Origines ecclesiasticæ; or, The Antiquities of the Christian Church [1]

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ORIGINES ECCLESIASTICiE; OR THE

ANTIQUITIES OP

the!

christian church, AND

OTHER WORKS, OF THE

REV. JOSEPH BINGHAM, M.A. Formerly Fellow of University College, Oxford and afterwards Rector Headbourn Worthy, and Havant, Hampshire; ;

«if

WITH A

SET OF MAPS OF ECCLESIASTICAL GEOGRAPHY, TO

WHICH ARE NOW ADDED,

SCVSRAI. SERMONS, AND OTHER MATTER, NEVER BEFORE PUBLISHED, The whole Revised and Edited, together with

^

BtoQtajihtcal Account of

tfve

^utiior,

BY HIS GREAT GRANDSON,

THE REV. RICHARD BINGHAM,

B.C.L.

Prebendary of Chichester, Vicar of Hale Magna, Iiicambent of Gosport Chapel, and formerly fellow of New College, Oxford.

IN EIGHT

VOLUMES.—VOL.

I.

LONDON: PRINTED FOR WILLIAM STRAKER, 443, WEST STRAND. MDCCCXXXIV.

MOST REVEREND AND RIGHT HONOURABLE l^tjS

State

THE LORD ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY, (Dr. William Howky.)

MAY

IT

PLEASE YOUR GRACE

Having completed Works of my revered Ancestor,

;

this

it

forth to the

Workl under

nent character.

To whom

I

new

edition of the

was anxious

to send

the patronage of some emi-

therefore could I so properly

look, as to the highest Dignitary of our

Church

the history, discipline, and doctrines of

which the

io Aving

volumes are sq .closely connected

entreat your Grace to allow

more

me

to add,

?

;

with fol-

And

that I

I

was

especially led to desire permission to send out

this edition

under you Grace's sanction, by the remem-

brance of our having passed together, as companions

and friends,

in the

years, through '

ter

and Oxford.

same

class,

and during the same

Wickham's Colleges both

at

Winches-

DEDICATION. But while

mean

I

only to tlumk your Grace for

my

so kindly complied with

havinaws and Canons, visit Dioceses, and correct Abuses. 19. 5. Bisiiops not to travel without the Letters of their Metropolitan. 20. (i. Metropolitans to lake care of vacant Sees

— — —

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within their Province.

—21.

7.

—

Metropolitans to calculate the

Time of

— —

Kaster.— 22. Row the Power of Metropolitans grev,- in after Ages. 23. The Primate of Ah^xandria had the greatest Power of any otlier. 24. All Metropolitans called Ajwstolici, and their Sees, Hedcs Apostolica.

CHAP. XVII. Of Patriarchs.

—

1. Patriarchs, anciently called Archbishops. 2. And Exarchs of the Diocese. 3. Salmasius's Mistake about the lirst Use of the Name PatriPairiarchs, their Jewish first Rise, the Duration, and Exarch. -4. Of 5. Of the Patriarchs among the Montanists.— 6. The Name tinction. Socrates, in the used by and Council of Chalceilon. 7. lirst Patriarch Four diflerent Opinions concerning the tirst Rise of Patriarchal Power. — 9. PatriarSpalatensis St. and Jerom preferred. 8. The Opinion of chal Power established in three General-Councils successively: viz. Con( lialcedon. 10. The Power of Patriarchs not stantinople, Ej)ha\oi.

— —

All Metropolitans anciently styled AvTOKk(pa\oi. 2. Some Metropolitans independent after the .setting up of Patriarchal Power, as those of Cyprus, Iberia, Armenia, and the Church of Britain. 3. A Third sort of AvroKicpaXoi, such Bishops as were subject to no Metropolitan, but bnly to the Patriarch of the Diocese. 4. Fourth sort of 'AvroKe(j)a\oi.

Sect.

1.

'

'

—

A

CHAP. XIX. Of

Presbyters,

Sect. 1. The meaning of the Name Presbyter.— 2. Apostles and Bishops sometimes called Presbyters. 3. The Original of Presbyters properly so called.— 4. The Powers and Privileges of Presbyters.— 5. Presbyters allowed to sit with the Bishop on Thrones in the Church.— 6. The Form of their sitting in a Semicircle whence they were called Corona Presbj/terii. 7. Presbyters the Ecclesiastical Senate, or Council of the Church, whom the Bishop consulted and advi.'^od with upon all Occasions. 8. Some Evidences out of Ignatius and Cyprian, of the Power and Prerogatives of Presbyters in conjunction with the Bishop. 9. The Power of Presbyters thought by some to be a little diminished in tJie Fourth Century. 10. Yet still they v/ero admitted to join with the Bishop in the Imposition of Hands in the Ordination of Presbyters. 11. And allowed

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;

