A new history of ecclesiastical writers containing an account of the authors of the several books of the Old and New Testament, of the lives and writings of the primitive fathers, an abridgement and catalogue of their works ... also a compendious history of the councils, with chronological tables of the whole / written in French by Lewis Ellies du Pin.

Of the COUNCIL of Valence.

IN the Year 374, Phaebadius or Fegadius Bishop of Agen, and 20 Bishops more, assembled at Va∣lence to settle some Commotions of this Church, and having regulated this Affair they made Four * 1.1 Canons for the Reformation of Discipline.

In the First they forbid those to be Ordained for the future who have been twice Married, or those who have espous'd a Widow, whither they did it before or since their Baptism: But they do not meddle with the Ordinations of Bigamists made before their Decision, lest they should disturb the Church.

In the 2d. Canon they Ordain, That Penance shall not immediately be allowed to those Virgins, who Married after they had made a Vow of Virginity, and that they shall not be receiv'd until they have made full satisfaction.

The 3d. Canon delays Absolution of those till death, who having been baptized, did partake in the Profane Sacrifices of Devils, and exhorts them in the mean time to do Penance for their Fault, and to wait for the Remission of it from the Mercy of God.

In the last place they declare, That all those Deacons, Priests, and Bishops must be deposed, who confess themselves guilty of some great Crime, whether they did really commit it, or only accuse themselves falsly of it. There is a Letter prefixed to these Canons, wherein they address to the Bishops of the Five Provinces, and of Gaul, after which there follows another Letter written to the Church of Frejus, wherein the Synod acquaints it, That tho' the Bishop Concordius had spoken in behalf of one Acceptus, who probably had accused himself of some Crime whereof he was not guilty, yet the Synod did not think fit to make an Exception in his favour from the general Rule which they had made. To give a Reason of this Rule they add, That tho' they knew that many Persons accuse themselves of those Crimes which they have not committed, from the dread they have of the Priest-hood, yet Men being more inclined to judge ill than well, they thought fit that all those who had

said ill of themselves should be removed from the Priesthood, whether it were true or false, for fear of giving occasion of Disputes, by those Accusations which might be urged against the Ministers of Jesus Christ of such Crimes, whereof they might be convicted by their own Testimony. This Synod con∣sisted of 21 Bishops. Phaebadius of Agen is the First; in it there is found also the Names of Rhodanius of Tholouse, of Justus of Lyons, of Britto of Triers, of Florentius of Vienna, and of Concordius of Arles. 'Tis observed in some Manuscripts, That it consisted of 30 Bishops, but perhaps this number ought to be corrected, by making it 21.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Of Valence, 374.