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.

After what I have hitherto said, it cannot reasona∣bly be doubted, but that in all times, those have been Examin'd in the Church, which were to Labour for her Instruction and Edification, and which were to serve in Preaching the Word, and Administring the Sacraments; I grant this Examination may differ according to the di∣versity of Places and Persons, which were to do the Office of Examiners; some doing it with more Exact∣ness and Severity, and others with more Mildness and Charity; and I can't tell if ever there has been seen on this Subject, a more strict and exact establishment than that which our Discipline doth prescribe: What∣ever it is, it is most certain, that is, That the Exami∣nation of Life and Doctrine, however 'twas perform'd, always preceded Ordination. The 19th. Canon of the 1st Council of Nice, the 12th of that of Laodicea, and the 1st and 4th of Carthage, ordaining it should be so; al∣though the latter makes it more ample than the two others, and declares distinctly, the Questions which were to be made, and the Articles upon which those were to be Interrogated which were to be called to be Bishops; and I make no question, but 'twas with regard to this Examination, That Gregory the first con∣demn'd in his Pastoral, * 1.1 The temerity of those which being ignorant and destitute of knowledg, would presume to take on them the Office of Pastors, never considering that the Conduct of Souls, is the Art of Arts: That is to say, the Noblest and most Excellent of all the Sciences, and withal, the most Difficult, the most Intricate, and most Laborious, and by consequence, requires more Study and Care than any other whatsoever. What a shame

would it be for a Pastor, to speak yet with the same St. Gregory, * 1.2 in the same Treatise, If he should go about to learn, in the time that he should resolve the diffi∣culties should be propos'd to him? Whereas he ought always to be ready, to give to Believers the satisfaction which they desire, upon things which concern Con∣science and Salvation.

This laudable Custom continued a long while after the Death of Gregory; but since the Ninth Century, the Examination of Pastors was insensibly brought to so mean a State, that there needed not much Learning to Answer the Questions that were propos'd: And to con∣clude, The greatest part of the Vocation and Consecra∣tion of those to whom the Care and Conduct of Souls was committed, consisted only in Shew and Ceremony, or at least so little heed was taken of their Judgment and Capacity, that there was seen to grow in a little time, from a practise so different from that of the Primi∣tive Christians, that gross Ignorance, which was the Spring and Cause of most part of the Evils and Disor∣ders which have befaln the Western Church: Not but that several Rules have been made to redress this great Mischief, but it had got too deep root: Besides, Fa∣vour and Authority had a greater share in these promo∣tions than the Glory of God, and the Instruction of the People; especially the Power of the Bishops of Rome, who by degrees had gain'd to themselves the greatest part of Ecclesiastical Power, bethought themselves about the XI. Century, to cause to be demanded, or demanded themselves of the Bishops which were Exam∣ined, and in the very moment of their Examination, if they did not promise subjection and fealty in all things to St. Peter, * 1.3 and to his Church, to his Viear, and to his Successors, as appears by the Roman Order, which in all

likelihood was writ about that time, and where is to be seen at this day amongst the Questions made to the Bi∣shop which was Examin'd, those which regard the Obe∣dience and Fidellity which I but now mentioned; and there is to be seen in the Roman Pontifical, Printed at Venice in the Year 1582. * 1.4 the Form of the Oath they were made to take, and whereunto they ingaged them∣selves in doing it, which are things quite different from the Discipline of the Primitive Christians.

I know very well, that about the year 722. Boniface, Archbishop of Mayence, made an Oath to Pope Gregory the II. at the time of his Ordination and Promotion to the Prelacy; but this Oath did properly contain no more but a Profession of Faith, and the Essential Duty of an Apostollical Legat, and of a Vicar of the Holy See, as they express it; which is to make Bishops ob∣serve the Canons, and to give the Pope Information of the great difficulties which is therein. I know also this Prelat Assembled a Council, as he recites it in his 105. Letter to the Bishop Cuthbert, wherein he made alike profession to the Bishops which there assisted; but besides that, all this was done but only by Order of the Princes and Bishops of the Kingdom, as may be ga∣thered from the very Letter of Boniface, and from the 1st Canon of the Synod of Leptines, where Prince Carloman protests, That by advice of the Bishops and Nobles of the Kingdom, he setled Bishops in all Cities, and gave them for Chief and Superiour, the Archbishop Boniface, Legat of the Holy See. Besides this, I say, these Ex∣amples now alledged, went no farther, if my memory fail me not, before the time I mention.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Part. 1. c. 1. T. 1. Paris. 1586.
• * 1.2

  Part. 2. cap. 11.
• * 1.3

  Tom. 10. Probl. Pat. p. 107.
• * 1.4

  Page 25.