Origines Ecclesiasticæ

Gospels, and large annotations on the Old and New Testament: but these short expositions I have mentioned are much more needed; and that is enough to recommend the work to a pious undertaker.

The great objection against all these things is, that each of them is too great an undertaking for any single man. I remember to have heard of the same objection made by some against me and my Origines, upon publishing the first volume of them. I bless God, I have lived to confute the objection, and give the world a proof that great and laborious works are not always so frightful as sometimes they are imagined. I have given a little specimen of what the industry of a single person may do, in whom there is neither the greatest capacity nor the strongest constitution. And having made the experiment myself, I can with more decency and freedom recommend these things to others, who are qualified to undertake them. But in saying this, I would not encourage every bold empiric in divinity or history, to set about such works, which they are not any ways qualified for, either for want of knowledge or want of judgment. To all such the poet's direction is much more proper: Sumite materiam vestris, qui scribitis, æquam Viribus, et versate diu quid ferre recusent, Quid valeant humeri. The want of observing which rule does abundantly more harm than good. For such men's writings only serve to confound learning, and leave things in a much worse state than they found them. The world has daily experiment of this, to the prejudice both of good literature and religion. Therefore what I have said by way of encouragement is not to these, but to the truly judicious, the inquisitive, the modest, and the learned, who want nothing but courage proportionable to their understanding, to make them become great instruments of God's glory in doing useful things for the service of his church. This church has never wanted such brave spirits, and I hope never will, to set forth truth with all the advantages of learning, and confound the opposition that is made to it by all the enemies of religion, whether they be the more professed attackers, or the secret underminers of its foundation. The blessing of God be upon all those, who have ability and will to undertake great and useful works for the promotion of piety and religion, and to stand in the gap against all the enemies of truth.

CONTENTS.

BOOK I.

OF THE SEVERAL NAMES AND ORDERS OF MEN IN THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH.

CHAPTER I.

Of those titles and appellations which Christians own-

ed, and distinguished themselves by.

SECT. 1.. Christians at first called Jesseans, Therapeutæ,

Electi, &c.-2. Christ called by a technical name,

ΙΧΘΥΣ ;

and Christians, Pisciculi, from that. - 3.

Christians, why called Gnostici by some authors.-4.

Theophori, and Christophori.-5. Sometimes, but very
rarely, Christi.-6. Christians great enemies to all
party names and human appellations. Christian, the
name they chiefly gloried in.-7. Of the name catholic,
and its antiquity.-8. In what sense the name ecclesi-
astics given to all Christians.-9. The Christian religion
called Δόγμα, and Christians οἱ τοῦ Δόγματος.10.
Christians called Jews by the heathen.-11. Christ
commonly called Chrestus by the heathen; and Chris-
tians, Chrestians.

CHAPTER II.

Of those names of reproach, which Jews, infidels, and

heretics cast upon the Christians.

SECT. 1. Christians commonly called Nazarens by Jews
and heathens.-2. And Galilæans.-3. And atheists.-
4. Greeks and impostors.-5. Magicians.-6. The new
superstition.-7. Sibyllists.-8. Biothanati.-9. Para-
bolarii, and Desperati.-10. Sarmentitii, and Semaxii.

11. Lucifugax natio.-12. Plautina prosapia.-13.

Christians called Capitolins, Synedrians, and Aposta-

tics, by the Novatians.-14. Psychici, by the Montan-

ists and Valentinians.-15. Allegorists, by the Mille-

naries.-16. Chronita, by the Aetians; Simplices, by

the Manichees; Anthropolatre, by the Apollinarians.-

17. Philosarce, and Pilosiota, by the Origenians.—

18. The synagogue of Satan and antichrist, by the

Luciferians.

CHAPTER III.

Of the several orders of men in the Christian church.

SECT. 1. Three sorts of members of the Christian church,

the ἠγούμενοι, πιστοὶ, and κατηχούμενοι; rulers, be-

lievers, and catechumens.-2. The name believers

strictly taken for the baptized laity, in opposition to

the catechumens.-3. Catechumens owned as imper-

fect members of the church.-4. Heretics not reputed

Christians.-5. Penitents and energumens ranked in

the same class with catechumens.

CHAPTER IV.

A more particular account of the Toroi, or believers,

and their several titles of honour, and privileges

above the catechumens.

