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.

XLII.

Ministers that have some Rents and Goods, may never∣theless take Wages of their Flocks; it is even expedient they should do so, for the consequence, and to avoid the pre∣judice they may do to other Pastors and Churches: But they shall be Exhorted to do as the necessity of the Churches and Charity shall require.

CONFORMITY.

The Ancient Canons do sufficiently authorise this set∣tlement, in distinguishing the goods of Bishops from those of the Churches, the latter not being to be alie∣nated; whereas the Bishop at his Death might dispose of those which were his; and if he disposed not of them by Will, they of right appertain'd to his Heirs, the Church not being permitted to trouble them on this oc∣casion. The 24th Canon of the Council of Antioch is formal in the case, and so regulated the matter, that afterwards there was no difficulty in the Case; and I make no question, but the Impostor that forg'd the Ca∣nons, which go in the Apostles Names, did borrow from that of Antioch, the 4th of his, which he a little alter'd, to hide the fraud of his Imposture; for he saith, the

Bishop has sometimes Wise and Children, which are his Legitimate Heirs. Neither do I make any doubt, but the Fathers of the Council of Chalcedon had in their view the same Canon, a little more than 100 years after the Synod of Antioch, when they forbid the Clergy in the 22d Canon, to dissipate the Goods of the Bishop after his Death; and that they alledge the Ancient Canons which prohibit the same; it is hereunto may be applied the 32d Canon of the African Code, attributed to the Council of Carthage, in the Year 419. However it may be, it clearly appears by what has been said, That Mi∣nisters which had any Goods of their own, might ne∣vertheless take the portion of those of the Church, which by the Decrees of Councils were destinated for the support of the Bishop.