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.

CHAP. XIV. Of Particular Rules and Advertisements.

ARTICLE I.

NO Body shall be received to the Communion of the Church. until he has first publickly renounced all Su∣perstitions and Idolatries of the Church of Rome, and of the Mass, especially.

CONFORMITY.

The Church in all Ages has refused to receive Persons into her Communion, until they had first given an ac∣count of their Faith, and had renounced all Errors they had formerly professed, and all the false Worship they had before preached; I may prove this Truth by sun∣dry Cannons, but I'le only produce some, the thing be∣ing clear of it self; The Sixth Cannon of Laodicea is ex∣press on this Subject. Hereticks must not be permitted to enter into the House of God, if they persevere in their He∣resie. The Seventh is no less formal; Those amongst the Novatians, Photinians, or Quarto decimans, nor those amongst them they call Believers, until they first anathe∣matize all Heresie, especially that wherein they were detain'd. To this same Subject may be apply'd the 37th and 58th Cannons of the same Synod; about Forty years before the Great Council of Nice had order'd in the VIII. Can∣non touching the Catharians, that when they return'd to the Communion of the Church, they should be ob∣lig'd to declare by writing, That they imbrac'd all the Doctrines of the Catholick and Apostolick Church: And that by consequence they renounce all the Errors con∣trary to them, and wherewith they had been infected,

and because all Errors are not alike dangerous, the Se∣cond Oecumenical Council assembled at Constantinople in the year 381, prescribes in the Seventh Cannon, the manner of receiving those which turn to the Church, and this method is different according to the Diversity of Errors of those which are converted, but after all, the least that is expected of them, Is to anathematize by Writing, all manner of Heresie as doth not agree with the Dogma's of the Holy Catholick and Apostolick Church.

II.

A Believer is not permitted to intermeddle in any thing wherein there may be an intermixture of Idolatry, as that which is called the Kiss of the hand, or the Ceremony of the Church, keep Masses, Vigils, and maintain Friers which are appointed for that purpose; But to hold Priories, Revenues, Rents, Chappellanies, and Tythes to pay the Revenue to Churchmen, inasmuch as they are Temporal Lords, it is a thing indifferent, and at the liberty of those that please to do it; Nevertheless Believers are advertis'd not to inter∣meddle in those matters, if they find any abuse therein, or appearance of any ill consequence, whereof the Consistories shall take special heed.

CONFORMITY.

It's only requisite to read what I have said on the Nineteenth Article of the Fifth chap. which is that of Consistories, to see after what manner those are treated in the Primitive Church as were any way poluted with Idolatry: I will here only add two things, First, That the Ancient Fathers called Idolatry, Crimen principale, summum scelus, principale crimen genneris humani, sum∣mum saeculi reatus, tota causa judicii: And by these ex∣pressions they would let Christians, see how much they should abhor Idolatry, seeing it breaks all manner of Communion with God. Secondly, That the Council

of Laodicea after having declared in the 35th Cannon, that Christians should not forsake the Church of God to follow Angels to invoke them it makes this Mennace, If any one be found to serve this hidden Idolatry, let him be anathematised, because he has forsaken our Lord Jesus Christ the Son of God, and is turn'd to Idolatry.

The Reader may observe if he please that the Fathers of Laodicea, think one abandons Jesus Christ, and for sakes him, at the very instant one makes any step to∣wards Idolatry; and 'twill be to no purpose to say that one often thinks there is Idolatry where there is none, because that as soon as ever a Man thinks there is Idola∣try he ought not be concern'd, more nor less, al∣though he might be mistaken in his Judgment; for he would betray his own Conscience, and indanger his Salvation, seeing that in matter of Religion, all that is done without Faith is Sin, as St. Paul saith.

III.

Those who by unlawful means, as by Popes Bulls, or for Money, shall hold Benefices, and also those which shall up∣hold Idolatry directly or indirectly, are declared unworthy to be admitted to the Holy Communion of the Lords Supper. As for benefices conferr'd on any Body by right of Patronage, whether it be by Provision of the Lord Lay Patron, or by Collation of the Bishop, Believers are advertis'd not to accept of any that shall be given them, under any open or ta∣cit condition of service deditated to the Idol.

CONFORMITY.

This Article being a consequence and dependance on the former, it has no need of any other Interpretation.

IV.