SECT. 1. Believers otherwise called wτióμevo, the
illuminate.-2. And oi μɛμvnuévot, the initiated.-3.
And TλELOL, the perfect.-4. Chari Dei, äyioi, &c.—
5. The privileges of believers. First, To partake of
the eucharist.-6. Secondly, To stay and join in all
the prayers of the church.-7. Thirdly, Their sole
-prerogative to use the Lord's prayer. Whence that
prayer was called εux Torv, the prayer of believers.
-8. Fourthly, They were admitted to hear discourses
upon the most profound mysteries of religion. All
which privileges were denied to the catechumens.

CHAPTER V.

Of the distinction of believers from the rulers. Where,

of the distinction observed in the names and offices

of laity and clergy; and of the antiquity of these

distinctions.

SECT. 1. Believers otherwise called laici, laymen, to dis-

tinguish them from the clergy.-2. The antiquity of

this distinction in the names proved against Rigaltius,

Salmasius, and Selden.-3. The objection from 1 Pet.

v. 3, answered.-4. A distinction in the offices of laity

and clergy always observed.-5. Laymen otherwise

called βιωτικοί, seculars. - 6. Also ἰδιῶται, private

men.-7. What persons properly called clerici.-8.

The name clerici sometimes appropriated to the in-

ferior orders.-9. The reason of the name clerici.-

10. All the clergy anciently called canonici; and the

reason of it.—11. Also τάξις τοῦ βήματος, the order

of the sanctuary.

*See a note on this word at the end of the Contents.

BOOK II.

OF THE SEVERAL SUPERIOR ORDERS OF THE CLERGY IN THE PRIMITIVE CHURCH.

CHAPTER I.

Of the original of bishops; and that they were a dis-

tinct order from presbyters in the primitive church.

SECT. 1. What the ancients mean by different orders of

bishops and presbyters.-2. The order of bishops al-

ways owned to be superior to that of presbyters.-3.

The order of bishops reckoned by all ancient writers

to be of apostolical and Divine institution.-4. A list

or catalogue of bishops ordained by the apostles. 17

CHAPTER II.

Of the several titles of honour given to bishops in the

primitive church.

SECT. 1. All bishops at first called apostles.-2. After

that, successors of the apostles.-3. Whence every

bishop's see called sedes apostolica.-4. Bishops called

princes of the people. 5. Præpositi, προετῶτες, πρό-

εopol, popol.-6. Principes sacerdotum, summi sacer-

dotes, pontifices maximi, &c.—7. Every bishop an-

ciently called papa, father, or pope.-8. l'ater patrum,

and episcopus episcoporum, a title given to others be-

side the bishop of Rome.-9. Bishops sometimes call-

ed patriarchs.-10. All bishops styled vicars of Christ.

-11. And angels of the churches.

CHAPTER III.

Of the offices of bishops, as distinct from presbyters.

SECT. 1. A threefold difference between bishops and

presbyters, in the discharge of their office and function.

-2. First, In the common offices that might be per-

formed by both; the bishop acted by an independent

power, but presbyters in dependence upon, and subor-

dination to him.-3. This specified in the offices of

baptism and the Lord's supper.-4. And in the office

of preaching.-5. Secondly, Some offices never in-

trusted in the hands of presbyters; such as the office

and power of ordination.-6. Instances of ordinations

by presbyters disannulled by the church.-7. Some

allegations to the contrary examined. Where, of the

difference made between the ordinations of schismati-

cal bishops, and those of mere presbyters.-8. A third

difference between bishops and presbyters was, that

presbyters were always accountable to their bishops,

not bishops to their presbyters.-9. Yet bishops'

power not arbitrary, but limited by canon in various

respects.

CHAPTER IV.

Of the power of bishops over the laity, monks, subor-

dinate magistrates, and all persons within their dio-

cese; and of their office in disposing of the revenues

of the church.

SECT. 1. No exemption from the jurisdiction of the bi-

shop in the primitive church.-2. All monks subject

to the bishop of the diocese where they lived.-3. As

also all subordinate magistrates in matters of spiritual

jurisdiction.-4. Of the distinction between temporal

and spiritual jurisdiction. Bishops' power wholly con-

fined to the latter.-5. The bishop's prerogative in

granting the literæ formate to all persons. 6. Of

the bishop's power in disposing of the revenues of the

church.

CHAPTER V.

Of the office of bishops, in relation to the whole catholic

church.

SECT. 1. In what sense every bishop supposed to be bi-

shop of the whole catholic church.-2. In what re-

spect the whole world but one diocese, and but one

bishopric in the church.-3. Some particular instances

of private bishops acting as bishops of the whole uni-

versal church.

