Qui ergo scit se
quibusdam esse praepositum, non moleste ferat aliquem sibi esse praepositum;
sed obedientiam quam exigit etiam ipse dependat; et sicut non vult gravis
oneris sarcinam ferre, ita non audeat aliis importabile pondus imponere_.
These words sufficiently shew the monarchical form of government then set
up in the Churches of the _Western Empire_ under the Bishop of _Rome_, by
means of the imperial Decree of _Gratian_, and the appeals and decretal
Epistles grounded thereupon.
The same Pope _Leo_, having in a Council at _Rome_ passed sentence upon
_Hilary_ Bishop of _Arles_, for what he had done by a Provincial Council in
_Gallia_, took occasion from thence to procure the following Edict from the
_Western_ Emperor _Valentinian_ III. for the more absolute establishing the
authority of his See over all the Churches of the _Western Empire_.
_Impp. Theodosius & Valentinianus AA. Aetio
Viro illustri, Comiti & Magistro utriusque
militiae & Patricio._
_Certum est & nobis & imperio nostro unicum esse praesidium in supernae
Divinitatis favore, ad quem promerendum praecipue Christiana fides &
veneranda nobis religio suffragatur. Cum igitur Sedis Apostolicae Primatum
sancti Petri meritum, qui princeps est Episcopalis coronae & Romanae dignitas
civitatis, sacrae etiam Synodi firmavit auctoritas: ne quid praeter
auctoritatem Sedis istius illicitum praesumptio attemperare nitatur: tunc
enim demum Ecclesiarum pax ubique servabitur, si Rectorem suum agnoscat
Universitas.
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