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—

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12. As also in Provincial CounConsistory with tiieir Bishops. 14. Of the Titles of cils.— 13. And in General-Councils likewise. Honour given to Presbyters, as well as Bishops, and wliat Difference 15. In what sense Bishops, there was between them, as applied to both. Presbyters, and Deacons, called Priests, by Optatus.— 16. Why Priests 17. The ancient Form and called Mediators between God and Men. Manner of ordaining Presbyters. 18. Of the Archipresbyteri. 19. Of the Seniores Ecclesiastici. That these were not Lay-Elders in the Modern Acceptation.

to

sit in

—

— —

—

—

CHAP. XX. Of Deacons. Sect. 1. Deacons always reckoned One of the Three Sacred Orders of the Church. 2. Yet not generally called Priests, but Ministers and Levites. 3. Por this Reaso!i the Bishop was not tied to have the Assistance of any Presbyters to ordain thein. 4. The Deacon's Office to take Care of the Utensils of the Altar.— 5. 2. To receive the Oblations of the People, and present them to the Priest, and recite the Names of those that offered. —6. 3. To read the Gospel in some Churches.— 7. 4. To minister the consecrated Elements of Bread and Wine to the People in the Eucharist.

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But not allowed to consecrate them at the Altar. 9. 5. Deacons allowed to Baptize, in some Places. 10. 6. Deacons to bid Prayer in the Congregation. 11. 7. Deacons allowed to preach by the Bishop's 8.

—

—

OONTKNTS.

r

—

Also to icconpilo Pinitonts in Cases of exfrertic suspend file Inferior Clergy in some extraordinary to attend upon tlieir Bishops, and sometimes represent them in General-Councils. li. 10. Deacons empowered to rebuke and correct Men that behaved themselves irregularly in the Church.— 15. II. Deacons anciently performed the Offices of all tiie Inferior Orders of the Church. 10. 12. Deacons the Risliop's SubAlinoners. 17. 13. Deacons to inform the Bishop of tlie Misdemeanours of the People. 18. Hence Deacons commonly called tlic Bishop's Eyes, his Mouth, Angels, Prophets, &c. 19. Deacons to be multiplied accord-

Authority. Necessity.

Cases.—

19.

8.

And

13.

9.

—

to

Deacons

—

—

—

—

Church.— 20. Of the Age at which Deacons might be ordained.— 21. Of the Respect which Deacons paid to Presbyters, and received from the Inferior Orders.

ing to the Necessities of the

CHAP. XXI. Of Archdeacons. Sect.

—

1. Arclideacons anciently of the same Order with Deacons. 2. Elected by the Bishop, and not made by Seniority. 3. Commonly Persons of such Interest in the Church, that they were chosen the Eishojt's Successors.— 4. The Offices of the Archdeacon. 1. To attend the Bishop at the Altar, &c. 5. 2. To assist him in managing the Church's Revenues. 6. 3. In Preaching. 7. 4. In Ordaining tiie Inferior Clergy. 8. 5. Tlie Archdi'acon had Power to censure Deacons and the Inferior Clergy, but not Presbyters.— 9. Of tlie Name 'ATraiTtrivc, Cirnnnlnslrator, and whether Arcluleacons had any Power over the whole Diocese. 10. Of the Name Cor-£y^/.vb) ters privileged against being questioned by Torture, a.s other Witnts.ses were. 5. Tiie (Mergy exempt from the ordinary Cognizance of the Secular Courts in all Ecclesiastical Causes. 6. This evidence from the Laws of Constantius. —7. Ami those of Valentinian and Gratian. 8. And Theodosius the Great. 9. And Arcadins and Honorius. 10. And Valentinian the Third, and Justinian. 11. The Clergy also exempt in lesser Criminal Causes. 12. But not in greater (Criminal Causes. 13. \or in Pecuniary Causes with l/oymen. 14. Of the necessary Distinction between the Supreme and Subordinate Magistrates in this Business of Exemptions.

mony.— 2. Nor

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—

—

— —

1

— —

CHAP.

—

—

11.

Of the Immunities of the Clergy in reference to Ta.res and Civil O/fices and other burdensome Employments in the Roman Empire. I. No divine Right pleaded by the ancient Clergy to exempt theins"lves from Taxes.— ?. Vet generally excused from I'erNonal Taxes, or Ili-ad-moncy.— 3. But not excused for their I. an. is and Possessions. I. Of tli»> Trit)ute calle.l, Auvtiin Tironirum, Etjui Canonici. ^'C. 5. The Church obliged to sucli Burthens as Lands were tied to before their Donation. Of the C/iri/.itirgj/nnn. or Lii.ilral Ta.r, and the Exemption of the Clergy from it.— 7. Of the Melatum. What meant tiiereby. and the Exemption of tlie Clergy from it. 8. Of i\n' Sxpniiiilirta ami Ext raordinaria. 'i^w Clergy exempt from thim.— S). The Clergy sometimes exemjH from Conti ibnti.ig to the Reparation of Hiirliways and Bridges. - 10. As also from the Duty called Ans;ari:c, and Parmigaruf, S:c. II. Of the T'ribute called, Dinarismiis-, Uncia\ an! Drsnip/io LiKralivorum ;

Sect.

