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Ministers which have been Depos'd for Crimes which de∣serve signal punishment, or that bear marks of Infamy, can∣not be restored to their Office, what acknowledgment soever they make. As for other less faults, after due ac∣knowledgment made, they may be restor'd by the National Synod, however to serve in another Church, and not other∣wise.
The 28th Canon of those ascribed to the Apostles, appoints to separate wholly from the Communion of the Church, the Bishop, the Priest, or Deacon, which having been Depos'd for notorious Crimes, has never∣theless the confidence to reassume the Ministry which had been committed to him; the 4th of the Council of An∣tioch leaves him no hope at all of being re-establish'd; no not so much as liberty to defend himself, or plead his Cause in another Synod. The 5th Canon treats not more favourably, Rebels and Schismaticks; the 14th and 15th confirms the judgment of the Provincial Synod, unless in case the Opinions were divided; in which Case, they prescribe to call other Judges of some adjacent Province. The 29th of the Council of Chal∣cedon, speaking of Bishops, which from the Episcopal Degree are descended to that of Presbytery, it declares, That if they are condemn'd for just Cause, they are not worthy of the Honour of Priesthood it self. To this Settlement may be referr'd the Canons which descend to receive to the Communion in a Church, or Pro∣vince, those which have been Excommunicated in ano∣ther; as the 5th of the 1st Council of Nice, the 6th of that of Antioch, the 32 of the Apostles, and divers others.
After all, the Constitution of our Discipline which we examine, gives Power to Synods to restore after due acknowledgment, those which have been depos'd for lesser faults, but to serve in another Church; which in sub∣stance, * 1.1 is one of the Decrees of the Council of Lerida, which we have cited several times; there's something much like this in the 11th Canon of the Council in
Trullo, at the end of the 7th Century, Tom. 5. Conc. Page 329.
Tom. 3. Concil. p. 817. c. 10.