Printers, Booksellers, Painters, and other Tradesmen, and in general all Believers, especially those who have any

Office in the Church, shall be admonished not to make any thing in their way, as depends directly on the Superstitions of the Church of Rome. And as for private Actions, and the corrections proper thereunto, it shall be what the Consistory shall judge convenient.

CONFORMITY.

The same may be said almost of this as I said of the Third, and add withal, That after our Separation from the Church of Rome for things which we do not approve, we cannot with safe Conscience practice any of those things which have been the motive and cause of our Separation.

V.

Notaries, Secretaries, and others who by their Offices are obliged to Sign and Seal things indifferently, which are presented to them, shall not be blamed for receiving Testa∣ments, passing Contracts, and dispatching Letters of things which concern Idolatry; nor Judges for judging causes con∣cerning Ecclesiastical Matters, and the Execution of E∣dicts.

CONFORMITY.

The Authors of our Discipline have prudently per∣mitted those of our Communion, in preferrence to those of the Church of Rome, to do all things as may be done without prejudicing ones Conscience, or indan∣gering Salvation.

VI.

Arbitrators shall not meddle with any Matters that con∣cern Idolatry directly nor Indirectly.

CONFORMITY.

There needs no other Commentary on this Establish∣ment then what I have remarked on the Tenth and Eleventh.

VII.

Advocates and Attorneys may not plead in causes which tend to taking away Preaching and setting up Mass; and generally they shall not be suffered to give Council to the Romish Clergy in causes which tend directly or indirectly to the oppression of the Church, and true Religion.

CONFORMITY.

There can be nothing more just than to forbid all Per∣sons of our Religion to Establish what we do condemn, and to destroy what we set up.

VIII.

Neither Bishops, nor Officials, nor Arch-Deacons, such as they are at present, have by right, any Jurisdiction, Ecclesiastical nor Civil; Nevertheless because Believers are sometimes constrain'd to appear before them to gain their Right, which otherwise were not to be obtain'd, they may thither make their address, being referr'd by the Magistrate, to whom they are first to apply themselves.

CONFORMITY.

One may and ought also submit to all the Juris∣dictions Established in a Country by Consent and Au∣thority of the Sovereign, especially when one is appoin∣ted so to do by Order of the Magistrate, under this con∣dition nevertheless, That the Service of God be not thereby injur'd, nor the Conscience concern'd.

IX.

Advocates that are Believers ought not to plead on any account whatsoever, before Officials, but only in cases for which one may prosecute their Right before them according to the precedent Article.

CONFORMITY.

This Article depending of the former, its needless to look for any other Explication.

X.

It is not a thing unlawful in it self to exercise Civil Ju∣risdictions and Procurations under Ecclesiastical Persons, which do not at all concern that which they call the Spiri∣tuality.

CONFORMITY.

Seeing it is permitted to acknowledge the Jurisdicti∣ons of Ecclesiastical Persons, on certain occasions, and in the manner above established, it may also be permit∣ted to Exercise them.

XI.

Believers may not obtain nor publish Monitories, nor Excommunications of the Roman Church.

CONFORMITY.

The Protestants not acknowledging the Popes Au∣thority to be Legitimate, they ought not to have re∣course to it, Directly nor Indirectly.

XII.

Inasmuch as it is not lawful nor expedient to go hear the Preachers of the Church of Rome, or others that intrude themselves without being lawfully called, the Flocks shall be hinder'd by the Ministers from going thither; and those that will go, shall be summon'd before the Consistory, and sensur'd as the case shall require.

CONFORMITY.

It's above Thirteen Hundred years ago, that the Council of Laodicea made this Decree; Those which are Members of the Church shall not be permitted to go to Church yards nor to Oratories of any Hereticks whatsoever, either to Pray, or to obtain the healing of any Sickness; but the Believers that have so done shall for a time be deprived of the Holy Communion, and upon confessing and repenting their fault, shall afterwards be restor'd again.

XIII.

Lords, Gentlemen, and others, shall be advertised not to entertain in their Houses, scandalous and incorrigible Persons; and especially if they suffer Priests singing Mass, or discoursing to debauch their Servants, or if they do anew, take, and receive such into their Service.

CONFORMITY.

This Establishment tends only to the purity of Life, and preservation of true Religion, which are things to which every body ought diligently to apply them∣selves.

XIV.

Fathers and Mothers shall be Exhorted to take great care in Teaching and Educating their Children which are the Seed and Nursery of the Church. And those which send them to the Schools of Priests, Friers, Jesuits, and Nuns, shall be prosecuted by the severest Church Sensures. Those also which put their Children to be Pages, or otherwise, to Lords and Gentlemen of the contrary Religion, shall be advis'd how they do so.

