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.

GREGORY III.

GREGORY the third of that Name, was chosen in the Year 731. and sate 10 Years and some Months in the See of Rome. His first Letter is directed to Boniface, who * 1.1 was Ordained Bishop of the Germans by his Predecessor. He granted him the Right of bearing the Pall, promises him to erect new Bishopricks in Germany, according as the Number of Christians shall multiply. He assures him, that he had not absolved a certain Priest who bragged, that he had received Absolution from him; and answers some Questions, which Boniface had propounded to him.

In the 1st Article he orders, that they shall be Baptized again in the Name of the Trinity, who have been Baptized by the Heathens.

In the 2d he forbids to eat the Flesh of a Wild Horse.

In the 3d he commands to offer the Sacrifice for all that died in the Orthodox Faith.

The 4th ordains, that those who have been Baptized by a Priest that hath sacrificed to Jupiter, or eaten Meats offered to Idols, shall be Rebaptized.

The 5th forbids Marriage to the seventh Generation.

The 6th bids him to hinder a Widower to Marry above twice.

The 7th imposeth Penance for their whole Life upon such as Murder their Father, their Mo∣ther, their Brother, or their Sister, and prescribes them for Penance to abstain from Wine, and Flesh-Meats, and to fast three Days in the Week.

The 8th forbids to sell Slaves to the Heathens.

The 9th enjoyns him, when he Ordains a Bishop to summon two or three Bishops to be pre∣sent at the Ordination.

The 2d is a Letter of Recommendation directed to all Bishops, Priests and Abbots, given to Boniface, when he returned into Germany.

The 3d is a Letter composed on purpose for the same Person, directed to the Germans, whom he commands to obey Boniface, and leave their Heathenish Ceremonies.

The 4th is directed to the Bishops of Bavaria and Germany, whom he enjoyns to come to those Councils, which Boniface shall call.

The 5th is directed to Charles Martel, of whom he desires assistance against the Lombards. 'Tis very urgent, and yet withal very submissive.

The 6th is to the same Person about the same Business.

The 7th is to Boniface, he approves of the Division which he had made in Bavaria into four Bi∣shopricks. He tells him that he ought to Ordain those Priests, who have exercised their Ministry in that Country, Bishops, although he can't find out by whom they were Ordained, if they be Orthodox, and of good Conversation. He will not have such Persons to be Re-baptized, who have been Baptized already in the Name of the Trinity, although through Errour the words were not well pronounced, but orders them to be contented to confirm them by Imposition of Hands, and by anointing with the Chrism. He allows him to reprove and correct Wilo, if he act con∣trary to the Discipline of the Church. He orders him to call a Council, and not to continue long in one place, but to travel for the Conversion of all the Country. This Letter is dated Octob. 27. Indiction 8. which is the 739 Year of the Vulgar Aera.

To these Letters is joyned a Collection of Canons, taken out of the Penitentials, which seems to be a later Composure, than of Gregory III. and which I do not believe to be the Works of this Pope; [yet both are Printed together under his Name in the Councils, Tom. 6. Pag. 1468.]

Notes

• * 1.1

  Gregory III.