[127] A. D. 605.—At this time, Gregory the Great wrote: “If a bishop, whoever he be, is called a general bishop (that is, Pope), the whole church decays.” In Regist., lib. 8, cap. 188. Again: “I candidly say that any one who calls himself a general bishop, or desires to be called such, is, in his exaltation, the forerunner of antichrist.” Lib. 4, Epist. 30, Sam. Velt., Geslacht Register, page 125.
[128] A. D. 608.—Theophilactus taught at this time, that every one must and may read the holy Scriptures, if he would rightly instruct his children in the words of the Lord. On Eph. 6, Sam. Velt., page 152.
[129] Venerable Bede.—Transl.
[130] In what Bede’s priesthood or monkhood consisted, is not expressed; hence nothing can be concluded regarding it.
[131] He calls the bread of the Supper a figure, which does not accord well with the priesthood or monkhood.
[132] The life of Amalarius Fortunatus is described in history shortly after the middle of the eighth century, or about A. D. 760, though P. J. Twisck refers him to the year 836, the time of Ludovicus Pius, which is 76 years later; however, both may be true, if Amalarius wrote from his youth to old age, which may easily have been the case. As regards his belief, Twisck gives this account: “Amalarius Fortunatus, at this time, in the reign of Ludovicus Pius, wrote several excellent treatises against transubstantiation and the corporeal presence of the body of Christ, of the internal sacrifice of believers, and other fine things, as can be seen in Catal. Test., fol. 161, P. J. Twisck, Chron., 9th book, page 285, col. 1.
[133] This appears also quite clearly from the example of Charlemagne, who, about the year 781, had his son Carloman, who was then several years old, baptized by Pope Adrian I., at Rome, on the feast of Easter. His daughter Gisla was also baptized the same year, at Milan, by Bishop Thomas. H. Montanus refers this to the year 781, but others, to A. D. 800.
[134] Paul Diac., lib. 21. Hist. Rom. in Leone Isauro, compared with Abr. Mell. Hist., fol. 305, col. 2.
[135] In the year 720, the Saracens or Arabians came over into Spain, where they sorely persecuted and martyred many pious Christians. Sigibert. Chron. Tudensis. Also, Abr. Mell., fol. 328, col. 1. However, from this we would conclude neither the one nor the other.
[136] A. D. 812, disputes began to arise in the Roman church, concerning transubstantiation, or the changing of the bread and wine into the sacrament; so that the custom of the holy Supper was converted into idolatry. P. J. Twisck, Chron., 9th book, page 279, col. 1, from Chron. Mich., 2d part, fol. 175, Zegh., fol. 245.