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.

Council held at Constantinople, Anno 692, called Quini-Sextum, or In Trullo.

THE Fifth and Sixth General Councils having made no Canons about Discipline, Justini∣an the Second thought fit to call a Council, to renew the old Canons, and to make a * 1.1 kind of a Body of the Canon-Law, for the Clergy of all the East.

This Council was held in 692, at Constantinople in the Tower of the Emperor's Palace, called Trullus. The Four Patriarchs of the East were present at it, together with 108 Bi∣shops of their Patriarchats. This Council was called Quini-Sextum, because it was look'd upon as a Supplement to the Fifth and Sixth Council. It took the Name of General Coun∣cil, and the Greeks owned it for such, but the Latins rejected it. It made 102 Canons.

In the 1st, It approves all that was done in the first Six General Councils, condemns the Er∣rors and the Persons they had condemned, and pronounces Anathema to those that hold any other Doctrine, than that they have Established.

In the 2d, The Bishops of this Council deliver the number of Canons which they received, which are the Constitutions attributed to Clemens, the Canons of the Councils of Nice, An∣cyra, Neo-Caesarea, Gangra, Antioch, Laodicea, Constantinople, Ephesus, Chalcedon, Sardica, and Carthage. The Canons made in the time of Nectarius at Constantinople, and in the time of Theophilus at Alexandria; the Canons of Denys, and Peter of Alexandria, of Gregory Thau∣maturgus, of S. Athanasius, S. Basil, S. Gregory Nyssen, S. Gregory Nazianzen, of Amphilachi∣us, Timothy, and Theophilus of Alexandria, S. Cyril, Gennadius of Constantinople, and the Ca∣non of S. Cyprian, and his Council, which is only observed in Africk, according to their custom.

The 3d Canon is concerning those of the Clergy, Presbyters, or Deacons, that had Mar∣ried two Wives. They declare, that those that would not leave that custom shall be deposed; but as to those, whose second Wives are dead, or who have left them, they shall keep the honour and place of their Dignity, being forbidden only to perform the Functions of it; it being not fitting, say they, that he that ought to heal his own wounds, should bless others: As for them who had Married Widows, or had Married, being Priests, Deacons, or Subdea∣cons, they ordain, they shall for a time be suspended from their Functions; but they grant them the power of being restored, when they leave their Wives, upon condition, that they shall not be raised to a superior Order. And Lastly, they Ordain, That, for the future, all those that have been Married Twice after Baptism, or have had Concubines, shall not be made Bishops, Priests, Deacons, or Clergy-Men; as also those that have Married, Divorced or Prostituted Women, or Slaves, or Stage-Players.

The 4th Canon inflicts the punishment of Deposition upon such Ecclesiastical Persons as shall company with a Virgin Consecrated to God, and of Excommunication upon Lay-Men.

The 5th, Renews the Canon which forbids Clerks to have with them Women, not related to them, except those which the Canons allow them to dwell withal. It extends this prohibi∣tion to the Eunuchs.

The 6th, Forbids those that are in Orders, including the Subdeacons, to Marry after their Ordination.

The 7th forbids 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 down before 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Presbyter, unless they represent the Person of the P••••riarch or Metropolitan.

The 8th ordains, That a Synod shall be kept at least once a Year in each Province.

The 9th forbids Clerks to keep a Tavern, or to resort thither.

The 10th forbids them to lend upon Usury.

The 11th forbids them having any Commerce or Familiarity with the Jews.

The 12th ••yes the Bishops of Africk and Lybia to the Law of the Celibacy,

The 13th probits the Separation of Presbyters, Deacons or Sub-deacons from their Wives, or binding them to Continenoy, before they be ordained.

The 14th renews the Canon, ordaining, That he who is made a Priest shall be 30 Years old at least, and a Deacon 25.

The 15th decrees, That he who is ordained Sub-deacon, be at least 20 Years old.

The 16th declares, That the seven Deacons, spoken of in the Acts of the Apostles, were but Ministers of common Tables, and not of Altars; and thereby rejects the Canon of the Coun∣cil of Neo-caesarea, which by the Authority of this Place had ordained, that there should be but seven Deacons in every Church.

The 17th forbids Clerks to go out of their Churches, without dimissory Letters from their Bishops.

The 18th enjoyns those who were forced to withdraw because of the Incursions of the Bar∣barians, or for any other Cause, to comeback again, as soon as they can.

The 19th enjoyns those who govern Churches, to preach to those committed to their Care, the Doctrine of the Church, and to expound the Scripture agreeably to the Sentiments of the Fathers.

The 20th forbids Bishops to preach in a Church, which is out of their Diocess.

The 21st gives permission to Clerks deposed, if they repent of their Fault, to wear short Hair, like other Clerks: But if they lead a secular Life, it binds them to wear long Hair, like other Laymen.

