Canon XVI.
That no bishop, presbyter or deacon should be a "conductor;" and that Readers should take wives; and that the clergy should abstain from usury; and at what age they or virgins should be consecrated.
Likewise it seemed good that bishops, presbyters, and deacons should not be "conductors" or "procurators;" nor seek their food by any base and vile business, for they should remember how it is written, "No man fighting for God cumbereth himself with worldly affairs."
Also it seemed good that Readers when they come to years of puberty, should be compelled either to take wives or else to profess continence.
Likewise it seemed good that if a clergyman had lent money he should get it back again, but if kind (speciem) he should receive back the same kind as he gave.
And that younger than twenty-five years deacons should not be ordained, nor virgins consecrated.
And that readers should not salute the people.
Notes.
Ancient Epitome of XVI.
A bishop, presbyter, and deacon may not be a "conductor" or a "procurator." A reader when he comes to puberty must contract marriage or profess continence.
A cleric who has lent to someone, what he gave let him receive, or as much.
Let not him be a deacon, who is made a deacon being under twenty-five.
And let not readers salute the people.
This canon is made up of Canons xv., xviij., and xxj., and added to these Canon j. of the same Second Series of the synod of Hippo, a.d. 393.
Johnson.
Zonaras says this was never observed anywhere but in Africa. See Can. Afr. 19 (27).
Du Pin turns the Latin, saluto, by "addressing his speech to the people."
Canon XVII.
That any province on account of its distance, may have its own Primate.
It seemed good that Mauretania Sitiphensis, as it asked, should have a Primate of its own, with the consent of the Primate of Numidia from whose synod it had been separated. [424] And with the consent of all the primates of the African Provinces and of all the bishops permission was given, by reason of the great distance between them.
Notes.
Ancient Epitome of Canon XVII.
Mauretania Sitiphensis, on account of the great distance, is permitted to have its own Primate.
This canon is Canon iij. of the first series of canons enacted at Hippo in 393.
Johnson.
N.B. From this place forward the Latin and Greek numeration varies; but Justellus's Edition in Greek and Latin follows the Latin division.
[424] The text here is corrupt.
Canon XVIII. (Gk. xviii. The Latin caption is the canon of the Greek.)
If any cleric is ordained he ought to be admonished to observe the constitutions.
And that neither the Eucharist nor Baptism should be given to the bodies of the dead.
And that every year in every province the Metropolitans come together in synod.
(Gk. Canon xix.)
It seemed good that before bishops, or clerics were ordained, the provisions of the canons should be brought to their notice, lest, they might afterwards repent of having through ignorance acted contrary to law.
Ancient Epitome of Greek Canon XIX.
The things which have been adopted by the synods should be made known to him who is to be ordained.
(Gk. Canon xx.)
It also seemed good that the Eucharist should not be given to the bodies of the dead. For it is written: "Take, Eat," but the bodies of the dead can neither "take" nor "eat." Nor let the ignorance of the presbyters baptize those who are dead.
Ancient Epitome of Greek Canon XX
The Eucharist is not to be given to the body of one dead for it neither eats nor drinks.
The ignorance of a presbyter shall not baptize a dead man.
(Gk. Canon xxi.)
And therefore in this holy synod should be confirmed in accordance with the Nicene decrees, on account of Ecclesiastical causes, which often are delayed to the injury of the people, that every year there should be a synod, to which all, who are primates of the provinces, should send bishops as legates, from their own synods, two or as many as they choose; so that when the synod meets it may have full power to act.
Notes.
Ancient Epitome of Greek Canon XXI.
According to the decrees of the Nicene Fathers a yearly synod shall be assembled, and two legates or as many as they shall choose, shall be sent by the primates of every province.
This is composed of Canons II., IV., and V. of the second series of enactments of Hippo, a.d. 393.
Johnson.
The 18th canon in the Edition of Tilius and Bishop Beveridge runs thus; viz. [If any clergyman be ordained he ought to be reminded to keep the canons; and that the Eucharist or Baptism be not given to dead corpses; and that the Metropolitans in every province meet in synod yearly.] They speak their own language, and call him a Metropolitan, whom the Africans called a Primate; but then they have also the entire 18th canon, as it here stands according to the Latin, which they divide into three, and number them 19, 20, 21.
See Can. Nic. 5. It seems very odd that they should allege the authority of the Nicene Synod upon this occasion; for that orders a synod twice a year, this but once; that intends a provincial synod, this a diocesan or national one.