eth God, for God is love" 1 John iv. 7, 8. The author therefore had no doubt but that this epistle was written by the same John who wrote the gospel.

10. For John teaching us says in his epistle, (1 John v. 6, 7, 8.) "This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ: not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear witness, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood; and these three agree in one."

11. · I think, likewise, that I have rightly represented the doctrine of the apostle John, who says; "For there are three that bear witness; the Spirit, and the water, and the blood; and these three are one.' 999

12. These quotations shew that this bishop, contemporary with St. Cyprian, had not in his copies of St. John's epistle the disputed text concerning the witnesses in heaven: and they afford likewise a strong and cogent argument for the supposition, that neither had St. Cyprian that text in his copies.

13. There are some expressions made use of by this author, which may seem to imply that the books of the New Testament were divided into sections or chapters.

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And, therefore, says he, we shall be obliged to bring together the several paragraphs [literally short chapters] of the sacred scriptures, relating to this purpose. Afterwards; Forasmuch as it is manifestly declared by our Lord in that sentence, (Matt. x. 33) "Whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.” But the phrases used in these places may denote no more than a text or passage, and do not certainly imply that the books themselves, whence they are taken, were divided into larger or smaller sections.

14. We are now, according to our usual method, to observe a few forms of citation, and some tokens of respect for the scriptures.

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Nor shall I omit,' says the author, what the gospel deservedly relates; for our Lord 'said to the man sick of the palsy (Matt. ix. 2); "Son, be of good cheer, thy sins be forgiven thee." Again; This we find mentioned in the gospel.' In another place; To which things perhaps you will weakly answer, according to custom, that the Lord hath said in the gospel (John iii. 5;) " Except a man be born of water, and of the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God." To which he replies by an observation upon the New Testament, as he expressly calls it. Farther; As the holy scripture declares, out of which we shall bring 'plain proofs of what we assert.' He means particularly the New Testament. The holy scripture foretold, that they who should believe in Christ, should be baptized with the Spirit: as John vii. 39; Matt. iii. 11; and in other places. As the scripture saith; "Out of his ' belly flowed rivers of living water:" John. vii. 38. He observes, that the Jews received only the ancient scriptures. • The scriptures of the New and the Old Testament,' he says, clearly ⚫ declare' what he there asserts. Again; of this he has no advantage who has not the love of that God and Christ who is preached by the law and the prophets, and in the gospel.' 'Because that both prophets and apostles have thus taught; for James says in the Acts of the

a Ait enim Joannes de Domino nostro in epistolâ suâ nos docens: Hic est, qui venit per aquam et sanguinem, Jesus Christus. Non in aquâ tantum, sed in aquâ et sanguine. Et Spiritus est, qui testimonium perhibet, quia Spiritus est veritas. Quia tres testimonium perhibent, Spiritus et aqua et sanguis. Et isti tres in unum sunt. p. 29. a.

b Arbitror autem, et apostoli Joannes doctrinam nos non inepte disposuisse, qui ait: Quia tres testimonium perhibent, Spiritus et aqua et sanguis, et isti tres unum sunt. p. 30. b. 31. a.

Et ideo quæcumque sanctarum scripturarum ad hanc partem pertinentia sunt capitula, necessario in unum congeremus. p. 22. b.

Per hujusmodi clausulam quia manifestissime a Domino dictum est: quicumque me negaverit coram hominibus, negabo eum et ego coram patre meo, qui est in cœlis. p. 28. a.

Sed nec illud omiserim, quod evangelium merito prædicat. Ait enim paralytico Dominus noster, &c. p. 30. b. f Sicuti non solum Petrum hoc passum esse in evangelio deprehendimus. p. 25. a.

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8 Ad quæ fortasse tu continuo impatienter respondeas, ut soles, dixisse in evangelio Dominum: &c. p. 23. a.

h Sed in eodem Novo Testamento. p. 23. a. iSicut declarant nobis sanctæ scripturæ, quarum per singula quæque eorum quæ enarrabimus, adferemus perspicuas probationes. p. 23. a.

* Quoniam eos, qui in Christum credituri essent, scriptura sancta prædixit oportere in spiritu baptizari. p. 23. B.

1 Sicuti scriptura dicit: Flumina de ventre ejus currebant aquæ vivæ. p. 29. a.

m Sicuti nec super Judæos, qui veteres tantum scripturas recipiunt. p. 27. b.

"Quamquam scripturæ novi et veteris testamenti manifeste prædicant. p. 28. b.

