began to reason concerning His divine origin, and His existence before all ages. He was virtually in the Father without generation, even before He was actually begotten, the Father having always been the Father, just as He has always been a King and a Saviour, and, virtually, all 5 things, and has never known any change of being or action.]

'We have thought it requisite, beloved brethren, to transmit you an account of these circumstances, in order to show you what examination and investigation we 10 bestowed on all the questions which we had to decide; and also to prove how at one time we reasonably resisted, even to the last hour, when doctrines improperly expressed offended us, and, at another time, we, without contention, accepted the articles which contained nothing objection- 15 able, when after a thorough and candid investigation of their signification, they appeared perfectly conformable with what had been confessed by us in the formulary of faith which we had published.'

Select Canons of Councils.

ELVIRA.

N. L.

Can. 26. It has seemed good that we correct an error, 20 that we fast strictly every sabbath day.

Can. 33. It has seemed good entirely to interdict bishops, presbyters, and deacons and all clerics engaged in sacred offices from intercourse with their wives and procreation of children. Whoso disobeys is to be degraded from the 25 clerical office.

Can. 36. It has seemed good that there be no pictures in the church, lest what is worshipped and adored be painted on the walls.

Can. 49. It has seemed good that landowners be warned 30 that they suffer not their crops to be blessed by Jews, lest they make our blessing invalid or weak.

Can. 6o. De his qui destruentes idola occiduntur. Si quis idola fregerit et ibidem fuerit occisus, quatenus in Evangelio scriptum non est neque invenietur sub apostolis unquam factum, placuit in numero eum non recipi 5 martyrum.

Can. 3. Απηγόρευσεν καθόλου ἡ μεγάλη σύνοδος μήτε ἐπισκόπῳ μήτε πρεσβυτέρῳ μήτε διακόνῳ μήτε ὅλως τινὶ τῶν ἐν τῷ κλήρῳ ἐξεῖναι συνείσακτον ἔχειν, πλὴν εἰ μὴ ἄρα μητέρα ἢ ἀδελφὴν ἢ θείαν, ἢ ἃ μόνα πρόσωπα πᾶσαν το ὑποψίαν διαπέφευγε.

Can. 6. Ecclesia Romana semper habuit primatum. τὰ ἀρχαῖα ἔθη κρατείτω τὰ ἐν Αἰγύπτῳ καὶ Λιβύῃ καὶ Πενταπόλει, ὥστε τὸν ̓Αλεξανδρείας ἐπίσκοπον πάντων τούτων ἔχειν τὴν ἐξουσίαν, ἐπειδὴ καὶ τῷ ἐν τῇ 'Ρώμῃ 15 ἐπισκόπῳ τοῦτο σύνηθές ἐστιν· ὁμοίως δὲ καὶ κατὰ τὴν Αντιόχειαν καὶ ἐν ταῖς ἄλλαις ἐπαρχίαις τὰ πρεσβεῖα σώζεσθαι ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις .

Can. 17. Επειδὴ πολλοὶ ἐν τῷ κανόνι ἐξεταζόμενοι τὴν πλεονεξίαν καὶ τὴν αἰσχροκέρδειαν διώκοντες ἐπελάθοντο 2ο τοῦ θείου γράμματος λέγοντος· Τὸ ἀργύριον αὐτοῦ οὐκ

25

ἔδωκεν ἐπὶ τόκῳ· . . . ἐδικαίωσεν ἡ ἁγία καὶ μεγάλη σύνοδος ὡς εἴ τις εὑρεθείη μετὰ τὸν ὅρον τοῦτον τόκους λαμβάνων . . . καθαιρεθήσεται τοῦ κλήρου καὶ ἀλλότριος τοῦ κανόνος ἔσται.

Can. 19. Περὶ τῶν Παυλιανισάντων, εἶτα προσφυγόν των τῇ καθολικῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ, ὅρος ἐκτεθεῖται, ἀναβαπτίζεσθαι αὐτοὺς ἐξάπαντος .

Can. 20. ἐπειδή τινές εἰσιν ἐν τῇ κυριακῇ γόνυ κλίνοντες καὶ ἐν ταῖς τῆς πεντηκοστῆς ἡμέραις· ὑπὲρ τοῦ 30 πάντα ἐν πάσῃ παροικία φυλάττεσθαι, ἑστῶτας ἔδοξε τῇ ἁγίᾳ συνόδῳ τὰς εὐχὰς ἀποδιδόναι τῷ Θεῷ.

Can. 60. If anyone shall have destroyed idols and been slain on the spot, it has seemed good that he be not included among the martyrs, seeing that it is not so commanded in the Gospel, and will not be found ever to have been done in the Apostles' time.

NICAEA.

Can. 3. The great council entirely forbids it to be lawful for either bishop or elder or deacon or any at all of the clergy to have [in his house] a spiritual sister; only a mother or sister or aunt, or such persons only as are past all suspicion.

Can. 6. Let the old customs prevail-those current in Egypt and Libya and Pentapolis, that the bishop of Alexandria have power over all these, for this is the practice with the Roman bishop also. Likewise in the case of Antioch and the other provinces let their pre- 15 rogatives be preserved to the churches.

Can. 17. Seeing that many on the roll of the Church in following after covetousness and filthy lucre have forgotten the divine scripture (Ps. xv. 5) which says, He hath not given his money upon usury. . . the great and holy synod 20 determines that if any be found after this decision taking usury,... he shall be deposed from the clergy and struck off the roll.

