EIGHTH PAPAL ASSUMPTION ABSOLUTION. ,ill It seems, by some passages in the Acts, pp. 10, 16, that before Agapetus' intermeddling, the monks and orthodox bishops had condemned and rejected Anthimus, according to the common inte- rest which they assert all Christians to have in regard to the com- mon faith. As for the substitutionof Menas, it was performed "by the choice and suffrage of the emperor, the .clergy, nobles, and people conspir- ing;"' the pope only, which another bishop might have done, or- daining or consecrating him. "Then,"'says Liberatus, " the pope, by the emperor's favour, ordained Menas bishop, consecrating him with his hand."' And Agapetus gloried in this, as being the first ordination made of an eastern bishop by the hands of a pope.3 "And this," said the pope, " we conceive adds to his dignity, because the eastern church never since the time of the apostle Peter received any bishop besides him, by the imposition of hands of those who sat in this our chair. "' If we compare the proceedings of Agapetus against Anthimus with those of Theophilus against St Chrysostom, they are (except the cause and qualities of persons) in all main respects and circum- stances so like that the same reason which would ground a pretence of universal jurisdiction to one would infer the same to the other. Baronius alleges Acacius, bishop of Constantinople, deposed by Pope Felix III. But Pope Gelasius asserts that any bishop might, in execution of the canons, have disclaimed Acacius, as a favourer of heretics; and Acacius not only refused to submit to the pope's juris- diction, but slighted it.' And the pope's act was but an attempt, not effectual, for Acacius died in possession of his see.' VIII. If popes were sovereigns of the church, they could effectu- ally, whenever they should see it just and fit, absolve,' restore any bishop excommunicated from the church, or deposed from his office by ecclesiastical censure ; for relief of the oppressed, or clemency to the distressed, are noble flowers in every sovereign crown. Wherefore, the pope assumes this power, and reserves it to him- Kw? ixxoy,, ,s ì 1r4liloY ?wY 11104E07á?wY %fpEWV (va0'(T.éwv, xai Tai; EÚayoIS 1164E ?ys áy(w?á?ns ixxT.noías xa3ipou, &o. Tune papa principie favore Menam pro eo ordinavit antistitem, consecrans eum manu sua, &c. Lib. cap. xxi. 5 TS1J ?(Y( ?o+Y eyaT.nva ?á.rwY ßa0(.?Lí,Y 10.60.xaesY ñ'ávr(T.ayñ, &C. Act. p. 24. 4 Ka( a@orpro Ii ar10?Eve' .ov ?n aV?oI isba grpoo?(Aéeevay Ö ?( sEp ix ?wY xpmn,, rat etNaOPÓT.ou nix-pay Aim ÜT.T.av aiaaaíoro?E ixxXna'ía 2Ya?oT.(xñ fi0i a?o ixtexaor,Y ?a7; xspoÌ ?Is 47(LE ?ipas xadiIpxs xs(po?ovndiv?a, &C. Ibid. s Ad cujus preecipue vocatus examen vel venire vel wittere non curavit. Gelas., Ep. xiii. s Baron., ann. 484, § 19; Vid. P. Felic. III, Ep. vi.; P. Gelas., Ep. iv. 7 When a bishop was unjustly censured upon malice or mistake ... when he did repent of his error or miscarriage ... when the case would, upon any account, bear favour or pity, &c.
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