PL 3 · cols. 1047–1056
Concilia Carthaginensia: concilium Carthaginense sub Cypriano tertium, de infantibus baptizandis (Epistola S. Cypriani ad Fidum, nomine concilii)
Editors' preface
Migne Reading Room
PL 3 · cols. 1047–1056
Editors' preface
Variorum notae.
Notes of various editors.
(printed under page 575)
(1) ‹anchor: not visible on the page foot› · call in col 1047
Etsi quae eo loci colligimus coneilia Carthaginensia non eamdem rebaptismatis quaestionem agitaverint, cuncta tamen quasi in unum corpus edenda esse autumavimus, utpote iisdem fere temporibus, sub eodem summo Pontifice, ab eodem Cypriano, ex iisdem propemodum episcopis habita. Edd.
Although the councils of Carthage that we have gathered in this place did not all debate the same question of rebaptism, we judged that they should all be published as though in a single body, since they were held at about the same times, under the same supreme Pontiff, by the same Cyprian, and from very nearly the same bishops. Editors.
(printed under page 575)
(2) ‹anchor: Anno Christi 257› · call in col 1047
Est hoc concilium Carthaginense III sub Cypriano ut admonet Harduinus, celebratum anno Christi CCLIII; fictitium autem illud putat Pagius ad ann. Chr. 254, n. 5; quem consule.
This is the third council of Carthage under Cyprian, held, as Hardouin notes, in the year of Christ 253; Pagi, however, thinks it fictitious, at the year of Christ 254, no. 5; consult him.
(printed under page 575)
(3) ‹anchor: not visible on the page foot› · call in col 1047
Hujus epistolae mentio extat apud sanctum Augustinum in libro de Gestis Pelagii, cap. 11, et in libro quarto contra duas Epistolas Pelagianorum, cap. 8, et in sermone 294 novae editionis. Meminit ejusdem etiam Hieronymus in calce Dialogorum adversus Pelagianos. Vide librum Georgii Cassandri adversus Anabaptistas. Baluz.
This letter is mentioned by Saint Augustine in the book On the Proceedings of Pelagius, chap. 11, and in the fourth book Against the Two Letters of the Pelagians, chap. 8, and in Sermon 294 of the new edition. Jerome also mentions it at the end of the Dialogues against the Pelagians. See the book of George Cassander against the Anabaptists. Baluze.
(printed under page 575)
(4) ‹anchor: numero LXVI› · call in col 1047
Numero LXVI. Videsis quod ante annotatum est ad Concil. II, p. 109. Routh.
"Sixty-six in number." See what was noted earlier on the second Council, p. 109. Routh.
(printed under page 575)
(5) ‹anchor: Fido› · call in col 1047
Fido. Pamelius ait non potuisse se reperire quo in loco Fidus fuerit episcopus, verisimile tamen esse fuisse vicinum Therapii, qui in synodo sancti Cypriani cognominatur a Bulla. (Vid. supra (continues)
"To Fidus." Pamelius says he could not find in what place Fidus was bishop, but that it is likely he was a neighbour of Therapius, who in Saint Cyprian's synod is surnamed "of Bulla." (See above (continues)
(printed under page 575)
<!-- Q2: the opening of note (6) and the tail of note (5) stand in the column image above the foot crops and are set from it. The opening lines of note (7) (right-hand notes column, above "Bulla in ea provincia") are cut at the image edges in every image; only the visible text is set. --> (5, continued from page 575) ‹anchor: Fido› · call in col 1047
(continued) … Concil. VII, p. 103) Morellius putavit fuisse tantum presbyterum. Baluz. — Ait Pearsonius in Annal.: « Dum illi in concilio erant, allatae sunt a Fido episcopo, ut videtur, scriptae litterae, » ad an. 253, sect. IX. Routh.
