PRIMITIVE MODE OF ORDINATION. 287 and having approved him who was recommended by the clergy and allowed by the people, they ordained him, the metropolitan of the province ratifying what was done.' So the Nicene synod, regarding the practice which had commonly obtained, appointed, with a qualification, to be generally observed. "It is most fit," say they, "that a bishop be constituted byall bishops in the province; but if this be hard, either because of urgent neces- sity or for the length of the way, then three of the body being gathered together (those also who are absent conspiring in opinion, and giving their consent in writing), let the ordination be performed; but let the ratification of what is done be assigned to the metropo- lite in each province."' In this canon, which is followed bydivers canons of other synods,' there is no express mention concerning the interest of the clergy and people in election of the bishops; but these things are only passed over, as precedaneous [previous] to the constitution or ordi- nation, about which only the fathers intended to prescribe, sup- posing the election to proceed according to former usual practice. That we ought thus to interpret the canon, so that the fathers did not intend to exclude the people from their choice, appears from their synodical epistle, wherein they decree concerning bishops con- stituted by Meletius, who, returning to communion with the church, lived in any city, that, " Ifany catholic bishop should happen to die, then should those who were already received ascend to the honour of him deceased, on condition that they should appear worthy and the people should choose, the bishop of Alexandria withal adding his suffrage to him and his confirmation;"'whichwords with suffi- cient evidence interpret the canon not to concern the election, but the ordination of bishops. Thus the fathers of the second general synod plainly interpreted this canonby their proceeding;' for they, in their synodical epistle to Pope Damasus and the western bishops, assured him that they, in the constitution of bishops for the principal eastern sees, had followed this order of the synod of Nice, together with " the ancient law of the church;"e in agreement to which they had ordained Nectarius IIaxaróç $EOyaóç.Syn. Constantinop.; Theod. v. 9. 'Eorivxorrov rpoogxsr yváxroTa ply 10r4 ir Tñ érapxiá xaAioraoAarTÓ áá xüpoç Tmv yrvoyaévwv Martha xaA' áz.zoTnv i0rapziav Ta pLnrpo0roxiT;i, &c.Conc. Nic., can. iv. 3 Vid. Can. Apost. i.; Conc. Antioch., can. xix.; Conc. Laod., can. xii., &c.; Conc. Afr., can. xiii. 4 Ei Si rivets ovyECain hvararioaoBar Twv iv Ti'ixxxnaiá, TnvrzaûTa rpooavaßaivnr eh rim, Try47y TOU TETExEUxÓTOÇ 7.0ÚÇ äpTr rpoaxnpAívTaÇ, y.cóvov Ei ;gm; paivrrvTo, vat; ó aaóç aipo7T0, orovErrS].nIíY,ovTOç abri?, veal i9froPpa1401,70ç Toü Tñs '?UEgavópsiaç ÉrrPKÓroU.SOCI. i. 9; Theod. i. 9. + Theod. v. 9. 6 naxaróç TE soso xcxpámnxE, sai Te:v ayiwv is Nrxaia raTipwr "pc;-07i áxoxoúAap, &O.
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