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CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE OF THE POPES OF ROME. KINGS OF ENGLAND. KINGS OF FRANCE. EMPERORS OF GERMANY.

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The order of the Jesuits suppressed in France, and
their revenues confiscated, A. D. 1764. Expelled
from Portugal, A. D. 1759.

Suppresses the order of the Jesuits, A. D. 1773.

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Germanic Confederation.

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Elected Sept. 28.

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SOME ACCOUNT

OF THE

EIGHTEEN GENERAL COUNCILS.

"To tell you plainly, I am determined to fly all conventions of Bishops. For I never yet saw a Council that ended happily. Instead of lessening, they invariably augment, the evil.-GREGORY NANZIENZEN.

COUNCILS, or Ecclesiastical Assemblies, held for regulating the discipline, reforming the errors, or defining the Doctrines of the Church, owe their origin to the Apostolic age. The first on record was held for the election of a successor to the apostleship in place of Judas, Acts i. 26. The most important was held at Jerusalem, to deliberate on the propriety of dispensing with the Ceremonial Law, in the case of the Gentile Converts at Antioch. This assembly was held about eighteen years after Christ's ascension; St. James, as Bishop of Jerusalem, presiding. In the second century we are informed that there were eight Synods held, of which, however, history furnishes no certain information. On the conversion of Constantine to Christianity, various Ecclesiastical Assemblies were held, successively, at Sinuessa, Cirtha, Alexandria, Elvira or Eliberis, Carthage, Rome, and Arles. At the latter Synod, Marinus, Bishop of that city, presided, although the Legates of Silvester, Bishop of Rome, were present. The Synods of Ancyra and Neo Cæsarea followed; and two more were convened at Alexandria, A. D. 322, against Arius. Hosius, a Spanish Bishop, presided at both these Synods, by order of the Emperor Constantine.

To these succeeded at different periods, what are termed General Councils, held at various places, and on various occasions: of these eight were convened by the exclusive authority of the Emperors, and are known as the Eastern Councils; the ten Western Councils were called under Papal authority. In the following abstract of these eighteen General Councils, we shall state the place where each was held; the occasion of its meeting; the time when it assembled; its principal decisions; the number of Bishops convened; and under whose Presidency it was held.

THE FIRST GENERAL COUNCIL OF NICE,

A. D. 325.

THE celebrated Council of Nice, which was held in the metropolis of Bythinia, a province of Asia Minor, claims particular attention; as well from the causes which called it into existence, and the circumstances attending it, as from the deference which has been paid to it in every age of Christianity. The Creed, which it established, is that, which Christians now profess; the errors and impieties which it condemned, are those, which, according to the refinements of Socinus, his followers of the present day have moulded into their Anti-Christian system.

During the unhappy quarrel that arose between Arius and his Bishop, and which was exasperated by an incendiary named Bacaulis, partisans sprung up at both sides; among whom were, Eusebius, Bishop of Nicomedia; and Eusebius the historian, biographer, and intimate friend of the Emperor Constantine. The support which Arius received from these learned men contributed in a still greater degree to widen the breach between him and his Bishop, and proportionably, to lessen the respect due to episcopal authority. To no purpose did Hosius, the venerable Bishop of Cordova, attempt to bring about a reconciliation. Even the Emperor himself wrote to them on the subject of their dispute, and blamed both equally for disturbing the peace of the Church by their foolish trifling; the consequence was, that he was resolved to call a Council of the whole Church for the purpose of deliberating on the matter, and deciding on one, or two other points of minor interest.

Although the early writers vary in their reports of the number of Bishops in attendance at this Council; yet the general opinion is, that it amounted to no fewer than three hundred and eighteen: Eusebius, after enumerating the different countries, which sent Bishops to this Council, makes particular mention of Hosius, a Spanish Bishop, whom he styles a Prince in the Synods, and a man of great renown, he also speaks of his being in such high esteem at Court, that the Emperor sent him into Egypt three years previously to preside at a Council in Alexandria, held against Arius. Sylvester, "Bishop of the Royal City of Rome" was not present, we are told, in consequence of his old age; but his Presbyters, Vitus and Vincentius, supplied his place. The historian simply

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