heretics. Irenaeus says of them--"_Scindunt_ et separant unitatem
ecclesiae."--Lib. iv. c. xxvi. Sec. 2. In like manner Cyprian represents
"heresies and schisms" as making their appearance after the apostolic
age, and as inseparably connected. "Cum haereses et schismata postmodum
nata sint, dum conventicula sibi diversa constituunt."--_De Unitate
Eccles._, Opera, p. 400.

[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