CHAP. LXVI. Of burning the Scriptures, and of Traitors, in the time of Dioclesian's Persecution. EUSEBIUS assures us, that in the imperial edict for Dioclesian's persecution in 303, it was expressly ordered, not only that the Christian churches should be demolished, but also that * their scriptures should be burned. And this was one of the affecting scenes of that persecution, that he had seen the sacred and divine scriptures burned in market-places. b a 2. This order shews, that the heathen people were now sensible of the importance of the scriptures, which the Christians made use of as the grounds of their religion, the rule of their conduct, and the support of their steadiness and zeal. 3. The burning of the scriptures is also mentioned by the author Of the Deaths of Persecutors, in his account of this persecution; but he does not speak it so particularly, and so much at large, as might have been expected. 4. Arnobius likewise refers to it, and insists, that there was nothing dishonourable to the Deity in the scriptures of the Christians, that should expose them to such usage from the heathen people: though many writings of their own well deserved to perish in the flames. 5. The first council of Arles, which met in 314, soon after the persecution was over, made a canon, that whoever of the clergy should be convicted by the public acts of betraying to the persecutors the scriptures, or any of the holy vessels, or the names of any of their brethren, should be deposed. 6. This was peculiar to Dioclesian's persecution: at least we do not know of any such order before. f 7. The persecution was for a while exceeding hot in Africa, both in Numidia, and in the proconsular province: the two governors of which, Anulinus and Florus, acted with great severity toward the Christians, as Optatus relates. The inquest after the scriptures, and other sacred things, was very strict in that country: the magistrates in the several cities were very active and diligent in their searches: they seized what they could by any means discover, and gave informations, as they saw fit, to the superior officers of their district. And here seems to have been the greatest number of traitors: some bishops, as well as others, were guilty of that erime, which Optatus laments. h 8. How the imperial orders were published and executed, may be seen in the Acts of Felix, an African bishop, who suffered martyrdom at the beginning of the persecution, for refusing to τας δε γραφας αφανείς πυρι γενεσθαι προςατονία. H. E. 1. viii. c. 2. p. 294. b τας δε ένθεις και ιερας γραφας καλα μεσας αδόρας πυρι παραδιδομένας αυτοις επείδομεν οφθαλμοις. ib. p. 293. C. Scripturæ repertæ incenduntur. De M. P. c. 12. d Quod si haberet vos aliqua pro religionibus indignatio, has potius literas, hos exurere debuistis libros. Nam nostra quidem scripta cur ignibus meruerunt dari?—Arnob. I. iv. sub fin. De his qui scripturas sanctas tradidisse dicuntur, vel vasa dominica, vel nomina fratrum suorum, placuit nobis, ut qui cumque eorum ex actis publicis fuerit detectus, non verbis nudis, ab ordine cleri amoveatur. Concil. Arl. i. c. 13. Alia persecutio, quæ fuit sub Diocletiano & Maximiano; quo tempore fuerunt & impii judices, bellum Christiano nomini inferentes. Ex quibus in Provinciâ Proconsulari fuerat Anulinus, in Numidia Florus. Omnibus notum est, quid eorum operata sit artificiosa crudelitas.Alii cogebantur templa Dei vivi subvertere; alii Christuin negare; alii leges divinas incendere; alii thura ponere. Optat. 1. iii, c. 8. * In Africâ duo mala & pessima admissa esse constat, unum in traditione, alterum in schismate.-Nam ferme ante annos sexaginta, & quod excurrit, per totam Africam persecutionis est divagata tempestas.Ipsi apices & principes omnium, aliqui episcopi, illis temporibus, ut damno æternæ vitæ illius incerta lucis moras brevissimas compararent, instrumenta divinæ legis tradiderunt. Optat. 