Notes.
Ancient Epitome of Canon III.
Let a bishop, a presbyter, and a deacon be chaste and continent.
This canon is taken from Canon ij., of Carthage 387 or 390.
Canon IV.
Of the different orders that should abstain from their wives.
Faustinus, the bishop of the Potentine Church, in the province of Picenum, a legate of the Roman Church, said: It seems good that a bishop, a presbyter, and a deacon, or whoever perform the sacraments, should be keepers of modesty and should abstain from their wives.By all the bishops it was said: It is right that all who serve the altar should keep pudicity from all women.
Notes.
Ancient Epitome of Canon IV.
Let those who pray abstain from their wives that they may obtain their petitions.
This canon is taken from Canon ij., of Carthage 387 or 390, last mentioned.
Johnson.
See Canon XXV. "Abstain from their wives," i.e. Some time before and after the Eucharist, as the old Scholiasts understand it. [i.e. the Greek scholiasts, but see notes to Canon xii]. of Quinisext.]
Canon V.
Of Avarice.
Aurelius, the bishop, said: The cupidity of avarice (which, let no one doubt, is the mother of all evil things), is to be henceforth prohibited, lest anyone should usurp another's limits, or for gain should pass beyond the limits fixed by the fathers, nor shall it be at all lawful for any of the clergy to receive usury of any kind. And those new edicts (suggestiones) which are obscure and generally ambiguous, after they have been examined by us, will have their value fixed (formam accipiunt); but with regard to those upon which the Divine Scripture hath already most plainly given judgment, it is unnecessary that further sentence should be pronounced, but what is already laid down is to be carried out. And what is reprehensible in laymen is worthy of still more severe censure in the clergy. The whole synod said: No one hath gone contrary to what is said in the Prophets and in the Gospels with impunity.
Notes.
Ancient Epitome of Canon V.
As the taking of any kind of usury is condemned in laymen, much more is it condemned in clergymen.
This canon is made up of Canons x. and xiij. of the Synod of Carthage held under Grains in a.d. 345-348. This synod was held to return thanks for the ending of the Donatist schism; and indeed for some time the evil did seem to have been removed. Donatist worship was prohibited by the imperial law and it was not until the times of Constans and Constantius that it again openly asserted itself. The synod while in session also took advantage of the opportunity of passing some useful general canons on discipline.
Johnson.
See Canon of the Apostles 36 (44); Nic., 17.
Canon VI.
That the chrism should not be made by presbyters.
Fortunatus the bishop, said: In former councils we remember that it was decreed that the chrism or the reconciliation of penitents, as also the consecration of virgins be not done by presbyters: but should anyone be discovered to have done this, what ought we to decree with regard to him?