CHAPTER VI.

Of the independency of bishops; especially in the

Cyprianic age, and in the African churches.

SECT. 1. What meant by the independency of bishops

one of another, and their absolute power in their own

church.-2. All bishops had liberty to form their own

liturgies.-3. And to express the same catholic creed in

different forms, as to what concerned method or ex-

pression.-4. And to appoint particular days of fast-

ing in their own churches.-5. The independency of

bishops most conspicuous in the African churches;

proved by several instances out of Cyprian.

CHAPTER VII.

Of the power of bishops in hearing and determining

secular causes.

SECT. 1. Bishops commonly chosen arbitrators of men's

differences in the primitive church.-2. The original

of this custom. Where, of the true meaning of those

words in St. Paul, τοὺς ἐξωθενημένες ἐν τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ,

1 Cor. vi. 4.-3. This power of bishops confirmed by

the imperial laws.-4. Yet not allowed in capital or

criminal causes; nor in any causes, but when the

litigants both agreed to take them for arbitrators.-5.

Bishops sometimes made their presbyters and dea-

cons, and sometimes laymen, their substitutes in this

affair. A conjecture about the original of lay chan-

cellors.

CHAPTER VIII.

Of the privilege of bishops to intercede for criminals.

SECT. 1. Several instances of bishops interceding for

criminals to the secular magistrate.-2. The reasons

why they interceded for some criminals, and not

others.-3. That they never interceded in civil mat-

ters, and pecuniary cases.

CHAPTER IX.

Of some particular honours and instances of respect,

showed to bishops by all persons in general.

SECT. 1. Of the ancient custom of bowing the head, to

receive the benediction of bishops.-2. Of kissing

their hand. 3. The custom of singing hosannas to

them sometimes used, but not approved.-4. What

meant by the corona sacerdotalis, and the form of sa-

luting bishops per coronam.-5. Whether bishops an-

ciently wore a mitre ?-6. Of the titles dyiάtatoi,

beatissimi, &c., most holy and most blessed fathers,

common to all bishops.-7. Bishops distinguished by

their throne in the church.

CHAPTER X.

Of the age, and some other particular qualifications
required in such as were to be ordained bishops.

SECT. 1. Bishops not to be ordained under thirty years

of age, except they were men of extraordinary worth.

-2. To be chosen out of the clergy of the same

church, or diocese, to which they were to be ordained.

3. Some exceptions to this rule, in three special

cases.-4. Bishops ordinarily to be such as had re-

gularly gone through the inferior orders of the church.

-5. This to be understood of the orders below that

of deacon; for deacons were qualified to be ordained

bishops, without being made presbyters.-6. In cases

of necessity, bishops chosen out of the inferior or-

ders.-7. And in some extraordinary cases, ordain-

ed immediately from laymen. The custom of going

through all the orders of the church in five or six

days' time, a novel practice never used in the primi-

tive ages.

CHAPTER XI.

Of some particular laws and customs observed about

the ordination of bishops.

SECT. 1. Bishoprics not to remain void above three

months.-2. In some places, a new bishop was al-

ways chosen before the old was interred.-3. Some

instances of longer vacancies, in times of difficulty

and persecution.-4. Three bishops ordinarily required

to a canonical ordination of a bishop.-5. Yet ordi-

nations by one bishop allowed to be valid, though not

canonical.-6. The bishop of Rome not privileged to

ordain alone, any more than any other single bishop.
-7. Every bishop to be ordained in his own church.
-8. The ancient manner of ordaining bishops.-9.
One of the forms of prayer used at their consecration.
--10. Of their enthronement; their homilia enthro-
nistica, and literæ enthronisticæ, otherwise called sy-
nodice, and communicatoriæ.

CHAPTER XII.

Of the rule which prohibits bishops to be ordained in

small cities.

SECT. 1. The reason of the law against placing bishops

in small cities.-2. Some exceptions to this rule in

Egypt, Libya, Cyprus, Arabia, and especially in the

provinces of Asia Minor.-3. Reasons which engaged

the ancients sometimes to erect bishoprics in small

places.

CHAPTER XIII.

Of the rule which forbids two bishops to be ordained

in one city.

SECT. 1. The general rule and practice of the church to

have but one bishop in any city.-2. Yet two bishops

sometimes allowed by compromise to end a dispute,

or cure an inveterate schism. Where of the famous

offer made by the catholic bishops to the Donatists in

the collation of Carthage.-3. The opinions of learned

men concerning two bishops in a city in the apostoli-

cal age, one of the Jews, and the other of the Gentiles.

