Canon CVII.
(Greek cx. continued.) A Council concerning a bishop taking cognizance.
IN the consulate of the most glorious Emperors Honorius for the VII time and Theodosius for the IIID, Augusti, xvii. Calends of July, a synod was held at Carthage in the basilica of the second region. In this council it seemed good that no one bishop should claim the right to take cognizance of a cause. The acts of this council I have not here written down, because it was only provincial and not general.
Ancient Epitome of Canon CVII.
One bishop shall not claim for himself to take cognizance of a cause alone. (Greek cxi.) Synod against the Donatists.
After the consulate of the most illustrious Emperors Honorius for the VIII time and Theodosius for the IV time, Augusti, xviii. Calends of July, at Carthage in the basilica of the second region. In this council the bishops, Florentius, Possidius, Praesidius and Benenatus received legation against the Donatists, at that time at which a law was given that anyone might practice the Christian worship at his own will.
Notes.
Ancient Epitome of Canon CVII.
Let each one receive the practice of piety of his own free will.
The two first introductions belong respectively to the Synods of Carthage of June 16 and of October 13, a.d. 408.Canon cvij. of the African code and that which follows it are the introductions to the Synods of Carthage of June 15, a.d. 409, and of June 14, a.d. 410.
Johnson.
See can. 10, 11, 12, 28 (31), 79 (80). Recognises, a law of the Empire, that everyone receive christianity at his own free choice.
Canon CVIII.
(Greek cxii.) Synod against the heresy of Pelagius and Celestius.
IN the consulate of the most glorious Emperors, Honorius for the XII time and Theodosius for the VIII, Augusti most exalted, on the Calends of May, at Carthage in the secretarium of the Basilica of Faustus. When Aurelius the bishop presided over the whole council, the deacons standing by, it pleased all the bishops, whose names and subscriptions are indicated, met together in the holy synod of the Church of Carthage to define-
Canon CIX.
(Greek cxij. continued.) That Adam was not created by God subject to death.
That whosoever says that Adam, the first man, was created mortal, so that whether he had sinned or not, he would have died in body-that is, he would have gone forth of the body, not because his sin merited this, but by natural necessity, let him be anathema.
Notes.
Ancient Epitome of Canon CIX.
Whoso shall assert that the protoplast would have died without sin and through natural necessity, let him be anathema.
Canon CVIII. is the introduction to the Synod of Carthage of May 1, a.d. 418; and Canon CIX. is Canon j. of that synod.
Canon CX.
(Greek cxii. bis) That infants are baptized for the remission of sins.
Likewise it seemed good that whosoever denies that infants newly from their mother's wombs should be baptized, or says that baptism is for remission of sins, but that they derive from Adam no original sin, which needs to be removed by the layer of regeneration, from whence the conclusion follows, that in them the form of baptism for the remission of sins, is to be understood as false and not true, let him be anathema.