Lux matutina, or, Some beams and dawnings of early light breaking forth of ancient history discovering the judgement and practice of the primitive times in reference to ceremonies and church-discipline.

Of Councils of Bishops, their Canons and Decrees in those times.

The Churches practising severally in keeping of Easter, Sy∣nods and Meetings of bishops were summoned, where they unanimously ordain an Ecclesiastical Decree, which they pub∣lished by their Epistles unto all churches, That upon no other than the Sunday, the Mysteries of our Saviours Resurrection should be celebrated, and then the Fast to end. At Rome like∣wise there was a Synod gathered together for the same cause, where the bishop of Rome was President. Another Synod of the bishops at Pontus. Another of the bishops throughout France, and others, &c. all decree the same thing. Eus. l. 5. c. 21. p. 91.

There was a Synod of fixty Bishops, besides many Ministers & Deacons, gathered at Rome about Novatus; & there met seve∣ral Pastors of other Provinces about it; and they all agree that Novatus should be banished the church; and that such as fell, should after repentance be received again. Euseb. lib 6. chap. 42. p. 116.

It's said of Stephen, he would not communicate with some, because they re-baptized Hereticks. This is (saith Dionysius Bi∣shop of Alexandria) a weighty matter; for truly (as I hear) in the greatest Synods of Bishops it is decreed, That such as re∣nounce any Heresie, shall first again be instructed, then be wash∣ed and purged, &c. Eus. l. 7. c. 4. p. 125.

Dionysius writes, I have received this Canon and Rule of bles∣sed Heracles, our Pope (being Bishop of Alexandria before him) that such as returned from Hereticks, if he did but keep the company of one that preached false Doctrine, should be ex∣communicated, neither admitted, though they entreat, before they openly pronounce all they had heard from the adversa∣ry, but then to be received without re-baptism. He saith, I am sure of this, that not onely the bishops of Affrick have practi∣sed this like, but the bishops of old, of the most famous chur∣ches, and in the Synods of the brethren at Iconium and Synedis, with the advice of many, have decreed the same. Euseb. l. 7. c. 6. p. 126.

Several Synods called and held at Antioch about the Here∣sies of Paulus Samosatenus, and at several sessions they discuss the matter; there were of bishops a great number, and of Mi∣nisters and Deacons an infinite number; and in one (said to be the greatest Council) where the Author of the Heresie was publikely condemned of all, severed, banished and excommu∣nicated the Catholick and Universal Church under Heaven. And the Bishops then gathered together with uniform con∣sent, write to all the Churches, and tell them what they had done; and it's said, when Paulus would not depart the church, neither avoid the House, the Emperor being sought unto, did decree, that the House should be left unto such as the bishop of Italy and Rome should allot. Eus. l. 7 c. 26, 27, 28, 29. p 138, 139.140.

Constantine the Emperor upon some contentions between bi∣shops, summoned by his Letter bishops together to end it. Eus. l. 10. c. 5. p. 203, 204.

Alexander bishop of Alexandria, called together a Synod of many bishops, and deprived Arius, and such of his opinion of the Priestly Order, and wrote to the churches what they had done; and it's noted, this caused the infection to scatter the farther, when men were perswaded to subscribe to the Letters. And a bishop writes to Alexander to let the controversie pass, and admit Arius again; and he refusing, the strife encreased, and broke all to pieces between the bishops and people, Soc. l. 1. c. 3. p. 215, 216, 217.

The Council at Nice called by Constantine the Emperor about Arius, and the controversie of Easter, consisting of Bishops, Priests, Deacons and Lay-men, and men chosen by the chur∣ches, were numberless, and the Emperor himself was there (though not baptized:) There they pronounce that Opinion accursed, and forbid Arius of Alexandria, and him and two more they banish by the Emperors Edict; they make a Creed about that point, write to the Church of Alexandria, and di∣rect it to the holy church, and beloved brethren. They decree that Miletius the bishop there, shall have his title, but take away some of his power; and of others they say, that they shal en∣joy their Ministerial Office, yet be inferior to all the Pastors throughout every church, and not make Ministers but by Alex∣anders consent. They agree on the business of Easter; they a∣gree on the terms [one substance] in the Creed, (though no such term in Scripture;) yet there they ratifie a form of a curse, that forbiddeth that no man do acquaint himself with For∣raign speeches, and unwritten Languages, whereby in a man∣ner all confusion and discord is drawn into the Church; for whereas the Scripture nowhere saith, that the Son of God hath his beginning of nothing, &c. These Decrees (say they) do properly concern Aegypt, and the church of Alexandria. The Emperor writes to the churches, and tells them what was done, and perswades to peace, and concludes, Beloved brethren, Soc. l. 1. c. 5 & 6. p. 220, 221, 222, &c.

