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 Sixth Council of Paris, held in the year 829.

LEwis the Godly imitating his Father Charles the Great's piety and zeal, caus'd four Councils * 1.1 to be conven'd in the year 829, to reform all the Churches in France. These Councils met at Mentz, at Lyons, at Tholouse, and at Paris; but we have nothing left of them all, but the Con∣stitutions of that at Paris, which are excellent and very well Written. The Bishops begin with an Exposition of the True Faith, in which they show, That Good Works ought to be joyn'd with Faith, that it may become Saving. They add, That it must be acknowledg'd, that the Church is but one Body, which is divided into two principal parts, the Sacerdotal and the Re∣gal. On this point they quote the passage in S. Gelasius, and S. Fulgentius. Then they enlarge on the Learning and Vertues that are requisite in a Minister of the Church. They order, that unless necessity require it, none shall be Baptized at any other times but those prescribed by the Canons; and that the God-fathers shall take care to instruct their God-children in the Faith. They renew the Inhibition made, to hinder such as were Baptized out of the Solemn Times, be∣ing sick, from entering into Holy Orders. They exhort all Christians to remember the Pro∣mises they have made at their Baptism. They enlarge upon the Qualities and Vertues which those ought to have that enter into Holy Orders. They enjoyn the Bishops not to Alienate

the Revenues of the Church, and prescribe to them the use they ought to make of them. They also order, that they recite the Canonical Hours with their Clergy, and hold Spiritual Conferen∣ces. They forbid them to prefer to any Church such Clergy-men as are presented to them by Laities, unless they find them duly qualified, and of sound Morals. They exhort them to doe their duty towards the Flock that is committed to their Charge, and not use it as their own, but as belonging to Christ, and to assist it Corporally and Spiritually. They complain, that Pro∣vincial Councils were not still holden every year; and show, how beneficial that Practice was to the Church. They reprove the attempts of the Suffragan Bishops. They condemn the Priests that become either Farmers, or Men of Business, and wandring Clergy-men and Monks. They charge the Bishops not to send to several distinct parts such Priests as belong to some par∣ticular Church. They recommend Residence to the Priests, and a constant attendance to In∣struct their Flocks. They charge the Bishops not to put their Clergy to expense in their Visi∣tations. They condemn several Penitentials to be burnt, and charge the Priests to fulfil, as they ought, the Ministery of the Keys. They order the Bishops not to give the Sacrament of Con∣firmation, after they have eaten, and believe that Sacraments ought to be Administered Fasting, unless on extraordinary occasions. They would not have them bestow the Holy Ghost by Im∣position of hands, which is the Sacrament of Confirmation, at any other times than at Easter, and on Whitsunday. They renew the Ancient Canons against the Crimes of Uncleanness. They will have Degraded Priests put into a state of Penance. They forbid the Admission of Fo∣reign Clergy-men. They advise the Abbots to be an Example to their respective Societies. They exhort the Clergy to behave themselves Modestly, Decently, and Honestly. They will not have such Women as have newly left a Worldly State to be Superiors [i. e. Abbesses] of Nuns. The Priests are forbidden giving the Veil to Widows without the Bishops consent, and also Consecrating Virgins; and the Abbesses are forbidden giving the Veil to Widows or Maids. They will not have the Veil to be given to Widows, till some time after the death of their Husbands. They do not permit Women to touch the Sacred Vessels, nor to give the Sacerdo∣tal Habits to the Priests, and much less to give the Eucharist, as, through a great abuse, they did in some places. They charge all Priests and Canons not to go into any Nunnery, nor will they have Mass said in any other place than Publick and Consecrated Churches, saying, That 'tis better not to hear Mass, than to hear it where it ought not to be said. Priests are order'd not to say Mass when they are alone. They order, that, as there is a Bishop in each City [or Town] there ought to be a Priest in each Church; and they forbid one Priest Officiating at several Churches. After they have spoken of keeping the Lord's-Day Holy, according to the Ecclesia∣stical Laws, they resolve that an Address be made to the Prince, to desire, that he may Com∣mand, that no Pleadings, nor Markets be kept on that Day; and that neither Husbandmen, nor Day-labourers Work on that Day in the Countrey. They forbid all Vexations and Usu∣ry. Finally, they will not allow those Penitents, who are not yet reconciled to the Church, to stand God-fathers to Children. This is what is handled in the first part of this Council, so far as it relates to the Clergy, and to the Priestly Office. The Second concerns Princes, and the Laity. The Bishops give some very good Instructions to Kings concerning their Duties. They recommend to them Justice, Moderation, Clemency, and other Royal Vertues. They declare to their Subjects, that they ought to obey them, and revere their Power which comes from God. They exhort the Faithful to come to Church, to joyn in the Prayers, and admonish them to behave themselves reverently there. Finally, they charge those who cannot come to Church, nevertheless to pray to God, and perform the Duties which they owe him. These Articles being fram'd, they sent them to the Emperour Lewis, and added Twenty seven Chap∣ters to them, which they pray'd His Majesty to Enact, and cause them to be put in Execu∣tion, that the aforesaid Articles might continue and be in force.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The Sixth Council of Paris.