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by this synod, which only confirmed the agreement about the investitures of prelates made between the emperor Henry and the Roman pontiff. This synod is generally called the "ninth ecumenical" by modern Roman authors.

The second Lateran synod was convened by pope Innocentius in 1139. Otho Frisingensis says, that 1000 bishops were present, but this is evidently a mistake, and it is to be understood that 1000 prelates of all sorts were present, including bishops, abbots, deans, &c. In this synod the heresies of the Manichæans were condemned ". These heretics rejected the sacraments, infant baptism, holy orders, and lawful marriage. Arnold of Brescia was admonished and silenced for his excessive declamations against the elergy c. Several canons of discipline were made. Nothing except what was laudable was done in this synod in matters of faith. It is styled by modern Roman theologians, the "tenth oecumenical synod."

The third Lateran synod was assembled by Alexander III. in 1179, and was attended by 280 bishops. There were no decrees on faith, except that the heretics called Cathari, Patarini, or Publicani, were for very good reasons excommunicated. The principal act of the synod consisted of a regulation concerning the elections of the bishops of Rome. Some modern

writers call it " the eleventh œcumenical synod." These three synods were not œcumenical by convo

a Otto Frisingensis, lib. vii. c. 23. cited by Harduin. Concil. t. vi. p. 1215, who says, that Urspergensis testifies the same. Were this true, this Lateran synod would have been by far the greatest ever held.

b Canon xxiii. Harduin. p. 1212.

d

c Harduin. Conc. vi. p. 1215. Can. xxviii. Harduin. vi. p. 1683. Fleury, Hist. Eccl. liv. 73. s. 18, 19, 20.

cation, the Latin bishops only being summoned; nor were any bishops of the oriental churches present in either of them. In the last a few of the Latin bishops, whom the crusaders had placed in their districts, attended. The decrees of these synods were never sent to the oriental churches: nor have they ever yet been received or acknowledged in the East as oecumenical synods. In the fourteenth century the Eastern church acknowledged only six synods. The council of Constance in the profession which was to be made by the newly-elected bishop of Rome, only spoke of one Lateran synod as general', which must be referred to the fourth synod of Lateran, as this was much the greatest of the synods held there. In the synod of Florence the Greeks only received seven or eight synods. That synod was styled by its editor the "eighth œcumenical," and is so termed in the papal licence". The historians Platina and Nauclerus do not term either of these Lateran synods general. Albertus Stadensis speaks of the last as a "celebrated synod," but does not call it general or œcumenical. Cardinal Gaspar Contarenus, in his "Summa of the most famous Councils," dedicated to pope Paul III. in 1562, does not include these Lateran synods among the oecumenical councils, as he styles the synod of Florence, the "ninth oecumenical." Thus these synods have merely the authority of the Western church, and as such they are not to be accounted equal to the genuine œcumenical synods.

e See Barlaam cited above, note (1), p. 203.

f Conc. Const. Sess. xxxix. Harduin. t. viii. p. 859.

& Synodus Florent. Sess. v, vi, vii. Harduin. Conc. t. ix.

h Launoius, Epistolar. pars viii. epist. xi.

"Post hanc synodum Florentinam nonam œcumenicam, temporibus nostris sub Julio et Leone Pontificibus fuit synodus Lateranensis."-Opera Contareni, p. 563. ed. 1571. This edition is formally approved by several doctors of the University of Paris.

SECTION II.

THE FOURTH LATERAN SYNOD.

Innocentius III. convened this synod (which some modern authors style "the twelfth œcumenical") in 1215 it consisted of 412 bishops, including some of the Latin patriarchs of the East: and a number of ambassadors of various princes were present. Pope Innocentius published in this synod a series of decrees, the first of which is a confession of faith directed against the errors of the sects who held the Manichæan heresy. These heretics denied the Unity and Trinity ; maintained that there were two principles; denied the authority of the Old Testament as the work of the evil principle; rejected the incarnation of Christ, the resurrection, the sacraments of baptism and the eucharist, and marriage'.