Quia hoc facto nihil proficit, qui non habet dilectionem ejus Dei et Christi, qui per legem et prophetas et in evangelio hoc modo prædicatur. p. 28. b.

P Quia et prophetæ et apostoli ita prædicârunt. Ait enim Jacobus in Actis apostolorum. p. 27. b.

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apostles: Acts x. 14. Finally he complains of some who advanced things contrary to the precept of the law and of all the scriptures.

Here are many marks of high respect for the books of the New Testament, which are equalled with, or reckoned superior to, those of the Old Testament; and together with them are esteemed the rule of Christian belief and practice. And the apostles are joined with the prophets.

b

15. There is still a remarkable passage to be transcribed concerning an apocryphal writing, which passage farther confirms the authority of the sacred scriptures of the New Testament. He argues against some heretics who made use of fire, as well as water, in the administration of baptism. But,' says he, the principal foundation, (not to mention any other) of this false and pernicious baptism, is a book forged by those same heretics for the sake of this very error, which is called the preaching of Paul. [Some think it should be Peter. It might be called by both these names.] In which book, contrary to all the scriptures, you will find Christ, who ⚫ alone never offended at all, both making confession of his own sin, and almost against his will ' compelled by his mother Mary to receive John's baptism: likewise, that when he was baptized fire was seen upon the water; which is not written in any gospel. And when a considerable 'time had passed, you will find also, that Peter and Paul, after they had had a conference together • about the gospel at Jerusalem, and there had been some mutual difference between them, and * an agreement had been entered into about the disposition of things for time to come; after all these things, I say, you will find them meeting in the city [meaning Rome] as if they had never known each other before. And some other things of this kind there are absurdly and shamefully forged: all which you may see heaped together in that book.'

16. There are in this treatise many quotations of words of the gospel of St. Matthew. The gospels of St. Mark, St. Luke, and St. John, are expressly quoted by name; as is also the book of the Acts of the apostles, very often; beside other places where passages are taken out of it; but he has not mentioned the name of the writer of that book. Here are likewise quotations, or references, to several epistles of St. Paul; but the epistles themselves, or the persons to whom they were sent, are not expressly named. It is likely that one main reason of this method of citing was, that those scriptures were so well known among Christians, that almost every one would know whence the passages were taken, without citing the epistles by name expressly. Words of the first epistle of St. Peter are adopted by him. The first epistle of St. John is quoted, and ascribed to John the apostle and evangelist: and we have observed several forms of citation, and also marks of the greatest respect for the scriptures, and the New Testament in particular. Finally, he mentions an apocryphal spurious book, on which he has made divers just criticisms, shewing it to be a forgery, and expressing the utmost indignation against it: but he affords no plain proofs that the books of the New Testament were then divided into any chapters or sections. VII. There is yet another piece, called, A Computation of Easter; of which I shall here give an account, it being placed, in the Oxford edition, in an appendix to St. Cyprian's works; and there being good reason to believe it was written about his time. Du Pin and Tillemont allow the antiquity of it; though they think the difference of style so manifest, as to shew plainly that it is not a work of Cyprian. Cave says it is an ancient tract; and if not written by Cyprian, it is, however, the work of some contemporary. In the Oxford edition of St. Cyprian's works this piece is published as being probably genuine; and in his notes the learned editor delivers his judgment upon it to this purpose, in answer to Seneschal, who had denied it to be written by Cyprian: That he will not be positive it is the work of that father; but, if it be falsely ascribed to him, yet it is not spurious, or supposititious, but manifestly ancient, and

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a Contra præceptum legis et omnium scripturarum. p. 22. b. Est autem adulterini hujus, immo internecini baptismatis, si quis alius auctor, tum etiam quidam ab eisdem ipsis hæreticis propter hunc eumdem errorem confictus liber, qui inscribitur Pauli Prædicatio. In quo libro contra omnes scripturas, et de peccato proprio confitentem, qui solus omnino nihil deliquit, et ad accipiendum Joannis baptisma pene invitum a matre suâ esse compulsum. Item, cum baptizaretur, ignem super aquam esse visum, quod in evangelio nullo est scriptum; et post tanta tempora Petrum et Paulum, post conlationem evangelii in Hierusalem et mutuam altercationem et rerum

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written about that time.' It is indeed, so far as I am able to judge, all over ancient; abating only the errors of the copies, which seem to be not a few.

