Deacon himself, but that he was chofen by the other Deacons. However this was, it is certain his Authority in the Church was confiderable very early: For (1) Dr. Maurice ob- (1) Vindication ferves, that at the time of the Council of P. 553. Chalcedon when Ibas, Bishop of Edessa would have made one John Bishop of Battina in his Diocefe, he was therein opposed and hindred by Ibas his Arch-Deacon of that Place. And another Arch-Deacon of his Excommunicated Maras, who was one of Ibas his Accufers.

P. 132.

(m) At what time, and by whom Arch- (m) Battely's deacons were first appointed in the feveral Antiq. of Cant! Churches we cannot pofitively fay, for Eccle fiaftical History is herein filent. The first time we meet with the Name Archdeacon is in Lib. I. Optatus Afer, who flourished about the middle of the fourth Century, near an Hundred Years before the Council of Chalcedon, from whom we learn that Cecilian was then Archdeacon of Carthage, when he tells us that Lucilla a factions Woman could not bear the Reproof of Cæcilian the Archdeacon. Here is no mention of the time when Archdeacons were first constituted, but only one is occafionally named, fo that we come to the firft knowledge of them not by Records of their Inftitutions, but from their names and acts mentioned by Ecclefiaftical Writers. So that there is no question to be made but that one of the Deacons was honoured with this name and Authority before Optatus his time: And later Writers have called St. Stephen the firft Deacon and the firft Martyr of the Chriftian Church by the name of Archdeacon, and Fortunatus who fuffer'd Martyrdom under the Emperor Domitian, whilft one of the Apostles at least was living is called Arch

N 3

() Enncad. 7. Archdeacon of Rome by (n) Sabellicus, and Stephen is by the (o) fame Author called Archdeacon of Rome when Cornelius was Bishop there in the time of Decius the Emperor.

fol. 100.

(0) Ibid. fol. 120.

oth. 182.

Archdeacons were generally the Bishops favourites, and receiv'd from them eminent (e) Oftienfis in Powers and Authoritics: (p) They have been verb. Archidiac. Stiled the Biskops born Vicars, and Vicars cf Right. They were often the defigned Succeffors in the See upon the Death of their respective (9) Phot. Bibli- Bishops; infomuch, (q) that it has been said, that it became a Law or Ordinance, that the Archdeacon, in fome Churches, upon the Death of the Bishop should fucceed him in (r) Decret. Greg, the Chair. () In the Decretals the ArchL.1. T. 23. c.7.deacon is declared to be next in Dignity to the Bishop, and from hence they have always received much efteem and reverence from the Clergy. For a fuller Account of the Inftitution of Archdeacons, and of their Power and Authority in the Church, I must refer the C) Book 2 ca. Reader to () Mr. Binghams most excellent and learned Treatife of the Antiquities of the Criftian Church.

Can. 16.

Whenfoever this Office was brought into the Church, after it was once fetled we do not find that any other Deacons were fent to vifit the Churches and inform the Bishop: This Care was wholly appropriated to the Archdeacons, who are enjoyned by the (t) fourth Council of Orleans, A. D. 541. to take Care that the Clergy of Parishes in the Lands of great Lords do their Duty. After this he only was called the Eye of the Bishop, this Appellation 1139. c. 10. & being no more applied to any other Deacons. He is by (u) diverfe Canons obliged to be a

(2) Concil. Bour.

A D. 1031.

Can. 4. & Con

cil. Lat. A. D. 1125. C. 2. &. Cen. Lat. A.

Con. Tholos.

A 1119. Can. 2.