The confession of faith published by Innocentius accordingly confesses the doctrine of the triune God, the only principle and author of all things; the authority of the Old Testament; our Lord's incarnation, suffering, bodily ascension into heaven; the resurrection of the body; the importance and use of the eucharist, the necessity of baptism, and lawfulness of marriage ✨.

This synod consisting only of Latin bishops, and having never been received by the Oriental churches, cannot be considered as invested with the authority of the catholic church. It was not acknowledged as œcumenical by the first edition of the synod of Florence, nor in the license of pope Clement VII. for

See Mosheim's Eccl. History, cent. xii. part ii. c. 5. In proof of their denial of the real presence in the eucharist, see Mr.

Maitland on the Albigenses, p. 237. 308. 319. 347. 355.

k

Fleury, Hist. Eccl. liv. lxxvii. s. 45, 46.

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publishing that synod', nor by cardinal Contarenus", nor by the historians Platina, Nauclerus, Trithemius, or Albertus Stadensis. The general doctrine of the decree on faith was, however, orthodox and laudable it was directed against heretics who denied all that was most sacred in christianity. But this decree has not the authority which might have been expected, because it appears not to have been made conciliariter, with synodical deliberation, discussion, and giving of suffrages; but Innocentius caused it to be read with many others in the presence of the synod, and the bishops seem to have remained silent".

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Du Pin remarks, that "no canons were made by the council, but some decrees were composed by the Roman pontiff, and read in the council, some of which appeared burdensome to many." He says before, that they were not made conciliariter, and that "many historians testify that nothing could be concluded on in that council: thus Nauclerus (generat. 4 ad an. 1215) speaking of the council, observes, Many things were consulted of, but yet nothing could be agreed on,' and again, Yet some constitutions are found to have been published.' Platina, in the life of Innocent III., says the same. Many things were consulted of, but yet nothing could be manifestly decreed, for both the people of Pisa and Genoa were engaged in warfare by sea, and the Cisalpines by land,' &c. Godefridus Viterbiensis (ad an. 1215) says: In this council nothing was done worthy of mention, except that the Oriental church submitted herself to the Roman.' Certainly if

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canons were promulgated in that council, those which are proposed under its name were made by Innocent III., not by the whole council. Hence in the title of this council by Jacobus Middemportius (in the works of Innocent III., published at Cologne, 1607, apud Cholinum), is the following: Sacri Concilii Generalis Lateranensis, sub Domino Innocentio Pontifice maximo hujus nominis tertio, celebrati, anno Domini 1215. Decreta ab eodem Innocentio conscripta.' The same appears from Matthew Paris in his History of England (ad an. 1215). A universal synod was celebrated at Rome, the Lord Pope Innocent III. presiding, in which were 412 bishops, &c. All being assembled, the pope having first delivered a word of exhortation, sixty canons were read in full council, which appeared tolerable to some, burdensome to others; then he commenced a discourse on the business of the crusade ".' Du Pin therefore justly concludes that the decrees of this synod were not made conciliariter.

This objection alone would render the authority of such decrees very dubious according to Bellarmine, Bossuet, Delahogue, &c. for the promises of Christ to aid his church in determining the truth, always suppose the use of ordinary means. indeed known in the Western rather under the name of pope the Lateran synod 9.

• Du Pin, De Antiqua Eccl. Discipl. Dissert. vii. p. 572, 573. Delahogue, De Eccl. Christi,

p. 212.278.

One MS. referred to by Harduin does not give these decrees any title, the other is thus headed: "Incipiunt constituti

These decrees were church afterwards, Innocentius, than of

ones Innocentii III. Papæ, &c." -Harduin. Conc. t. vii. p. 15. In the Decretals of Gregory IX. tit. i. de sum. Trini. & fid. cath. we find the first canon headed "Innocentius III. in concilio generali." In the next title we find "ex concilio Meldensi."

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