The 22d ordains, That they shall be deposed that have been ordained for Money.

The 23d prohibits exacting Mony for the distribution of the Holy Communion.

The 24th forbids Clerks to be present at the Shews of Stage-players.

The 25th ordains, That Country-parishes shall belong to the Bishop who had them in pos∣session 30 Years ago; and if before 30 Years possession any will prove them not to belong to them, the Matter shall be examined in the Provincial Council.

The 26th renews the Prohibition made to a Priest, engaged in an unlawful Marriage, to execute his Function.

The 27th forbids Clerks to wear any other Garb than such as belongs to their Order, and separateth for a Week those that do.

The 28th forbids distributing with the Oblation the Grapes offered at the Altar, by reason the Oblation ought to be given to the People for the Sanctification and Remission of Sins, whereas Fruits are only blessed and distributed for Thanksgivings.

The 29th ordains, That, according to the Council of Carthage, the Mysteries shall be cele∣brated Fasting, not excepting Holy Thursday itself.

The 30th ordains, That the Bishops of Churches in barbarous Countries, if they will leave their Wives, shall dwell no longer with them.

The 31st forbids Clerks to baptize, or to celebrate the Mysteries in Chappels of private Houses, without the Bishop's Consent.

The 32d condemns the Practice of the Armenians, who put no Water into the Wine which they did consecrate.

The 33d rejects another Custom of the same Armenians, who admitted none into the Cler∣gy but those of a Sacerdotal Race, and made them Clerks and Readers without cutting their Hair. The Council does not allow that regard should be had to the Race of those that are ordained, but only to their Merit; and forbids the Readers to read publickly in the Church, without their Hair cut, and without receiving the Blessing of the Pastor of the Church.

The 34th decrees the Penalty of Deposition against caballing Clerks.

The 35th forbids a Metropolitan to seize on the Estate of a Bishop deceased, or on his Church; and appoints that they shall be in the Keeping of the Clerks, till there be another Bishop▪ unless there be no Clerks, in which case the Metropolitan shall keep them for the Successor.

The 36th renews the Canons of the Councils of Constantinople and Chalcedon, concerning the Authority of the See of the Church of Constantinople, and grants to it the same Privileges as to the See of old Rome, the same Authority in Ecclesiastical Affairs, and the 2d place, the 3d to that of Alexandria, the 4th to that of Antioch, and the 5th to that of Jerusalem.

The 37th preserveth to the Bishops, ordained into Churches, which have been invaded by the Barbarians, the Dignity and Rank of Bishops, and permits them to perform their Functions.

The 38th renews the 12th Canon of the Council of Chalcedon; whereby it is ordained, That the Disposition of Churches shall follow that of the Empire.

The 39th preserveth to the Metropolitan of Cyprus, (who was forced to withdraw by reason of that Island's being taken by the Barbarians, and was come to settle in the new Justiniano∣polis) they preserve him, I say, the Right of Supremacy, and the Government of the Churches of the Hellespont, with the Right of being chosen by the Bishops subject to it, ccording to the Ancient Custom. They do also subject to him the Bishop of Cyzicum.

The 40th declares, They may receive a Monk in the 10th Year of his Age.

The 41st ordains. That those who will be Recluses or Anchorets; ought to have been three Years at least in a Monastery.

The 42d forbids to suffer Hermits to be in Towns.

The 43d imports, That all kind of People may be admitted into Monasteries, even the greatest Sinners, by reason Monachism is a state of Penance.

The 44th is against Monks guilty of Fornication or Married.

The 45th forbids to dress with worldly Apparel and Ornaments the Virgins that conse∣crate themselves to God, when they go to take the Religious Habit.

The 46th forbids Friars and Nuns to go out of their Monastery, without the Superior's Leave.

The 47th forbids Friars to lie in the Monasteries of Virgins, and Virgins to dwell in the Monasteries of Friars.

The 48th ordains, That the Wife of him who shall be made Bishop shall be put away from him, and shall withdraw into a Monastery, at a distance from the Bishop's Residence.

The 49th prohibits converting Religious Houses to profane uses.

The 50th forbids those of the Clergy and the Laity to play at any Games of hazard, upon pain of Deposition and Excommunication.

The 51st forbids Jesters, Dancers and Shews.

The 52d ordains, That the * 1.2 Mass of the Pre-sanctified shall be celebrated every Day in Lent, except Saturday and Sunday, and Lady-day.

The 53d forbids them that stood Sureties for Children, to marry the Mother of such In∣fants.

The 54th prohibits marrying the Uncle's Daughter: Forbids a Father and a Son to marry the Mother and the Daughter, or two Sisters; as also a Mother and Daughter to marry the Father and Son, or two Brothers, upon Penalty of 7 Years Penance.

The 55th ordains, That the Canon forbidding to fast on Saturday and Sunday shall be ob∣served in the Church of Rome, as well as in other Churches,

The 56th forbids eating Eggs and Cheese in Lent.

