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Cyprian
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Introductory Notice to Cyprian.
[2827] [The vigour of Cyprian’s logic must be conceded. The discussion will show, as it proceeds, on what grounds it failed to enlist universal support. It resembled the Easter question, vol. i. p. 569.]
Epistle LXX. To Quintus, Concerning the Baptism of Heretics.
[2828] Oxford ed.: Ep. lxxi. a.d. 255.
[2829] [Note this, at the outset: it is presumption in his colleague Stephen to act otherwise than as a general consent of the provinces seems to rule.]
[2830] [Otherwise, “which doubtless is one in the Catholic Church; and if this Church be one, baptism cannot exist outside the Church.” His theory of unity underlies all our author’s conduct.]
[2831] [Note this, at the outset: it is presumption in his colleague Stephen to act otherwise than as a general consent of the provinces seems to rule.]
[2832] Ecclesiasticus 34.25.
[2833] [The local custom of the Roman Province seems to have justified Stephen’s local practice. It is a case similar to that of Polycarp and Anicetus disturbed by Victor, vol. i. 310, and 312.]
[2834] [But a primacy involves no supremacy. All the Gallicans, with Bossuet, insist on this point. Cyprian now adopts, as his rule, St. Paul’s example, Gal. ii. 5.]
[2835] [Here, then, is the whole of Cyprian’s idea as to Peter, in a nutshell.]
[2836] 1 Cor. xiv. 29, 30. [P. 379, note 4, infra.]
[2837] [With Cyprian it was an adjudged case. Stephen not only had no authority in the case, but, save by courtesy, even his primacy was confined to his own province.]
Epistle LXXI. To Stephen, Concerning a Council.
[2838] Oxford ed.: Ep. lxxii. [Concerning the council (seventh of Carthage), see the Acts, infra. Elucidation XVI.]
[2839] [He quotes Acts viii. 17.]
[2840] The sense of this passage has been doubted but seems to be this: “The rite of confirmation, or the giving of the Holy Ghost, is of no avail unless baptism have first been conferred. For only by being born of each sacrament, scil. confirmation and baptism, can they be fully sanctified and be born again; since it is written, ‘Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit,’ etc.; which quotation is plainly meant to convey, that the birth of water is by baptism, that of the Spirit by confirmation.”
[2841] John iii. 5. [Bingham, book xii. cap. i. sec. 4.]
[2842] [This case (Acts x. 47) was governed by the example of Christ, Matt. iii. 15. The baptism of the Spirit had preceded; yet as an act of obedience to Christ, and in honour of His example, St. Peter “fulfils all righteousness,” even to the letter.]
[2846] [Obviously, the law of liberty here laid down might introduce the greatest confusion if not limited by common consent. Yet the tolerant spirit of our author merits praise. P. 378, notes 1, 2.]
Epistle LXXII. To Jubaianus, Concerning the Baptism of Heretics.
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