so much authority in the church, that they almost supplied the place of the judgments of provincial synods. The censures of the university of Paris are found in the writings of Du Boulay and Du Pin, and have been published in several volumes. According to Launoy, this university exercised invariably the right of judging in questions of doctrine, and of imposing its judgments under the penalty of loss of degrees in case of refusal to recant errors or to sustain the opposite truths. They also obliged those admitted to degrees to subscribe previously articles defined by the university. The same sort of power was exercised by all similar universities. Thus the writings of Luther were condemned by the universities of Louvain, Cologne, and others, in the sixteenth century. Universities were also frequently consulted by princes and others in difficult questions of doctrine or morality. Philip the Fair, king of France, consulted the university of Paris, previously to the suppression of the order of knights-templars. The duke of Orleans consulted them in 1410, concerning certain theses published against his deceased father f. In the same manner king Henry VIII. consulted the universities of Oxford, Cambridge, Paris, Bologna, &c. on the question whether marriage with a deceased brother's wife was contrary to the divine law. He also consulted the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, whether the bishop of Rome has, by divine right, any jurisdiction in England, and they determined in the negative. The universities were invested with such Du Pin, Biblioth. des Aut. Eccl. Cent. xiv, xv, &c. e Ibid. c. lxi. art. 7. Bulæi Hist. Univ. Paris, t. Launoius, De Scholis Cele- iii. p. 570. brioribus, cap. lix-lxi. great prerogatives by the western churches, that their authority, in all religious questions, could not fail to be very considerable. They sent representatives to general synods of the west; and the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, were empowered to licence preachers throughout England. The university of Oxford has exercised her undoubted privilege of censuring errors in doctrine, at least, from the fourteenth century. In 1314, eight articles of false doctrine were censured by the university. In 1368, several articles were condemned by the order of the archbishop of Canterbury. The doctrines of Wickliffe were censured by the chancellor and doctors in 1371, and forbidden to be taught under pain of incarceration and suspension from university acts. In 1411, delegates were appointed to examine the books of the Wickliffites and select propositions from them, which were condemned'. In 1425, the university censured the doctrine of Russell against personal tithes, and prescribed an oath against it, to be taken by all persons admitted to degrees ". In 1482, some persons having maintained the errors of the Mendicants, were deprived of their degrees, and expelled from the university". In 1530 and 1534, the questions concerning king Henry's marriage, and the Papal jurisdiction were determined. In 1609, Edmond Campian, having taught that subjects might 8 Launoius, ut supra. The university of Oxford received from the pope the privilege of licensing preachers in 1490.-See Wood, Hist. Univ. Oxon. p. 235. Fuller's history of the University of Cambridge, is too brief to enter into such particulars. i Ant. Wood, Hist. Univ. Oxon. p. 152. j Ibid. p. 183. * Ibid. p. 189. 'Ibid. p. 206. Ibid. p. 211. " Ibid. p. 232. • Burnet, Hist Reformation. lawfully take up arms against their sovereign for the cause of religion, was compelled to retract P. In 1609, a person was forced to recant some Popish errors. In 1622, many erroneous propositions were condemned'. In 1647, the solemn league and covenant was censured. At the end of the same century, Dr. Bury's Socinian writings were condemned by the university and publicly burnt, and he was himself expelled; and in 1836, Dr. Hampden was suspended from certain privileges in consequence of the theological errors advanced in his writings'. Thus there cannot be any doubt that universities which possess a theological faculty, have a just and prescriptive right of censuring the writings, propositions, and persons of their members, and if needful, of enforcing their judgments, by demanding subscription to articles and declarations, or by exacting recantations, under the penalty of suspension, degradation, or expulsion. P Wood, Hist. Univ. Oxon. Vice-Cancellario in quæstionem p. 315. vocetur, secundum Tit. xvi. § 11: quum vero qui nunc professor est, scriptis quibusdam suis publici juris factis, ita res theologicas tractaverit, ut in hac parte nullam ejus fiduciam habeat Universitas: statutum est, quod munerum prædictorum expers sit S. Theologiæ professor regius, donec aliter Universitati placuerit." |