CONFORMITY.

This proceeds from the same principle the other did, and was made by the same Motives, which are Motives very reasonable, and very conformable to the practice of the Antient Church.

XV.

Those who have Brothers, Sisters, and other Relations, who having quitted Monasteries to serve God with a pure and good Conscience, shall be Exhorted to assist them, and to do according to the Laws of Humanity and Affinity.

CONFORMITY.

If Christians are obliged, and they are obliged by the word of God, and by the Ancient Cannons, to ex∣ercise towards all Men, Works of Charity; of greater

Reason should they do them to their near Friends and Re∣lations, especially when they are reduc'd to necessity for serving God with a good Conscience, in departing from a Communion wherein they were fully perswaded they could not be saved.

XVI.

Ministers nor any else in the Church, cannot Print Books made by themselves or others touching Religion, nor any way publish them, without communicating them to the Colloque, or if need be to the Provincial Synod, and if the matter require hast, to the Accademies, or to two Pastors which shall be nominated by the Synod, and shall attest the Examination by them made of the said Writings.

CONFORMITY.

This Ordinance is very necessary to prevent all the evil consequences as may sometimes ensue without the Examination therein prescribed; the same thing is done amongst the Papists, whose works are commonly ap∣proved by some Doctors, and at Rome by the Master of the Sacred Pallace. See what I have said on the Fifteenth Article of the First Chapter,

XVII.

Those which take Pen in hand to treat the Histories of the Holy Scriptures in Meter, are advertis'd not to mix therein any Poetical Fables, and not to attribute to God the Name of false Gods, and not to add nor diminish to the Holy Scriptures, but to keep as near as may be to the Stile of it.

CONFORMITY.

This Article will find it self sufficiently explain'd, by the things I have remarked on the Twelfth Article of the First Chapter, whether I refer the Reader.

XVIII.

The Books of the Bible whether Cannonical, or Ap∣pocriphal, shall not be transformed into Comedies, nor Trage∣dies.

CONFORMITY.

This Respect is due to the Holy Scriptures, as not to make it serve for Subject nor Argument to these pee∣ces of Theater, which the Ancient Church has securely condemned, forbidding her Children to be there present.

XIX.

Churches where there shall be Printers, shall warn them not to print Books that shall concern Religion or Ecclesiasti∣cal Discipline, without first having communicated them to the Consistory to prevent the mischeifs that have arisen there∣by. The Printers, Stationers, &c. shall be warned not to sell any Books relateing to Idolatry, that may be impious, or scandalous, or which may tend to the corrupting of good Manners.

CONFORMITY.

After what I have observed on the 2, 3, and 16th. Articles of this Chapter, this doth not require any new interpretation.

XX.

Although the Priests do wrongfully usurp Tythes by reason of their Administration; nevertheless they ought to be paid in respect to the Kings command, and to avoid sedition and giving offence.

CONFORMITY.

In that we pay Tythes to the Curate, is an Effect of the obedience we owe to the Ordinance of our King, and a mark of the care our Synods have had in acco∣modating in indifferent things with those from whom we have separated for meer Conscience sake, and not for worldly considerations, nor for private Interests.

XXI.

Believers shall be exhorted not to give any offence in working on fast days, according to the Edict.

CONFORMITY.

It is also by a Principle of Obedience and submission that we observe Holy-days, not to offend our Neigh∣bours, and to keep our selves up to the Edict under whose Rules we live.

XXII.

All Ʋsuries shall be very strictly prohibited, because they are Exorbitants, and many abuses is therein committed

CONFORMITY.

The Ancient Cannons very strictly prohibited usury, because it was cruel, and many great crimes were there∣in committed; Our Discipline follows a moderation in declaring that in matter of Lending, one shall act ac∣cording to the Kings Ordinance, and moreover that the Rules of Charity be consulted.

XXIII.

All violence and unbecoming language against those of the Roman Church, and even against Preists and Friers shall not onely be hinder'd, but also wholly suppressed as much as possible may be.

CONFORMITY.

This Article is grounded on the Gospel, which puts in the number of Murderers, those which violate their Neighbours by injurious words, and shews the dispo∣sition we have ever had to live peaceably with our Country-men, not to instance in Cannons which forbid all manner of Outrages.

XXIV.

