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.

CONFORMITY.

S. Jerom informs us in in his Commentaries upon the Epistle to Titus, and in his Letter to Evagrius, That at the beginning of Christianity, the Churches were Go∣vern'd by the joynt advice of the Priests, or Elders, and this form of Government lasted, until that by the instinct of the Devil, there arose Parties in Religion, saith the same St. Jerom; for then recourse must be had to Ele∣ction; so that to avoid Schisms and Divisions, one of the Company was chose, to whom Election gave the pre∣cedency to all the rest; whereas before, it was the time of promotion, as is testified by the Deacon Hillary, in his Commentaries upon the 4th Chapter of the Epistle to the Ephesians, amongst the Works of St. Ambrose; for he saith, That at first, the Priests were called Bishops, and that the one being Dead, the other Succeeded; that is to say, That it was granted to the Ancientest Priest in promo∣tion, to bear the first rank or place; this primacy, being a primacy of Order, and not of Power and Authority over others, the only primacy forbidden by our Disci∣pline; in effect, the first admitted, held the first place in the Pesbytery, just as the Dean amongst Councellors of Parliament, or as the Dean of Prebends in a Chapter.

From hence it is also, that after the Establishing of the Hierarchy in the Church, Equality was still ob∣served amongst the Clergy, except 'twas in the Power of Metropolitans over the Bishops of their Provinces; and also it was a very limitted Power, seeing it consist∣ed only in the right of calling the Synods of their Pro∣vinces to preside, and to take notice of all Ecclesiasti∣cal matters which passed in the compass of their District only; but could not decide, nor determin, without the consent of their Suffragans, after the manner of speak∣ing at this time. As for all the rest, they had no kind of prerogative, but the Order, according to the time of their Reception, the which is punctually observ'd amongst us; and accordingly, St. Austin finds it strange, that in the Letter which the Primate of Numidia writ to his Brother Bishops to Assemble them in a Synod, I say, he thinks it strange, to see himself named the third in it, knowing that there were several others before him, which, saith he, is injurious to others, and exposes me to envy. * 1.1 And in the Life of St. Fulgentius, Bishop of Rusp in Africa, which the Jesuit Chifflet caus'd to be Printed at Dijon, An. Dom. 1649. with the Works of the Dea∣con Forran, it is observed Chap. 20. That in the Assem∣blies of Exil'd Bishops in Sardignia, he was seated lowest of all, although he was the most considerable in Worth and Value, because he had been last of all Or∣dain'd to be Bishop. * 1.2 The 86th Canon of the African Code so appoints it; the 24th of the first Council of Prague, in the Year 563. Ordains the same thing; as also the 3d of the 4th Council of Toledo, in the Year 633. and the 112th Letter of Gregory I. his 7th Book; to which we may add the 6th Letter of Hincmar, Chap. 16. in the 16th Tome, of the Library of the Fathers, * 1.3 Page 408. It is the Reason that in Africa, one was en∣joyn'd

to observe the precise day of Promotion, and the Consulat. African Code, Can. 89. which is the 14th of Mileva. Theodore Archbishop of Canterbury held a Synod Anno 679. the 8th Canon whereof is conceiv'd in these terms, * 1.4 Let no Bishop prefer himself before ano∣ther through ambition; but let every one know the Time and Order of their Ordination.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Ep. 207, To. 2.
• * 1.2

  Tom. 4. Conc. p. 422.
• * 1.3

  Ibid. p. 581.
• * 1.4

  Apud Be∣dan. Hist. l. 4. c. 5.