At the Council a Novatian Bishop being asked why he se∣vered himself from the communion of the faithful, &c. he brought forth a severe Canon, that such as after baptism, &c. fell into that sin termed in Scripture the sin unto death, should not be received unto holy Mysteries, &c. the Emperor replyed, Get thee a Ladder, and climb alone to Heaven. There they

order, That such as were Officers, and had no Wives, should not marry. Soc. l. 1. c. 7. p. 231. ch. 8. p. 231.

The Emperor Constantine called together a Synod of bishops to consecrate the Temple which he had built at Jerusalem; he had willed the bishops assembled at Tyrus, to debate (together with other matters) the contention raised about Athanastus, to the end (all quarrels being removed) they might chearfully solemnize the consecration of the church, and dedicate the same to God. The bishops being cited by the Senators, were in number 60. Soc. l. 1. c. 20. p. 245.

This Council by the Emperors command, came from Tyrus to Jerusalem, and there held a great Feast for the consecration of the same places. They admit Arius into the church again with his confederates (whom Athanasius before refused to re∣ceive in upon the Emperors command) and the Bishops said, that in that behalf they would satisfie the Emperors Letters, whereby he signified that he allowed of Arius his faith. They wrote to the church of Alexandria, and by unanimous consent agreed to exile Athanasius. He told the Emperor of his injury; he writes to the Council, and rebukes them sharply, and com∣manded them to repair unto him, to give him an account; they receiving this Letter, fell together by the ears; many went home, never went to the Emperor, but some of them feigned an accusation against Athauasius upon a civil account, and pro∣cure his banishment. Soc. l. 1. c. 22, 23. p. 247, 248.

Constantius summoned an Arian Council to depose Paulus a bishop at Constantinople, having a dislike to him; Eusebius to bring his wicked purpose to pass, summoned a Council at An∣tioch in Syria, (pretending a dedication of the church) this I dare say, to the overthrow of the faith of one substence, there came out of divers Provinces Bishops, to the number of nine∣ty; the bishop of Rome was not there, when as the Ecclesiasti∣cal Canon forbids that any Constitution should be thrust into the church without the censure of the bishop of Rome. The Council met, the Emperor Constantine was present, there Euse∣bius and his confederates endeavoured to accuse Athanasius fals∣ly; they choose another bishop for Alexandria (though Atha∣nasius was yet there) but he went not there, because the peo∣ple loved Athanasius so well. Then they consecrate Gregory to go thither Bishop. Then they send an Epistle of the Faith to

all Churches: After they alter that, and make a new form, to which also Gregory subscribes, and stiles himself Bishop of Alexandria. This Gregory was by five thousand Souldiers brought to Alexandria, and there put in, and Athanasius put out by force; and the Arians were to assist to carry on the Arian fa∣ction. Soc. l. 2. c. 5, 6, 7, 8. p. 254, 255, 256.

When the bishop of Rome wrote unto the bishops to restore such as they had deposed, and rebukes them for their rash act, these men took this correction for a contumacy; they summon a Council at Antioch, and being come together, they agree of an Epistle, wherein they say, If any were ex∣communicated by their censure, it was not his part to inter∣meddle, neither to sit in judgement upon their sentence; for whenas he had removed Novatus out of the Church of Rome, they neither molested nor contraried his doings. Soc. l. 2. c. 11. p. 257, 258.

At the request of Paulus and Athanasius, the two Emperors by Letters summoned a General Council to meet at Sardis; then met there (saith Athanasius) three hundred bishops of the West Churches, and (as Sabinus declareth) onely seven∣ty six out of the East; but when they came there, the bi∣shops of the East would not comeinto the presence of them of the West, except Athanasius and Paulus might be barred of their company; to which two of the bishops would not con∣sent; the Eastern bishops forthwith depart to Philippi, and there they sate in Council, and began openly to accurse the Creed of one Substance. And the Assembly that continued at Sardis, first, condemned them; next, deposed them from their Dignities, ratified the Nicene Council Creed: Both sides were pleased with their own doings, and each seemed to himself to have done well. The Bishops of the East, be∣cause the Western Bishops had received such as they had deposed: The Western Bishops, because they being Depo∣sers of others, depart before hearing of the cause. The one, that they maintained the Nicene Creed; the other, that they condemned it. Soc. l. 2. c. 16. p. 263.

