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.

The Letters of St. Gregory against the Defenders of the three Chapters.

ALtho the Church of Rome approv'd the Condemnation of the three Chapters, yet its example was not follow'd by all the Bishops of Italy. Many did not only persist in their Resolution not to Condemn them, but also separated from the Church of Rome and the other Bishops who had receiv'd this Condemnation, or who communicated with the Bishops that had sign'd it. St. Gregory being concern'd to see so many Bishops separate from the Church for a Question of so little Impor∣tance, us'd all his Endeavours to bring them back again by ways of Meekness and Civility. For this end he invited at the beginning of his Pontificat, Severus Bishop of Aquileia, and the other Bi∣shops of Istria who were more obstinate, to come to Rome, there to treat amicably of this Contro∣versie, and promis'd to remove the Scruples they might have about it. But these Bishops refus'd to admit of this Accommodation, and maintain'd their Principle with so much stiffness, that they attri∣buted the Calamities wherewith Italy was then afflicted, to the Condemnation of the three Chapters. The City of Aquileia being afterwards taken by the Lombards, Severus was forc'd to retire to Gra∣dus, from whence he was carried by the Emperor's Order to Ravenna, where he condemn'd the three Chapters: But finding a way to obtain Letters from the Emperor, which forbad to disturb those who defended the three Chapters in the West, he declar'd himself anew for the defence of them, and so agreed the matter with the Lombards, that he was restor'd to Aquileia, where he died. After his death, Agilulphus King of the Lombards, caus'd John to be chosen in his room, who was a Defender of the three Chapters; and the Pope being supported by the Exarch, sent Candidian to Gradus for opposing John.

Many other Bishops of Italy submitted to the Dominion of the Lombards, who would not approve the Condemnation of the three Chapters; Nay, they had so great an Aversion to those who con∣demn'd them, that they separated from the Communion of Constantius Bishop of Milan, whom they suspected to have sign'd this Condemnation; and Theodolinda Queen of the Lombards follow'd their Example. St. Gregory advis'd this Bishop to hold his peace, and say nothing upon this subject, and told him, that he ought not to affirm that he had not sign'd them. He wrote also to Theodolinda many Letters, to perswade her that those who condemned the three Chapters, receiv'd the Council of Chalcedon. He speaks every where as one that was not too much convinc'd, either of the Justice, or Necessity of Condemning the three Chapters, but he would not have any to separate from their Communion who did condemn them.