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much as Authoriz'd or Impower'd all Baptiz'd Laymen for that Purpose, because it do's not Authorize Bigamifts; much lefs would it have Authoriz'd Schifmaticks, who feparate from their Bifhop's Communion: And therefore, the pretended Baptifm, given by Perfons who never were at all Commillion'd to Baptize, and who attempt to give Baptifm Ordinarily, without the leaft appearance of Neceflity, and this even in Oppofition to, not only fome particular Bifhops, but the Divine Right of Epifcopacy it felf, I fay, fuch pretended Baptifms would not have had the leaft Countenance from this Council, if it had been a GeneralOne; and therefore, certainly, fince 'twas but a Provincial one, thofe fpurious Baptifms, can upon no account whatfoever, be favour'd by the Canon of that Spanish Council, even if Bishops could, by a Canon in Council, Authorize or Impower their own LayCommunicants to Baptize, which, it has not yet been prov'd that Bifhops can do; and I do not trouble my felf to enquire whether they can or cannot; it being foreign to the present Controverfy, which relates to thofe who were never at all fuppos'd to have been Authoriz'd by Bishops.

§ XVIII. The Reverend Hiftorian's Third Inftance, is taken from the Story of Boys Baptizing in Play at the Sea-fide, in the days of Alexander Bishop of Alexandria; and he introduces it thus:

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Whilft this Matter [of the Spanish Bishops in the Council of Eliberis, their making a Canon to Authorize fome of their Lay-men to Baptize, &c.] "was thus determin'd in the left, there happen'd "another famous Tranfaction in the East, which "drew on a like Determination in the Church of Alexandria, if we may give credit to any of the

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ancient Hiftorians, Socrates, Sozomen, and Rufin, who all Relate it: Rufin (fays he) bad the Story from the Mouth of thofe who liv'd and convers'd with Athanafius; and the Account of it, according to his Relation, is this: Alexander, BiShop of Alexandria, on a certain Day, being the Festival of Peter the Martyr, after the Solemn Service of the Church was over, was entertaining himfelf with a Profpect toward the Sea, whilft he expected his Clergy to come and dine with him. In "bis Profpect, at fome diftance upon the Sea-fhore, be beheld a Number of Youths at Play, acting the "Part of a Bishop, and doing all things which were ufed to be done in the Church: And viewing them intently for fome time, he at last faw them come to the Secret and Myftical Rites of Religion, upon which, being somewhat perpler d, be fent immediately for his Clergy, and fhew'd them what he bimfelf bad feen, ordering them withal to go, and bring the Boys before him. Who being ask'd, What Play they were at, and what they had done, and "after what manner? They at firft deny'd all the whole Matter, as Children us❜d to do through fear; but afterward, they told every thing in order as it was "done, confeffing, that they had Baptiz'd certain "Catechumens, by the Hands of Athanafius, who "acted the Part of the Bishop in the Play. Then examining farther of those who were faid to be Bap"tiz'd, What Questions they were ask'd, and what Answers they made? And being likewife inform'd by him who had been the chief Ador; when he found "that all things had been done according to the Rites of our Religion, after he had conferr'd with a "Council of his Clergy, he is faid to have deter"mino, [Statuiffe traditur, Says Rufin,] That the Baptifm of thofe, on whom Water bad been

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pour'd, with the proper Interrogatories and ReSponfes, ought not to be repeated, but only have thofe things added, which the Priests were used to * perform. Socrates, and + Sozomen, have the Jame Story; and the Author of the Life of Atha"nafius in Photius, with Johannes Mofchus, and many others," fays Mr. Bingham, pag. 29, 30, 31. Then he Names "Archbishop Whitgift, Abbot, Co"tolerius, Pagi, and, he fays, many others that might be nam'd, Men of Character in their Age, "have appear'd in its Behalf, and defended it as a genuine Piece of Hiftory. And it is fome Confirmation, that Rufin Jays he had it from the Mouth of thofe who convers'd with Athanafius. And Nicephorus Califtus, who also relates the Story, || gives a parallel Inftance of another Fact much like "this, which happened in his own time at Conftantinople," pag. 31. Thus far Mr. Bingham. It is a wonderful Thing to fee with what Air of Gravity, and Solemnity of Expreffion, this Reverend Hiftorian introduces the Story of this ludicrous, sportive Washing: He fays of it, "There happen'd ano"ther famous Tranlation in the Eaft. This, before one comes to read the Story it felf, looks as if it was fome mighty important Affair which was of a very Publick Nature, and undoubtedly attefted to by the Bishops of the Eastern Church; for, he fays, it "drew on a like Determination in the "Church of Alexandria," i. e. a like Determination to that of the Council of Eliberis, he was juft before fpeaking of. Now who is there, that at firft reading of this, would not naturally expect

