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The following work is intended to supply, in some measure, what appears to be a desideratum to the English reader, viz.—a compendious account of the Councils of the Church. This I had originally proposed to do by a translation of a small French work, published anonymously, at Paris, in 1773, in one volume, entitled, “ Dictionnaire Portatif des Conciles,” but when the task had been commenced, so many alterations and additions appeared to be needed, that I resolved so far to abandon my first design as to make the French work merely the groundwork of a more extended volume on the same plan. Thus, although the work alluded to has furnished no small part of the present book, very considerable alterations have been made in it, and not only has much fresh matter been added relating to the councils contained in that work, but an account has also been given of many others which it passes over in silence, especially those which, although not recognised by the Church of Rome, are not the less regarded by other branches of the Church.

The materials with which I have had to work were unhappily scanty, and some apology may seem to be ...