Athanasius brings this Councils Decree for his restoration to Jerusalem, and the Emperors consent thereto, and there also procures a Synod to be summoned. Maximus the bishop there cited thither certain bishops out of Syria and Palestina; the Assembly being gathered together, they gave Athanasius the Communion, and assigned unto him his dignity: They being dissolved, wrote and signified to the people at Alexan∣dria, to the bishops of Aegypt and Lybia, all their Decrees and C••nons touching Athanasius. Soc. l. 2. c. 19. p. 269.

Athanasius at Alexandria called together divers Councils of the bishops of Aegypt, where they decree such things that were agreeable with the Canons of the Council of Sardis, and also of the Council held at Jerusalem under Maximus. Soc. l. 2. c. 21. p. 270.

The Emperor compelled Osius the bishop of Corduba, &c. and when he would not subscribe to their Faith, they scourg∣ed his sides, and set his Members upon a Rack; so that in the end by compulsion he gave his assent, and subscribed to the forms of Faith which then were published. This was done at the Council held at Syrmium, whither the Emperor forced Osius to come. Soc. l. 2. c 26. p. 275.

By the Emperors Edict a Council was proclaimed to be held at Millain, where met not many bishops out of the East, for age and long journeys, but out of the West above three hun∣dred Bishops came. The Bishops of the East required that sentence should be passed by the whole council against A∣thanasius, thinking to prevent his going to Alexandria again: Some Bishops opposed it, and the Council brake up. The Em∣peror then commanded the Council to be held several; the one part in the East, the other in the West; but this pur∣pose took no prosperous success; for neither of the councils agreed within themselses, but both divided into several Fa∣ctions. At one of them held at Smyrna, they exhibit another form of faith, and others setled the Nicene Creed, and deri∣ded theirs. They depose some bishops, because they refuse to renounce and accurse Arius his Heresie; they write to the Emperor, he answers: They reply; he returns no answer to that. Then every one returned to his own home, Soc. l. 2. c. 29. p. 277, to 282.

There was a Council called by the Emperors Edict in the Easts they appoint several places, at last agree on Seleusia; there met 160. Bishops, there was with them one Leonas, a man of Authority and Fame at Court; in his presence the Empe∣ror commanded they should reason of the Faith; they dispu∣ted to and fro. Leonas commanded every one should propose what seemeth him best. They said, they must examine the life and conversation of men that were accursed, first. The other party would reason of the Faith, and about this they contend; but the Emperors Letters sometimes commanding one thing, and sometimes another, which caused this; but this division caused the Council to part themselves into two Factions; one part would have the Nicene Creed abrogated; the others said, they liked all done there, onely the clause of one substance they would have laid aside; and when they had brawled from morn till night, then part of the Council go away, the other part brings forth the Creed agreed on at Antioch, read it, and the Council dissolved. They the day following meet together, go into the Church, and shut the door, and there ratifie the faith by subscription; the next day there is fault found with these Canons ratified in the church, being done in private. The noble man sate with them still, till he was weary of their brawling, being nothing else for several days but onely about words; he bid them be gone, and brawle at home in their own churches. Part of the Council met again at the church, de∣pose some, excommunicate some, write to the churches their Decrees, ordain a Bishop, &c. Soc. lib. 2. chap. 31, 32. p. 285, 286, 287, 288.

Eusebius came to Alexandria, and dealt earnestly with Atha∣nasius for the summoning a Council; the bishops assembled out of divers Cities, & decreed very necessary Doctrines, confirmed the Divinity of the Holy Ghost, &c. And they would not e∣stablish or thrust into the Church of God any new opinion, but that that was decreed of old upon good grounds. Soc. l. 3. c. 5. p. 298.

The Macedonian bishops requested the Emperor to summon a Synod for the establishing of the true Faith; he gave license to call a Council. They from everywhere cited the bishops to meet at Lampasced, there they ratifie the form of Faith which was published of old at Antioch; they accursed the Creed of

the bishops which with uniform consent they lately establish∣ed at Ariminum; they gave sentence to remove Acacius and Eudoxius. Soc. l. 4. c. 2. and 4. p. 317.

