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.

The Council of Epaone. * 1.1

THis Council was assembled at Epaone by the Letter of Avitus Bishop of Vienna, under the Reign of Sigismund, King of the Burgundians, on the 15th of September in the Year 517. Avitus Bi∣shop of Vienna, Viventiolus Archbishop of Lyons, together with 23 Bishops, were present at it: And in it there were made 40 Canons.

The first contains, That the Bishops who are requir'd by their Metropolitan, to come to the Or∣dination of a Bishop, shall not fail to be present at it.

The second and third renew the Canons against the Ordination of Bigamists, and those who have done Penance.

The fourth forbids Ecclesiasticks, Priests and Deacons, to keep Dogs and Birds for Hunting and Hawking.

The fifth forbids the Priests of one Diocese to serve a Church of another Diocese, without the leave of their Bishop.

The sixth forbids to give the Communion to a Priest or Deacon who travels without a Letter from his Bishop.

The seventh declares all sale of the Churches Possessions which is made by Priests to be null and void.

The eighth ordains the same thing with respect to Abbots, and does not allow them so much as to enfranchize Slaves.

The ninth forbids an Abbot to have two Monasteries under his Government.

The tenth forbids the New-establishments of Monasteries, or little Congregations, without the leave of the Bishop.

The eleventh forbids Clergy-men-to cite any before Lay-Judges without the leave of the Bishop; but allows them to defend themselves, if they be cited before them.

The twelfth declares, That it is not lawful for the Bishop to sell the Possessions of his Church, with∣out the Knowledge of his Metropolitan; and permits him only to make profitable Ex∣changes.

The thirteenth declares, That if a Clergy-man is convicted of a false Testimony, he shall be look'd upon as guilty of a capital Crime.

The fourteenth ordains, That if the Clergy-man of one Church is made Bishop of another, he ought to leave to the former Church all that he had receiv'd by way of gift, and not retain any thing but wh•••• he purchas'd for his own use.

The fifteenth separates from the Communion those Clergy-men that shall eat with a Heretical Clergy-men, and forbids Lay-men even to be present at the Festivals of the Jews.

The sixteenth permits Priests to relieve Hereticks that are sick, who are willing to be converted, by applying to them Chrysm; but if they be in health, the Bishop must perform this Office.

The seventeenth declares all the Legacies which the Bishop makes of the Churches Possessions to be null and void, unless the Church has receiv'd as much profit by his own Possessions.

The eighteenth, That Clergy-men cannot acquire Prescription in the Revenues of the Church which they possess.

The nineteenth, If an Abbot is accused of Fraud or Negligence, and refuses to stand to the Judg∣ment of the Bishop, he shall be call'd to an account before the Metropolitan.

The twentieth forbids Clergy-men to visit Women in the Afternoon; yet if there be a necessity of visiting them▪ they may go in company with other Clergy-men.

The one and twentieth forbids to consecrate Widows for Deaconesses, insomuch that if Widows are willing to be converted, i. e. to lead a Religious Life, the Benediction of Penance shall only be given to them.

The two and twentieth declares, That the Priest or Deacon who commits a capital Crime shall be Depos'd, and shut up in a Monastery all the rest of his Life, and that he shall not be admitted to the Communion but in this place only.

The three and twentieth, That he who having received the Penance forsakes it to lead a Secular Life, cannot enjoy the Communion, until he return to that state of Life which he had em∣brac'd.

The four and twentieth permits Lay-men to accuse Clergy-men, provided they propose nothing a∣gainst them but what is true.

The five and twentieth sorbids to place the Reliques of Saints in Country Chappels, unless there be Clergy in the Neighbouring Parish who can honour them, by singing in these Chappels from time to time, and forbids also to ordain Clergy-men on purpose sor these Chappels, unless there be sufficient Provision made for them.

The six and twentieth ordains, That only Altars of Stone shall be consecrated with Chrysm.

The seven and twentieth, That Bishops in the Celebration of Divine Service, shall follow the or∣der of the Metropolitan Church. * 1.2

The eight and twentieth, That if a Bishop die before he has absolv'd a Person condemned, his Suc∣cessor may give him Absolution, if he amend his Fault and do Penance.

The nine and twentieth Canon imports, That the lapsed, i. e. those who after being baptiz'd in the Church, go over to the Sects of Hereticks, and formerly were not restor'd without much diffi∣culty, shall immediately be receiv'd after a Penance of two years, provided that they shall fast three days in a year, that they shall frequently come to Church, and that they shall be there among the Pe∣nitents, and withdraw with the Catechumens.

The thirtieth ordains, That those who have contracted Incestuous Marriages shall not be admitted to Penance, unless they be parted. The following Degrees are these within which Incest is commit∣ted according to this Council. If any Man marry the Wife of his Brother, the Sister of his Wife, his Step-mother, the Sister of his Uncle on the Father or Mother's side, his Daughter-in-law, or his Cousin-German, and the Issue of a Cousin-German.

The one and thirtieth renews the Canon of the Council of Ancyra about the P••nance of Man•• slayers, who can avoid the Punishment enacted by the Civil Laws.

The two and thirtieth separates from the Church the Wife of a Priest or Deacon, who marries, and him that espouses her, until they be parted.

The three and thirtieth forbids to make use of the Churches of Hereticks, except those which they have taken from Catholicks.

The four and thirtieth imposes two years of Penance upon him that puts his Slave to death by his own Authority.

The five and thirtieth requires Christians to go and receive the Blessing from their Bishop, on Christmas and Easter-Eve.

The six and thirtieth, That the Vi••ticum, i. e. the Absolution, shall be refus'd to no Person at the poin•• of death; and that the time of Penance shall be put off to one a dying, but on condition that he shall do it if he return to health.

The seven and thirtieth forbids to ordain a Lay-man, who has not been engag'd to live religious∣ly, Religione praemissa.

The eight and thirtieth ordains, That such as are of years, and of known probity, shall be chosen to enter into Nunneries, and that those who shall go there to celebrate Divine Service, shall withdraw immediately after it is ended. Clergy-men and young Monks are forbidden to go thither, unless they have some Kinswomen there.

The nine and thirtieth imports, That a Slave being guilty of some heinous Crime, who takes Sanctuary in the Church, shall be ex••mpted only from Cor••oral▪ Punishment, and that his Master shall not be oblig'd to swear that he will not impose upon him extraordinay Labour, or that he will not cut his Hair to make him known.

The last declares, That the Bishops who will not observe these Canons, shall be guilty both before God and before their Brethren.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The Coun∣icl of E∣paone.
• * 1.2

  The first Council of Lyons.