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.

LVII.

Those which shall insinuate themselves into the Ministry, in the Provinces and Places where the pure Ministry is al∣ready Established, shall be duely advertised to desist, and in case they persevere, they shall be declar'd Schismaticks, as also those which adhere to them, if after the like warning they do not leave them.

CONFORMITY.

No one, saith the Apostle, ought to assume to him∣self the Honour of the Ministry, unless he be lawfully called to it; therefore 'tis with great reason, that the Authors of our Discipline appoint, That the temerity of those should be reproved, which intrude into the Ministry without Vocation, both in the Country, and other places, where the Ministry is already Established. It is on this account that the Author of the pretended Canons of the Apostles, * 1.1 prohibits Lay-persons to perform any Function of the Sacred Ministry of the Church, as to Christen, to Administer the Lord's Supper, and the laying on of hands; and declares, That those which shall undertake it without being called, shall be pu∣nished with the punishment of Ʋzza. It is for the same reason, That the Ancient Canons forbid Bishops (on pain of Deposing) to meddle out of their Diocesses, or there to make Ordinations, to the prejudice of their Brethren. It is just the same as is enjoyn'd in the 35th of the Apostles; to the which may also be added the 12th and the 16th of the 1st Council of Nice, which say something near the same matter. The 8th of the 1st Council of Ephesus, in the Year 431, is more formal;

for upon occasion of the Incroachments which the Bishop of Antioch made on the Isle of Cyprus, the Fathers ap∣point, That each Province shall enjoy its Privileges, and forbids Bishops to incroach, or make themselves Masters of places which have not been always under their Con∣duct, with Express Command to restore those they had usurped, that the Authority of Ancient Canons may not be trampled under foot: To all which may be added, part of what I have observed on the 18th and 24th Ar∣ticles; and besides, what Socrates has writ of one Ischy∣ras, which was of St. Athanasius his Diocess, and who never having been preferr'd to the Honour of Priest∣hood, had nevertheless the impudence to assume the Name, and do the Functions of a Priest; which the Historian judged worthy of several deaths. It's true, this inconsiderate Person in all likelihood acted after this manner, thinking he should be favour'd by the Arrians, which were Enemies to Athanasius, which suc∣ceeded accordingly; for they advanc'd him to be Bi∣shop, as appears by the 20th Chapter of the 2d Book of the same Socrates. Zozomen calls him Ischyrion, in the 12th Chap. of the 3d Book of his History.

Notes

• * 1.1

  L. 3. c. 10. Paris. 1608.