Section 537
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COUNCIL OF NICE. ^ at the present time, it was determined, on consultation, to publish a few of them only, which are more particularly connected with the historical view, or which may otherwise seem to claim a preference. The reader who may wish to examine those which are omitted, is referred to the Concilia Gcneralia et Pro! vincialia, Coloniaj AgrippinsB, 1618, page 275, from which the following are" translated. CANON IY — Of the Ordination of Bishops. It is highly proper that a bishop should be constituted such by all the bishops in the province ; or, if this should be difficult, either through any urgent necessity, or from the length of the journey, three, at least, meeting together, shaU ordain the candi date, provided those who are absent shall also consent, and sig nify their approval by letter. The transactions, however, which may take place in every province must be confirmed by the me tropolitan bishop. CANON VI. — Of the distinguished honors which were decreed to the chief Bishops in Ecclesiastical Government. Let the ancient usage prevail of Egypt, Lybia and Pentapolis, that the bishop of Alexandria have jurisdiction over all these provinces, since this is the custom with regard to the bishop in Rome.* In like manner, at Antioch, and in the other provinces, let the churches preserve their privileges. It is very clear, that if any one be made a bishop without the consent of the metro politan, the great council has decreed that he ought not to be a bishop. But if through their own obstinacy two or three indi viduals oppose the election of a candidate, it being just and con* Here, again, it appears, that the bishop of Rome had no pre-eminence at the period of the Nicene council, being placed on the same footing only as the other metropolitan prelates.