and finding the Monks faithful to him, made many of them Bishops and Presbyters in Egypt:  and these Bishops erected new Monasteries, out of which they chose Presbyters of their own cities, and sent Bishops to others.  The like was done in Syria, the superstition being quickly propagated thither out of Egypt by Hilarion a disciple of Antony. Spiridion and Epiphanius of Cyprus, James of Nisibis, Cyril of Jerusalem, Eustathius of Sebastia in Armenia, Eusebius of Emisa, Titus of Bostra, Basilius of Ancyra, Acacius of Caesarea in Palestine, Elpidius of Laodicea, Melitius and Flavian of Antioch, Theodorus of Tyre, Protogenes of Carrhae, Acacius of Berrhaea, Theodotus of Hierapolis, Eusebius of Chalcedon, Amphilochius of Iconium, Gregory Nazianzen, Gregory Nyssen, and John Chrysostom of Constantinople, were both Bishops and Monks in the fourth century. Eustathius, Gregory Nazianzen, Gregory Nyssen, Basil, &c. had Monasteries of Clergymen in their cities, out of which Bishops were sent to other cities; who in like manner erected Monasteries there, till the Churches were supplied with Bishops out of these Monasteries.  Hence Jerome, in a Letter written about the year 385, [3] saith of the Clergy:  Quasi & ipsi aliud sint quam Monachi, & non quicquid in Monachos dicitur redundet in Clericos qui patres sunt Monachorum.  Detrimentum pecoris pastoris ignominia est.  And in his book against Vigilantius:  Quid facient Orientis Ecclesiae?  Quae aut Virgines Clericos accipiunt, aut Continentes, aut si uxores habuerint mariti esse desistunt.  Not long after even the Emperors commanded the Churches to chuse Clergymen out of the Monasteries by this Law.

Impp.  Arcad & Honor.  AA.  Caesario PF.  P.

[4] Si quos forte Episcopi deesse sibi Clericos arbitrantur, ex monachorum numero rectius ordinabunt:  non obnoxios publicis privatisque rationibus cum invidia teneant, sed habeant jam probatos.  Dat. vii._ Kal.  Aug.  Honorio A. iv. & Eutychianio Coss._ A.C. 598.  The Greek Empire being now in the hands of these Encratites, and having them in great admiration, Daniel makes it a characteristick of the King who doth according to his will, that he should not regard the desire of Women.