1. i. c. 13. Diocletiano octies & Maximiano septies Coss.-——exivit edictum Imperatorum & Cæsarum super omnem faciem terræ. Et propositum est per colonias & civitates principibus & magistratibus, suo cuique loco, ut libros deificos peterent de manu episcoporum & presbyterorum. Tunc programma positum est in civitate Tiburensi.-Tune Magnilianus curator jussit ad se perduci per officialem. Cui Maguilianus curator dixit: Da libros, vel membranas quascumque habes Felix episcopus dixit: Habeo, sed non do. Magnifianus curator dixit. Da libros, ut possint aduri. Felix episcopus dixit: Melius est me igne aduri, quam scripturas deificas; quia bonum est obedire Deo magis quam hominibus. [Act. v. 29.]--Præfectus dixit: Felicem gladio interficite. Et ductus est ad passionis locum.--Felix episcopus, elevans oculos in cœlum, clara voce dixit: Deus, gratias tibi. Quinquaginta & sex annos habeo in hoc seculo. Virginitatem custodivi: Evangelia servavi: fidem et veritatem prædicavi. Ap. Ruinart. p. 355-—-357. deliver up the scriptures. I transcribe those Acts in the Margin somewhat largely. They shew the great regard which the Christians of that time had for the sacred scriptures. And the reader may there observe, that the book of the Acts of the apostles was well known, and received in Africa. a 9. There are extant Acts of the martyrs Saturninus presbyter, Felix, Dativus, Ampelius, and others, who on account of the assemblies, and the sacred scriptures, having been examined and made confession before Anulinus the proconsul of Africa at Carthage, at divers times, and in divers places, shed their precious blood." These Acts are the work of a Donatist writer; nevertheless they are very curious. с 10. These persons were apprehended at their worship, and carried to Carthage in the year 301; where they made a glorious confession, and surmounted all the temptations they met with. 11. The author relates the edict of the emperors Dioclesian and Maximian, for burning the scriptures, for demolishing churches, and forbidding the assemblies of divine worship; and bears an honourable testimony to the fidelity and fortitude of the Christians at that time. And he particularly relates the examinations of the persons above-mentioned, and the resolute answers inade by them. It will appear likewise, from what I shall transcribe in the margin from this piece, that the Christians of Africa were very assiduous in the assemblies of public worship, and constantly had there readings of scripture. 12. If that writer may be credited, there had been a miraculous appearance in that place, when the bishop Fundanus had delivered up some scriptures, a short time before. f 13. The inquiries of the heathen persecutors at that time, were not confined to the scriptures, but they searched likewise for sacred vessels, and seized gold and silver cups, and lamps, and suits of apparel ready made for the use of poor people, as occasions might require. This may be collected from the canon of the council of Arles before quoted, and more particularly from an enumeration of such things, taken from the public Acts or Register of the city of Cirtha, where is an account of things taken with the consent, or by the discovery of Paul, the bishop, and one of the deacons, Silvanus, who therefore are reckoned traitors. Which is also taken notice of by Augustine, in an epistle of his, a part of which I shall transcribe in the margin, for the sake of curious readers. a Ap. Baluz. Miscell. T. ii. p. 56. &c. & Optat. ex edit. Du Pin. p. 150. &c. Scripta sane sunt ista, quod negari non potest, ab aliquo Donatistâ, sed docto & erudito. Dignaque mihi visa sunt quæ cum Lactantio [De M. P.] conjungerentur, cum ob similitudinem argumenti, tum ob elegantiam sermonis.Opus tamen est antiqui scriptoris, & qui