CHAP. VI. Of Ordinations of Anti-Bishops, which, though always Schismatical, are not always Nullities.
WHat I have said in the foregoing Chapter, I think may be suf∣ficient as to the Point of Communion with Anti-Bishops and then Adherents. But I conceive it may not be amiss to add something fur∣ther concerning their Orders; since the validity or invalidity thereof, •••• of greatest Consequence and Importance to the Church at such Times.
One thing, indeed, is said by St. Cyprian, about the Ordaining an opposite or Anti-Bishop against another, in a Church already fill'd, as when Novati••n was set up at Rome against Cornelius, viz. That the Anti-Bishop is no Bishop: whence some conclude, that in reality he has not the Episcopal Powers conferr'd on him. * 1.1 Since after the first, there cannot be a second Bishop, says he, or two Bishops at once in the same Church, whosoever is Ordain'd after one is already in, who ought to preside alone, he is not really a second Bishop, but no Bishop at all.
And if such opposite or Anti-Bishops, receive or retain no Episcopal Powers, 'tis sure they can confer none. And then, they are really nei∣ther Bishops, not Priests, who are Ordained by them. And so, neither good Baptisms, at least according to the Opinion of the Africanes, nor good Sacraments, which are of their administring. As * 1.2 St. Cyprian, and the Africanes, answerable to this nulling of the Ordinations, null also the Baptisms made by Schismaticks. And then, on every Ordination of Anti-Bishops against them, there would be a new and indispensible