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.

Origen treats at large of these Duties of Pastors in several parts of his Works, where he teaches how they ought to act in regard of themselves, and in regard of those committed to their care, towards whom they should not shew too much indulgence, nor too much severity; but open unto them the Gates of Heaven by their Doctrine and Exam∣ple, and not shut it against themselves by a disorderly and wicked Conduct: But especially must be added, what he saith in the 7th Homily upon Joshua; which is in the 1st Volume of his Works; and in the 25th upon St. Matthew, in the 2d Edition at Paris, An. 1514. St. Basil lays down several Rules in his Morals, for the Conduct of Pastors, whom, as he saith, should be an Example unto others, and do in the first place, what they desire others should do, Preach the Gospel with a holy freedom, and bear witness to it, although there might be some which forbid so doing, and persecute to Death those which do it. He will have them render God thanks for those which are converted, and that they should pray to God for them, to the end they may grow in grace dayly; That they should have care not only of those which are present, but also of the absent; and that they should omit nothing which may tend to their Edification and Salvation; desiring they would therein Exercise themselves constantly, as well in pub∣lick as private: He saith moreover, That the Minister should be tender and full of compassion, especially to∣wards those whose Souls are mortally sick; That he should charitably contribute to their bodily necessities, without abusing his power to the prejudice of those

under his Conduct, and without exalting himself over them; but rather take occasion to exercise humility towards them. He adds in conclusion, That he which is establish'd in the Church to be a Guide to others, should neither say nor do any thing, but with a great deal of prudence and circumspection, to render himself ac∣ceptable in the sight of God, as if he were to be ap∣prov'd by their judgment and testimony.

I could alledge several other Doctors of the Church to confirm the same thing; but because what I have said, is sufficient for establishing this Truth, I proceed to the consideration of what follows in the Article which we Examine, That it belongs to the Magistrate to have an Eye over Ministers, and to take care they walk orderly in their Vocation, &c. The good Kings of Israel did so un∣der the old Discipline, obliging the Ministers of the Sanctuary to do their Offices, and Religiously to per∣form all things which pertain'd to the Service of God; under the Oeconomy of Grace, the Examples of Con∣stantius, of Theodosius, of Marcien's, of Leo's, and sun∣dry others, which have assembled several Councils for the benefit of Christian Religion, and to preserve the Church from the Poison of Heresies and Schisms; I say, all these Examples do not in the least suffer us to doubt, but that Princes and Sovereigns have right to supervise over Bishops and Pastors, and are bound in Conscience to endeavour the advancement of the Glory of God, and the preservation of his Worship in all purity: And not to go farther than our France, Who is there at this time but does know the diligence of our Kings on a great many occasions; the many Councils they have Assembled, and to many of them have prescribed the subject and matter of their deliberations, which is an authentick proof; and the Capitularies which we have still

in our hands, of Charlemaine, of Lewis le Debonnaire, and of Charles the Bald, are also so many Authentick Evidences. It was hereupon, that Constantine saith in Eusebius, * 1.1 That God had Established him Bishop; that he should take care of things which passed out of the Church; and in the same Treatise, he is called, The Common Bishop, establish'd by God. In the 6th Action of the Council of Chalcedon, there is given to Marcien, the Title of Sacerdos. St. Remy calls Clovis, the Bishop of the Country, Tom. 1. Conc. Gall. p. 204. The Fa∣thers of the Council of Mayence, in the Year 819. calls Charlemaine, The Director of the True Religion, and the Defender of the Holy Church. Which the 6th Synod of Paris, in the Year 829. saith also of Lewis le Debonnaire, and of Lothaire his Son.

It is also in all likelihood, by the same motive, that in the 98th Letter of Loup Abbot of Ferriers, where there is mention of the promotion of Aeneas to the Bishoprick of Paris, in the 9th Century, The gift of the Prince is joyn'd to that of God: As if one had been fully persuaded in France, that the King was in God's stead, in Establishing of Bishops. Thence it is also, that whereas Loup, in the 29th Letter, writes that Aldrich was made Bishop of Sens, by the Command of Caesar; the Frier Clarius, in his Chronicle of St. Peter vif. of Sens, saith, That it hapned by the Will of God. To intimate, that the Power whereof Princes were in possession, was given them from Heaven, it is the reason wherefore in the 2d Council of Thionville, in the Year 844. it is said, That Bishops are given of God, regularly design'd by Princes, (they mean the Children of Lewis le Debonnaire) and Consecrated by the Grace of the Holy Spirit. In the Life of Nicetas, who was Bishop of Lyons in the 6th Century, it is observ'd, That the good will of the

Prince, gave him by the Will of God to be Bishop to this Church.

Notes

• * 1.1

  ••••b 4. de Vit. Const. ••. 24. & l. 1. c. 44.