Swearers, who through Custom or Anger take the Name of God in vain, and others who prophane the Majesty of the Lord, shall be grevously censur'd and after one or two ad∣monitions,

if they desist not, shall be suspended the Lords Table; and outragious Blasphemers, as also Damee's, and the like, shall by no meanes be tollerated in the Church, but from the first offence, shall be censured even to suspension from the Sacrament, and if they persist, they shall be publickly Excommunicated.

CONFORMITY.

The foundation of this Article is taken from the third Commandment of the first Table of the Law, Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his Name in vain, After so strict a prohibition, and so terrible a Comminati∣on our Discipline had Reason to establish punishments against the Infringers of this Commandment, to a∣void all blame and reproach, * 1.1 because as Gregory the first says, Him that corrects not what should be taken away, doth commit it; Our King St. Lewis, made an Ordinance in the year 1270, to bannish out of his Kingdom, Blas∣phemies, and Oaths, whereby the Majesty of God is criminaly prophan'd.

XXV.

The Churches shall advertise Believers both Men and Women to use great Modesty, especially in Apparel, and shall give Order to abate the superfluity therein committed: Ne∣vertheless the said Churches shall make no Law thereabouts, it being a thing appertaining to the Magistrate to do; but shall give notice to all, that the Kings Ordinances in those Cases shall be diligently observ'd.

CONFORMITY.

The remarks I have made on the 20th. Article of the first Chapter will shew the Conformity of this, with the Discipline of the Ancient Christians.

XXVI.

No body can be debarr'd from the Lords Table for wear∣ing

any kind of habit that shall be of Common use and Custom in this Kingdom, but in this rank ought not to be compre∣hended those which leave the open marks of shame, dissolute∣ness, too much newness, as Painting, naked Breasts, and the like, the Consistories shall use all possible means to suppress such Dissolutions by Sensures, and against obstinate Persons, shall proceed to suspending them from the Lords Table.

CONFORMITY.

I say the same of this as of the former.

XXVII.

Dances shall be suppressed, and those who make account to Dance, or be present at Dancing, after having been several times admonished, shall be Excommunicated when they shall grow obstinate and Rebellious. Consistories are strictly en∣joyn'd to see this Article duely executed, and to cause it to be publickly read in the name of the Synods, and the Colloques exhorted to take Notice of Consistories which shall not take care, to Sensure them.

CONFORMITY.

* 1.2The Synod of Laodicea about the middle of the 4th. Century made a Cannon against Dances, contain'd in these Words; Christians which go to Weddings, must not Dance, but let them Dine or Sup civilly, as becomes Christians.

In the third Volume of the Councils, a like Decree is attributed to the Council of Lerrida in the year 524. Though its nothing but the same of that of Laodicea a little vary'd, but just now mention'd. Herrald Bishop of Tours in his Capitulary's of the year 858, * 1.3 in the third Volume of the Councils of France, forbids also Dances, not only at Weddings, * 1.4 but also on other occasions; the Frier Blastares has not in his Collection forgot the Can∣non of Laodicea, Chap. 7. of the Letter G. pag. 66. St. Eloy Bishop of Noyon in the 7th. Century inveigh'd much against Dancing, which he put in the number of Devilish

Divertisments, as is reported by St. Owen in the second Book of his life, chap. 15. Tom. 5. spiril. pag. 217.

In the year 589 the third Council of Toledo had ap∣pointed in the 23d. * 1.5 Cannon to exterminate this pro∣phane and Irreligious Custom from amongst the people, who instead of attending diligently on Gods service on Holy-days, spent the time in Dancing and singing filthy and impure Songs, and the Fathers enjoyn the Bishops and Judges with care to clear Spain from this extravi∣gance. And about the beginning of the V. Century a Council of Africa had ordain'd in the 27th Cannon, that the Emperors should be desir'd to prohibit Dances in the Streets on Days appointed for Celebrating the Me∣mory of Martyrs; * 1.6 In the 6th. Book of the Capitularies of our Kings of the second Race, Dances and Lascivious Songs were absolutely forbidden, and it is therein de∣clared that they which shall disobey this Ordinance shall suffer the punishment contain'd in the Cannon, alledging for a Reason that they are the remainders of Paganism.

XXVIII.

