464 ORbmrS. �BooE IL many remric? for it is prmcilmlly the duty of the b/shop to licence and to control preaching. The result is, that this part of the pastor's work has been almost altogether neglected in the Church of Rome. In its place heaps of ceremonies, and the mm in an unknown tongue, heys been introduced; so that the word of C, od has been neglected, and the pread?- of it, which is the power of God unto salvation, bas received a substimto in priesdy absolution, and the other kindred mum* medes of popery. The want of preaching qualifications in popish prelates wu strikingly manifested at the Council of Trent. The bishops cinimed the sole pre- rogative to provide for the wants of the church in respect to preaching, and complained bitterly of the usurpations of the regulars, especially the mendicant ordem, whose great Power wu much feared by the bishops. The Pope favoured the pretensions/if the religious orders, whose devotedhess to the Roman see wu of essential importance to his interests; though he was convinced that the prelates, according to the order of the church, had jnstiee on their side. He accordingly charged his legates to exert themselves to the utmost, that the bishops might be gratified at as little expense as possible to their rivals. The debates on this subject were violent and disorderly. The prelates stated their grievances in strong and intemperate language. The bishop of Fensuli exhorted his brethren to be mindful of the duties of their office; he complained of the intrusion of the regulars into the dioceases, and of the liberty they had to preach in the monasteries, and even ventured to describe them as wolves who had entered into the sheepfold, but not by the door. He besought the fathers, by all that was sacred, not to suffer these abuses any longer; if they neglected this oppormmty, he would appeal to the tribunal of God himself, before which he would stand innocent in this matter; but that on their heads would be the blood of the people. It was observed on the other side that the prelates had no reason to find fault whh that which was the consequence of their neglect; that if the duties of public instruction had been properly discharged by them, the regulars would have con- fined themselves to the more private exercises of religion; that to their own ignorance and idleness the present state of things was mainly at- tributable; and that they could not jusdy complain, since, while the monks bore the burden of their ministry, they themselves retained all its gains and honours. The bishop of Fmasuli subsequendy renewed the discussion. He said that there was great want of liberty in the council, and that at- tempts were daily made to diminish the Power and authority of the prelates, whom he besought, in the name of Jesus Christ, not to suffer ?hemselves to be so shamefully treated, but to resoh*e on the restora- tion of their pristine dignity. The legates heard this address with great impatience. Fmssuli was charged with heresy, and of' exciting discord and sedition. "A man cannot hold his tongue," said the bishop, �' when he sees that he is robbed." But he soon found it necessary to alter his tone. De Monte sent a copy of his speech to Rome, and at tim next meeting inveighed rmmt angrily against it; denounced it as calumnious, insulting, seditious, and schism__stical; and excited so much feeling among the fathers, that the bishop was compelled, by the odium raised against him, to ask forgiveness. 1
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