Beside this among the old writers, there is mention of three degrees, which afterward were called Minores ordines, although some count of four, and other count more. There was also Porters, or Ushers, which were called Ostiarii, who kept at the gates of the Church to open and to shut, especially because of the Catechumens, the excommunicated, and the penitents which were not permitted to be present at the ministration of the Sacramentsa. There were those also which followed the Pastor ordinarily, as well to do him reverence and honour, as to be witnesses of those things which he did or said, and ⟨image 129⟩also to acquaint and make them selves known to the church, and also to learn to know and exercise their offices, and those they called Acolytes, that is to say, following, and also they did use to set them to other small affairs needful in the assemblyb. Moreover there were those which they called Lectors who did read openly the texts of the scripture which the pastor or doctor afterward expounded in the Churchc, they joined to them Exorcists, that is to say, conjurers, the which office as I think is now ceased, or at the least ought to cease in the Church with the gift of miracles, which was not but for a time, for to confirm and stablish the verity of the word of God, newly declared and revealed to the world, they served for all those small affairs, which concern the ecclesiastical service. To try and prove by little and little those whom they might afterwards appoint to offices of greater importance. And whensoever good orders shall be set up and appointed in ⟨p. 112⟩the Church, for such or so good purposes, we will not gainsay or refuse them: provided that they have respect to that which is necessary to edification.
BEsyde thys amonge the olde wryters, there is mencyon of three degrees, whiche afterwarde were called Minores ordines, although some count of fowre, and other count more. There was also Porters, or Vsshers, which were called Ostiarii, who kept at the gates of the Churche to open and to shutte, especiallye because of the Cathacumines, the excommunicated, and the penytentes whiche were not permytted to be present at the mynistration of the Sacramentesa. There were those also which followed the Pastour ordynarylye, as well to doo hym reuerence and honour, as to be wytnesses of those thynges whiche hee dyd or sayde, and ⟨image 129⟩also to acquaynt and make them selues knowen to the church, and also to learne to knowe and exercise their offyces, and those they called Acolites, that is to say, following, and also they dyd vse to set them to other small affayres néedeful in the assemblieb. Moreouer there were those which they called Lectors who dyd reade openly the textes of the scripture which the pastour or doctour afterward expounded in the Churchc, they ioygned to them Exorcistes, that is to say, coniurers, the which office as I think is now ceased, or at the least ought to cease in the Churche with the gyft of myracles, which was not but for a time, for to confyrme and stablyshe the veritye of the word of God, newly declared and reuealed to the world, they serued for all those small affaires, which concerne the ecclesiasticall seruice. To trye and proue by lytle and lytle those whome they myght afterwardes appoint to offyces of greater importaunce. And whensoeuer good orders shall be set vp and appoynted in ⟨p. 112⟩the Church, for such or so good purposes, wée wyll not gaynsaye or refuse them: prouided that they haue respecte to that which is necessary to edification.
- aCanon. 9. the fourth counsell of Carthage.Canon. 9. the fowrth counsell of Carthage.
- bCanon. 6. the aforesaid.Canon. 6. the aforesayde.
- cCanon. 7. the same counsell.
