V. The general synod of Nice permitted the clergy appointed by Meletius the privilege of ordaining, and of naming those who were worthy of being ordained'.

Answer. The meaning of the word #poxepiloat is "electing" not ordaining. Besides, the synod is speaking of bishops, as well as of presbyters ordained by Meletius, so that if it meant to give them the right of ordination, this would of course be understood to relate to the bishops.

VI. Cassianus says that the monk Paphnutius, who was only a presbyter, ordained his disciple Daniel a deacon, and afterwards a presbyter'. Novatus, a presbyter, made Felicissimus a deacon, according to Cyprian *.

Answer. The meaning is, that Cassianus and Novatus caused them to be ordained by some bishop.

VII. The chorepiscopi were only presbyters, and yet they ordained presbyters and deacons.

Answer. It has been shown by Bingham, Beveridge, and others', that the chorepiscopi, or rural bishops, had episcopal consecration. These seem to be the principal instances adduced to favour presbyterian ordinations.

CHAPTER V.

ON THE NUMBER OF BISHOPS REQUISITE TO ORDAIN.

An important question has been raised, as to the number of bishops requisite to confer a valid episcopal ordination. Several theologians have been of opinion that in case of necessity one bishop was sufficient for this purpose. Amongst the supporters of this opinion may be named Beveridge, Mason, Hallier, Paludanus, Sylvester, and others. On the other hand, theologians of equal eminence, have regarded such ordinations as uncertain or null. Honoratus Tournely, one of the principal theologians of the Gallican church in the last century, formally maintains the following conclusion: "In consecratione episcopi plures comministros episcopos adhibendos esse, docet apostolica traditio ac constans praxis ecclesiæ; atque aliter quam a tribus vel duobus saltem factam ordinationem, non illicitam modo, sed etiam irritam ac nullam esse, probabilius videtur "." Tournely wrote when the question had been amply discussed, and his decision is the result of a careful investigation of all that had been said. He had been preceded in the same opinion by Pamelius, bishop of St. Omer, and Habert, bishop of Vabres, who regards

a

Tournely, Tractat. de Ordine, p. 453.

Pamelius in Cypr. Epist. 68. "Accedere debebat consecratio

such ordinations as most dubious. Hallier says, that in his time the common and most received opinion was, that episcopal ordinations performed by less than three bishops, were null and void d. Vasquez held three

bishops to be the ordinary ministers of consecration jure divino. Bellarmine, Kellison, and others, regard this number as essential: but are of opinion, as well as Vasquez, that a papal commission could empower one bishop to consecrate. This however seems to have arisen from their exaggerated notions of the papal power. Vasquez is even of opinion that a papal commission could enable a presbyter to ordain presbyters and deacons". Alphonso de Ligorio observes, that the opposite opinions, as to a plurality of bishops being requisite (except in a case of necessity) to the validity of an episcopal consecration, are "ooth probable; therefore in practice, the first," (which maintains their necessity,) "is to be altogether followed. . . for since it is very probable . . . that the episcopate is a true sacrament, distinct from the presbyterate, we are certainly bound in the ordination of a bishop to take the safer part, to avoid a general injury; for otherwise priests

per episcopos qui convenerunt, quos, ut minimum, duos esse oportebat."

с

--

nulla, irrita, et invalida sit... quæ a paucioribus tribus episcopis peracta fuerit. Hallier, "Circa hoc vero negotium, De Sacris elect. et Ordin. p. 582. ancipitem profecto controversiam "Prior (sententia) communis est movere scholastici doctores... et hocce tempore magis recepta." Utrum videlicet ordinatio et consecratio ab uno tantum episcopo facta, quoad characterem ac ordinem ipsum qui de jure divino est, sit rata et valida."-Habertus, Liber Pontificalis, p. 80. ed. Paris, 1643. See also p. 83.

d" Incertum est et intra auctores catholicos controversum an consecratio episcopi omnino

p. 589.

e

Vasquez, in iii. part. Thomæ, t. iii. disc. 243. cap. 6.

f Bellarminus de Not. Eccl.

c. 8.

8 Kellison, Comm. in iii. par. Thomæ, t. ii. p. 428.

h Vasquez, ut supra, disp. 243, c. 4.

ordained by this bishop would remain doubtfully ordained."

The law and practice of the catholic church from the remotest period are opposed to ordinations by one bishop only. It was decreed by the synods of Arles, Nice, Antioch, Laodicea, Carthage, Orange, &c. that at least three bishops should consecrate. The cecumenical synod of Nice only allowed this number to be sufficient in a case of urgent necessity, but desired that all the bishops of the province should unite in the act. We find this custom in former ages. Cornelius of Rome, Cyprian, Novatus, Fortunatus, Sabinus, in the middle of the third century, were all ordained by several bishops. So also was the successor of Narcissus of Jerusalem at the end of the preceding century. Cyprian says that this meeting of bishops to perform episcopal ordinations, descended from divine tradition and apostolical practice. The apostolical canons which represent the discipline of the church in the second century, require the ordination of a bishop to be performed by two or three bishops, "so as that he cannot be ordained by one." Clement of Alexandria says, that James was appointed bishop of Jerusalem by three of the apostles, Peter, James the elder, and John'. Hence we find Michael Oxita, patriarch

of Constantinople, rejecting the ordinations of Clement and Leontius, who had been ordained by one bishop, contrary to the apostolical canon ".

In fact, if we look to scripture, we find that appointments to the highest offices of the sacred ministry were made by a plurality of persons. As our Lord had said, "if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them. of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name there am I in the midst of them ";" it might be fairly concluded, that in so important an act as that of sending forth a pastor into the kingdom of Jesus Christ, the pastors ought to be united. Accordingly, all the apostles were assembled and acted together in appointing Matthias to the bishopric of the traitor. Paul and Barnabas were sent forth on their mission by the inspired "prophets and teachers" of Antioch P. Timothy was ordained by St. Paul and the presbytery: and connecting these circumstances with the universal prevalence of the rule afterwards, which required bishops always to be ordained by more than one bishop, it does seem probable, that episcopal ordinations, which are only performed by one bishop, are not valid. On the other side are alleged some instances of a contrary practice in the church, which shall now be considered.

OBJECTIONS.

I. Paulinus bishop of Antioch, is said by Theodoret to have ordained his successor Evagrius: yet all the