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TIMOTHY of Alexandria.
TIMOTHY the Successor of Peter of Alexandria, who was present at the Second Council of Constantinople, wrote the Lives of the Monks of Egypt, which is mention'd by Sozomen Ch. 29. * 1.1 of B. VI. of his History. Facundus in Ch. 2. of B. IV. cites a Letter of the same Timothy ad∣dress'd to Diodorus of Tarsus.
We have now the Responses or Canon-Laws of this Bishop, upon which Balsamon has written Com∣mentaries. The Questions that were propos'd to him, were Questions about Customs and Practices of the Church, and his Answers are very Judicious.
In the First he says, that those young Catechumens ought to be Baptiz'd, who being present in the Church with the Faithfull had receiv'd the Eucharist.
The Second and Third concern those that are possess'd by an Evil Spirit; he says, that those Cate∣chumens ought not to be baptiz'd who are afflicted with this Evil, until the Point of Death. As to the Faithful, he would have them permitted from time to time to approach the Holy Mysteries, provided the Devil do not seduce them to discover these Mysteries or to blaspheme them.
In the 4th. he says, that those Catechumens may be Baptiz'd, who have lost their Wits by Sick∣ness.
In the 5th. he counsels married Persons to abstain from the use of Marriage, on that day in which they intend to Receive the Communion.
In the 6th. and 7th. he would not have Women Baptiz'd, nor Receive the Communion, but at cer∣tain times.
In the 8th. he exempts Women newly brought to Bed from the Fast of Lent: Because, says he, Fasting was not appointed but to afflict the Body, and therefore where the Body is already afflicted, they may take what is necessary for it.
In the 9th. he says, that the Clergy ought not to use the Publick Prayers in the presence of the Arians and Hereticks, if they have a Design to forsake their Heresy: He takes notice, that the Deacon was wont to say with a loud Voice, before he saluted the People, Let those who do not Commu∣nicate withdraw.
In the 10th. he exempts sick Persons from the Fast of Lent, and permits them to eat Oyl in that time.
In the 11th. he says, that a Clergy-man ought not to marry Persons contrary to Law.
In the 12th. he excuses Nocturnal Illusions, when they do not proceed from a voluntary Cause.
In the 13th. he would have Persons that are Married abstain from the use of Marriage on Saturday and Sunday, that they may be capable of Receiving the Communion.
In the 14th. he says, that an Oblation may be offer'd for those that kill themselves through mad∣ness, having lost the use of their Reason; but because this Pretence is often alledg'd to procure an Offering for those that kill themselves knowingly, therefore the Matter should be well examin'd.
In the 15th. Question is of great Consequence. It was ask'd, supposing a Wife to be perfectly Foolish and Mad, so that she must be bound, Whether an Husband, who, says he, cannot contain himself, may lawfully marry another Wife? He answers, That this Action would be Adultery in him, and that no∣thing else is to be said upon the Question.
In the 16th. 'twas ask'd, Whether a Person that fasted in order to Communicate, having by chance swallow'd down a drop of Water, either in bathing himself, or in washing his Mouth, ought to Com∣municate or no? He answers, that he ought to do it so much the rather, because 'tis the Devil that uses this Artifice to hinder his Receiving the Communion.
In the 17th. he says, that those who hear the Word of God and do it not, are in some measure ex∣cusable, if they be angry with themselves for their Omission, and accuse themselves of it.
In the Last, he says, that Men begin to sin, when they come to the use of Reason, and so some begin to sin at Ten Years of Age; some sooner and some later.