'This Pope is called Martin IV., because Martin II. is the same with Marinus I., and Martin III. the same with Marinus II.

Whoever wishes to know further particulars respecting the Popes, may consult Berti's Ecclesiastical History, above referred to, from which this list is principally taken.

From what has been remarked above, that it has been the constant practice of the Church,

1 The reign of this Pope was distinguished by the abolition of the Jesuits. This Society, founded by St. Ignatius of Loyola, and approved by Paul III., in the year 1540, subsisted for upwards of 200 years, and produced in that period, a greater number of men, eminent both for learning and piety, than have appeared in any other order in the Church during the same time. The members of this society, by their zeal in promoting the interests of religion and piety, and their abilities and success in the education of youth, endeared themselves, in Catholic countries, to all ranks and degrees, both in church and state. They bocame, however, at last obnoxious to most of the then Catholic sovereigns of Europe; and, at their instigation, after being previously banished from France, Spain, Portugal, and Naples, their order was finally abolished by a brief of Clement XIV., dated 21st July, 1773. It has been lately re-established in Ruissa and Naples, at the request of the respective sovereigns of these countries; but, in the latter, they have shared the fate of its sovereign, expelled his dominions by the common enemy of all lawful sovereigns, humanity, and justice.

upon particular emergencies, to assemble her chief pastors in Synods or Councils, it cannot be thought foreign to the present purpose to give here a brief account of the principal of these ecclesiastical assemblies; such, I mean, as Roman Catholics hold to be General Councils, and whose decisions, in matters of faith, they of course consider as infallible. In order to make this account as concise as possible, I shall barely mention, in speaking of each Council, the place where held; the motive for, and time of, its assembling; the number of bishops convened, and the Pope who, either in person, or by his legates, presided in it. For the satisfaction of those who wish for more information on this subject, references will be found at the bottom of the page, to those authors who have treated it more fully.1

The first General Council was held at Nice, a city in Bithynia, from whence it takes its name, in the year 325. The errors lately broached by Arius, who denied the divinity of Jesus Christ, occasioned the assembling of this council. The blasphemies of Arius, who was himself present, were canvassed for several days. He, and his followers, fearing the indignation of the Council, used a great deal of dissimulation in admitting the Catholic terms. The fathers, to exclude all their subtilties, declared the Son consubstantial to the Father, which they inserted in the profession of their faith, called the Nicene Creed: to which all subscribed, except a small number of Arians. The prelates, to the number of 318, who compos

1 L'Abbé, Baronius, Nat. Alexander, Berti, Fleury, &c.