-4. The case of coadjutors.

CHAPTER XIV.

Of the chorepiscopi, πepiodevrai, and suffragan bishops :

and how these differed from one another.

SECT. 1. Of the reason of the name chorepiscopi, and

the mistake of some about it.-2. Three different

opinions about the nature of this order. The first

opinion, that they were mere presbyters.-3. The

second opinion, that some of them were presbyters,

and some bishops. -4. The third opinion most pro-

bable, that they were all bishops.-5. Some objec-

tions against this answered.-6. Of the offices of the

chorepiscopi. First, they were allowed to ordain the

inferior clergy, subdeacons, readers, &c., but not pres-

byters or deacons, without special licence from the

city bishop.-7. Secondly, they had power to minis-

ter confirmation.-8. Thirdly, power to grant letters

dimissory to the country clergy.-9. Fourthly, they

might officiate in the presence of the city bishop.

-10. Fifthly, they might sit as bishops and vote in

councils.-11. The power of the chorepiscopi not the

same in all times and places.-12. Their power first

struck at by the council of Laodicea, which set up

TEρLODEVTai, or visiting presbyters, in their room.

Their power wholly taken away in the Western church

in the ninth century.-13. Of the attempt made in

England to restore this order under the name of suf-

fragan bishops.-14. That suffragan bishops in the

primitive church were not the chorepiscopi, but all

the bishops in any province under a metropolitan.

-15. Why the suffragan bishops of the Roman pro-

vince were particularly called by the technical name,

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SECT. 1. The original of metropolitans, by some derived
from apostolical constitution. -2. By others, from
the age next after the apostles.-3. Confessed by all
to have been long before the council of Nice.-4.
Proofs of metropolitans in the second century.-5.
By what names metropolitans were anciently called.
-6. In Africa they were commonly called senes,

because the oldest bishop of the province (excepting

the province where Carthage stood) was always the

metropolitan by virtue of his seniority.-7. How the

African bishops might forfeit their title to the primacy,

and lose their right of seniority.-8. A register of or-

dinations to be kept in the primate's church, and all

bishops to take place by seniority, that there might be

no disputes about the primacy.-9. Three sorts of

honorary metropolitans beside the metropolitans in

power. First, the primates avo.-10. Secondly, titu-

Jar metropolitans.-11. Thirdly, the bishops of some

mother churches, which were honoured by ancient

custom.-12. The offices of metropolitans. First, to

ordain their suffragan bishops.-13. This power con-

tinued to them after the setting up of patriarchs in

all places, except in the patriarchate of Alexandria.

-14. The power of metropolitans not arbitrary in this

respect, but to be concluded by the major vote of a

provincial council.-15. Metropolitans themselves to

be chosen and ordained by their own provincial synod,

and not obliged to go to Rome for ordination.-16.

The second office of metropolitans, to decide con-

troversies arising among their provincial bishops, and

to take appeals from them.-17. Their third office

was to call provincial synods, which all their suf-

fragans were obliged to attend.-18. Fourthly, they

were to publish such imperial laws as concerned the

church, together with the canons that were made in

councils, and to see them executed; for which end

they were to visit any dioceses, and correct abuses, as
occasion required.-19. Fifthly, All bishops were
obliged to have recourse to the metropolitan, and take
his formate, or letters of commendation, whenever
they travelled into a foreign country.-20. Sixthly, It
belonged to metropolitans to take care of vacant sees
within their province.-21. Lastly, They were to cal-
culate the time of Easter, and give notice of it to the
whole province.-22. How the power of metropolitans
grew in after ages.-23. The metropolitan of Alex-
andria had the greatest power of any other in the
world.-24. All metropolitans called apostolici, and
their sees sedes apostolicæ.

CHAPTER XVII.

Of patriarchs.

SECT. 1. Patriarchs anciently called archbishops.-2.

And exarchs of the diocese.-3. Salmasius's mistake

about the first use of the name patriarch.-4. Of the

Jewish patriarchs, their first rise, duration, and ex-

tinction.-5. Of the patriarchs among the Montanists.

-6. The name patriarch first used in the proper sense

by Socrates and the council of Chalcedon.-7. Four

different opinions concerning the first rise of patri-

archal power.-8. The opinion of Spalatensis and St.

Jerom preferred. Some probable proofs of patriarchal