[598:1] In the case of Novatian.  Euseb. vi. 43.

[599:1] These presbyters were called Doctores.  Cyprian, Epist. xxxiv. p. 80.

[599:2] It would appear that, even at the time of the Council of Carthage held A.D. 397, a bishop had sometimes only one presbyter under his care.  See Dupin’s account of the Council.

[599:3] Bingham, i. 198; and Beveridge, “Cotelerius,” tom. ii.  App. p. 17.

[600:1] See Period II. sec. i. chap. ii. p. 302, and p. 355.

[601:1] Euseb. vi. 43.

[601:2] Bunsen’s “Hippolytus,” iii. 50.  Another canon says—­“He who is worthy out of the bishops ... putteth his hand upon him whom they have made bishop, praying over him.”—­Bunsen, iii. 42.

[601:3] See chapter viii. of this section, pp. 565, 567.

[602:1] Bunsen, iii. 111.

[602:2] Euseb. viii. 1.

[603:1] The following observation of a distinguished writer of the Church of England is well worthy of consideration.  “The remains of ancient ecclesiastical literature, especially those of the Latin Church, teach us that the corruption of Christianity of which Romanism is the full development, manifested itself, in the first instance, not in the doctrines which relate to the spiriting life of the individual, but in those connected with the constitution and authority of the Christian society.”—­Litton’s Church of Christ, p. 12.

[604:1] “Can.  Apost.” xiv.  “Concil.  Nic.” xv.

[604:2] Euseb.  “Martyrs of Palestine,” c. 12.

[604:3] Euseb. viii. i.

[605:1] Acts xxvi. 16-18.

[605:2] Such was the case with the churches mentioned Acts xiv. 23, and Titus i. 5.

[606:1] Trajan regarded with great suspicion all associations, even fire brigades and charitable societies.  See Pliny’s “Letters,” book x., letters 43 and 94.

[607:1] Such as Mosheim, “Instit.” i. 149, 150; Neander, “General History,” i. 281.

[607:2] During the first forty years of the second century Gnosticism did not excite much notice, and as the Church courts must have been occupied chiefly with matters of mere routine, it is not remarkable that their proceedings have not been recorded.

[607:3] We have no contemporary evidence to prove that ordinations took place in the former half of the second century, and yet we cannot doubt their occurrence.

[608:1] Acts xx. 17.

[608:2] “In Mileto enim convocatis episcopis et presbyteris, qui erant ab Epheso et a reliquis proximis civitatibus.”—­Contra Haeres, iii. c. 14.  Sec. 2.

[608:3] Cyprian, Epist. lxviii.  Sec. 256.

[608:4] The new bishop was often chosen before the interment of his predecessor; and even when the senior elder was the president, it is probable that the neighbouring pastors assembled to attend the funeral of the deceased pastor, and to be present at the inauguration of his successor.