Council XV. of Toledo.
THIS Council was held under King * 1.1 Egica, Ervigius's Successor, and Son-in-law, (An. 688.) and composed of Sixty Bishops. In this Council they justifie themselves about * 1.2 some Articles of the Exposition of Faith, which the Spanish Bishops had sent to Rome by Peter a Presbyter, which Articles Pope Benedict had found fault with.
The First is about their saying, That the Will had begotten a Will. They defend this Ex∣pression, because the Eternal Will of God is common to the Three Persons, as well as Wis∣dom, and other Divine Attributes; so that as Wisdom may be said to have begotten Wisdom, the Will likewise may be said to have begotten a Will; they also defend this Expression by some Testimonies of S. Athanasius, and S. Austin.
The Second is about their saying, That there were Three Substances in Jesus Christ. They maintain, that Jesus Christ being composed of a Body, a Soul, and the God-head, he may be said to be of Three Substances in this sense, though, the Body and the Humane Soul being ta∣ken but for One Nature, and One Substance, Two Natures, and Two Substances, only may be said to be in him. They shew, that S. Cyril, and S. Austin, did speak as they did. They do not enlarge upon the other Two Articles, thinking it sufficient to observe, that they are taken out of S. Ambrose, and S. Fulgentius. Afterwards they treat of the Oaths taken by King Egica. He had made one to King Ervigius, to defend and protect his Children against all persons whatsoever; and another at his Consecration, to administer Justice to his People. It was demanded, that in case these Two Oaths should be found to interfere with one ano∣ther, and that Ervigius's Children were to be protected against Right and Justice, and to be rescued from the Punishment due to them for Wrongs done by them, whether the King be bound to keep the first, or the last Oath. The Council Answers, He is more strictly bound to keep the last, as being more just, more solemn and necessary. This Council is Signed by the Metropolitans of Toledo, Narbone, Sevil, Braga, and Merida, by Fifty Six of their Suf∣fragans in person, by the Deputies of Six, among whom Iva the Arch-Bishop of Tarragona, by Eleven Abbots, by Seventeen Lords, and confirmed by the King's Declaration.