192 INDEPENDENCE OF BISHOPS ASSERTED. All the peace and charity which it endures is by force and com- pulsion, not out of choice and good affection. V. The ancients asserted to each bishop a free, absolute, indepen- dent authority, subject to none, directed by none, accountable to none on earth, in the administration of affairs properly concerning his particular church. This is most evident in St Cyprian's writings, out of which it will not be amiss to set down some passages manifesting the sense and practice of the church in his time, to the satisfaction of any ingenu- ous mind: " The bond of concord abiding, and the solemn oath* of the catholic church continuing indivisible, every bishop disposes and directs his own acts, having to render an account of his purpose to the Lord."' This he writes when he was pleading the cause of Pope Cornelius against Novatian, but then, it seems, not dreaming of his supremacy over others. " But we know that some will not lay down what once they have imbibed, nor will easily change their mind, but, the bond of peace and concord with their colleagues being preserved, will retain some peculiar things, which have oncebeen used by them; in which matter neither do we force any nor lay down any law; seeing every prelate has, in the administration of his church, the free power of his will, having to render unto the Lord an account of his acting."' This he says writing to Pope Stephanus, and in a friendly manner, " out of common respect and single love"3 (not out of servile obeisance), ac- quainting him what he and his brethren in a synod, " by common consent and authority," had established concerning the degradation of clergymen who had been ordained by heretics or had lapsed into schism. " For seeing it is ordained by us all, and it is likewise equal and just, that each man's cause should be there heard where the crime is committed, and to each pastor a portion of the flock is assigned, * By individuo sacramento Cyprian intends, we think, not " the sacrament or doctrine undivided," as rendered in the other editions, but the oath taken by bishops; which he holds to be indivisible, or incapable of being shared in point of responsibility with another. En. Manente concordim vinculo, et perseverante catholic ecclesise individuo sacra- mento, actum suum disponit et dirigit unusquisque episcopus, rationem propositi sui Domino redditurus.Cypr., Ep. Iii., adAntonianum. 2 Cmterum scimus quosdam quod semel imbiberint none deponere, nec propositum suum facile mutare, sed salvo inter colleges, pacis et concordim vinculo qumdam pro - pria, qua) apud se semel sint usurpata, retinere; qua in re nec nos vim cuiquam faci- mus, ant legem damns; cum habeat in ecclesim administration voluntatis sum liberum arbitrium unusquisque prmpositus, rationem actus sui Domino redditurus.Cypr., Ep. adStephanum. 3 Ha;c ad conscientiam tuam, frater charissime, et pro honore communi et pro sim- plici dilectione pertulimus, &c. 4 Consensu et auctoritate communi.
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