Conformity of the ecclesiastical discipline of the Reformed churches of France with that of the primitive Christians written by M. La Rocque ... ; render'd into English by Jos. Walker.

XV.

Those to whom God has given the talent of writing, are admonish'd to do it in a modest way, and befitting the Maje∣sty of Heaven, and consequently not to write in a ridiculous and injurious manner; the which gravity and modesty they shall also observe in their usual Sermons. Those who have received the gift of Writing shall be chosen by the Provinces; and if it happens any Book be Publish'd against the Orthodox Religion, it shall be sent to them that they may answer it, a Colloque being deputed in each Province to inspect what shall be Writ and Publish'd, to dispose of the Copies as shall be thought fit.

CONFORMITY.

There was never greater Liberty of Writing than in the first Ages of the Church, at which time every body writ in the manner which he thought best and most con∣venient, without being obliged to communicate his Works to any to be Examin'd for their Approbation; nevertheless, seeing there has been at all times amongst Christians, some Bishops and Pastors fitter for this pur∣pose than others, such were for the most part employ'd for the defence of the Truth against Schismaticks and Hereticks. It was for this Cause that the Book of Phaebadius or Phaegadius, Bishop of Agen in Guien, written against the Arrians of the East and West, holds the Degree of the Epistle of a Council of Vaison, of the Year 358. * 1.1 and bears the Name in the Supplement of the Coun∣cils of France. St. Austin even to his Death, was the Pen of Africa against the Enemies of the Church, par∣ticularly against the Donatists and Pelagians; and St. Ful∣gentius, in the following Age, succeeded him in a manner, in the same Office, especially during the time that above Sixty African Bishops, of which Number he was one, was Exil'd into the Isle of Sardeg∣nia; for although he was the youngest of them all, the Author of his Life does observe, that he was the Mouth and Spirit: And it may yet be said of these two famous Writers, That they exactly observed the Mode∣sty, Sobriety, and Decorum prescribed by our Disci∣pline, to all those who put Pen to Paper for the Defence and Vindication of Truth; Examples which should be carefully imitated; and in the mean time, condemn the rashness of Agobard Bishop of Lyons, who Writing in the 9th Century against Amalarius Fortunatus, cruelly

rails against him; and much more that of Lucifer, Bi∣shop of Caillari, against the Emperor Constantius, in the Library of the Fathers, Tom. 9. of the Edition of Paris, 1644.

Notes

• * 1.1

  P. 3. Paris 1666.