Mommery's, and Stage-plays shall not be allowed, nor the Ceremony of King Drinks, nor Carnavals, nor Hocus Pocus, slight of Hand, and Poppet and Stage players, and Christi∣an Magistrates are exhorted not to tolerate them, because these things only cause loss of time, and entertains Idleness, Curiosity, and Expence. Neither shall it be lawful for Be∣lievers to assist at Comedies, Tragedies, Farces, Morali∣ties, and other plays acted in publick or in private, seeing that in all Ages they have been prohibited amongst Christi∣ans, as inclining to the corrupting of good Manners, especi∣ally when the holy Scripture is therein mingled. Neverthe∣less when in Colledges it shall be thought fit that Youth may represent some History, it may be tolerated, provided it ben't contain'd in the Holy Scripture, which is not given to

be dally'd with, but to be truly Preached, also it shall be done but very seldom, and by advice of the Colloque, which shall first see the composition.

CONFORMITY.

There may be apply'd to this Article as to what re∣gards Mummery's, the Liberties of Shrovetide, and other the like Pastimes, what the Fathers have said and done against Christians which allow'd themselves in Liberti∣nism after the Manner of Pagans in the Callends of Janu∣ary that is to say, the first day of that Month, who used near hand the same Sports now practis'd at Carnaval; but to draw to a Conclusion, it suffices to refer the Rea∣der to the first Cannon of a Synod at Auxer in the year 578, to a Homily of Maximus Bishop of Turin, and a Writer of the V. Century, Entituled, A Homily on the Circumcision of our Lord, or a reprehension of the Callends of January: In this Sermon he explains the Follies and Debauches committed by Christians on that day, and to what St. Owen writes of St. Eloy in the same Chapter cited on the foregoing Article, whereby we find they aban∣don'd themselves to very great Extravagancy, they put on Vizards, and put themselves in the shape of sundry Beasts, as of Sheep, Stags, Cows, Bears and other Beasts, to act with greater Liberty and Freedom, until that at last these extravagancies being restrain'd by Ecclesiastical and Civil Laws, Christians changed these Follies of the Callends of January, to the time a little before Lent, as if one were bound to commit Sin, to have greater occa∣fion of Repentance.

As for the rest of the Article which concerns Stage∣plays, and the Theater, the Ancient Doctors of the Church incessantly cry against these worldly pastimes; Tertullian and St. Cyprian have writ whole Treatises on purpose to divert Christians from them, and has called

them spectacles: I actantius, St. Basil, St. * 1.7 Cyril of Jerusa∣lem, Isidore of Petlusta, St. Crysostome, St. Austin, has highly condemned them; and Salvian in his Treatise of Providence, doth vehemently exagerate the evils that proceed from them, and saith several things as may just∣ly be apply'd to those amongst us as do frequent the Theater, and Comedies.

The third Council of Carthage in the year 388 ex∣presly forbids it in 11th. Cannon. And the 4th. * 1.8 which was assembled the year following, Excomunicates in the 81th. Cannon, all those which on a solemn day abandon the assembly of the Church to be present at Stage-plays; * 1.9 therefore in another Council under Aurelius, the Fathers of Africa resolved to beseech the Emperours to prohi∣bit those worldly divertisments, especially on solemn days set apart for the Exercise of Piety and Religion; The 6th. Oecumenical Council employes to this purpose the 51st. Cannon at the end of the 7th. Century. * 1.10 Thence it is that the Ancient Discipline excomunicates Stage∣players, Jesters, Comedians, and all those as mounted on the Theater to show these Divertisments to the people; and worldings must not abuse what's added at the end of the Establishment I examine, saving the only scope of it was but sometimes to Exercise Scholars in Colledges.

XXIX.

All Playes prohibited by the Kings Edicts, as Cards, Dice, and other Games of hazard, and those of cevetous∣ness, immodesty, scandal, or notorious loss of time, shall be suppressed, and the parties reproved and admonished by the Consistory, and Sensured as the Circumstances shall require: Lotteries also are not to be allowed, whither tolerated by the Magistrate or otherwise.

CONFORMITY.

The 6th. * 1.11 universal Council made this Decree, con∣tain'd in the 50th. Cannon, That no Christian whether of the Clergy or Laity, do henceforth play at the game called Hazard, and if any be found doing it, if of the Clergy, that he be deposed, but if of the Laity that he be Excommuni∣cated.

XXX.

To be present at Feasts and Collations of Weddings, at Birth and Marriage of Children, made by those of the Romish perswasion, is in it self indifferent; nevertheless Believers are advertised to use it to Edification, and to con∣sider if they are sufficiently able to resist the dissolutions and other evils which may there be committed, and also to reprove them. In which Feasts are not comprised those made by Priests at their first Mass, to which it is not lawful to goe.