(printed under page 576)
(6) ‹anchor: de Victore quondam presbytero› · call in col 1049
Victore quondam presbytero. Rigaltius ait: Iste Victor quondam in Ecclesia presbyter, male servata fide, Ecclesiam amiserat, et pacem. Itaque etsi pacem quomodocunque, hoc est praepropera Therapii festinatione recepisset, minime tamen locum in Ecclesia, hoc est presbyteri honorem receperat, Bene igitur, atque ex disciplina veteri, scripsit Cyprianus, de Victore quondam presbytero, qui nunc inter laicos communicabat Ecclesiae. Idem ergo Victor de laico presbyter, de presbytero lapsus, de lapso poenitens, de poenitente laicus. Supra observavimus non semper in Ecclesia obtinuisse, ut in clericos delinquentes, solum per depositionem ad communionem laicam animadverteretur. Constat Victorem Ecclesia pulsum ad poenitentiam eamque diutinam admissum. Licet vero synodo post reditum Cypriani secunda, lapsis ob persecutionem ingruentem indultum; tamen non ea mens Patrum erat ut, pace restituta et nulla necessitate cogente, episcopus omnia pro arbitrio laxaret. Pacem nunc Ecclesiae redditam frequens synodus indicat. Fortunatianus lapsus quondam episcopus dicitur, statim Ed. LXV (a., LXIV). Fellus. — Quanquam Pamelius agnoscat editiones Manutii et Morellii istic habere quondam, magis tamen ei placuit lectio veterum editionum, in quibus scriptum est quondam, eam videlicet ob causam, ut ille ait, quod satis constet ex sequentibus adhuc vixisse Victorem presbyterum cum Cyprianus hanc epistolam scriberet. Quod est certissimum. Verum vox quondam non accipienda est in hoc loco tanquam intelligi deberet de homine defuncto, sed de eo qui cum poenitentiam accepisset post lapsum, dejectus erat de gradu presbyteri, sicut infra Epist. LXIV, pag. 110, legitur Fortunatianum quondam apud vos episcopum. Lectionem porro quam nos revocamus exhibent libri veteres et vetustissima hujus epistolae versio Syriaca quam servat bibliotheca serenissimi Ducis Florentiae, uti ego accepi a viro istius linguae et bonarum litterarum peritissimo Eusebio Renaudotio. Sic in epistola Felicis Papae III, ad Acacium, quondam episcopos, nunc vero honore et communione privatos. Possunt reperiri plurima exempla similia. Baluz. — Clericis haud licuisse qui poenitentiam egissent, recipere locum suum in Ecclesia, satis ostendit Basilidis exemplum in litteris Synodicis proxime post has sequentibus commemoratum. Idemque nobis inculcant cum Rigaltius etiam alibi in Notis ad Cyprianum, tum Albaspinaeus Observatt. de Veteribus Eccles. Rit. lib. II, cap. 34. Et Binghamus Antiquit. Eccles. Christ. lib. II, c. 2, §§ 2 et 4. Routh.
"Victor, formerly a presbyter." Rigault says: This Victor, formerly a presbyter in the Church, having kept faith badly, had lost the Church, and peace. And so, although he had recovered peace somehow, that is, through the over-hasty haste of Therapius, he had by no means recovered his place in the Church, that is, the honour of a presbyter. Well, then, and in keeping with the ancient discipline, Cyprian wrote of "Victor, formerly a presbyter, who now communicated among the laity of the Church." The same Victor, then, from layman became presbyter, from presbyter one lapsed, from lapsed a penitent, from penitent a layman. We observed above that it did not always hold in the Church that clerics who offended were punished only by deposition to lay communion. It is established that Victor was driven from the Church and admitted to penance, and a long one. And although at the second synod after Cyprian's return indulgence was granted to the lapsed because persecution was pressing, yet it was not the mind of the Fathers that, once peace was restored and with no necessity compelling, a bishop should relax everything at his own discretion. That peace had now been restored to the Church is shown by the well-attended synod. Fortunatianus is called "formerly a bishop," lapsed, at once Ed. 65 (a., 64). Fell. — Although Pamelius acknowledges that the editions of Manutius and Morel have "quondam" there, he nevertheless preferred the reading of the old editions, in which "quondam" is written, for this reason, as he says: that it is sufficiently established from what follows that the presbyter Victor was still alive when Cyprian wrote this letter. Which is most certain. But the word "quondam" is not to be taken in this place as though it were to be understood of a dead man, but of one who, having received penance after his lapse, had been cast down from the rank of presbyter, as below, Epist. 64, p. 110, we read "Fortunatianus, formerly bishop among you." Moreover, the reading we restore is shown by the old books and by the very ancient Syriac version of this letter which the library of the Most Serene Duke of Florence preserves, as I learned from Eusèbe Renaudot, a man most skilled in that language and in good letters. So in the letter of Pope Felix III to Acacius: "formerly bishops, but now deprived of honour and communion." Very many similar examples can be found. Baluze. — That clerics who had done penance were not permitted to recover their place in the Church is shown well enough by the example of Basilides, recorded in the synodal letter that follows next after this one. And the same is impressed on us both by Rigault elsewhere in his Notes on Cyprian and by L'Aubespine, Observations on the Ancient Rites of the Church, book 2, chap. 34, and by Bingham, Antiquities of the Christian Church, book 2, ch. 2, §§ 2 and 4. Routh.