non admodum remotus fuit ab ævo Diocletiani. Baluz. Monit. apud Du Pin, ut supra, p. 150. с Temporibus namque Diocletiani & Maximiani bellum diabolus Christianis indixit isto modo, ut sacrosancta Domini testamenta scripturasque divinas ad exurendum peteret, basilicas dominicas subverteret, & ritus cœtusque sanctissimos celebrari Domino prohiberet. Sed non tulit exercitus Dei immane præceptum.Et quamvis, tradendo gentilibus scripturas dominicas atque testamenta divina profanis ignibus comburenda, a fidei cardine cecidere nonnulli, conservando tamen eas, & pro ipsis libenter suum sanguinem effundendc fortiter fecere quamplurimi. Act. Saturnin. &c. n. ii. d -Contra quæ confessores Domini, invicti martyres Christi, tamquam ex uno ore dixerunt: Christiani sumus. Non possumus nisi Domini legem sanctam usque ad effusionem sanguinis custodire. Quâ voce percussus inimicus Felici dicebat: Non quæro, utrum Christianus sis: sed an collectam feceris, vel scripturas aliquas habeas. Respondit : Quasi Christianus sine Dominico possit, aut Dominicus sine Christiano celebrari.Collectam, inquit, gloriosissime celebravi 'mus, ad scripturas dominicas legendas in dominicum convenimus semper. ibid. n. x. In isto namque foro jam pro scripturis dominicis dimicaverat cœlum, cum Fundanus civitatis quondam episcopus scripturas dominicas traderet exurendas; quas cum magistratus sacrilegus igni apponeret, subito imber sereno cœlo diffunditur; ignis scripturis sanctis admotus exstinguitur; grandines adhibentur, omnisque ipsa regio, pro scripturis dominicis, elementis furentibus devastabatur. ib. n. iii. fEx actis Munatii Felicis, flaminis perpetui, perpetui curatoris coloniæ Cirtensium. Cum ventum esset ad domum in quâ Christiani conveniebant, Felix flamen, perpetuus curator, Paulo episcopo dixit. Proferte scripturas, & si quid aliud hic habetis. Paulus episcopus dixit: Scripturas lectores habent. Sed nos, quod hic habemus, damus. In brevi sic -Calices duo aurei, item calices sex argentei, urceola sex argentea,lucernæ argentææ vii. candela breves æneæ cum lucernis suis vii. item lucernæ æneæ xi. cum catenis suis, tunicæ muliebres lxxii. tunicæ viriles, xvi. caligæ viriles, paria xiii. caligæ muliebres, paria xlvii. &c. Acta Purgationis Cæcil. ap. Optat. Du Pin, p. 168., g -recita illi gesta apud Munatium Felicem, flaminem perpetuum, curatorem tunc civitatis vestræ, Diocletiano octavum, & Maximiano septimum consulibus quibus liquido constitit Paulum episcopum tradidisse, ut Silvanus tunc ejus subdiaconus fuerit, & cum illo tradiderit proferens instrumenta Dominica, etiam quæ diligentissime fuerant occultata, capitulatam argenteam, & lucernam argenteam.-Ep. 53. n. 4. I. Donatus, bishop of Carthage. II. A brief history of the Donatists: 1. The ground of the controversy between them and the catholics. 2. The rise and occasion of the controversy. 3. Their numbers. 4. Their persecutions. III. Donatist writers: 1. Anonymous author of the Acts of Saturninus and others. 2. Cresconius. 3. Gaudentius. 4. Macrobius. 5. Parmenian. 6. Petilian. 7. Tichonius. 8. Vitellius. IV. Their testimony to the scriptures. I. SAYS Jerom, Donatus, from whom sprang the Donatists in Africa, in the times of the emperors Constantius and Constantine, asserting, that the scriptures had been betrayed to the heathen by our people in the time of the persecution, by his plausible speeches deceived almost all Africa, especially Numidia. There are extant many small works of his in support of his own heresy, and a book Of the Holy Spirit, agreeable to the Arian doctrine. b I shall now transcribe likewise a part of Augustine's article in his book of Heresies concerning the Donatists, with whom certainly he was well acquainted. I put it down here, as it has some account of this Donatus, the second bishop of the party at Carthage, and as a foundation