GROUND OF THE PRECEDENCE GIVEN TO ROME. 205 Such a reason of precedence St Cyprian gives in another case: " ç Because," says he, as Rome for its magnitude ought to precede Carthage."' For this reason a pagan historian observed, the Roman bishop as had a greater authority" (that is, a greater interest and reputation) `a than other bishops." This reason Theodoret assigns in his epistle to Pope Leo, inwhich he highly compliments and cajoles him: as For this city," says he, as is the greatest and the most splendid,and presiding over the world, and overflowing with people; and which, moreover, has produced the empire now governing,"3 &c. This is the sole ground upon which the greatest of all ancient synods, that of Chalcedon, affirmed the papal eminencyto be founded; for, " On the throne," say they, " of ancient Rome, because that was the royal city, the fathers reasonablyconferred the privileges."' The fountain of papal eminence was, in their judgment, not any divine institution, not the authority of St Peter deriving itself to his suc- cessors, but the concession of the fathers; who were moved to grant it upon account that Rome was the imperial city. To the same purpose the Empress Placidia, in her epistle to Theo- dosius in behalf of Pope Leo, says, " It becomes us to preserve to this city, which is mistress of all lands, a reverence in all things."' This reason had, indeed, in it much of equity, of decency, of con- veniency. It was equal [equitable], that he should have the pre- ference, and more than common respect, who was thence enabled and engaged to do most service to religion. It was decent, that, out of conformity to the state, and in respect to the imperial court and senate, the pastor of that place should be graced with repute. It was convenient, that he, who resided in the centre of all business, and had the greatest influence upon affairs, who was the emperor's chief counsellor for direction, and instrument for execution of ecclesiastical affairs, should not be put behind others. Hence the fathers of the second general synod advanced thebishop of Constantinople " to the next privileges of honour after the bishop of Rome, because it was new Rome,"B and a seat of the empire. ' Quoniam pro magnitudine sua debeat CarthaginemRoma prmcedere.Cypr., Ep. xlix. 2 Auctoritate qua potiores seternm urbis episcopi.Amm. Marcell., lib. xv. p. 47. 3 'H yàp ailñ 9Ta0mv ¡aayiçln, zai lat. orpaprárn, zai 1rlç oizoulaívnç rrpo rcriNgívn, zai 1q-r ,ra.ñAar rmv oborrAvwv zul<aivouça ,rpó; lfi 1ou70r5 zai ,í, zpaloüçav syat40v(a' íßaá01n05. Theod., Ep. exiii. 4 Ti; $ Svor 1ç spaaßulipaç `Prpr.nç Srà só /3açraariary sóary ízaivnv of ,r .rmaç aizálwç ásoSaSoSzaor 1à spießaïa.Syn. Chale., Act. xvi. can. 28. IIpísar ñ¡,cmç Tarim 1ñ peayiç77 sóaay 4r,; Bárororva saçm' úsápX,ar 1n-iv yaw', iv wart, 1ó eißaç sapapuaárar.Placid. in Syn. Chale., p. 27. Táv v, v.rvr KrovovavTrvouaráaawç ísiçzosov 7;04v 1à or/açßaia 2lsvç ¡heel 13v 74 Fdp nç ísiçzoorov Srà 1ó ,Tvar áí17v víav'PúEcnv &c. Syn. Const., can. iii.
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