Of the Authority and Usefulness of Councils.
ST. Gregory had a very particular Veneration for the Decrees and Canons of General Councils, that are received in the Church, and seems to be perswaded that he could not meddle with them. He was no sooner promoted to the Pontificat, but he solemnly declar'd in his Letter to the Patriarchs, That he reveered the four first General Councils, as he did the four Gospels; and that he had also a great respect for the fifth General Council, B. Ep. 24. He repeats the same thing in Book 2. Ind. 11. Ep. 10.
He acknowledges the Necessity of Provincial Councils for maintaining Discipline and Judging of Bishops, B. 1. Ep. 1. 33. 16. 72, 82. B. 2. Ind. 11. Ep. 47. B. 3. Ep. 9. Ep. 8. B. 7. Ind. 11. Ep. 70, 111, 112. B. 12. Ep. 32. The Metropolitan ought to assemble them, B. 2. Ind. 11. Ep. 47 & 48. The Roman Church does not receive the Canons of the Council of Constantinople, B. 6. Ep. 31. He wrote to the Bishops of France to Call a Council for Regulating their Discipline, B. 7. Ind. 112. Ep. 111.