of farther remarks hereafter.. с The Donatians, or Donatists, who at first made a schism, because Cæcilian had been * ordained bishop of Carthage against their mind, accused him of crimes they could never prove, and objected likewise, that he had been ordained by the betrayers of the divine scriptures. And by their continued obstinacy turned their schism into heresy. Their notion is, that by means of Cæcilian's crimes, whether true, or rather false, as appeared to those who were chosen judges of the cause, the church of Christ has perished throughout the world, and subsists only in Africa * among themselves. Every where else, according to them, the church is lost by communicating with unworthy persons. They take upon. them to rebaptize catholics.We have under-stood, that the first author of this heresy was Donatus of Numidia, who came to Carthage, and divided the Christian people under Cæcilian, and getting other bishops of a like disposition to. join them, ordained Majorinus bishop of that city. Which Majorinus was succeeded by another. Donatus, who by his eloquence greatly strengthened this heresy; and many think they are called Donatists from him. There are writings of his still extant, by which it appears, that he * did not hold the catholic doctrine of the Trinity. For though he allowed the Son to be of the • same substance, he thought him inferior to the Father, and the Holy Spirit inferior to the Son. * Donatus, a quo Donatiani, per Africam sub Constantio Constantinoque principibus asserens a nostris scripturas in persecutione ethnicis traditas, totam pene Africam, & maxime Numidiam, suâ persuasione decepit. Exstant ejus multa ad suam hæresim pertinentia opuscula, & de Spiritu Sancto liber Ariano dogmati congruens. De V. I. cap. 93. In the times of the emperors Constantius and Constantine.'] Here are various readings. Sophronius the Greek interpreter has only Constantius. In Martianay's edition is sub Constante Constantinoque.' But I imagine the right reading to be as above: and that by Constantius Jerom intends Constantine's father; the Donatian controversy having had its foundation in what happened near the beginning of Dioclesian's persecution, during the reign of Constantius. Donatiani, vel Donatista, sunt, qui primum propter ordinatum contra suam voluntatem Cæcilianum ecclesiæ Carthaginensis episcopum schisma fecerunt: objicientes ei crimina non probata, & maxime quod a traditoribus divinarum scripturarum fuerit ordinatus. Sed, post caussam cum eo dictam atque finitam, falsitatis rei deprehensi, pertinaci dissensione firmatâ, in hæresim schisma verterunt: tamquam ecclesia Christi propter crimina Cæciliáni, seu vera, seu, quod magisjudicibus apparuit, falsa, de toto terrarum orbe perierit, ubi futura promissa est, atque in Africanâ Donati parte remanserit, in aliis terrarum partibus quasi contagione communionis extincta. Audent etiam rebaptizare catholicos. Hujus hæresis principem accepimus fuisse Donatum, qui de Numidiâ veniens, & contra Cæcilianum Christianam dividens plebem, adjunctis sibi ejusdem factionis episcopis, Majorinum apud Carthaginem ordinavit episcopum. Cui Majorino Donatus alius in eâdem divisione successit, qui eloquentiâ suâ sic confirmavit hanc hæresim, ut multi existiment, propter ipsum potius eos Donatistas vocari. Exstant scripta ejus, ubi apparet eum etiam non catholicam de Trinitate habuisse sententiam; sed, quamvis ejusdem substantiæ, minorem tamen Patre Filium, & minorem Filio putâsse Spiritum Sanctum. Verum in hunc, quem de Trinitate habuit, ejus errorem, Donatistarum multitudo intenta non fuit. Nec facile in eis quisquam, qui hoc illum sensisse noverit, invenitur. Isti hæretici in urbe Româ Montenses vocantur, quibus hinc ex Africâ solent episcopum mittere; aut hinc illuc Afri episcopi eorum pergere, si forte ibi eum ordinare placuisset.