be the 4th, 5th, and 6th, if this were the Third. Perhaps this Canon was added, or look'd upon as an Explication of the foregoing.
The Third Canon in the common Editions pronounces Anathema against all that should say, That the Grace which justifies Man through Jesus Christ our Lord, doth only remit Sins com∣mitted; but that it is not given to succour Man that he may Sin no more.
The Fourth expounds the Nature of this Grace, by condemning those who should say, That it doth no further help us, than as it gives us the knowledge of what we ought to do, but not by enabling us to fulfil the Commandments, which it gives us the knowledge of.
The Fifth is against those that hold, That Grace is given only that we may do that which is good with less difficulty; because one may absolutely accomplish the Commandments by the Power of his Free-Will, without the help of Grace.
The Sixth declares, That St. John did not say merely out of Humility; If we say that we have no Sin, we deceive our selves.
The contrary Truth is confirmed in the Seventh Canon, by these words of the Lord's Prayer, Forgive us our Trespasses, &c. And they are condemned who affirm, That the Righteous do not say this Prayer for themselves, but for others.
In the Eighth there is a Condemnation of another way of eluding the force of these words, by saying, That the Righteous pray out of Humility, but not truly. It is said, That God would never endure that Man who in his Prayers should lye not only to Men, but to God him∣self; by asking with his Mouth, That God would forgive his Sins, and saying in his Heart that he had none.
After these Eight Canons concerning Grace, some Orders are set down.
The First, Is to reform the Fifth Canon of the Council of Carthage in the Year 407. whereby it was Enacted, That those Bishops who converted any Donatists, should have the Jurisdiction over them. This Order having bred some Disputes, it was thought fit here to reform it; and it is enjoyn'd, That in what place soever any Donatists are reconciled, they shall be of the same Diocess with the Catholicks of that place.
When there were two Bishops in the same place, namely, The ancient Catholick and the re∣conciled Donatist, it might occasion several Difficulties, which the Council prevents in the next Canon, which enjoins, That the junior Bishop shall make a division of those places where there were many Catholicks and Donatists, and that the senior shall have his choice. That if there is but one place where the Catholicks and Donatists were intermixt, that Place shall belong to that Bishop of the two, the place of whose residence is the nearest; That if they prove equally distant, the Choice shall be left to the People. And if the ancient Catholicks desire to have their own Bishop, and the reconciled, him they had before, then the Majority of voices shall carry it; but if they be equal, then the senior shall have the Precedency. Lastly, If the Places cannot be equally divided; As for example, if the number of Divisions should be odd, then two equal Divisions shall be made, and the Place over and above shall bedisposed of, as is said just before.
In the Third Rule it is provided, That whosoever hath enjoy'd a place Three Years, shall remain in quiet Possession, if there be a Bishop in the Church of that Diocess, where naturally he ought to have been.
The Fourth is against those Bishops who violently took Possession of the Jurisdiction of such places as they pretended to be of their Diocesses, without having the matter in Dispute adjudged by Bishops.
The First ordains, That those that shall neglect to procure the Re-union of places dependent from their Diocesses, shall be put in mind of it by the Neighbouring Bishops; That if they are not converted within Six Months after such Admonition, they shall belong to the Diocess of that Bishop that can convert them; if it appears that the Bishop of the place hath neglected it. It is added, That if a Contest happens betwixt two Bishops of different Provinces, the Metro∣politan of the Province where the place in dispute is situated shall appoint Judges, or the Parties shall choose one, or three.
This gives occasion for renewing the Canon, which forbids any Appeal to be made from the judgment of Judges thus chosen.
It is enacted by the Seventh Order, That a Bishop neglecting to reconcile the Donatists that are in his Diocess, shall be admonished, and if they be not reconciled in Six Months, they shall not communicate with him until he hath reconciled them. Provided always, That he who had the execution of the Emperor's Orders was in his Province.
It is added in the Eighth, That if it be proved, that any Bishop affirmed that these Donatists were come into the Communion of the Church, and it was not so, he shall lose his Bishoprick.
The Ninth enjoins, That if the Priests, Deacons, and other Clerks, complain of their Bi∣shop's Judgments, they shall be judged by the Neighbouring Bishops, with the consent of their own; That if they appeal from this Judgment, it must be to the Council of Africa, and it Excommunicates those that shall make their Appeals to Judges beyond the Seas.
The Tenth contains an Exception from that Prohibition of veiling a Virgin before the Age of Five and twenty, when being in danger of Death, she desires it, or her Parents for her.
Lastly, That they might not too long detain the Bishops out of their Diocesses, they chose three out of each Province, and gave them Power to order all things with Aurelius, who is desired to Subscribe the Canons and Rules now mentioned; which were also Subscribed by all the Bishops.