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There are in it divers marks of antiquity: the author concludes his chronology at the fifth year of Gordian, and the consulship of Arrianus and Papus, which is the year of our Lord 248. It is likely, therefore, that he wrote not much after that time. Pagi thinks this book was published in that very year. Farther, the author says, that Christ, having been baptized in the fifteenth year of Tiberius, was crucified in the sixteenth year of the same reign;' which opinion is ancient, and is more than once insisted on by him. I might add, that the doxology at the conclusion of this work is ancient and unexceptionable.

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If Pagi be in the right, that the fifth year of Gordian mentioned in this piece, is the year of its publication, this is an additional argument, beside the difference of style, that it is not Cyprian's; it being probable that he was not converted so soon.

1. Though I do not by any means suppose this to be a work of Cyprian, it deserves to be taken notice of on account of its antiquity. And it is valuable for the testimonies it contains to some facts, as well as the books of the New Testament, which I am now to observe.

2. This writer says, expressly, that there are four gospels; or, as another copy has it, evangelists; and twelve apostles; and that the gospel is one divided into four parts.

3. He has not mentioned the names of the evangelists, but he has quoted words of the gospels of St. Matthew, St. Luke, and St. John. I shall transcribe a few passages, chiefly to shew the author's method of citing, and his respect for the scriptures in general.

4. • These are the days, of which the Lord says in the gospel; "And except those days

' were shortened there should be no flesh saved:" Matt. xxiv. 22.

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5. Of whom Simeon, a just man, holding him in his hands, said to Mary, his mother; "Behold this [child] is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel, and for a sign which 'shall be spoken against:" Luke ii. 28, 34.

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6. And rightly said our Lord and Master himself to the Jews; "If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham:" John viii. 39.

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7. He has a remarkable quotation of the Acts in this manner; From Joshua the son of Nun to Samuel the judge, and priest of God, according to the blessed apostle Paul, who was taught by the Spirit of God, were fulfilled four hundred and fifty years:' See Acts xiii. 20. This seems to shew at once that the Acts was esteemed a book of the inspired scriptures, and that it was well known; otherwise, the author would have shewn more particularly where these words of the apostle Paul were to be found.

8. He says, We are built upon the words of the apostles.' Perhaps he refers to Eph. ii. 20: but whether he does or not, this observation is worthy of our notice.

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9. Which make,' says he, according to the Revelation, "a thousand two hundred and sixty days;" in which days that antichrist will make a great destruction; and therefore no • Christian will be able to offer sacrifice to God, because that most wicked one will begin to sit • in the temple of God, and to say to the ignorant that he is God; whom our Lord and Saviour

a A quo tempore, id est, a passione, usque ad annum quintum Gordiani, Ariano et Papo consulibus, suppleti sunt anni ccxv. p. 70. b. b Vid. Not. ed. Ox. p. 70.

Fellus V. C. in notis ad Computum de Pascha, cujus S. Cyprianum auctorem credit, quique perducitur usque ad annum quintum Gordiani, observat, Chronicorum Scriptores res perducere ad annum aliquem insigniorem etiam paulo præteritum); idque in eo opere videri factum, nimirum ad annum Gordiani Imp. ultimum. Verum auctor non ad ultimum Gordiani annum, sed ad ejus Quinquennalia respexit, quibus scriptores de more opera sua publicabant. Pagi Ĉrit. in Bar. A. D. 243. Hi sunt apostoli, quorum sermonibus ædificati recognovimus Dominum nostrum anno sexto decimo imperii Tiberii Cæsaris passum, cum esset ipse annorum xxxi. p. 69. b..... quibus suppletis Dominus Jesus a nativitate suâ baptizatus est a Johanne anno quinto decimo imperii Tiberii Cæsaris; cujus anno sexto decimo passus est, et resurrexit. p. 70. b.

* Ac propterea Deo Patri Omnipotenti, qui nos ad gratiam tantam vocavit, et divina sacramenta manifestavit, per Jesum Christum filium ejus Dominum et Salvatorem nostrum semper sine cessatione gratias agamus. p. 70. b.

• Jesus will kill [or consume] "with the breath of his mouth, and destroy with the brightness of 'his coming." Here is a quotation of Rev. xii. 6; and a reference to 2 Thes. ii. 4, 8.

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10. I forbear to insist on any other allusions to the books of the New Testament or any expressions, that may seem to intend the whole collection of them. He speaks of the holy and divine scriptures in words, which may more directly relate to the Old Testament; but it cannot be questioned, that he had an equal respect for the New; which contains the words of our Saviour, and of our Lord and Master Jesus Christ, and his apostles.

