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head may flow throughout the divers regions of the whole world) what to order (or, teach), whom to cleanse, and whom the water, which befits the clean, was not to touch, as defiled with filthiness incapable of being cleansed away."-Ep. 29, Episc. Carthag. Concil. n. 1, p. 599, ib.

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Amongst the other cares of the Roman Church, and the occupations of the Apostolic See-by which we are busied in a faithful and medicinal handling. of the consultations by diverse parties-our brother, and fellow bishop, Julius, has unexpectedly pressed on my notice the letter which you have, with a more than ordinary solicitude for the faith, sent me from the council held at Milevis....Diligently, therefore, and congruously do you consult the Arcana of the apostolic dignity-the dignity of him, I repeat, upon whom falls, besides those things that are without, the solicitude of all the Churches-as to what opinion is to be held in matters of such moment; following herein the form of the ancient rule, which, you know as well as I, has been preserved always by the whole world, But I pass these things by; for I believe this is not unknown to your wisdom. Why, indeed, have you confirmed this by your action, but that you know that, throughout all the provinces, answers to questions always flow from the apostolic spring. Especially as often as a principle of faith is ventilated, I am of opinion that all our brethren and fellow bishops ought not to refer save to Peter, that is, to the author of their name and honour, even as your affection has now referred, as to what may be of benefit throughout the whole world to all the Churches in common. For the authors of these evils must needs be more cautious, on seeing themselves, upon the report of two synods, separated from the communion of the Church by the decree of our sentence....Wherefore we do, by the authority of the apostolic power, declare Coles

tius and Pelagius, the inventors, that is, of novel words-which, as the apostle says, are of no edification, but rather are wont to beget most foolish questions-deprived of the communion of the Church.” -Ep. 30, ad Concil. Milev. n. 1, 2, 6, p. 602, 603,

ib.

"We cannot wonder that your affection follows the institutes of those who have gone before you, and refers unto us, as unto the head and summit of the episcopate, whatsoever can cause any doubt; that the Apostolic See being consulted may, even out of matters in themselves doubtful, pronounce something that is certain and to be done.". Ep. 37, Felici Episc. Nucerin. n. 1, p. 608, ib.

ST. ZOSIMUS, POPE, 417.-" It has seemed good to the Apostolic See, that if any one intend to come to Rome, or purpose to go to any other country in the world, from any part of Gaul, of whatsoever ecclesiastical grade he may be, let him not set out unless he have received, from the metropolitan Bishop of Arles, letters of communion (formatas), by which he may clearly establish his priesthood, or the ecclesiastical position which he holds. This we ordain for this cause, that very many pretending to be bishops, priests, or ecclesiastics, deceitfully gain for themselves a title to veneration, and a reverence not due to them, because there is no document of letters of communion by which they may be refuted. Whosoever, therefore, very dear brethren, whether bishop, priest, deacon, or of inferior grade, shall henceforth come to us, omitting to bring a letter of communion from the above-named, let him know that he cannot in any way be received by us. It is manifest that we have sent this authority (authoritative letter) everywhere, that it may be known in all countries, that what we have ordained is to be uniformly observed. And if any one shall attempt

to violate this salutary ordinance, let him know that he has of his own will separated himself from our communion. And this privilege as regards letters of communion, we have granted specially to holy Patroclus, our brother and fellow bishop, in consideration of his merits. N. 2. We have ordered that the metropolitan bishop of the city of Arles shall retain, as he always has had, the chief authority in ordaining priests. Let him reclaim to his pontificate the province of Vienne, and the first and second provinces of Narbonne. And whosoever henceforth, contrary to the statutes of the Apostolic See, and the institutes of those who have gone before us, shall, the metropolitan bishop omitted, presume to ordain any one in the above-named provinces, as also he who has permitted himself to be illicitly ordained, let them both know that they are deprived of the priesthood. For can he obtain the authority of the Supreme Pontiff, who has contemptuously failed to observe what is the right of that Pontiff? N. 3. We also admonish all, that each be content with his own limits and territories, for it is a barbarous and impious confusion to assume what belongs to others. We warn that no complaint on this head be henceforth brought to us. an example has been given by the Church of Arles, which justly desires that the parishes of Cethariste and Gargarie, which are situated in its territory, be incorporated with it. And henceforth let not any priest be guilty of an act of assumption to the injury of another. Still, however, the ancient privilege of the metropolitan city of Arles is not to be derogated from, to which city the supreme prelate Trophimus was sent from this see, from which fountain-head all the Gauls received the streams of faith; therefore let it possess, by an inviolable authority, whatsoever parishes, in whatsoever territories, even out of its own provinces, which it had