Deacon

D. 1139.Can.io.

P. 167.

Deacon at least, and may be (x) a Prieft. (y)(x) Con Lat. A. Tho' antiently it feem to have been otherwife, (9) Da Pin. Vol. and a Priest was judged uncapable of an Arch- 4 pag. 97. deaconry. (z) Dr. Atterbury in his Book of the (2) p. 321, 322. Rights and Powers of an English Convocation proves that Archdeacons with Jurifdiction are much ancienter in England than the time of the Conquest how foever fome have afferted the contrary; and this he does from the very Words of the Conquerours Writ whereby he feparates the Spiritual and Temporal Jurifdictions, for they run thus, * Let no Bishop or Selden Nɔt. Archdeacon any more hold Pleas of the Epifcopal ad Erdiner,, Laws in the Hundred Courts: And the prefatory Words of the Writ ftile thefe Ufages fuch as had obtained in this Kingdom of England even to my times. And the Northumbrian Canons framed about the tenth or eleventh Century fet this Point beyond Dispute, for the fixth Canon enacts That if a Presbyter obey not the Edict of his Archdeacon he shall be fined 12 (b) Ores. (b) Ora was a And indeed it is highly improbable that our Piece of Mony Church should differ in this particular from all the ten h Part of the Churches of the Weft, wherein it appears lead Decem from the Canons I have cited there were Arch- Script. verb. deacons with Jurifdiction before Christianity was planted amongst our Saxon Ancestors.

The Office of an Archdeacon is fet forth by

in value about

a Mark,

Ord

c. 7.

(c) Innocent the III. to be this. The Care (c) Darret Greg. and Ordination of Parishes belongs to him. Lib. 1. tit. 23, And let the Arch-presbyters, who by many are called Deans [That is Rural Deans, for Deans of Cathedral Churches were never fubject to Archdeacons] know that they are 'fübject to him. For according to the Roman 'Conftitution he is the greatest next the Bihop, and the very Bishops Vicar: employ

N 4

ing

Provincial. De

.

८

८

ing all his Care and Solicitude (the best he can thro' God's Affiftance) as well over the Clergy themselves as their Churches, for as much as he is to give an Account of these Things at the Day of Judgment. Alfo in the Epistle of Holy Pope Clement our Pre' deceffour, the Archdeacon is called the Bifhops Eye, as one that in the Bishop's stead looks through the Diocess to correct and amend what he fees to need Amendment; unless they were of that high Nature that they cannot be terminated without the Prefence of his Superiour. And corporal Inftitution [I fuppofe he means that which now we commonly call Induction] alfo belongs C to him both into Benefices and Dignities, as likewife the Examination of Clerks to be ordained. Alfo we decree that the fame be obferved in Collations to Benefices, that be'fore any Perfon be admitted to an Ecclefiaftical Benefice, he be examined by the Archdeacon, and by him afterward prefented to • the Bishop.

It appertains to the Archdeacons Office Officio Arch.- according to Lindwood, To fee that the Sa'craments be rightly confecrated and admini

diaconi.

ftred, to keep an Inventory of all the Utenfils, Ornaments, Veftments, and Books belonging to the Churches which they shall . every Year infpect, and obferve what Damage they have received: And likewife 6 enquire every Year into the Poffeffions of the Church that they be not damnified. It belongs to him alfo to fee that Sentence of Excommunication be pronounced, and the Word of God Preached by thofe whofe Duty it is to do thefe things: Alfo to fee that

the

< the Churches and Chancels be kept in good Repair.

From these two Conftitutions of the Decretal and Lindwood we have the whole of the Archdeacons Office as it is now exercised in the Church of England. Which being an Office of fo great Antiquity and fo very useful and Expedient in all the Parts of it, ought fill to be preferved amongst us. Dioceffes are generally fo large that Bishops cannot look after 'em without Affiftants. And fince Affiftants are necessary none can be more proper and fit than fuch as long Custom and Prescription for many Ages have approved.

CHA P. X.

Of Archpriests or Rural Deans.

W Hilft the Revenues of the Church were

all collected into one Bank, and the Bishop fent out Presbyters into the Country to Officiate in the feveral Cures erected and maintained by himself, fewer Officers were able to inspect their Lives and Converfations, and he could easily with the aflistance of two or three Archdeacons vifit every particular Church of his Diocess, and obferve how they were repaired and preserved. But when the Piety of well difpofed Chriftians had encreased the Number of Parish Churches to be abundantly greater than was before, the Bishops then faw it neceffary to have more Officers under 'em Lind Provinci. for Visitation and Infpection: Hereupon they l. 1. tit. de con appointed one of the fixed Parish Priefts in the Decan, Rural.

Country

ftit. c. 1. verb.