, he affirmed it necessary, That he should examine the same himself at Rome: Nisi magnitudo causae nostrum desideret examen. He observes besides in that Letter, That Trophimus was sent to Arles by the See of Rome, and that through his means the Gauls received the Faith of Jesus Christ. This Letter was written soon after the Promotion of Pope Zosimus, the 20th. of March, of the Year 417. It is the Fifth in the common Editions.

About the latter end of that Year he writ Two more; wherein he confirms the Metropolitical Rights to the Church of Arles; rejecting even with Scorn the Canon of the Council at Turin, and condemning Proculus of Marseilles, and Simplicius of Vienna, who opposed his Design. In both those Letters he grounds the Primacy of the Church of Arles upon its being founded by Trophimus, who was sent from the See of Rome. These Letters are the Seventh and the Eighth. The former is directed to the Bishops of Gallia Viennensis; and the second, to Narbonensis; and the latter to Hilary of Narbon, who maintained, That to him belonged the Ordinations of the Bishops of the first Narbonensis. Both these Letters are dated the 27th. of Sep∣tember, 417.

He that most opposed Patroclus, was Proculus. Bishop of Marseilles, who constantly Ordained Bishops in his Province, norwithstanding the Pope's Prohibitions. Zosimus undertook him, and cited him to Rome. But he not much regarding that Citation, continued to maintain his Rights, and to Ordain, as he had done before. This brought upon him a Condemnation from Zo•…•…, who writ against him, not only to Patroclus, but also to the People of Marseilles, That they should Expell him out of his Bishoprick. His Ninth Letter, to Patroclus, is upon this Subject, September 27th. 417. And the Eleventh, to the same, written March 2d. 418. and the Twelfth, to the People of Marseilles, dated on the same day. Yet notwithstanding the Pope's Judgment and Threatnings, Proculus remained peaceable Possessor of his Bishoprick; and was always acknowledged Lawful Bishop, not only by the Gallican, but also by the African Bishops. And St. Jerom tells us, in his Letter to Rusticus, That this Proculus of Marseilles, who was used so ill by the Popes, was a most Holy and Learned Bishop.

The Grudge which Zosimus bore to Proculus, made him Condemn likewise two Bishops Ordained by him, called Ursus and Tuentius,; against whom he writ a Circular Letter to the Bishops of Africa, Gaul and Spain; it is the Seventh, dated September 20th. 417. He saith of these two Persons whom Proculus had Ordained, That they had been both Condemned. The first by Proculus himself, and the second by other Bishops: That this Man, after his Condem∣nation, came to Rome; where he did Penance, and adjured the Errors of the Priscillianists. He reproaches Proculus for regarding neither his Judgment, nor the Judgment of others. He speaks also against Lazarus, whom Proculus Ordained Bishop of Aix, who had assisted at the Ordination of Ursus and Tuentius. He declares, That those Ordinations were Illegitimate, having been performed in prejudice of the Bishop of Arles, who alone had the Right to Ordain in the Provinces of Narbon and Vienna. Lastly, He advises the Bishops of Gaul, Spain and Africa, not to own either Ursus or Tuentius for Bishops, and not to communicate with them.

By these Letters one plainly sees the Reason why Zosimus did so much desire to invalidate the Judgment given against Coelestius and Pelagius. Their Accusers were Heros and Lazarus; Patroclus's Adversaries, and Friends of Proculus of Marseilles. He openly declar'd for Pa∣troclus. He eagerly prosecuted Proculus and his Adherents. He would have been glad to find Matter of Condem••tion against Heros and Lazarus, by causing them to be looked upon as False Accusers. Perhaps this is the only thing that made him favour Coelestius and Pelagius at first: But since both of them were convicted of Heresie by the Bishops of Africa, The Love of Truth prevailed in him, over the secret Satisfaction which he would have had by the Con∣demnation of Heros and Lazarus.

We have three Letters besides ascribed to Zosimus, which do not seem to have had any rela∣tion to either of these Affairs we have now spoken of.

The First is directed to Hesychius, Bishop of Salona; to whom he prescribes with much Impe∣riousness, and with a very Commanding Tone, the Distances which he should cause to be ob∣served between the Sacred Orders. The Date is of February, 418.

The Second is directed to the Clergy of Ravenna. He speaketh there against those who durst go to Court to Complain against him: telling the Clergy of Ravenna, That they were Ex∣communicated. The Letter is of the 2d. of October, of the same Year.

The Last, if it be true, is directed to the Bishops of the Province of Byzacena in Africa; and not to the Bishops of Byzantia, as it is in the common Title. There he blames those Bi∣shops for admitting Lay-men to Judge Church-men. It is dated Novemb. 14th. 418. But it is very probable that it is Supposititious, because it is of a very different Style from the rest.

Zosimus writes purely, and nobly. He speaks with Vigour, and Authority, and turns eve∣ry thing to his own Advantage. He discerneth the weak side of his Adversaries, and omits no∣thing that can do them Hurt. In a word, He writes like a Man throughly skill'd in Business, who••knows the strong, and the weak side of every Thing, and the exact Management of Affairs.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Z••simus.