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* Hift Lib. I. cap. 15.
+ Lib. 2. cap. 17.
Niceph. Hift. Lib. 3. c. 37.

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to find, that a Provincial Council of Bishops was =affembled at Alexandria, upon the Account of this pretended "famous Tranfaction," and that they had made fome new Canon, as the Council of Eliberis did, about Lay-Baptifm? For, he fays, it "drew on a like Determination; " when, behold, parturiunt montes, &c. a Mountain has brought forth a Moufe. This famous Tranfaction was nothing but Boys Play, in the Eaft, i. e. at the Water-fide near Alexandria; and the Determination it is faid to have drew on, was no more than this, That the Bishop of Alexandria, (having taken Council with the Priefts that were about him, whom he was before expecting to Dine with him) is faid to have determin'd, that the Boys Baptiz'd in Play, fhould not be Baptiz'd again: A famous Tranfaction this! and as important a Determination too! If it had been true in fact, which we have no reafon to believe it was, if we confider, Ift, The Ecclefiaftical Writers whom Mr. Bingham appeals to for the Truth thereof. 2dly, Its little or no Credit among Learned Men. And 3dly, The Circumftances of the Story itfelf. For,

Firft, The known Perfon, from whom we originally have this Story, is no other than Rufinus; and from him Sozomen alone, among the ancient Ecclefiaftical Hiftorians. The First, a Man remarkably credulous, and befides fo very careless in his Ecclefiaftical Hiftory, that Socrates Scholafticus complains of it, and fays, That he "bas "err'd concerning the Notation of the Times:" And gives one Inftance thereof in the Troubles of St. Athanafius; That "he was alfo ignorant of

* Socrates Ecclef. Hift. Book ii. cap. 1.
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pour'd, with the proper Interrogatories and ReSponfes, ought not to be repeated, but only have thofe things added, which the Priests were used to perform. Socrates, and + Sozomen, have the Jame Story; and the Author of the Life of Atha"nafius in Photius, with Johannes Mofchus, and many others," fays Mr. Bingham, pag. 29, 30, 31. Then he Names "Archbishop Whitgift, Abbot, Cotolerius, Pagi, and, he fays, many others that might be nam'd, Men of Character in their Age, "have appear'd in its Behalf, and defended it as a genuine Piece of Hiftory. And it is fome Confirmation, that Rufin fays he had it from the Mouth of thofe who convers'd with Athanafius. And Nicephorus Califtus, who alfo relates the Story, gives a parallel Inftance of another Falt much like this, which happened in his own time at Conftantinople," pag. 31. Thus far Mr. Bingham. It is a wonderful Thing to fee with what Air of Gravity, and Solemnity of Expreffion, this Reverend Hiftorian introduces the Story of this ludicrous, sportive Washing: He fays of it, "There happen'd ano"ther famous Tranfaction in the East." This, before one comes to read the Story it felf, looks as if it was fome mighty important Affair which was of a very Publick Nature, and undoubtedly attefted to by the Bishops of the Eastern Church; for, he fays, it "drew on a like Determination in the "Church of Alexandria," i. e. a like Determination to that of the Council of Eliberis, he was juft before fpeaking of. Now who is there, that at firft reading of this, would not naturally expect

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* Hift Lib. I. cap. 15.
+ Lib. 2. cap. 17.
Niceph. Hift. Lib. 3. c. 37.

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