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.

There is nothing in this Discipline which is not in∣tirely agreeable to the Primitive, according to which every Bishop was only obliged to visit his Diocess once a Year; but he was not permitted to visit any other but his own: I say, in the first place, he was obliged to visit his Diocess, as may easily be proved by a great many Canons, the 8th of the Council of Tarragona, in the Year 517. is formal in it; * 1.1 We appoint by this Consti∣tution, That the Ancient Ʋse be observ'd; and that each Bishop visit the Churches of his Diocess. The 35th of the 4th of Toledo, in the Year 633. renewed this Decree, with this Clause, That if the Bishop were sick, or employed elsewhere, he should cause the Visitation to be made by some of his Priests or Deacons: This restriction opened the door to the negligence of Pastors, which did that by others, which they should have done themselves; where∣as had the Canon of Tarragona been lest in its force, and without bringing any qualification to it, the Bishops would not have failed punctually to have observed it. Nevertheless, the Council of Trent, in the 24th Session,

Chap. 3. of Reformation, made no difficulty to follow the mitigation of the Council of Tolledo, although it does but too much favour the stupidness of Over∣seers, which our Kings having mutually consider'd, in the 9th Century, they made sundry Ordinances, where∣by they enjoin'd Bishops themselves only, to visit yearly their Diocesses, Lib. 7. Capit. Cap. 94, & 109. of the Edition of Paris 1588. There are besides several other Capitularies which prescribe the same thing, but are not necessary here to be recited.

Therefore I proceed to the other Consideration, To shew that a Bishop had no right of inspection, but on his own Diocess; beyond which he was not permitted to meddle. Thence it was that the Council of Antioch, in the Year 341. declares in the 9th Canon, That each Bishop has power in his own Diocess, prudently to Go∣vern it, and to take care of the whole Circuit which depends of the City where he dwells; and in the 22d Canon this Rule is made, That a Bishop do not go to another City which is not under his Conduct, nor into any part of the Country which don't belong to him, there to Ordain any one, nor to settle Priests, or Deacons, subject to another Bishop, if it be not done by consent of the Bishop of the place; and if there be any Bishop so bold to do such things, That the Or∣dination he has made, be void; and as for him, let him be censur'd by the Synod. And as this Council prohibits Bishops to enterprise any thing without their Diocess; that of Constantinople, of the year 381. forbids it to Me∣tropolitans out of their Provinces, Canon 2d.

And as for the Titles of Superiority which is disal∣lowed by our Discipline, besides that they are contrary to the simplicity of the Gospel, and to the Equality which was at first amongst Pastors, the Church of Africa had in a manner banish'd them quite from amidst of it,

to incline the Bishops to humility, and to remove from their minds, all thoughts of Pride and Ambition; for it made this Canon, which is the 39th in Mr. Justell's African Code; Let none call Prince of Bishops, or High Priest, or any thing of like nature, the Bishop of the highest See; but let him only be called Bishop of the first See.

St. Cyprian had said a great while before, of himself, * 1.2 and the Bishops in Africa, Let none of us assume to be called Bishop of Bishops; or as is read in some Copies, None of us have resolved with our selves, to be called, or termed, Bishop of Bishops.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Tom. 3. Concil. Paris, p. 803. 1636.
• * 1.2

  De Haeret. Baptiz. p. 282. Vol. Edit. Paris 1666.