The 57th forbids offering Milk and Hony on the Altar.

The 58th forbids Laymen to give to themselves the Eucharist, before a Bishop, a Priest or a Deacon.

The 59th forbids baptizing in Domestick Chapels.

The 60th is against them that feign themselves to be possessed.

The 61st is against Superstitions.

The 62d against the Fooleries which were acted on New-year's-day.

The 63d condemns to the Fire the false Stories of Martyrs, made by the Enemies of the Church.

The 64th imports, That the Laity ought not to undertake to teach Religious Matters.

The 65th is against the Custom of kindling Fires before Houses on the New Moons.

The 66th ordains, That Easter Week shall be spent in Prayer.

The 67th forbids eating the Blood of Beasts.

The 68th forbids burning, tearing, or giving to Victuallers the Books of the Gospels, if they be not quite spoiled.

The 69th forbids the Laity to enter within the Rails of the Altar; yet the Emperor is ex∣cepted, who, according to an Old Custom, is permitted to enter in, when he is willing to make some Oblation to the Lord.

The 70th forbids Women to talk in the Time of the Holy Sacrifice.

The 71st is against some prophane Practices of Students in the Law.

The 72d declares the Marriages between an Orthodox Christian and an Heretick to be null and void.

The 73d ordains, That Reverence shall be paid to the Cross; and that Crosses shall not be suffer'd to be made on the Floor.

The 74th forbids making the Feasts, call'd Agapae, in Churches.

The 75th ordains, That they shall sing in the Church without straining or Bawling, modest∣ly and attentively.

The 76th enjoyns, That no Tavern or Tradesman's Shop shall be suffer'd to stand within the Inclosure of the Church.

The 77th, That Men ought not to bathe with Women.

The 78th, That they ought to instruct those that are to be baptized.

The 79th is against an Abuse of some, who at Christmas made Cakes to the Honour of the Virgin's Lying-in.

The 80th is against them that without Cause absent themselves for 3 Sundays together from their own Church, whether they be of the Clergy or of the Laity.

The 81st pronounces Anathema to those that have added these Words to the Trisagion: Thou that hast been crucified for us.

The 82d approves of the Pictures, in which Christ is painted in the Form of a Lamb.

The 83d forbids giving the Eucharist to the Dead.

The 84th orders them to be re-baptized, who can bring no Witnesses; nor certain Proofs that they have been baptized.

The 85th grants Liberty to the Slaves which their Masters have freed before two or three Witnesses.

The 86th condemns the infamous Company of debauch'd Women.

The 87th is against Divorces made without lawful Cause.

The 88th forbids bringing Horses into the Church without great Need and evident Danger.

The 89th shews, That they ought to fast on Good Friday, till Midnight.

The 90th renews the Law of not kneeling on Sunday.

The 91st Condemns to the Punishment of Murtherers those Women that procure Abortions.

The 92d is against Ravishers.

The 93d condemns the Marriages of those Men or Women who are not sure of the Death of their Wives or Husbands: But after those Marriages have been contracted, and when the first Husband comes again, he is ordered to take his Wife again.

The 94th is against those that use the Oath of Pagans.

The 95th is of the Reception of Hereticks. It ordains, That the Arians, Macedonians, Novatians, Continents, Tesseradecatites, and Apollinarists, shall be received after they have made Abjuration in Writing, by anointing their Fore-head, Eyes, Nostrils, Mouth and Ears with the Holy Chrism, pronouncing these Words; This is the Seal of the Holy Ghost. That the Eunomians, Montanists and Sabellians shall be re-baptized. That the Manichees, Valenti∣nians, Marcionites and other Hereticks, are also to abjure their Errors, anathematizing all Hereticks by Name, and making profession of the true Faith.

The 96th is against plating and curling the Hair.

The 97th forbids Husbands to co-habit with their Wives within the Enclosure of the Church.

The 98th prohibits marrying a Maid betrothed to another.

The 99th prohibits offering Roast Meats to Priests in Churches.

The 100th prohibits lascivious Pictures.

The 101st enjoyns, That those that will receive the Eucharist must hold their Hands a-cross, and so receive it. It forbids using Vessels of Gold, or of any other Matter; to receive it in.

The 102d shews, to them that are entrusted with Power, to bind or to loose; that they ought to exercise this Ministry with a great deal of Prudence and Wisdom, considering well the Distemper, applying Remedies as skilful Physicians, and examining whether they do truly and sincerely repent.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Council of Constanti∣nople.
• * 1.2

  [Missa praesanctifi∣catorum, was the Sacra∣ment, which was admini∣stred with Elements, which were before con∣secrated, oblatio pri∣us oblati, & perfecti sa∣crificii, sa∣cri{que} Myste∣rii. Bal∣sam. in hunc Can.]