ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 223 



3. That of Ephefus, in the year 431. 



4. That of Calcedonia, 451. 



5. The fecond of Conftantinople, in 553. 



6. The third of the lame city, 680. 



7. The fecond of Nice, in the year 787. 



8. The fourth of Conftantinople, in 869. 



9. That of the Lateran, held in 1 123. 



10. The fecond of the Lateran, in the year 1 139. 



1 1. The third of the fame place, in 1 179. 



12. The fourth of the fame place, in 1215. 



13. That of Lyons, held in 1245. 



14. The fecond of Lyons, in 1274. 



15. That of Vienna, in 1311. 



1 6. That of Conftance, in 1414. 

 i 7. That of Bafil, in i 431. 



i 8. That of Florence, in 1439. 



19. The fifth of the Lateran, in 1512, and 

 laftly, 



20. That of Trent, held in the year 1545. 



The decifions of thefe councils are named de- 

 crees or canons, and are regarded as infallible, be- 

 caufe they are fuppofed to have been immediately 

 dictated by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit, 

 however, has not been accuftomed to revolre and 

 contradict its decrees, as thefe councils have 

 publickly done. When the council of Trent 

 was fitting, there were in the world certain wick- 

 ed wits, who faid that the Holy Spirit arrived 

 at Trent every day in the cloak-bag of the poftil- 

 lion who came from Verfailles. By n 

 ing with attention the hiftory, the deba* 

 decrees of all thefe councils, we may fee the ori- 

 gin 



