[531:1] The existence of heresy in Gaul in the second century is established by the fact that Irenaeus spent so much time in its refutation.  Had he not been annoyed by it, he never would have thought of writing his treatise “Contra Haereses.”

[531:2] Valentine himself seems to have been a presbyter.  He at one time expected to be made bishop.

[532:1] Such is the statement of Hilary—­“Immutata est ratio, prospiciente concilio, ut non ordo sed meritum crearet episcopum, multorum sacerdotum judicio constitutum, ne indignus temere usurparet, et esset multis scandalum.”—­Comment. in Eph. iv.

[532:2] See Period II. sec. i. chap. iv. pp. 333, 334, 349.

[533:1] At an early period, out of three elders nominated by the presbytery, one was chosen by lot; subsequently, out of three elders chosen by lot, one was elected by the people.  See pp. 333, 349.

[533:2] “Collocatum.”

[533:3] Epist. ci.  “Ad Evangelum.”

[534:1] A few passages of the letter may here be given in the original.  “Manifestissime comprobatur eundem esse episcopum atque presbyterum....  Quod autem postea unus electus est, qui cicteris praeponeretur, in schismatic remedium factum est, ne unusquisque ad se trahens Christi ecclesiam rumperet.  Nam et Alexandriae a Marco Evangelista usque ad Heraclam et Dionysium Episcopos, presbyteri semper unum ex se electum in excelsiori gradu collocatum episcopum nominabant."-Epist. ci. ad Evangelum.

[535:1] Matt. xx. 26, 27.

[535:2] The view here taken is sustained by the verdict of learned and candid episcopalians.  “When elders were ordained by the apostles in every Church, through every city, to feed the flock of Christ, whereof the Holy Ghost had made them overseers:  they, to the intent that they might the better do it by common counsel and consent, did use to assemble themselves and meet together.  In the which meetings, for the more orderly handling and concluding of things pertaining to their charge, they chose one amongst them to be the president of their company and moderator of their actions.”—­The Judgment of Doctor Rainoldes touching the Original of Episcopacy more largely confirmed out of Antiquity, by James Ussher, Archbishop of Armagh. Ussher’s Works, vii. p. 75.

[537:1] Pearson has endeavoured to destroy the credit of this chronology, and has urged against it the authority of the “Annals of Eutychius!” “De Successione prim.  Rom.  Episc.”  He had before laboured to prove that the testimony of these “Annals” is worthless.  “Vindic.  Ignat.” pars i. c. xi.

[537:2] The chronology of Eusebius, as arranged by Bower in his “Lives of the Popes,” stands thus:—­

Evaristus, A.D. 100 to A.D. 109. 
Alexander, A.D. 109 to A.D. 119. 
Sixtus (or Xystus), A.D. 119 to A.D. 128. 
Telesphorus, A.D. 128 to A.D. 139. 
Hyginus, A.D. 139 to A.D. 142. 
Pius, A.D. 142 to A.D. 157. 
Anicetus, A.D. 157 to A.D. 168. 
Soter, A.D. 168 to A.D. 176. 
Eleutherius, A.D. 176 to A.D. 192. 
Victor, A.D. 192 to A.D. 201.