—

—

—

CONTENTS.

li

and the Church's Exemption from it.— 12. The Clergy exempt from all Civil Personal OfTices.— 13. And from Sordid Offices both Piedial and Personal.— 14. Also from Curial or Mmiicipal Offices.— 15. But this last Privilege confined to such of the Clergy, as had no Estates but what belonged to the Cliurch, by the Laws of Constantine. 16. Constantine's Laws a little altered by the succeeding Emperors in Favour of the

—

Church.

CHAP.

III.

Of the Revenues

of the Avcicnt Clerrry. (EOT. 1. Several Ways of providing a Fund for the Maintenance of the Some of which were Weekly. 2. And Clergy. 1st, by Oblations. others Monthly. 3. Whence came the Custom of a Monthly Division among the Clergy. 4. Secondly, otlier Revenues arising from tiic Lands and Possessions of the Church. 5. These very much augmented by the

—

Laws

—

—

—6.

—

Whose Laws were

confirmed, and not revoked 7. Thirdly, another as some mistake. of Church-Revenues raised by Allowances out of the Emperor's Exchequer. 8. Fourthly, the Estates of Martyrs and Conf.>ssors dying without Heirs settled upon the Church by Constantine.— 9. Fifthly, the Estates of Clergymen, dying without Heirs and Will, settled in like manner. 10. Sixthly, Heathen Temples and their Revenues sometimes given to the Church. 11. Seventhly, as also Heretical Conventicles and their Revenues. 12. Eighthly, the Instates of Clerks, deserting the Church, to be forfeited to the Church. 13. No disreputable Ways of augmenting Cluirch-Reveinies encouraged. Fathers not to disinherit their Children to make the Church their Heirs. 14. Nothing to be demanded for Administering the Sacraments of the Church, nor for Consecrating Churches, nor Interment of the Dead. 15. The Oblations of the People anciently one of the most valuable Parts of Church-Revenue. of Constantine.

by the succeeding Emperors, P'art

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CHAP. Of

Tithes

IV.

nvd First-Fruits

in particular.

—

Tithes anciently reckoned to be due by Divine Right. 2. Why not exacted in the Aj)ostolical Age and those that immediately followed. 3. In what Age they were first generally settled upon the Church. 4. The Original of First-fruits, and the Manner of Offering them.

Sect.

1.

—

CHAP. Of

the

V-

Management and Distribution

of the Revenues of the

Ancient Clergy. 1. The Revenues of the whole Diocese anciently in the Hands of the Bishop.— 2. And by his Care distributed among the Clergy.— 3. Rules about the Division of Church-Revenues.—4, In some Churches the Clergy lived all in Connnon.— 5. Alterations made in these Matters by the Endowment of Parochial Churches.—6. No Alienations to be made f Church-Revenues or Goods, but upon Extraordinary Occasions.— 7. And that with the joint Consent of the Bishop and his Clergy, with tlie Approbation of the Metropolitan or some Provincial Bishops.

Sect.

CONTKNTS.

lii

BOOK

VI.

AN ACCOUNT OF SEVERAL LAWS AND RULES, RELATING TO THE EMPLOYMENT, LIFE, AND CONVERSATION OF THE PRIMITIVE CLERGY, of these Rules in general, and the Exemplariness of the Clergy Conf rming to them. Sect. L The Excellency of the Chrislian Rules attested and enyied by the Heathens. '2. The Character of the Clerify from Chrislian Writers. 3. Particular Exceptions no Derogation to their general good Ciiaracter. 4. An Account of some ancient Writers which treat of the Duties of the

Of the Excellency

m

—

Clergy.

CHAP. Of Laws

relating to the Life

I.

and Conversation of

the Primitive

Clergy. Sect.

Exemplary Pinity required in the Clergy above other Men. Reasons 2. Church-Censures more severe against them than any others. What Crimes punished with Degradation viz. Theft, Murder, Perjury, &c. 4-. Also Lapsing in Time of Persecution. 5. And Drinking and Gaming. 6. And negotiating upon Usury. The Nature of this Crime inquired into. 7. Of the Hospitality of the Clergy. 8. Of their Frugality and Contempt of the World. 9 Whether the Clergy were anciently obliged by any Law to part with their Temporal Possessions. 10. Of their great Care to be inoffensive with their Tongues. II. Of their Care to guard against Suspicion of Evil. Laws relating to this Matter. 13. An Account of the Agapclm, and ':£.vvtisum Ciiristuiu iu '

'^

c. 17.

&qu& nascimur; necaliter quam

in

aqua pcimancndo

salvisuuiu!>.

CHAP.

CHRISTIAN CHURCH.

I.]

3

our Saviour's names and titles in Greek, Ir/crSc, Xpt