In the congregatien held Jan. 22, the party in favor of entering at once upon the subject of reform was much increased, but the three legates contiuued their op|)osi- tion to their scheme. Subsequently, however, they pro- posed that they should always take into consideration together one subject relating to the faith and one re- lating to reform, bearing one upon the otJier.
On the 24th a curious dispute arose about the proper seal for the use of the council. S(k»ie desired that a new seal should Ije made ; bivt the legates succeeded in having the seal of the tirst legate attached to the syn- odal letters.
Session III (Y^ i, I.'i-IG), — In this session nothing was done exee(>t to recite the Creed, woril for word.
Iu a congress held Feb. 22, the legates proposed that the council should enter upon the subject of the Holy Scriptures; and four doctrinal articles were presented, extracted by the theologians from the writings of Lu- ther upon the subject of Holy Scrijiture, which they af- firmed to be contrary to the orthodox faitlu
1. Tliat all the articles of the Christian faith ii«cessaiy to he belfeved are contained iu Holy Scripture-, and that it is sacrilege to hold the oral traditions of tlie C'Imrcli to be of equal authority with the Old and New T«st.
2. That only such books as the .Tews acknowledged ouijht to be received into the canon of il«j Old Test. ; and' that the Epistle to the Hebrews, the Epistle of James, the Second Epistle of Peter, the Second and Third Epistles of .John, tlie Epistle of Jiide, and the Apocalypse should be erased fioni the canon of the New T«st.
4. That Holy Scripture is easy to be understood, and clear, and that no glo«s or commentary is needed, but only the Spirit of Jesus Christ.
The first two articles were debated In the four follow- ing congregations. As to the first article, the congre- gation came to the decision that the Christian faith is contained partly in Holy Scripture and partly in the traditions of the Church. L^pon the second article much discussion arose. All agreed in receiving all the books read in the Roman Church, including the Apocryphal books, allegiug the authority of the catalogues drawn up in the cotnicils of Laodicea and Carthage, and those under Iiuiocent I and Gelasius I; but there were four opinions as to the method to be observed in drawing up the catalogue. One party wished to divide the books into two classes — one containing those which have al- ways been received without dispute, the other contain- ing those which had been doubted. The second party desired a threefold division: 1. Containing the un- doubted books; 2. Those which had been at one time suspected, but since received; 3. Those which had nev- er been recognised, as seven of the Apocryphal books, and some chapters in Daniel and Esther. The third party wished that no distinction should be made: and the fourtii that all the books contained in the Latin Vulgate should be declared to be canonical and inspired.
The discussion was resumed on March 8, but not de- cided: the members, however, unanimously agreed that the traditions of the Church are equal iu authority to Holy Scripture.
In the following congregation it was decided that the catalogue of the books of Holy Scripture should be drawn up without any of the proposed distinctions, and that they shoidd be declared to be all of equal author- ity.
The authority of the Latin Yulgate (declared in the third article to be full of errors) came under considera- tion in subsequent con«regati<nis, and it was almost unanimously declared to be authentic With regard to the fourth article, it was agreed tliat in interprciing Scripture men must be guided by the voice of the fa- thers and of the Church.
Session /F (April 8, 1546). — Between sixtj' and sev- enty prelates attended this session. Two decrees were read : L Upon the canon of Scripture, which declares that the holy council receives all the books of the Olil and New Test, as well as all the traditions of the Church respecting faith and morals, as having proceeded from the lips of Jesus Christ himself, or as having been die-
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tateil liy the Holy Spirit and preserved in the Catholic Church by a continued succession ; and that it looks upon both the written and unwritten Word with equal res|)ect. After this the decree enumerates the books re- ceived as canonical by the Cluirch of Home, and as tliey are loinid in tlie Vidi^ate. and anathematizes all who re- fuse to acknowledge thetn as such. The second decree declares the authenticity of the Vulgate, forbids all pri- vate interpretation of it, and orders that no copies be jirinted or circulated without autiiority, under penalty of Hue anil anathema.
In an()ther congregation the abuses relating to lect- urers on Holy Scri])ture and preachers were discussed; also those arising from the non-residence of bishops. After tins the question of original sin came under con- sideration, and nine articles taken from the Lutheran books were drawn up and ottered for examination, upon which some discussion took place. Ultimately, how- ever, a decree was drawn up upon the subject, divided into five canons.
1. Treats of the personal sin of Adam.