- Aug. Hær. 69. But in this he is not generally followed by the Donatists: nor are there many, who are aware, ⚫ that this was his sentiment. These heretics are called Mountaineers at Rome, to whom they are wont to send a bishop from Africa, or else some bishops go thither, if they have a mind he 'should be ordained there.' 6 a Augustine has in another place taken notice of Donatus's opinion concerning the doctrine of the Trinity. II. I do by no means intend to write at large the history of the Donatists; I omit intirely their practice of rebaptizing. I shall only take some notice of the subject matter, or ground and reason of the difference between the catholics and them: and then observe the rise and occasion of this controversy. For other particulars I refer to divers writers," ancient, and modern. 1. At the beginning of his article just transcribed, Augustine mentions two objections of the Donatists against Cæcilian; one taken from crimes which he himself was said to be guilty of, the other is, that he was ordained by traitors. What the crimes were, which they accused Cæcilian himself of, may be seen in a passage of an anonymous Donatist writer, which I put at the bottom of the page. Whence it appears, that they also charged Mensurius, Cæcilian's pre, decessor, with betraying the scriptures. The whole story is indeed very unlikely: neverthe Jess it was not forgot by the Donatists in the conference at Carthage in 411. Cæcilian's faulty ordination was always one' pretence. And, if Optatus may be relied upon, the only complaint, which the Donatists at first made against Cæcilian, was, that he had been ordained by Felix of Apthonga, who, they said, delivered up the scriptures to persecutors: whilst the catholics always denied the charge, as groundless. th Augustine, as we have seen, farther assures us, their opinion was, that the church of Christ subsisted in Africa only among themselves; and that every where else the church of Christ was lost and ruined, by communicating with unworthy persons, particularly, with such as adhered to Cæcilian, who had been ordained by traitors. With what warmth and bitterness they expressed themselves upon this head, appears from a passage of an author of theirs, whom I have quoted more than once; as also from a place of * Petilian, in Augustine. k Augustine himself has mentioned a remarkable instance of their disdain of other men, which I suppose may be relied upon. * Ariani Patris & Filii & Spiritûs Sancti diversas substantias esse dicunt. Donatistæ autem non hoc dicunt, sed unam Trinitatis substantiam confitentur. Et si aliqui ipsorum minorem Filium esse dixerunt quam Pater est, ejusdem tamen substantiæ non negârunt. -Nec ipsa cum illis vertitur quæstio, sed de solà communione infeliciter litigant. Ep. 85. al. 50. cap. 1. Vid. Euseb. H. E. 1. x. c. vi. p. 391, 392. De Vit. Const. l. ii. c. 66. Optat. de Schism. Donatist. Aug. Opp. T. ix. Ed. Bened. & passim. Philast. H. 83. Theodoret. H. F. 1. iv. c. 6. c Vid. H. Vales. de Sch. Donatist. ad calc. Annot. ad Euseb. H. E. Ittig. ad calc. Append. De Hæresiarchis. Leydeck. Hist. Ec. African. Witsii Diss. de Sch. Donat. ap. Misc. Sacr. T. i. p. 742. &c. Vitringa de Commun. Christian, Observ. Sacr. T. i. p. 742. &c. Tillem. Mem. Ec. T. vi. H. Norisii Hist. Donatist. ap. Opp. T. iv. d― Maxime cum etiam Mensurius, Carthaginensis quondam episcopus, recenti scripturarum proditione pollutus, sceleris sui amentiam pejore cœpisset ferociâ publicare. Quippe qui combustorum veniam librorum a martyribus poscere atque implorare debuerat, ut delicta sua majoribus flagitiis cumularet, eo animo saviebat in martyres, quo divinas tradiderat leges. Etenim hic, tyranno sævior, carnifice crudelior, idoneum sceleris sui ministrum diaconum suum elegit Cæcilianum. Idemque lora & flagra cum armatis ante fores carceris ponit, ut ab ingressu atque aditu cunctos, qui victum potumque in carcerem martyribus afferebant, gravi affectos injuriâ propulsaret. Et cædebantur a Cæciliano passim qui ad aleados martyres veniebant.