The nonconformists plea for peace, or, An account of their judgment in certain things…

And when Eleusius repenting of his sin in a forced subscribing to the Ariminum faith would have had them have chosen another Bishop, they would have or acknowledge no other but him; being the undoubted Choosers of their own Bishop Ib. c. 7.

And when Eleusius repenting of his sin in a forced subscribing to the Ariminum faith would have had them have chosen another Bishop, they would have or acknowledg no other but him; being the undoubted Chusers of their own Bishop Ib. c. 7.

The City of Antioch sell into two parties of the Orthodox, besides the Arians, and chose two Bishops Paulinus and Meletirs; Though it was ⟨p. 62⟩then contrary to the Canons that one City should have two Bishops, none questioned the peoples right to choose, nor denied either of them to be true Bishops: And though the Emperor forbore Paulinus for his rare parts and virtues, and banished only Meletius, the people would not obey his Orders, but still assembled as before.

The City of Antioch sell into two parties of the Orthodox, besides the Arrians, and chose two Bishops Paulinus and Meletirs; Though it was ⟨p. 62⟩then contrary to the Canons that one City should have two Bishops, none questioned the peoples right to chuse, nor denied either of them to be true Bishops: And though the Emperour forbore Paulinus for his rare parts and virtues, and banished only Meletius, the people would not obey his Orders, but still assembled as before.

We are not ignorant what tumults popular Elections of Bishops have oft caused: But two things all acquainted with antiquity know which much serve to counterbalance this objection: 1. That where Emperors and Synods of Bishops have made themselves the Electors, the tumults or confusions, or at least the consequent evils were not less but greater: 2. And when they did thus assume the Election (which was for the most part but in a few great seats and not of ordinary Bishops) still they suppose a necessity of the peoples consent. When the Emperor chose the Patriarchs, what one Emperor did another undid: And the peoples dissent undid it sooner: and the Ruling Bishops so oft disagreed, that their synods and Churches were lamentably militant. By the favour of the Emperor, Dioscorus was the strongest at Ephesus having the Soldiers and Rulers on his side, and by them the Major Vote of the Bishops: But it was more Theodosius and his Officers that carried it than equity; even to the condemning of Eusebius and such others, and the beating of Flvianus the Patriarch of Const. unto death: And when by the Emperor and prevailing Bishops will, new Bishops were placed (Anatlus at Const. Maximus at Antioch, Nonus at Edessa, Athanasius for Savinian &c,) saith Liberatus in