The Emperor being an Arian, and not pleased with this Councils Acts, summoned a Council of Arian bishops, and thi∣ther sent for Eleusius bishop of Cizicum, and there compels them by threats of banishment, and confiscation of goods, to subscribe to their faith; and afterwards the bishop was in a great agony for it, and complained of it to his church, and bid them choose a new bishop. Soc. l. 4. c. 6. p. 318.

Some bishops now own the Nicene Creed, get a Synod of bi∣shops at Silicia, and acquaint them with it, and there subscri∣bed, &c. Soc. l 4. c. 11. p. 323.

In the village Pazum there was a Council summoned of a few obscure Novatian bishops, where they decreed, that the manner of keeping Easter with the Jews, was to be observed, many eminent Novatian bishops not there, for these were they that chiefly laid down the Canons of the Novatian churches. Soc. l. 4. c. 23. p. 334.

Theodosius the Emperor summoned a Council at Constantino∣ple, of such bishops as were of his own faith, to confirm the Canons of the Nicene Council, and he summoned thither all the bishops of the Macedonian sect, in hopes to reconcile them and those of the faith of one substance; there met 150. bishops, 36. Macedonian bishops; the Emperor and bishops of his opi∣nion perswaded with the Macedonian bishops to subscribe their faith, and to communicate with them; but they absolutely re∣fused so to do, and then they left Constantinople, and wrote to the churches, that they would not subscribe to the Nicene Creed; the 150. bishops continued there, and consented to the enstalling of Nectarius then chosen a bishop by the people in the room of Gregory, who went thence from a little church in Constantinople he formerly governed. They decree, that the bishop of Constantinople should have the next Prerogative after the bishop of Rome, because the city was called new Rome; they divide Provinces, ordain Patriarchs; they decree, that no bi∣shop shall leave his own Diocess, and intermeddle with For∣reign churches; they allot to the several Patriarchs their Juris∣diction; they assign the Western Diocess to three bishops, re∣served the Prerogative of honour to the church of Antioch,

which they granted to Meletius one of the bishops of Antioch: They decree, If need be, a Provincial Synod should determine of Provincial affairs: The Emperor gave consent; the Coun∣cil dissolved. Soc. l. 5. c. 8. p. 342, 343.

Epiphanius a bishop summoned a Synod of the bishops of the Isle of Cyprus, and there condemned Origen's works, and de∣creed, they should not be read from thence: They write to John, to perswade him to forbear reading of them. Then Theophilus a bishop called another Council, and there condem∣ned the same Works. Soc. l. 6. c. 19. p. 366.

John Chrysostome having displeased the Empress, she worketh by Theophilus the bishop, to summon a Council against him, who by the Emperors commandment summon many bishops out of divers cities; but above all others, those that hated John, came apace together; the bishops met in the subburbs of Chalcedon, they summoned John, he dislikes them as Enemies, appeals to a general Council; they call him four times, and (he not appearing) they condemn him, and depose him for no o∣ther crime but for not appearing. The people would not suf∣fer him to be thrust out; then the Emperor commanded him to be exiled. The people then being so unquiet, the Empe∣ror immediately sent for him again to them. Soc. l. 6. ch. 14. p. 369, 370.

She again procures another Council of Bishops against him at Constantinople, and there they without more ado, depose him again, and the Emperor banisheth him again. Soc. lib. 7. ch. 16. p 372.

The Emperor gave commandment, that the bishops out of all places should meet at Ephesus, where they came together a∣bout Nestorius a bishop: Thereupon the Bishops were divided into two parts; such of the Council as held with Cirillus the bi∣shop, went together, and deposed Nestorius; and the bishops who held with Nestorius, went together, and deposed Cirillus, and Memnon bishop of Ephesus. After when John bishop of An∣tioch came and blamed Cirillus, as the author of that sin, he and his company deposed John also by way of revenge, and his Clergy from Priestly Order, and absolved Cirillus and Memnon; the Council for that broke up, and John went home, and called a Synod of Bishops, and there deposed Cirillus; after they be∣came friends, and restored each other. This was wrought by

the gracious and godly Letters of the Emperor to John and Cyrillus. See the form of their sentence of Deposition, Soc. l. 7. c. 33. p. 394, 395. See it also Evag. l. 1. c. 3, 4 5. p. 412 413.

