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.

This Article is grounded upon the Authority of St. Paul, and upon reason; I say, on the Authority of St. Paul, who declares positively, That the Minister of the Gospel should not be a Novice, lest being lifted up with Pride, * 1.1 he fall into Condemnation of the Devil. I say, in the second place on Reason; for if we diligently ex∣amine the Doctrine and Manners of those that aspire to the Office of the Holy Ministry, altho they are Sons of the Church by Birth, or at least that they have joined themselves to her Communion for several years past, of much greater reason should the same Care and Pre∣caution bind rather more in regard of those which are turn'd to us but very lately: A Tree newly planted can∣not so well resist Winds and Storms, the extremity of Cold, nor great Heat, as if it had taken deep root in the earth; a new Convert has not so much Light or Experience for the guiding of a Flock; besides, it is requisite time should be allowed to judge of the sincerity of his Conversion, because Men cannot penetrate into the heart; and that moreover, the Actions of a Hypocrite have in outward shew, much resemblance with those of a good Christian.

But if this Article, now in question, be grounded on the Authority of Scripture, * 1.2 and on the Light of Reason, it is no less on Tradition; Tertullian reproaches Here∣ticks, That they established in the Ministry of the Church,

Neophites, and such as were newly converted. The great Council of Nice, in the year of our Lord 325. made a Canon on purpose, wherein the Fathers complain, * 1.3 that several things had been done, either through necessity, or otherwise, to the Prejudice of the Ecclesiastical Rule, as for having too soon granted Baptism to those which passed from Paganism to Christianity, without having been long enough Catechised; and in having advanced them to the highest Offices in the Church presently after Baptism; upon which they prohibit. That the like shall not be done for the future; because say they, There must be time for a Catecumene, and a longer Proof and Tryal after he has been Baptised; which they confirm by the Words of the Apostle above cited: About forty years after, the Council of Laodice, the Canons whereof have been annex'd to the Code of the Canons of the Universal Church, made this Decree, which is to be seen in the Third Canon, It is not permitted to admit into Sacred Orders, those who have but lately received Baptism; it is also, whereunto have regard the 12th and 13th Canons of the same Council. This same Defence has been since often reiterated; for, not to speak of the 8th Canon of those attributed to the Apostles, wherein 'tis to be seen at this present time, it is to be found in sundry other places of the Writings of the Ancient Fathers; those who will take the pains to read in the first Tome of the Councils of France, the Eleventh Canon of the Fourth Council of Arles, Anno Dom. 524. the Letter of Pope Foelix the Fourth, to Caesarius Bishop of Arles, of the year 528. The Sixth Canon of the Third Council of Orleance, of the year 538. and the Ninth to the Fifth of the same place, with the Twelfth of a Roman Synod to the Bishops of France, the time whereof is uncertain; those I say, which will please to read these places, will

will easily perceive the Matter now in question; as also in the Third Canon of the first Council of Barcelona, * 1.4 which was held the year 599. and in the Eighteenth or Nineteenth of the Fourth of Tolledo, in the year of our Lord 633.

Notes

• * 1.1

  1 Tim. 3.6.
• * 1.2

  De Presc. c. 41. edit. Paris. 1664.
• * 1.3

  Can. 2.
• * 1.4

  Tom 4. Concil. p. 531. & 587.