the inventions of the Devil: and then he tells us what he meant by all this, that thefe [Addition-makers made the Holy Ghoft to proceed not only from the Father, but from the Son alfo ; and fo goes on to exclaim against the fact, and to argue against the Doctrine. And all

this he speaks of as newly done by fome Western Bishops, (whom amongst other hard words he calls the Fore-runners and Ministers of the Antichristian Apoftacy,) who had been fent to scatter this and fome other new Doctrines amongst the Bulgarians, who had been about two years before converted to the Chriftian Faith. And henceforward the Difference between the Greeks and Latins widened every day, for this Innovation was fo much refented by the Eastern Churches, that they thereupon broke off Communion with the Western; and the Pope excommunicated Photius, and all who refused to acknowledge the Proceffion of the Holy Spirit from the Son as well

as

!

as from the Father. Thefe Quarrels continued between them many ages, though they were all, at feveral times, forced to acknowledge they were so far from understanding the nature of this Proceffion, that they did not understand the meaning of the very words they made use of in the difpute. But in process of time, about the year 1433, when the Turks had made themselves Mafters of almoft the whole Eastern Empire, and were fwarming every where round Conftantinople itfelf, the poor Greek Emperor John Palaeologus II. found himself obliged, in the most humble manner, to apply to the Chriftian Princes of Europe for their affiftance against these Mahometan Invaders, their Common Enemies who threatened deftruction and extirpation to the very Name of Chritian. But as He and all. of the Greek Church were looked upon and deemed as Heretics and Schifmatics by the Pope and all of the Romish Communion, he could

F 4

could obtain nothing from them without. uniting himself and his Subjects to the Church of Rome, particularly by renouncing their opinion concerning the Proceffion of the Holy Spirit, and fubjecting him felf and all his People to the Power and authority of the Roman Pontiff. Pope Eugenius treated the Emperor in his diftrefs with great contempt; but however, upon promife of uniting with the Romish Church, he gave him hopes of fuccour. At this time was convened the famous Council of Bafil, in order, as they gave out, to reform the diforders of the Church, both in it's head and it's members and They encouraged the Greek Emperor ftill more. But foon after, a Difpute arifing between his Holinefs and the Council, the Pope, by a moft wicked trick, transferred the Council to Ferrara, and from thence to Florence. The Bishops at Bafil highly incensed at this behaviour of Eugenius, continued fitting, and pronounced a Sen

.

tence

tence of Depofition against the Pope, for being a Difturber of the Churches Peace, and a perjured hæretical schifmatic. And they chofe in his room Amadeus Duke of Savoy, who affumed the name of Felix the Vth. While these things were doing at Bafil, Eugenius was not idle at Florence. He prefided himself in that Council, and darted all his thunders against the tramontane Rebels. The Princes of Europe were divided between thefe two contending parties. Sigifmund Emperor of Germany and others took part with the Council, while the Kings of Arragon, Caftile and others adhered to the Pope. Both parties did all they could to gain the Greek Emperor, by promifing him mighty fuccours. from this or that Quarter. But though he had refolved to go to Bafil and depend chiefly on Sigifmund; Eugenius, by a wonderful fineffe, brought him, together with Jofeph Patriarch of Conftantinople and the other Greek Bifhops,

to Florence, where they had long dif putes about the points in controversy: and poor Palaeologus, from the miserable circumstances of his affairs, was at length obliged to come over to the Pope's propofals and He and his Greeks figned the following Declaration. In the name of the Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Ghoft. By the Advice of this Holy Oecumenical Council affembled at Florence, We define that the Truth of this Faith be believed and recieved of all Chriftians, and that All profefs, that the Holy Spirit is eternally from the Father and the Son, and that He proceeds from these two eternally as one only Principle and by one only • Proceffion. We define alfo that the

Holy Apoftolic See and the

Pope of • Rome hath the Supremacy over all the Earth, that he is Succeffor of St. Peter the Prince of the Apostles, and the Vicar of Jefus Chrift; the Head of the Church, the Father and Teacher of