There met a Council at Ephesus, here they restore Eutyches an Heretick, who formerly deposed other Bishops, and excom∣municated some others of the best Bishops. Iraeneus was one, Evag. l. 1. c. 10. p. 417.

There was a Council held at Chalcedon, of 630. Bishops, & there sate with them the chief Senators, & there the Substitutes of Leo Bishop of Rome, said, that Dioscorus ought not to sit in the Coun∣cil with them, and that Leo had charged them no less; and if they would not yeild to it, they would leave the Church, and bid farwel: The Senators asked what he was charged with, &c. (it seems he had deposed Leo the great Bishop) whereupon a supplication is exhibited against Dioscorus. Two Bishops chal∣lenged Authority in the Council: And there 'twas confessed, that in another Council before this, Canons were altered, and a Bishop deprived by subscriptions of such who were forced to it by Souldiers, who stood by with naked swords to dispatch them if they yeilded not; and this by the means of Acacius the bishop, upon reading some Records: The Senators gave their sentence, that Dioscorus (if it pleased the Emperor) and other Bishops he names of Anthority in the Council, should be de∣posed, &c. The Legates of Pope Leo stand up again, and charge Dioscorus for divers crimes, for receiving an excommu∣nicated person, for not reading holy Pope Leo his Epistle, &c. excommunicated Pope Leo, set at nought divers Constituti∣ons of the Church, &c. Concludes, Leo the most holy Arch-Bishop, by us and this sacred Assembly, together with the most blessed Apostle St. Peter, &c. bereaved him of all dignity; they confirm the sentence, and certifie the Emperor, and send a Deprivation to Dioscorus, and set down the causes, &c. They cry out in the Council, This we believe; As Pope Leo believes, so we believe, &c. This they often repeated. They make the Sea of Chalcedon an Arch-Bishoprick, add more places to others Jurisdictions, and that Constantinople should be next in honor to Rome. The Emperor confirms this. He was sometimes here present: The Senators had the sway. For the number of Bi∣shops,

see Evagr. l. 2. c. 10. p. 436 Evag. l. 2. c. 2, & 4. p. 426, 427, 428 429, 430, 431. ch. 18. p. 438, 439, &c. to 450.

A General Council summoned by Justinianus the Emperor, are there; they put it to the question, if they might accurse the dead, or not: And when a certain Bishop perceived the Coun∣cil going the wrong way, he told them, there was nothing to be doubted in the Question; for King Josiah caused the tombs of the Idol-Priests to be digged up. These words pleased them all, and satisfied them fully. Then the Emperor demanded what they said to that which Theodoretus had written against Cyril, &c. They perceiving he had been lately condemned, and his Name wiped clean out of the Catalogue, and taking it for granted that they might condemn Hereticks after their decease, they with general consent accursed him & his works, thus: We condemn not onely all other Hereticks condemn∣ed by the four holy Councils abovesaid, and by the holy Ca∣tholick Church, but also Theodoretus and his wicked Books: And they condemn the wicked Epistle wrote by Ibas to Maris the Persian: They lay down 14. Articles of the true Faith. And when they had cryed against Origen, the controversie weas re∣ferred to the Emperor. They depose a Bishop, and dissolve the Council. Evag. l. 4. c. 37. p. 487, 488.

At a Council at Ancyra a Town in Galatia, they set down rules of repentance for such as had sacrificed or turned to I∣dols by persecution; some for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. years to be kept from communion. 2. That Deacons who married, and had not said at Ordination they could not abstain, should be put by. 3. That Countrey bishops should abstain from making El∣ders and Deacons, or to usurp dominion over the preaching Elders of every City. Sympson de Conc. l. 4. p. 484.

At a Council at Eliberis they decree, That the Heathenish Priest if he would learn the grounds of Christian Religion, and abstain from sacrificing, after three years repentance, should be admitted to baptism. 2. That Christian Virgins shall not be given in marriage to Pagans. 3. That Ministers are not to receive from such as did not communicate with the church. 4. Against pictures on the walls. 5. That Idos should not be in private houses; yet if the Master were afraid of the ser∣vant,

then the Master to keep himself pure. 6. That there was no justifying any that suffered for pulling down Idols without Authority. Symps. de Conc. l. 4. p. 488.

A great Council at Carthage, and there most of the canons were to advance the bishops in dignity. Sympson do Concil. lib. 4. p. 499, 500. &c.