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of old. We also resolve that if any matters arise there, they be referred to his knowledge, unless the greatness of the cause may also require our examination."-Ep. 1, ad Episc. Galliæ. p. 3, 4, Galland. ix. The same subject is treated of in his Epp. v. vi. vii. ix. x.; and the privileges conferred on the Metropolitan of Arles supported against all opponents.

"Although the tradition of the fathers has assigned so great authority to the Apostolic See, that no one should dare to dispute about its judgment, and that See by canons and regulations has kept to this; and the ecclesiastical discipline in the laws which it yet follows still pays to the name of Peter, from whom that see (or, discipline) descends, the reverence due-for canonical authority, by the sentence of all, willed that so great a power should belong to that apostle, a power also derived from the promise itself of Christ our God, that he should loose what is bound, and bind what is loosed; an equal condition of power being bestowed on those who, by His will, may be found worthy of the inheritance of his see; for he has both charge of all Churches, and especially of this wherein he sat; nor does he suffer anything of that privilege to totter, or any breath of that sentence to falter, to which he has given his name as a foundation, firm and not to be weakened by any storm whatever, and which no one may rashly attack but at his own peril-seeing, then, that Peter is a head of so great authority, and that he has confirmed the statutes of all who have gone before us; that, by all laws and regulations, both human and divine, the Roman Church is strengthened; and you are not ignorant, but know, and as priests you ought to know, that we rule over his place, and are in possession also of the authority of his name; nevertheless, though so great be our authority, that none may reopen

(retractare) our sentence, we have not done anything which we have not, of our own will referred by letter to your knowledge, conceding this to the brotherhood."-Ep. 14, Aurel. et Cæter. in Concil. Carthag. n. 1, p. 15, 16, ib. See Part I. p. 136, Ep. xi. ad Episc. Afr.

PAULINUS THE DEACON, L. C. 418.-"I appeal to the justice of your blessedness, my Lord Zosimus, venerable Pope. The true faith is never troubled, and especially in the apostolic Church, wherein the teachers of a corrupt faith are as easily detected as they are truly punished......that they may have in them that true faith which the apostles taught, and the Roman Church, with all the teachers of the Catholic faith, holds."-Libell. adv. Cœlest. Zosimo oblatus, n. 1, p. 32, Galland. ix.

ST. BONIFACE, POPE, 419.-" But whatsoever your Charity shall judge proper to decide in this matter, when it shall have been reported to us, it is necessary that it be confirmed, as is befitting, by our authority."-Ep. 3, Patrocl. et Cæter. Episc. per Gallias et sept. Provinc. n. 2, p. 48, Galland ix. See the extract, from his Letter to Rufus, Bishop of Thessalonica, in Part i. p. 136-7.

Writing again to Rufus, he says: "The blessed Apostle Peter, as you have faithfully expressed yourself in your letter, looks on with his own eyes to see how you discharge the office of a supreme ruler. Nor can he fail to be near you, he who was appointed the perpetual shepherd of the Lord's sheep, or he in whom we read that the foundation of the universal Church was laid, help caring for any Church wherever placed. On you, most dear brother, devolves

*That of Maximus, Bishop of Valence, accused of being a Manicheean.

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