Can. 19. Concerning former Paulianists who have betaken themselves to the Catholic Church, a rule has been 25 put forth [by the Council itself], that they are without exception to be rebaptized . . .

Can. 20. Seeing that there are some who kneel on Sunday and in the days of Pentecost, it has seemed good to the holy council (that all things may be observed in 30 every diocese) that men should offer their prayers to God standing.

5

Can. II. Περὶ τοῦ μὴ δεῖν τὰς λεγομένας πρεσβύτιδας ἤτοι προκαθημένας ἐν ἐκκλησίᾳ καθίστασθαι.

Can. 13. Περὶ τοῦ μὴ τοῖς ὄχλοις ἐπιτρέπειν τὰς ἐκλογὰς ποιεῖσθαι τῶν μελλόντων καθίστασθαι εἰς ἱερατεῖον. Can. 28. "Οτι οὐ δεῖ ἐν τοῖς κυριακοῖς ἢ ἐν ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις ἀγάπας ποιεῖν καὶ ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ τοῦ θεοῦ ἐσθίειν καὶ ἀκούβιτα στρωννύειν.

Can. 29. "Οτι οὐ δεῖ Χριστιανοὺς ἰουδαΐζειν καὶ ἐν τῷ σαββάτῳ σχολάζειν, ἀλλὰ ἐργάζεσθαι αὐτοὺς ἐν τῇ το αὐτῇ ἡμέρᾳ, τὴν δὲ κυριακὴν προτιμῶντας εἴγε δύναιντο σχολάζειν ὡς Χριστιανοί.

LXXV.

Roman Religion.

1. Separatim nemo habessit deos, neve novos sive advenas nisi publice adscitos privatim colunto. XII Tabb. 2. Est enim pietas iustitia adversus deos, . . . sanctitas autem scientia colendorum sacrorum. Cic. De Nat. Deor. i. 41.

3. τὸ μὲν θεῖον πάντῃ πάντως αὐτός τε σέβου κατὰ τὰ πάτρια καὶ τοὺς ἄλλους τιμᾶν ἀνάγκαζε, τοὺς δὲ δὴ ξενίζοντάς τι περὶ αὐτὸ καὶ μίσει καὶ κόλαζε, μὴ μόνον τῶν θεῶν ἕνεκα, ὧν ὁ καταφρονήσας οὐδ ̓ ἄλλου ἄν τινος προτιμή σειεν, ἀλλ ̓ ὅτι καὶ καινά τινα δαιμόνια οἱ τοιοῦτοι ἀντεσφέροντες πολλοὺς ἀναπείθουσιν ἀλλοτριονομεῖν, κἀκ τούτου καὶ συνωμοσίαι καὶ συστάσεις εταιρείαί τε γίγνονται, ἅπερ ἥκιστα μοναρχίᾳ συμφέρει. MAECENAS) DIO CASS. Hist. lii. 36.

4. Iudaeos fieri sub gravi poena vetuit. Idem etiam de Christianis sanxit. Vita Severi, 17.

5. Cum Christiani quendam locum, qui publicus fuerat, occupassent, contra popinarii dicerent, sibi eum deberi, rescripsit, melius esse, ut quemadmodumcunque illic deus colatur, quam propinariis dedatur. Vila Alexandri Severi, 49.

6. + Impp. Maximianus, Diocletianus et Maximinus nobi

LAODICEA.

Can. II. That there be no ordination of the so-called female elders or presidents in the church.

Can. 13. That the multitude be not allowed to make the choice of those to be appointed to priestly office.

Can. 28. That it be not lawful to hold agapae in the 5 Lord's houses or the churches, or to eat in the house of God or lay couches.

Can. 29. That Christians must not play Jews by ceasing work on the Sabbath, but that they work on that day and prefer the Lord's day by ceasing work as Christians 10 if they can.

neque

lissimi A. A. A. Iuliano proconsuli Africae + . reprehendi a nova vetus religio debet. Maximi enim criminis est, retractare, quae semel ab antiquitate statuta et definita, suum cursum tenent ac possident... Iubemus namque, auctores quidem et principes una cum abominandis scripturis eorum severiori poenae subici, ita ut flammeis ignibus exurantur: consectaneos vero capita puniri praecipimus . . . si qui sane etiam honorati . . . ad hanc... doctrinam Persarum se transtulerint, eorum patrimonia fisco nostro adsociari facies, ipsosque... metallis dari, Dat. pridie Kal. Aprilis, Alexandriae.

7.

Mes. et Rom. Legum Collatio, xv. 3.

AEDUO SUMMIS honoribus APUD SUOS FUNCTO SACERDOTI AD TEMPL ROM ET AUG AD CONFLUENT ARARIS ET RHODANI. (WILMANNS, Inscr. 2220.)

8. DIS MAGNIS ULPIUS EGNATIUS FAVENTINUS V C AUGUR PUB P R Q PATER ET HIEROCERYX DSIM ARCHIBUCOLUS DEI LIBERI HIEROFANTA HECATAE SACERDOS ISIDIS PERCEPTO TAUROBOLIO CRIOBOLIOQ IDIBUS AUGUSTIS D D N N VALENTE AUG V ET VALENTINIANO CONSS FELICITER. (WILMANNS, Inscr. 111.)