present subject, is the following, which begins at line 343 of the verses given in the work of Gallandius before mentioned. ९ ̓Αλλ' ὁπόταν τις φωνή ἐρημαίης διὰ χώρης Ηξει, ἀπαγγέλλουσα βροτοῖς, καὶ πᾶσι βοήσει, These verses may be rendered in corresponding English verse thus: When through the wilderness a voice shall call, "Make straight the paths, and cast from every heart All taint of vice, and purity impart By water to each one, that, born again, Justice henceforth be not transgressed by men." The Greek text is accompanied by the following Latin version : Verum quum quædam vox per deserta locorum This version is probably very ancient; and, as there has been a controversy among divines, whether the words yevvη0î ävwbev, in our Saviour's discourse with Nicodemus [JOHN iii, 3.] ought to be translated born again or born from above, it is worthy of remark that the Latin word here is renati "born again." With the exception of this passage, I find nothing in the Sil ylline Oracles directly relating to the subject of this Synopsis. III. APOSTOLICAL CANONS. DUPIN writes thus on the Councils: The Canons and Acts of the councils ought to be reckoned amongst the works of the ecclesiastical authors, since they are the works of several persons, assembled in the same place to deliberate upon the affairs of the Church, that concern either the faith, or the discipline, or the manners of Christians. These kinds of assemblies were used in the first ages of the Church : and the apostles were the first authors of them: for the Christians of the primitive Church having had some disputes, whether they were obliged to circumcise and follow the law of Moses, the apostles and priests convened at Jerusalem to examine and resolve upon this matter, and at last concluded that it was not necessary, &c. DUPIN then writes shortly on other councils, but the only mention that he makes of Baptism in the Councils of the first three ages is, We don't know at what time the councils of ICONIUM and SYNNADA were assembled, that decreed it was necessary to baptize heretics. vol. I. 9 DUPIN afterwards gives an abridgement of the doctrine, discipline, and morality of the first three ages. An extract of this, so far as relates to Baptism, will be given in this Synopsis, at the end of authors who lived in the third century. DUPIN writes on the Apostolical Canons and Constitutions, thus: The opinions of authors are extremely divided as to the Canons that are commonly called Apostolical. Turrianus and some others have determined that they were all composed by the Apostles; Baronius and Bellarmine except the 35 last, which are rejected by them as apocryphal, but they have made no difficulty to admit the first 50. Gabriel Albaspinæus, bishop of Orleans, and others have believed that, although these Canons were not written by the Apostles, yet they were very ancient, as being a collection of the Canons of divers Councils that were holden before that of Nice; this opinion is likewise maintained by the learned DR Beveridge, &c., and lastly, M. Daillé affirms "that they were not collected until about the end of the 5th century." There are then in DUPIN about six columns of his, and Dr. Wootton's remarks on these opinions. IN BROUGHTON's "Bibliotheca Historica Sacra," on title "Canons," it is stated that they, although not made by the apostles themselves, are of greater antiquity than the conversion of the Roman empire to Christianity. The best and most complete edition of the Councils of the Church is that of Colet, but on account of the costliness and consequent rarity of this edition, it is not found in many of the Public Libraries. The old edition, which is more common, bears the following title: Sacrosancta Concilia, ad regiam editionem exacta, quæ nunc quarta parte prodit auctior, studio Philippi Labbai et Gabr. Cassartii, Soc. Jesu presbyterorum, &c., impensis societatis typographic librorum ecclesiasticorum jussu regis constitutæ, 16 rols folio, 1671. In the first volume of this edition, column 25, is the title: Canones apostolorum 84, Græce et Latine, Gentiano Ierreto interprete Anno C. 35 et 50. All that concerns Baptism is found in the 16th, 45th, and 49th canons. In the 16th canon we find what follows: Ὁ δυσὶ γάμοις συμπλακεὶς μετὰ τὸ βάπτισμα, ἢ παλλακὴν κτησάμενος, οὐ δύναται εἶναι ἐπίσκοπος, ἢ πρεσβύτερος, ἢ διάκονος, ἢ ὅλως τοῦ καταλόγου τοῦ ἱερατικοῦ. Latin version: Qui post sanctum baptismum duobus conjugiis fuerit implicitus, vel habuerit concubinam, non potest esse episcopus, vel presbyter, vel diaconus, vel omnino ex numero sacerdotali. In English, thus: Whoever, after holy baptism, marries two wives, or has a concubine, cannot be a bishop or a priest, or a deacon, or belong to the sacerdotal order at all. The 45th canon is Ἐπίσκοπον ἢ πρεσβύτερον αἱρετικῶν δεξάμενον βάπτισμα, ἢ θυσίαν, καθαιρεῖσθαι προστάσσομεν. Τίς γὰρ συμφώνησις τοῦ Χριστοῦ πρὸς Βελιαλ; ἢ τίς μερὶς πιστοῦ μετ ̓ ἀπιστοῦ ; Latin version: Episcopum vel presbyterum, qui hæreticorum baptismum vel sacrificium admiserit, deponi jubemus. Quæ est enim conventio Christi cum Belial, vel quæ pars est fideli cum infideli? In English, thus: We ordain that a bishop or priest, who allows baptism or the communion to heretics shall be deposed. For what agreement can there be between Christ and Belial, or what part can a believer have with an infidel? The 49th canon is: Εἴ τις, ἐπίσκοπος ἢ πρεσβύτερος, μὴ τρία βαπτίσματα μιας μυήσεως ἐπιτελέσῃ, ἀλλ ̓ ἑν βάπτισμα εἰς τὸν θάνατον τοῦ Κυρίου διδόμενον, καθαιρείσθω· οὐ γὰρ εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος “ εἰς τὸν θάνατον μου βαπτίσατε, ἀλλὰ “ πορευθεντες μαθητεύσατε πάντα τὰ ἔθνη, βαπτίζοντες αὐτοὺς εἰς τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ Πατέρος, καὶ τοῦ Υἱοῦ, καὶ τοῦ ἁγίου Πνεύματος, MATTH. XXVIII, 10. Latin version : Si quis episcopus vel presbyter, non tria unius mysterii baptismata perfecerit, sed unum baptismum, qui datur in mortem Domini, deponatur. Non enim dixit Dominus, In mortem meam baptizate,' sed 'Ambulantes docete omnes gentes, baptizantes ipsos in nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti.' English: If any bishop or priest shall celebrate, not three baptisms of one and the same mystery, but one baptism, administered in the name of our Lord's death, he shall be deposed. For the Lord did not say "Baptize into my death," but "Go and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." |