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The Canons of a Council, supposed to have been held at Rome under Pope Innocent I.

SIRMONDUS hath published some Regulations, written in the Name of a Synod at * 1.1 Rome, to the Bishops of Gaul; which are certainly ancient, though it be unknown to what time they are to be referred: but because they appeared to Sirmondus to be written in the Style of St. Innocent's Letters, he believed they might belong to this Pope however, they are placed immediately after his Letters, and these are the Contents of them.

After a short Preface, in the two first Canons, according to Sirmondus's Distinction, they speak of those Virgins Penance, who having solemnly put on the Veil, and received the Priests Benediction, commit Incest, or contract prohibited Marriages; it is ordained, That they shall do several Years Penance, to bewail their Fault. Penance is likewise imposed upon those that made the single Vow of Virginity, though they made no solemn Profession, nor received the Veil; when they happen to Marry, or suffer themselves to be taken away. The Third Canon, is, concerning the Sanctity of Bishops, of Priests, and of Deacons: they are told, That they ought to give Example to the People; That they are obliged to remain Unmarried: and several Reasons are alledged for it. Priests and Bishops (say they) are to preach Continence to the People: With what Confidence shall they do this, if they keep it not themselves? They are obliged to offer frequently the Holy Sacrifice, to Baptize, Consecrate and Administer: To do it with the greater Reverence, they must be Chast both in Body and Spirit. In the Fourth, those seem to be excluded out of the Clergy, that have born any Secular Offices.

In the Fifth Canon, it is observed, That the Church of Rome doth not admit to Sacred Or∣ders those who defiled the Sanctity of their Baptism by any carnal Sin. In the Sixth, other Bishops are exhorted to follow the Custom of that of Rome: because that as there is but One Faith in the Church, so there should be but One Discipline.

It is observed in the Seventh Canon, That Priests and Deacons may administer Baptism in the Easter Holy-days, in Parishes, in the presence of the Bishop, in whose Name they administer it at that time: but when Necessity obliges them to Baptize at any other time, that must be done by the Priest, and not by the Deacon.

The Eighth Canon, about the Benediction of the Holy Oyl, is very obscure. It is probable, that all that is said there, amounts to no more than, That there is no need o•• several Persons to Bless it. The Ninth declares, That it is not lawful now, as it was under the Old Law, to Marry a Brother's Wife, nor to keep Concubines with a Wife.

The Tenth forbids those to be ordained Bishops, that have exercised Secular Functions, though they were Chosen by the People: because their Approbation is of force, only when they chuse one worthy of that Office.

The Eleventh Canon speaks very ambiguously concerning a Man's Marrying his Uncle's Wife; or an Aunt's Marrying with the Son of her Husband's Brother.

The Twelfth appoints, That a Bishop should be chosen out of the Clergy.

The Thirteenth declares, That those who go from one Church to another, shall be deprived of their Office.

The Fourteenth contains that Order so often repeated in the Canons, That a Clerk deposed by his own Bishop, is not to be admitted. This Order is defended in very strong Terms, and established upon very good Reasons. If another Bishop's Clerk is not permitted to do the Functions of his Ministry, except he brought his Dimissory Letters; how much rather is it forbidden to receive and admit to the Communion a Clerk condemned by his own Bishop. This would be to partake of another Man's Sin; to offer Injury to a Brother, and suspect him with∣out ground to have done Unjustly.

The Fifteenth Canon confirms and renews the Law of the Council of Nice, touching the Ordination of Bishops by the Metropolitan, and the Bishops of the Province; and forbids Bishops to meddle with those Ordinations that belong not to them.

The Sixteenth is, against the Abuse of those Bishops who had Ordained some Lay-men that had been Excommunicated by their own Bishop.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Spurious Council of Rome, un∣der Inno∣cent I.