THE

CONSTITUTIONS OR DECREES

OF THE

HOLY APOSTLES;

BEING THE

Commandments or Ordinances

GIVEN TO THEM BY THE

LORD JESUS CHRIST,

FOR THE

ESTABLISHMENT AND GOVERNMENT

OF HIS

KINGDOM ON THE EARTH.

"The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that JESUS began both to do and teach, until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the HOLY GHOST had given commandments unto the Apostles whom he had chosen" (Acts i. 1, 2).

"And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the Apostles and Elders which were at Jerusalem" (Acts xvi. 4).

"Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of CHRIST. Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances as I delivered them to you" (1 Cor. xi. 1, 2).

"Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie" (Rev. xxii. 14, 15).

"Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the Old Paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls" (Jer. vi. 16).

LONDON:

SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, & Co., STATIONERS' HALL COURT.

LONDON:

PRINTED by JOSEPH KOGERSON,

24, Norfolk-street, Strand.

CHAP. I. Concerning covetousness.

II. That we ought not to return injuries, nor revenge ourselves

on him that does us wrong.

III. Concerning the adornment of ourselves, and the sin which

arises from thence,

IV. That we ought not to be over curious about ill-livers, but to

be intent upon our own proper employment.

V. What books of scripture we ought to read.

VI. That we ought to abstain from all the books of those that

are out of the Church.

VII. Concerning a naughty woman.

I. VIII. Concerning the subjection of a wife to her husband, and

that she must be loving and modest.

IX. That a woman must not bathe with men.

X. Concerning a contentious and brawling woman.

CONTENTS OF THE SECOND BOOK.

CHAP. I. That a bishop must be well instructed, and experienced

in the Word.

II. What ought to be the characters of a bishop, and of the rest

of the clergy.

III. In what things a bishop is to be examined before he is

ordained.

IV. That charitable distribution's are not to be made to every

widow, but that sometimes a married wife is to be preferred; and
that no distributions are to be made to any one who is given to
gluttony, drunkenness, and idleness.

V. That a bishop must be no accepter of persons in judgment;
that he must be gentle in his conversation and temperate in his diet.
VI. That a bishop must not be given to filthy lucre, nor be a
surety, nor an advocate.

VII. What ought to be the character of a candidate for baptism.

VIII. Concerning a person falsely accused, or another con-

victed.

IX. That a bishop ought not to receive bribes.

X. That a bishop who, by wrong judgment, spares an offender

is himself guilty.

XI. How a bishop ought to judge offenders.

XII. Doctrinal. How a bishop ought to behave himself to the

penitent.

XIII. That we ought to beware how we make trial of any sinful

course.

XIV. Concerning those who affirm that penitents are not to be

received into the Church. A righteous person, although he con-

verse with a sinner, will not perish with him. That no person is

punished for another; but every one must give an account of him-

self. That we must assist those who are weak in the faith; and

that a bishop must not be governed by any turbulent person

among the laity.

XV. That a bishop must neither overlook offences nor be rash

in punishing them.

XVI. Of penance. The manner of it, and rules about it.

XVII. That a bishop must be unblameable, and a pattern for

those who are under his charge.

XVIII. That a bishop must take care that his people do not sin,

considering that he is set for a watchman among them.

XIX. That a shepherd who is careless of his sheep will be con-

demned; and that a sheep which will not be led by the shepherd is

to be punished.

XX. How the governed are to obey the bishops who are set over

them.

XXI. That it is a dangerous thing to judge without hearing both

sides, or to determine of punishment against a person before he is

convicted.

XXII. That David, the Ninevites, Ezekias, and his son.

Manasses, are eminent examples of repentance. The prayer of

Manasses, King of Judah.

XXIII. Amon may be an example to such as sin with an high

hand.

XXIV. That Christ Jesus, our Lord, came to save sinners by re-

pentance.

XXV. Of first-fruits and tithes; and after what manner the

bishop is himself to partake of them, or to distribute them to

others.

XXVI. According to what patterns and dignity every order of

the clergy is appointed by God.

XXVII. That it is a horrible thing for a man to thrust himself

into any sacerdotal office; as did Corah and his company, Saul and

Uzziah.

XXVIII. Of an entertainment; and after what manner each

distinct order of the clergy is to be treated by those who invite

them to it.

XXIX. What is the dignity of a bishop, and of a deacon. XXX. After what manner the laity are to be obedient to the deacon.

XXXI. That the deacon must not do anything without the bishop.

XXXII. That the deacon must not make any distributions without the consent of the bishop, because that will turn to the reproach of the bishop.

XXXIII. After what manner the bishops are to be honoured, and to be reverenced, as our spiritual parents.

XXXIV. That bishops are to be preferred before rulers and kings.

XXXV. That both the Law and the Gospel prescribe offerings. XXXVI. The recital of the ten commandments; and after what manner they do here prescribe to us.

XXXVII. Concerning accusers and false accusers, and how a judge is not rashly either to believe them, or disbelieve them; but after an accurate examination.

XXXVIII. That sinners are privately to be reproved, and the penitent to be received, according to the constitution of our Lord. XXXIX. Examples of repentance.

XL. That we are not to be implacable to such who have once or twice offended.

XLI. After what manner a penitent is to be treated, as also offenders; and when they are to be cut off from the Church. XLII. That a judge must not be a respecter of persons. XLIII. After what manner false accusers are to be punished. XLIV. That the deacon is to ease the burthen of the bishops, and to order the smaller natters himself.

XLV. That contentions and quarrels are unbecoming Christians. XLVI. That believers ought not to go to law before unbelievers, nor ought any unbeliever to be called for a witness against believers.

XLVII. That the judicatures of Christians ought to be held on the second day of the week.

XLVIII. That the same punishment is not to be inflicted for every offence; but different punishments for different offenders. XLIX. What are to be the characters of accusers and witnesses. L. That former offences do sometimes render after accusations credible.

LI. Against judging without hearing both sides.

LII. The caution observed at heathen tribunals before the condemnation of criminals affords Christians a good example.

LIII. That Christians ought not to be contentious one with another.

LIV. That the bishops must, by the deacon, put the people in mind of the obligation they are under to live peaceably together.

LV. An enumeration of the several instances of divine Providence, and how in every age from the beginning of the world God has invited all men to repentance.