CONFORMITY.

The Council of Loadicea has proved in the 35th. and 54th. Cannons against the debauches which may happen at Feasts, and has warned Christians not to participate thereof.

As for the Feasts made by Priests at their first Mass, our Discipline had just reason to forbid those of its com∣munion not to be there present, because 'twould be in some sort a silent approving of a thing which has occasi∣oned one of the greatest causes of our separation from the Romish Church, it was by a like principle the Synod of Laodicea prohibited Christians in the 37th. 38th. & 39th. Cannons, not to communicate of any thing as they were wont to use in the Feasts of Jewes, Hereticks, and Pa∣gans.

XXXI.

It shall be no means be permitted to be present at the Feasts or Weddings of those which to marry a Person of con∣trary Religion shall revolt from the profession of the Gos∣pel. As for those which have been a good while revolted, or are wholly Papists, it is at the discretion of Believers to do what they shall in Wisdom think convenient.

CONFORMITY.

What I have observed at the end of the former Ar∣ticle, may be applyed to this.

XXXII.

Those which challenge or cause to be challenged to Duel, or that being challenged accept it, and even kill their Adversa∣saries, although they might obtain their pardon, or be other∣wise claered, shall be sensured to the being suspended from the Lords Supper, which suspension shall be speedily published, and if they desire to be received to the peace of the Church, they must make publick confession of their Crime.

CONFORMITY.

Duels being expresly condemn'd by the Word of God, and by the Laws of our Invincible Monarch its very just severely to sensure Transgressors, and all those which passing over the Laws of Heaven and Earth, give way to these furies and passions, which proceed from an insatiable desire of anger and revenge.

XXXIII.

These Articles here contained touching Discipline are not so setled amongst us, but if the good of the Church re∣quire it, they may be changed; but it shall not be in the po∣wer of Ministers, Consistories, Colloques, and Provincial Synods thereunto, to add, alter, or diminish, without the advice and consent of a Nati••nal Synod.

CONFORMITY.

Upon the least knowledge of Ecclesiastical Antiquity, it is

apparent that the Conducters of Christian Churches has on several occasions done what our Discipline tolerates in this last Article, and after the manner it prescribes; thence it is that when there was any question made of a point of Discipline which regarded the Churches of the Roman Empire all in general, it was only an Oecu∣menical Council could determine it, as I have made appear on the second Article of the 6th. chap. to which I referr the Reader, moreover it were easy to produce sundry examples of changes made at several times, in the Ancient Discipline; but as 'tis a truth own'd by all the world, I will only touch at the matter of pennance the practice whereof has been various according to the diversity of times, Councils having therein made se∣veral changes as occasion has required, as appeares by Reading the Ancient Cannons; see what I have writ on the 19th. Article of the 5th. chap. which is that of Consistories. However Ecclesiastical Discipline should allways be conformable to the genious of the Gospel, and to the mind of Jesus Christ, and have for its foundation this maxim of St. Paul, That all things should be done decently and in order in the Church of God: * 1.12 This being so, the Chrch has allways had power to change what it thinks fit in matter of Discipline, see∣ing that according to St. Austins remark, the last O∣ecumenical Councils have often corrected the former, its true he saith it ought to be done without arrogancy, or pride, without strife or contention, wirh o•• spirit of love and charity. For the Rule of faith remaining entire, saith Tertullian, the rest which relates to Disci∣pline; admits the novelty of Correction by means of the grace of God, which operates and makes farth∣er progress in us to the end,

Notes

• * 1.1

  L. 7. Ind. 2 Epist. 6. Tom. 2. Spicil. pag. 548.
• * 1.2

  Can. 53.
• * 1.3

  Pag. 818.
• * 1.4

  Cap. 112, 114. pag. 115.
• * 1.5

  Tom. 4. conc. pag. 507.
• * 1.6

  Tom. 1. conc. pag. 915.
• * 1.7

  Lib. 6. pag. 127. Par. 1669
• * 1.8

  Tom. 1. Conc. pag. 710.
• * 1.9

  Ib. p. 730.
• * 1.10

  Ib. c. 28. pag. 915.
• * 1.11

  Tom. 5. Conc. pag. 337.
• * 1.12

  ••ib. 2. de Bapt. c. 3. Tom. 7. p. 40.