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 Council of Mentz held Anno 847.

THis Council was held under Rabanus, An. 847. It was made up of 12 Bishops, some Suf∣fragans, * 1.1 several Abbots, Monks, Priests, and others of the Clergy. The Bishops and Clergy made one body, and had the Gospels, Canons, and Fathers laid before them; The Monks the Rule of St. Benedict, that they might unanimously endeavour a Reformation of the Clergy, and the Monastick Life.—First, They particularly recommended it to the Bishops, that they should take care that the people be well-instructed in the Fundamentals of Religion; and, for that end, certain Homilies should be composed in the Vulgar Tongue. Secondly, That Baptism should be administred according to the Rites of the Church of Rome, and at the times appointed by the Pope's Decretals.

They exhort all Men to Peace; and order, That not onely those Men should be Excommuni∣cated, who attempt any thing against the King, or State; but those, who, by surprize, contrary to his good affection to Religion, obtain of him the Lands and Revenues that belong to the Church.

They leave the whole disposal of the Church's Revenues in the power of the Bishops, and forbid the Clergy to make use of them, to augment their own Estates, or dispose of them. They secure their Tythes, and other Rights, to the Churches. They revive the Canons concerning such Employments as are forbid Clergy-men and Monks.

They forbid Monks to have any possessions of their own, to covet the enjoyment of worldly things, which they have renounced, and to take on them any Cure of Souls, without the con∣sent of the Bishop.

They forbid Abbesses to go out of their Monasteries without great necessity, and without the leave of the Bishop.

They revive the Ancient Canons of the Council of Ancyra against Man-slayers. They declare, touching the Administration of the Sacraments to the Sick, that the Priests ought to require of them a sincere Confession, without imposing on them any rigorous Penance, but onely to bring their sins to remembrance, and comfort them under them, by the Prayers of their Friends, and by their Alms, and so Absolve them, upon condition nevertheless, that if they recover their health, they shall undergoe what Penance shall be imposed on them; after which they may Ad∣minister the Unction, and then the Communion, as their Viaticum.

They are not afraid to grant such Malefactors, as suffer for their Crimes, if they confess their sins, and are penitent, the honour of a Christian Burial; and that their Offerings be received, and Masses said for them.

Lastly, After they have forbidden all Contracts of Marriages, either Incestuous, or within the Degrees of Consanguinity, prohibited by the Laws; they command, that Penances, proportiona∣ble to Mens Crimes, shall be imposed upon them; that publick Sinners shall do publick Penance; and they, whose sins are secret, shall undergoe private Penance.

This is almost all that is contained in the One and thirty Canons of this Council. We shall not here speak of the Council of Mentz held the next year, against Goteschalcus, nor of those that concern his Affair, nor Ebbo's, because we have spoken of them at large in another place.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The Council of Mentz.