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 Second Council of Chalons, in the same year.

THis Council is the best of the Five, held that year by Charles the Great's Order, for Reform∣ing * 1.1 the Church, and particularly the Clergy; but it is the most considerable for the num∣ber of Canons, and for the Matters of which it treats. In the first Canon, it condemns, with a great deal of strictness, the Avarice, Sordid Gain, and Exactions of the Bishops, and other Clergy-men. Among other things, it enjoyns the Bishops not to be a Charge to the Rectors of Parishes in their Visitations; and their Arch-deacons not to demand of them any Fees, or any thing for the Holy Chrism. It will not have them to oblige the Clerks, whom they Or∣dain, to Swear that they are worthy, nor that they will never doe any thing contrary to the Canons, and will be obedient to their Ordinaries. It does not prescribe many things to the Monks, because it observes, that those of that Province are to follow S. Bennet's Rule, and con∣sequently need but to keep exactly to their Rule to live as they ought. It requires the Re-establishing of Publick Penance, for Publick Sins. To stop, or prevent the Differences that happen among Heirs, concerning the Right of Patronage of a Church, it orders, that it shall not be divided, and that none of the Clergy, nam'd by different heirs, shall be suffer'd to per∣form their Function there, till they are agreed together, and have Elected one and no more. Some persons were so devout as to be Confirm'd many times; this Council forbids this abuse in the 27th Canon. In the Thirtieth it is forbidden to dissolve the Marriages of Slaves. Some Women, with a design of being Divorc'd from their Husbands, brought their Children, at the Administration of Baptism, or Confirmation: Now, this Council orders, that these Women shall be oblig'd to doe Penance, and not be Divorc'd. The 32d intimates, that we ought not to make Confession of our Corporeal Sins onely, but also of the Spiritual. These are the words of the 33d. Some say, That we ought to Confess our Sins to God alone; others affirm, That they ought to be Confess'd to Priests: Both are done with great Benefit in the Holy Church; so that we Confess our Sins to God, who does forgive them; and, according to the Apostle's Instituti∣on, we Confess them to each other, and Pray for each other, that we may be Sav'd. So the Confession which is made to God Purges from Sin; and that which is made to the Priest, inform▪ us, how we ought to be Purged from them: For, God is the Author of our Salvation, and grants it us, sometimes in an Invisible manner, by his Omnipotence, and sometimes by the Ope∣ration of Physicians. Which Canon only proves, that the Confession which is made to Priests ought to be attended with an Humble Confession of Sins to God; or, it is to be only understood of Venial Sins; it being certain, that it is necessary, that Mortal Sins be Confess'd to Priests, that we may obtain a Forgiveness of those Sins. This Council, in the next Canon, exhorts the Priests to act like Physicians, and like Judges, and to enjoyn Salutary and Suitable Penan∣ces to Sinners. It lets Penitents know, after this, that Repentance, if it be true, ought to be attended with a Change, both in the Heart, and Course of Life. It enjoyns all Confessors to take their Measures, concerning the Injunction of Penances, from the Holy Writ, and the

Canons, or from the Custom of the Church; and, to reject such Penitential Books, the Errors of which are unquestionable, and their Authors uncertain, which have occasion'd the Death of many, because they onely injoyn slight Penances for great Sins. In the Nine and thirtieth Ca∣non it is order'd, that Prayers be said for the Dead at every Mass. The Fortieth orders, that such Clergy-men as have been, or shall be degraded for their Crimes, be shut up in Monaste∣ries, that they may lead there a Penitent Life. The One and fortieth is against such Priests as change their Church. The Two and Fortieth is against those who give Churches to Priests, or take Churches from them, without the Consent of the Bishops. The Three and fortieth is against certain Irish-men, who giving themselves out to be Bishops, did ordain Priests and Dea∣cons, without the consent of the Ordinaries: Their Ordinations are here declared to be void. The Four and fortieth is against those Priests, that follow such Trades as are forbidden them. The Five and fortieth is against those who go in Pilgrimage to Rome or Tours, thinking, by this means, to obtain more easily the Remission of their Sins; and who, in hopes of this, the more freely commit them: But the Council approves the Piety of those, who, having first Confess'd their Sins at the place of their abode, and there done Penance, and begun a new Course of Life, go afterwards in Pilgrimage, by a motive of real Devotion, and with a sincere design of expia∣ting their sins. The Six and fortieth imports, that a great deal of caution ought to be us'd in what relates to the Receiving of the Body and Blood of Christ. That 'tis to be fear'd on one side, if it be too long put off, this delay should occasion the loss of the Soul; but that on the other side, if 'tis receiv'd Unworthily, not considering the Lord's Body, those that Receive, are like to eat and drink their own Demnation. So that all persons ought to try, and examine themselves before, abstaining, for some time, from Carnal Works, and cleansing the Body and the Soul. The Seven and fortieth orders, that all Christians shall receive the Eucharist on Ho∣ly Thursday, except those to whom it is forbidden to take it, on the account of the great Crimes which they have committed. The Eight and fortieth recommends the Anointing of the Sick, which ought to be perform'd by Priests, with an Oil Consecrated by the Bishop; adding, that a Remedy so fit to cure the Infirmities of the Soul and the Body, ought not to be neglected. The Nine and fortieth renews the Inhibition made by the Council of Laodicea, to Celebrate the Sacrament in private houses. The Fiftieth orders the keeping of the Lord's Day Holy. The One and fiftieth recommends Charity between Superiours and Inferiours. The Two and fiftieth commands the Abbesses to Rule the Nuns committed to their Charge, with Holiness and Piety, and to be themselves a good Example to them. The following Ca∣nons are some Directions for Abbesses and Nunneries. There are, in all, Sixty six Canons of this Council.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The Council of Cha∣lons.