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CHAP. XLVI.

ST. CORNELIUS AND ST. LUCIUS, BISHOPS OF ROME.

I. St. Cornelius. II. St. Lucius.

I. CORNELIUS, bishop of the city of Rome, to whom there are eight of Cyprian's letters * still extant, wrote an epistle to Fabius, bishop of Antioch, concerning the synod at Rome, in Italy, and Africa; and another concerning Novatus, and of those that had lapsed; a third con⚫cerning the acts of the synod; a fourth to the same Fabius, which is very long, and contains the rise and condemnation of the Novatian heresy. Having been crowned with martyrdom for • Christ, he was succeeded by Lucius.' So writes St. Jerom in his Catalogue, or book of Illustrious men.

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Fabian, who sat in the see of Rome fourteen years, of whose ordination Eusebius has given us a remarkable history, suffered martyrdom in the month of January 250. After his death there was a vacancy for about the space of sixteen months, upon account off the troubles they were in, during which time the clergy of Rome governed the church. In the beginning of June 251, the heat of the persecution being somewhat abated at Rome, even before the death of Decius, Cornelius was chosen bishop and successor of the above-named Fabian, with the general approbation of the clergy and people of the church of Rome, and the concurrence of sixteen bishops, then in the city, as St. Cyprian writes.

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The election, however, was not unanimous. Some, both of the clergy and people of Rome, dissented: by whom Novatus was chosen bishop, who was ordained also by three Italian bishops.

Both Cornelius and Novatus sent abroad letters and deputies to foreign bishops and churches, notifying their election and ordination: but Cornelius's letters and deputies met with, generally the most favourable reception: he therefore was approved of as rightful possessor of that see; and Novatus is esteemed the first antipope, and the first author of schism at Rome.

a... in quibus oportet primo Enoch et Eliam venire, et per suam prophetiam magnæ multitudini evangelium, id est, Novum Testamentum confirmare. P. 68. a.

Multo quidem non modico tempore anxii fuimus et æstuantes, non in sæcularibus, sed in sanctis et divinis scripturis, quærentes invenire, quisnam, &c. p. 63. a.

Cornelius, Romanæ urbis episcopus, ad quem octo Cypriani exstant epistolæ, scripsit epistolam ad Fabium, Antiochenæ ecclesiæ episcopum, de synodo Romanâ, Italicâ, Africanâ; et aliam de Novatiano, et de his qui lapsi sunt; tertiam de gestis synodi; quartam ad eundem Fabium valde prolixam, et Novatianæ hæreseos causas et anathema continentem. Rexit ecclesiam annis duobus sub Gallo et Volusiano, cui ob Christum martyrio coronato successit Lucius. De V. I. cap. 66. d H. E. L. vi. cap. 29.

Fabiani, nondum est episcopus propter rerum et temporum difficultates constitutus. Cleri Roman. Epist. ap. Cyprian. Ep. 30, [al. 31] p. 58. Oxon.

Factus est autem Cornelius episcopus de Dei et Christi ejus judicio, de clericorum pene omnium testimonio, de plebis quæ tum affuit suffragio, et de sacerdotum antiquorum et bonorum virorum collegio; cum nemo ante se factus esset, cum Fabiani locus-vacaret. Cypr. Ep. 55. p. 104.-qui episcopo Cornelio in catholicâ ecclesiâ de Dei judicio et cleri ac plebis suffragio ordinato, profanum altare erigere,-tentaverit. Id. Ep. 68. Pam. 67, p. 177.

h Et factus est episcopus a plurimis collegis nostris, qui tunc in urbe Roma erant, qui ad nos literas honorificas, et laudabiles, et testimonio suæ prædicationis illustres de ejus ordinatione miserunt. Cypr. Ep. 55 [Pam. 52], p. 104. Episcopo in ecclesiâ a sedecim coëpiscopis facto. Ibid. p. 112. i Vid. Cypr. Ep. 44. init. et Ep. 45, [42] p. 87. Oxon.

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In October 251, Cornelius convened a numerous council at Rome, consisting of sixty bishops, and a much larger number of presbyters and deacons, who all confirmed his election, and condemned Novatus, and the rigid doctrine he now went into concerning the lapsed. Cornelius likewise took the sentiments of other bishops in Italy, who could not be present at the council held at Rome; which is, probably, what Jerom means by the Italian synod. And the same things having been resolved in a council at Carthage, we have at length the three synods mentioned by Jerom, and the sense Eusebius, whom Jerom copied.

