§ 53. Here also another difficulty arose (as there ever doth in ravelled works.) The Pope had been against Hincmarus and his Council for deposing the Bishops ordained by Ebbo. And yet to subdue the Greeks he was for the deposing of those ordained by Photius. This made him seem contrary to himself: Anastasius Bibliothecarius (who then lived and was employed at Constantinople in this matter) to reconcile the contradiction, saith that Ebbo was a true Bishop, but Photius was not, because he was a Lay-man before his consecration; and therefore his ordinations are nullities. This nullifying of ordinations maketh great disturbances in the Church. The present Bishops of England require those that were heretofore ordained by Parochial Pastors to be reordained, and on this and such other accounts about 2000 were silenced at one day (Aug. 24. 1662.) The silenced Nonconformists do some of them say that the Bishops have much less than Photius to show for their authority to ordain. He had learning, he had the Emperors authority for him: He had lawful Bishops to ordain him; He had a great Council or two to approve him and confirm him: And though he was a lay-man before, so is every one when he cometh to his first ordination. And though he was made Bishop per saltum, so was Nectarius, Thalasius, Ambrose, &c. And every Uncanonical irregularity nullifieth not the ordination. It hath been ordinary for Deacons to be made Popes: And is not that per saltum? why doth not that interrupt and nullify the Papacy? But, say they, on this account 1. Romes succession is long ago interrupted: There having been far greater incapacities in Simonists, common Adulterers, Perjured, Rebels, Heretics, Infidels, (as Councils have judged.) 2. And (they say) that so the English Prelates are no Bishops, being chosen by the King, and wanting that choice of the Clergy and people, which the Canons have over and over again ⟨p. 275⟩made necessary to the validity of ordinations, are more null than those of Photius: And therefore we owe them (as such) no obedience nor communion.] Thus our nullifyings and condemnings proceed till most men have degraded if not unchristened one another. And he that is on the stronger side carrieth it, till death or some other change confute his claim, and then the other side gets up and condemneth him as he condemned them.
§ 53. Here also another difficulty arose (as there ever doth in ravelled works.) The Pope had been against Hincmarus and his Council for deposing the Bishops ordained by Ebbo. And yet to subdue the Greeks he was for the deposing of those ordained by Photius. This made him seem contrary to himself: Anastasius Bibliothecarius (who then lived and was employed at Constantinople in this matter) to reconcile the contradiction, saith that Ebbo was a true Bishop, but Photius was not, because he was a Lay-man before his consecration; and therefore his ordinations are nullities. This nullifying of ordinations maketh great disturbances in the Church. The present Bishops of England require those that were heretofore ordained by Parochial Pastors to be reordained, and on this and such other accounts about 2000 were silenced at one day (Aug. 24. 1662.) The silenced Nonconformists do some of them say that the Bishops have much less than Photius to shew for their authority to ordain. He had learning, he had the Emperors authority for him: He had lawfull Bishops to ordain him; He had a great Council or two to approve him and confirm him: And though he was a lay-man before, so is every one when he cometh to his first ordination. And though he was made Bishop per saltum, so was Nectarius, Thalasius, Ambrose, &c. And every Uncanonical irregularity nullifieth not the ordination. It hath been ordinary for Deacons to be made Popes: And is not that per saltum? why doth not that interrupt and nullifie the Papaci•? But, say they, on this account 1. Romes succession is long agoe interrupted: There having been far greater incapacities in Simonists, common Adulterers, Perjured, Rebels, Hereticks, Infidels, (as Councils have judged.) 2. And (they say) that so the English Prelates are no Bishops, being chosen by the King, and wanting that choice of the Clergy and people, which the Canons have over and over again ⟨p. 275⟩made necessary to the validity of ordinations, are more null than those of Photius: And therefore we owe them (as such) no obedience nor communion.] Thus our nullifyings and condemnings proceed till most men have degraded if not unchristened one another. And he that is on the stronger side carrieth it, till death or some other change confute his claim, and then the other side gets up and condemneth him as he condemned them.
