Holstenius adds one more called Zenita or Zemta in the Collation of Carthage, from whence the greatest part of the forementioned names are taken. But the reader must not imagine, that so many bishoprics, as have been specified in all the six African provinces, and among these of uncertain position, were all extant at one and the same time. For there never was quite five hundred at one time in Afric, as has been shown before from St. Austin and the Notitia published by Sirmondus and yet here are above six hundred and eighty recounted by Carolus à Sancto Paulo and Holstenius, after sixty are rejected, which are named twice over. So that from first to last there was a change of almost two hundred dioceses in Afric, or at least a change in their names: which I note, lest any should think there were more dioceses than St. Austin mentions. The Indices of the Provinces and the Episcopal Sees will be found, after the Tenth Book, together with the Maps and Plans, at the end of this volume. BOOK X. OF THE INSTITUTION OF THE CATECHUMENS, AND THE The reason of the names oli, tyrones, CHAP. I. Of the several names of catechumens, and the solemnity that was used in admitting them to that state in the Church. Also of catechizing, and the time of their continuance in that exercise. were disciplined and And to speak of these necessary to begin with 1. HAVING hitherto discoursed of the several orders of Karnxobue men, which made up the great body of the Christian Church, you, noviti- and of churches themselves, or places of worship, and of the &c. several districts into which the body diffusive was divided, I come now to consider the service of the Church, or its public offices and exercises, by which men trained up to the kingdom of Heaven. in their most natural order, it will be the institution of the catechumens, who were the lowest order of men that had any title to the common name of Christians, and their instruction was the first part of the Church's service. Some things relating to these have been already touched upon in speaking of the difference between them and the morol, or perfect Christians, in the first Book'. The office of the catechist has also been considered in speaking of the inferior orders of the clergy 2: and the places of instruction, or catechetic schools, have been treated of in the account that has been given of the ancient churches3. So that, omitting these things, I shall only speak in this place of such rites and customs as were observed in the practice of the Church in training up the catechumens, and preparing them for baptism; premising something concerning the several names that were given them. 1 B. 1. ch. 4. 8. v. I. p. 33. .P.343. |