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There is little certainly known of Cornelius's life, before he was advanced to this bishopric; except that Cyprian says he had passed through all the lower offices in the church, and behaved well therein.

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St. Jerom in his Catalogue, as we have seen already, says that Cornelius was crowned with martyrdom. He speaks to the like purpose elsewhere. St. Cyprian likewise calls Cornelius a martyr: but, though Jerom seems to say that Cornelius died at Rome, it is at present the general opinion that he died at Circumcellæ, now Civita Vecchia, whither he had been banished by Gallus. Jerom having said of Cyprian, that he died on the same day of the month, though not in the same year, with Cornelius, it is concluded that Cornelius died on the 14th of September 252. Jerom says that Cornelius governed the church two years, under Gallus and Volusian. But those two years must not be reckoned complete; for the most learned critics and chronologers compute that his episcopate was not above one year, three months, and ten days; part under Decius, and part under Gallus: and yet Eusebius gives him about three years. However, he may be supposed to allow him all the space of time from the death of Fabian, including the vacancy of the see. But Du Pin" is greatly mistaken in saying that he died near the end of the year 253, having been bishop two years and some months.

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Cornelius has a place in Jerom's Catalogue of ecclesiastical writers, who mentions four of his letters sent to Fabius; though it is " supposed now, by some learned men, that Eusebius speaks of but three epistles of Cornelius to that bishop of Antioch. However, it cannot be questioned but Cornelius wrote other letters beside those mentioned by Jerom. Eusebius P speaks of a letter of his to Dionysius of Alexandria. He likewise wrote several letters to Cyprian, two of which we still have. And Trithemius expressly says, that Cornelius wrote many letters to Cyprian bishop of Carthage, and other letters to others. The eight letters of Cyprian to Cornelius, mentioned by Jerom, still remain.

I shall by and by make use of the long letter to Fabius, mentioned by Jerom, there being considerable fragments of it preserved by Eusebius in his Ecclesiastical History.

There are not many texts of scripture quoted in the two remaining letters of Cornelius to Cyprian, or the just-mentioned fragments: but it may be well taken for granted, that he received the same books with Cyprian and other Christians of that age.

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I take no notice of the pieces which, without ground, have been ascribed by some to this bishop of Rome. Such as desire farther information of these may consult Basnage, Tillemont, and others.

II. Cornelius, as St. Jerom says, was succeeded by Lucius.

* Vid. Pagi Crit. 251. n. xxvi. Basn. 251. n. viii. b Vid. Euseb. 1. vi. cap. 43. p. 242. A.

• Vid. Pagi ibid. et Tillemont, St. Corneille. Art. 8. p. 33, 34. Tom. iii. P. iii.

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Euseb. 1. vi. cap. 43: p. 242. B. Conf. eund. p. 245. D. Nam quod ad Cornelium-non iste ad episcopatum subito pervenit, sed per omnia ecclesiastica officia promotus, et in divinis administrationibus Dominum sæpe promeritus, ad sacerdotii sublime fastigium cunctis religionis gradibus ascendit. Cypr. Ep. 55, [al. 52.] p. 103.

f Sub Decio et Valeriano persecutoribus, quo tempore Cornelius Romæ, Cyprianus Carthagine, felici cruore martyrium pertulerunt. -De Vit. Paul. Erem. T. iv. P. ii. Edit. Bened.

8 Unde illic repentina persecutio nuper exorta sit, unde contra ecclesiam Christi et episcopum Cornelium beatum martyrem, vosque omnes secularis potestas subito proruperit. Cypr. Ep. 61, [al. 58.] p. 144. Si vero apud Cornelium fuit, qui Fabiano episcopo legitimâ ordinatione successit, et quem, præter sacerdotii honorem, martyrio quoque Dominus glorificavit. Id. Ep. 69, [al. 76.] p. 181.

Herein he agrees with * Euse

h Tillemont, St. Corneille. Art. 16. Pearson. Annal. Cypr. 252. n. xii. xiii. Pagi 252, n. xii. xiii. Basn 252, n. x.

i Passus est eodem die quo Romæ Cornelius, sed non eodem anno. D. V. I. cap. 67.

* Vid. Pearson. An. Cypr. 251, n. vi. Pagi 251, n. xix. Tillem. ut supra, Art. 16, p. 70, et note 14.

H. E. 1. vii. cap. 2.