does not undertake the ministry, and the care of the people committed to him, let him be excommunicated until he does undertake it. In like manner a Presbyter or Deacon. But if he has gone and has not been received, not of his own will but from the perverseness of the people, let him continue Bishop; and let the Clergy of the city be excommunicated, because they have not corrected the disobedient people.

XXXVII. Let there be a meeting of the Bishops twice a year, and let them examine amongst themselves the decrees concerning religion, and settle the ecclesiastical controversies which may have occurred. One meeting to be held in the fourth week of the Pentecost [i. e. the fourth week after Easter], and the other on the 12th day of the month Hyperberetaus [i. e. October].

XXXVIII. Let the Bishop have the care of all the goods of the Church, and let him administer them as under the inspection of God. But he must not alienate any of them, or give the things which belong to God to his own relations. If they be poor, let him relieve them as poor; but let him not, under that pretence, sell the goods of the Church.

XXXIX. Let not the Presbyters or Deacons do anything without the sanction of the Bishop: for he it is who is entrusted with the people of the Lord, and of whom will be required the account of their souls.

XL. Let the private goods of the Bishop, if he have any such, and those of the Lord, be clearly distinguished, that the Bishop may have the power of leaving his own goods, when he dies, to whom he will, and how he will, and that the Bishop's own property may not be lost under pretence of its being the property of the Church: for it may be that he has a wife, or children, or relations, or servants; and it is just before God and man, that nei

ther should the Church suffer any loss through ignorance of the Bishop's own property, nor the Bishop or his relations be injured under pretext of the Church: nor that those who belong to him should be involved in contests, and cast reproaches upon his death.

XLI. We ordain that the Bishop have authority over the goods of the Church: for if he is to be entrusted with the precious souls of men, much more are temporal possessions to be entrusted to him. He is therefore to administer them all of his own authority, and supply those who need, through the Presbyters and Deacons, in the fear of God, and with all reverence. He may

also, if need be, take what is required for his own necessary wants, and for the brethren to whom he has to show hospitality, so that he may not be in any want. For the law of God has ordained, that they who wait at the Altar should be nourished of the Altar. Neither does any soldier bear arms against an enemy at his own

cost.

XLII. If a Bishop, or Presbyter, or Deacon, is addicted to dice or drinking, let him either give it over, or be deposed.

XLIII. If a Subdeacon, Reader, or Singer, commits the same things, let him either give over, or be excommunicated. So also Laymen.

XLIV. Let a Bishop, Presbyter, or Deacon, who takes usury from those who borrow of him, give up doing so, or be deposed.

XLV. Let a Bishop, Presbyter, or Deacon, who has only prayed with heretics, be excommunicated: but if he has permitted them to perform any clerical office, let him be deposed.

XLVI. We ordain that a Bishop, or Presbyter, who has admitted the baptism or sacrifice of heretics, be de

posed. For what concord hath Christ with Belial, or what part hath a believer with an infidel?

XLVII. Let a Bishop or Presbyter who shall baptize again one who has rightly received baptism, or who shall not baptize one who has been polluted by the ungodly, be deposed, as despising the cross and death of the Lord, and not making a distinction between the true Priests and the false.

XLVIII. If any Layman put away his wife and marry another, or one who has been divorced by another man, let him be excommunicated.

XLIX. If any Bishop or Presbyter, contrary to the ordinance of the Lord, does not baptize into the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, but into three unoriginated beings, or three sons, or three comforters, let him be deposed.

L. If any Bishop or Presbyter does not perform the one initiation with three immersions, but with giving one immersion only, into the death of the Lord, let him be deposed. For the Lord said not, Baptize into my death, but, "Go, make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."

LI. If any Bishop, Presbyter, or Deacon, or any one of the Sacerdotal list, abstains from marriage, or flesh, or wine, not by way of religious restraint, but as abhorring them, forgetting that God made all things very good, and that He made man male and female, and blaspheming the work of creation, let him be corrected, or else be deposed, and cast out of the Church. In like manner a Layman.

LII. If any Bishop, Presbyter, or Deacon, does not receive him who turns away from his sin, but rejects him, let him be deposed; for he grieveth Christ who

said, "There is joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth."

LIII. If any Bishop, Presbyter, or Deacon, does not on festival days partake of flesh and wine, from an abhorrence of them, and not out of religious restraint, let him be deposed, as being seared in his own conscience, and being the cause of offence to many.

LIV. If any of the Clergy be found eating in a tavern, let him be excommunicated, unless he has been constrained by necessity, on a journey, to lodge in an inn.

LV. If any of the Clergy insult the Bishop, let him be deposed for "thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people."

LVI. If any of the Clergy insult a Presbyter, or Deacon, let him be excommunicated.

LVII. If any of the Clergy mock the lame, or the deaf, or the blind, or him who is infirm in his legs, let him be excommunicated. In like manner any of the Laity.

LVIH. If any Bishop, or Presbyter, neglects the Clergy or the people, and does not instruct them in the way of godliness, let him be excommunicated, and if he persists in his negligence and idleness, let him be deposed.

LIX. If any Bishop, Presbyter, or Deacon, when any of the Clergy is in want, does not supply him with what he needs, let him be excommunicated; but if he persists, let him be deposed, as one who has killed his brother.

LX. If any one reads publicly in the Church the books of impious men, bearing false inscriptions, as if they were holy Scripture, to the destruction of the Clergy and people, let him be deposed.

LXI. If any accusation be brought against a believer

of fornication, or adultery, or any forbidden action, and he be convicted, let him not be promoted to the Clergy.

LXII. If any of the Clergy, through fear of men, whether Jew, Heathen, or Heretic, shall deny the name of Christ, let him be cast out. If he deny the name of a Clergyman, let him be deposed. If he repent, let him be received as a Layman.

LXIII. If any Bishop, Presbyter, or Deacon, or any one of the Sacerdotal order, shall eat flesh with the blood of the life thereof, or anything killed by beasts, or that dies of itself, let him be deposed. For the law has forbidden this. If he be a Layman, Let him be excommunicated.

LXIV. If any Clergyman shall enter into a synagogue of Jews or Heretics to pray, let him be deposed. If a Layman do so, let him be excommunicated.

LXV. If any Clergyman shall strike any one in a contest, and kill him with one blow, let him be deposed for his violence. If a Layman do so, let him be excommunicated.

LXVI. If any of the Clergy be found fasting on the Lord's day, or any Saturday, excepting the one [i. e. Easter-eve], let him be deposed. If a Layman, let him be excommunicated.

LXVII. If any one shall force and keep a virgin not espoused, let him be excommunicated. And he may not take any other, but must retain her whom he has chosen, though she be a poor person.

LXVIII. If any Bishop, Presbyter, or Deacon, shall receive from any one a second ordination, let both the ordained and the ordainer be deposed; unless indeed it be proved that he had his ordination from heretics; for