the Baptift was beheaded, and ended in Holy Martyrdom. To whom it was not faid, that he fhould deny CHRIST, and he was kill'd for confeffing CHRIST, but, in regard, that our Lord JESUS CHRIST faid to the fame John 14.6. Perfons, I am the Truth, because John was kill'd for the Truth, he alfo fhed his Blood for CHRIST. But forafmuch as there are many in the Nation of the English, who, whilft they were ftill in Infidelity, are faid to have been join'd in this execrable Matrimony, when they come to the Faith they are to be admonish'd to abstain, and be made to know that this is a grievous Sin. Let them fear the dreadful Judgment of God, left they incur the Torments of eternal Punishment for their carnal Affection. Yet are not they on this Account to be depriv'd of the Communion of the Body and Blood of CHRIST, left they feem to be punifh'd for thofe Things to which they oblig'd themselves through Ignorance before they had receiv'd Baptifm. For at this Time the Holy Church chastizes fome things through Zeal, and tolerates fome through Meeknefs, and connives at some things through Difcretion, that fo fhe may often, by bearing and conniving, fupprefs the Evil fhe is averse to. But all that come to the Faith are to be admonish'd, that they do not prefume to do any fuch thing. And if any fhall be guilty of it, they are to be debarr'd the Communion of the Body and Blood of our Lord. Because as the Offence is in fome Meafure to be tolerated in those who did it through Ignorance, fo it is to be strenuously profecuted in those who do not fear to in knowingly.

Au

Auguftin's Question.

Whether a Bishop may be ordain'd without other Bishops being prefent, in cafe there be so great a diftance between them, that they cannot easily come together?

Gregory anfwers.

As for the Church of England, in which you are as yet the only Bifhop, you can no otherwife ordain a Bishop, but without other Bifhops; for when any Bifhops come from France, they may be present as Witneffes to you in ordaining a Bifhop. But we will have your Brotherhood to ordain Bishops in fuch a manner, that the faid Bishops may not be far disjoin'd afunder, to the end, that when a Bishop is to be ordain'd, there be no Difficulty, but that the other Bishops, whofe Prefence is very neceflary, may easily come together. Thus, when by the Help of God, Bishops fhall be so contituted in Places every where near to one another; no Ordination of a Bishop is to be perform'd without affembling three or four Bifhops. For, even in Spiritual Affairs, we may take Example by the Temporal, that they may be wifely and discreetly ordain'd. It is certain, that when Marriages are celebrated in the World, fome marry'd Perfons are affembled, that those who went before in the Way of Matrimony, may alfo partake in the Joy of the fucceeding Couple. Why then fhall not fuch Perfons come together, at this Spiritual Ordination, wherein by the means of the facred Ministry, Man is join'd to God, as may either rejoice in the Advancement of the new

or

ordain'd Bishop, or jointly pour forth their Prayers to Almighty God for his Prefervation.

Auguftin's Queftion.

How are we to deal with the Bishops of France and Britain.

Gregory answers.

We give you no Authority over the Bishops of France, becaufe the Bishop of Arles receiv'd the Pall from the ancient Times of my Predeceflors, whom we are not to deprive of the Authority he has receiv'd. If it fhall therefore happen that your Brotherhood goes over into the Province of France; you are to concert with the faid Bifhop of Arles, how, if there be any Faults among the Bifhops, they may be amended. And if he shall happen to be lukewarm in keeping up of Difcipline, he is to be heal'd by your Brotherhood's Zeal; to whom we have alfo written, that when the Prefence of your Holinefs fhall be in France, he may also use all his Endeavours to affift you, and put away from the Behaviour of Bifhops, all that fhall be oppofite to the Command of our Creator. But you of your own Authority fhall not have Power to judge the Bishops of France, but by perfuading, foothing, and fhowing good Works for them to imitate; Reform the Minds of wicked Men to the Study of Sanctity; for it is written in the Law, Deut. 23. When thou comeft into the ftanding Corn of thy 25. Neighbours, then thou mayft pluck the Ears with thine Hand; but thou shalt not move a fickle unto thy Neighbour's ftanding Corn. For thou mayst not move the Sickle of Judgment in that Corn,

which feems to be committed to another; but by the Effect of good Works ftrip the Lord's Wheat of the Straws of their Vices, and convert them into the Body of the Church, as it were by eating. But whatfoever is to be done by Authority, must be transacted with the aforefaid Bishop of Arles, left that should be pretermitted, which the ancient Institution of the Fathers has appointed. But as for all the Bishops of Britain, we commit them to your Brotherhood, that the Unlearned may be taught, the Weak ftrengthned by Perfuafion, the Perverfe corrected by Authority.

Auguftin's Question.

Whether a Woman with Child ought to be baptiz'd? Or how long after she has brought forth, fhe may come into the Church? As alfo, after how many Days the Infant born may be baptiz'd, left he be prevented by Death? Or how long after her Husband may have carnal Copulation with her? Or whether it be lawful for her to come into the Church when she has her Courses? Or may receive the Holy Sacrament of Communion? Or whether a Man, who has had to do with his Wife, may come into the Church before he has wash'd with Water? Or approach to receive the Mystery of the Holy Communion? All which Things are requifite to be known by the unpolish'd Nation of the English.

Gregory answers.

I do not doubt but that thefe Questions have been put to your Brotherhood, whom I think I have already anfwer'd. But I believe you would have what you could conceive and

fay,

fay, to be confirm'd by my Answer. For why fhould not a Woman with Child be baptiz'd, fince the Fruitfulnefs of the Flesh is no OF fence in the Eyes of Almighty. God. For when our firft Parents had finn'd in Paradice, they forfeited the Immortality they had receiv'd, by the juft Judgment of God. Because therefore Almighty God would not for their Fault wholly destroy human Race, he both depriv'd Man of Immortality for his Sin, and at the fame Time, of his Goodnefs referv'd to him the Fruitfulness of Iffue. On what Account then can that which is preferv'd to Human Race, of the Gift of Almighty God, be put from the Grace of Baptifm? For it is very foolish to imagine that the Gift of Grace fhould, feem to oppofe that Myftery in which all Sin is blotted out. When a Woman is deliver'd, after how many Days fhe may come into the Church, you have been inform'd by reading the Old Teftament, viz. that he is to abftain for a Male Child thirty three Days, and fixty fix for a Female. Which is yet to be known, that it is taken in a Mystery; for if fhe enters the Church the very Hour that fhe is deliver'd, to return Thanks, fhe is not guilty of any Sing because the Pleasure of the Flefh is in the Fault, and not the Pain; but the Pleasure is in the Copulation of the Flesh, whereas there is Pain in bringing forth the Child. Wherefore it is faid to the firft Mother of all, In Sorrow halt thou bring forth Children. If therefore we forbid a Woman that has brought forth, to enter the Church, we make a Crime of her very Punishment. To baptize either a Woman that has brought forth, or that which the has

been