&c. Acta Martyr. Saturnin. & alior. cap. xvii. ap. Du Pin Optat. p. 156. Tunc Donatistæ aliquantum prælocuti sunt, quod Men surius, qui fuerat ante Cæcilianum ecclesiæ Carthaginis episco pus, tempore persecutionis tradiderit persecutoribus sanctas scripturas, &c. August. Brev. Collat. D. iii. cap. xiii. n. 25. Dicunt ordinatorem ejus sanctos libros tradidisse. Aug. Psalm. Contr. Donat. D. 8 Illo tempore a tot inimicis nihil in eum potuit confingi; sed de ordinatore suo, quod ab iis falso traditor diceretur, meruit infamari. Optat. 1. i. c. 19. Deinde Gesta Proconsularia, ubi Felix diligentissimo examine probatus est innocens. Aug. Ep. 43. al. 162. c. 2. n. 5. Vid. Gesta Purgationis Felicis Aptungitani. i Igitur cum hæc ita sint, quisnam est divini juris peritia pollens,-qui judicii Dei memor -separat a stante lapsum, ab integro vulneratum, a justo reum, ab innocente damnatum, a custode legis proditorem, a confessore Christi nominis ejus negatorem- -& unum atque idem existimet & ecclesiam martyrum & conventicula traditorum.Quamobrem fugienda bonis, & vitanda est semper religiosis conspiratio traditorum, hypocritarum don.us.Denique isti falsi sacrorum ritus fictaque mysteria non tam in salutem quam in perniciem miserorum celebrantur, cum erigit altare sacrilegus, celebrat sacramenta profanus, baptizat reus, curat vulneratus,-legit evangelia traditor, hæreditatem cœli promittit divinorum testamentorum exustor. Acta Saturnini, &c. cap. 19. ap. Du Pin Optat. p. 150. Qui utique spiritus-sanctus in vos venire non potuit, quos non vel pœnitentiæ baptismus abluit: sed pœnitenda, quod verum est, aqua polluit traditoris. Aug. Contr. Lit. Petil. 1. ii. c. 36. n. 83. Usque adeo ex ipso numero sunt, ut nuper in Collatione nostrâ, quod etiam in gestis ipsis legere potestis, cum eis a cognitore esset confessus oblatus, ut sederent nobiscum, re But though the Donatists scrupled to communicate with the catholics, because they were traitors of the divine scriptures, the catholics retorted the charge, and called the Donatists the children of traitors, and averred, that they who were the first authors of the separation, were themselves traitors. 2. This shall suffice for a brief account of the ground of this difference, which had its rise after this manner: Mensurius bishop of Carthage being dead, and Maxentius giving liberty to the Christians in Africa in 311, Cæcilian was chosen in his room, and ordained by Felix of Apthonga, and others. But some being dissatisfied, Majorinus was chosen and ordained by another party afterwards called Donatists, from Donatus, bishop of Casa Nigræ in Numidia, who was exceeding active in the support of that interest. About this time, therefore, we may date the beginning of this difference. Soon after that Constantine became master of Africa, upon the defeat of Maxentius, the Donatists sent a request to the emperor, by Anulinus proconsul of Africa, desiring that their cause might be heard and examined by some bishops of Gaul, who had lived under his father Constantius: and not having been persecuted, as other Christians had been in other parts of the world, were free from the charge of betraying the scriptures, and like faults, which many others had been guilty of. d The emperor received this petition in Gaul, and soon sent back orders to Anulinus. He likewise wrote a letter to Miltiades bishop of Rome. The emperor's appointment was, that Majorinus with ten of his friends, and Cæcilian with ten others, favourers of him, should appear at Rome before Miltiades, and three bishops of Gaul. These were Maternus bishop of Cologne, Reticius of Autun, and Marinus of Arles. There were besides in this council fifteen Italian bishops, whose names may be seen in Optatus, making in all nineteen. This hearing was in the year 313, and Cæcilian was acquitted by the unanimous vote of the council. f The Donatists not being yet satisfied, intreated the emperor, that their cause might be taken into farther consideration. In compliance with their request, was appointed the council of Arles, which sat in 314, when a like judgment was again passed. Still the Donatists were uneasy, and made fresh applications to Constantine, to examine the spondendum putârunt: Scriptum est nobis, cum talibus non sedere, scilicet ne per contactum subselliorum ad eos velut nostra contagio perveniret. Aug. Serm. 99. cap. 8. Tom. v. p. 524. E. a Ipsi tradiderunt libros, & nos audent accusare. Aug. Psalm. contr. Donat. B. Deinde non post longum tempus iidem ipsi, tot & tales, ad Carthaginem profecti traditores, thurati, Majorinumpost ordinationem Cæciliani ordinaverunt, schisma facientes. Et quoniam traditionis reos principes vestros fuisse monstratum est. Optat. 1. i. c. 15. Si traditoribus non licet, vobis licere non debuit, quorum principes probamus fuisse traditores. Id. ib. cap. 5. Paulo ante docuimus vestros parentes fuisse traditores & schismaticos; & tu ipsorum hæres.-Omnia igitur, quæ a te in traditores & schismaticos dici potuerunt, vestra sunt. Id. 1. i. c. 28. Nec dicatur ad excusationem, quia traditoribus communicare noluerunt; cum manifestissime probatum sit, eosdem ipsos filios fuisse traditorum. Id. 1. iii. c. 8. p. 65. Vid. & 1. ii. c. 1. in. & l. v. c. 1. in. Hoc apud Carthaginem post ordinationem Cæciliani factum esse, nemo est qui nesciat. Optat. 1. i. c. 17. Tempestas persecutionis peracta & definita est. Jubente Deo, indulgen tian mittente Maxentio, Christianis libertas est restituta. cap. 18. Et Majorinus, qui lector in diaconio Cæciliani fuerat, domesticus Lucillæ, ipsâ suffragante, episcopus ordinatus est a traditoribus. Ib. cap. 19. VOL. II. Nam majores vestri-imperatorem Constantium, harum rerum adhuc ignarum, his precibus rogârunt-Constantine, optime imperator, quoniam de genere justo es, cujus pater inter cæteros imperatores persecutionem non exercuit, & ab hoc facinore immunis est Gallia. Nam in Africâ inter nos & cæteros episcopos contentiones sunt. Petimus, ut de Gallia nobis judices dari præcipiat pietas tua. Optat. l. i. c. 22. Vid. & August. Ep. 88. al. 65. Vid. Euseb. H. E. 1. x. c. 6. & Collat. Carth. D. 3. c. 116. & August. Brev. Col. D. 3. cap, vii & xii. * * Et tamen dati sunt judices, Maternus ex Agrippinâ civitate, Reticius ab Augustoduno civitate, Marinus Arelatensis. Ad urbem Romam ventum est ab his tribus Gallis, & ab aliis quindecim Italis. Optat. 1. i. c. 23. His decem & novem considentibus episcopis, causa Donati & Cæciliani in medium missa est. c. 24. Cæcilianus omnium supra memoratorum sententiis innocens est pronunciatus. Optat. 1. i. c. 25. eos s Deinde diximus, aliquanto post Majorini ordinationem, quem contra Cæcilianum nefario scelere levaverunt petiisse a Constantino tunc imperatore judices episcopos, qui de suis quæstionibus, quæ in Africâ exortæ arbitrio medio judicarent. Quod postea quam factum est, præsente Cæciliano & illis qui adversus eum navigaverant, judicante Melchiade tunc Romanæ urbis episcopo cum collegis suis, quos ad preces Donatistarum miserat imperator, in Cæcilianum nihil potuisse, ac per hoc illo in episcopatu confirmato—- Quibus peractis rebus cum illi omnes in pertinacia-permanerent, post apud Arelatum memoratum imperatorem eamdem causa: diligentius examinandam — curâsse. Illos vero ab ecclesi-' astico judicio provocâsse, ut causam Constantinus audiret. Quo postea quam ventum est, utrâque parte assistente, innocentem Cæcilianum fuisse judicatum, atque illos recessisse superatos, & in eâdem perversitate mansisse. Aug. Ep. 43. 2 Q |