(printed under page 576)
(7) ‹anchor: Therapius, collega noster› · call in col 1049
(opening lines cut at the image edges) … Bulla in ea provincia, una dicta simpliciter Bulla, cujus iste Therapius erat episcopus, alia Bulla regia. Concilio Carthaginensi sub Genetlio interfuit Epigonius, episcopus Bullensium regionum, collationi vero Carthaginensi inter catholicos et donatistas Dominicus episcopus Bullensium regionum catholicus, et Felix Donatista, qui in gestis vocatur simpliciter episcopus Bullensis. Baluzius.
(opening lines cut at the image edges) … Bulla in that province, one called simply Bulla, of which this Therapius was bishop, the other Bulla Regia. At the Council of Carthage under Genethlius there was present Epigonius, bishop of the Bullensian districts; and at the Conference of Carthage between Catholics and Donatists, Dominicus, the Catholic bishop of the Bullensian districts, and Felix the Donatist, who in the Acts is called simply bishop of Bulla. Baluze.
(printed under page 576)
(8) ‹anchor: decreti nostri› · call in col 1049
Decreti nostri. Cons. prioris Epistolae LIV init. Routh.
"Of our decree." Compare the beginning of the earlier Epistle 54. Routh.
(printed under page 576)
(9) ‹anchor: sine petitu et conscientia plebis› · call in col 1049
Sine petitu et conscientia plebis. Hoc saepissime dicit, communicato etiam cum plebe consilio. Rigalt.
"Without the request and knowledge of the people." He says this very often: "having shared counsel with the people too." Rigault.
(printed under page 576)
(10) ‹anchor: necessitate cogente› · call in col 1049
Nulla infirmitate urgente ac necessitate cogente. Significari hoc loco Anglicus monet interpres duo poenitentiae laxamenta, quae in duabus synodis concessa fuerant, quorum alterum permittebat absolutionem quam clinicam vocat, de vita periclitantibus, alterum ignoscebat poenitentibus, ingruente persecutione et minitantibus iniquis temporibus. Routh.
"With no sickness pressing and no necessity compelling." The English translator notes that two relaxations of penance are meant in this place, which had been granted at two synods: one permitted the absolution he calls clinical to those in danger of their life; the other pardoned penitents when persecution was pressing and evil times were threatening. Routh.
(printed under page 576)
(11) ‹anchor: causam infantium pertinet› · call in col 1050
Quantum vero ad causam infantium pertinet, Locus insignis de Baptismo parvulorum contra Anabaptistas, cujus meminit etiam tom. II, lib. de Lapsis. Eumdem agnoscunt D. Cyrillus Hierosolymitanus Catechesi mystag. I Greg. Naz. Orat. II, in sanctum Lavacrum: Chrys. hom. ad Neophytos, hom. IX, in Gen. et in Psal. XIV, ac Ambros. in Lucam. Eumdem D. Aug. ab universa Ecclesia observatum fuisse testatur frequenter, praesertim autem Ep. 28, jam dicta et lib. III, de peccat. Merit. et remiss., c. 6, 7, 8, 9, ubi totam fere hanc citat epistolam, quomodo etiam lib. IV, contra duas epistolas Pelag., c. 8. et lib. II, contra Julian., c. 3. Confirmat eumdem Baptismum hac sententia Cypriani et Collegarum D. Hieron., sub finem lib. III, dialog. contra Pelagianos. Imo Concil. Milevit. can. 2, anathemate eum damnat, qui negat baptizandos parvulos recentes ab uteris matrum. Ante vero D. Cyprianum ejusdem mentionem disertis verbis reperire est, apud Origenem in Levit. hom. 8, in Luc. et in Epist. ad Rom., cap. 6; Tertullianum lib. de Anima, Irenaeum contra Haer. lib II, cap. 39; Justinum mart. quaest. 56; Clementem Romanum lib. VI, Constitut. Apost., cap. 11, et Dionys. Areop. ult. cap. Eccles. Hierarchiae. Qui Dion. ad traditionnem Apostolorum (continues)
"But as regards the case of infants." A notable passage on the Baptism of little ones against the Anabaptists, which he also mentions in vol. 2, in the book On the Lapsed. The same is acknowledged by Saint Cyril of Jerusalem, Mystagogical Catechesis 1, Gregory Nazianzen, Oration 2, On Holy Baptism; Chrysostom, homily To the Neophytes, homily 9 on Genesis and on Psalm 14; and Ambrose on Luke. Saint Augustine frequently testifies that the same was observed by the whole Church, especially in Ep. 28, already mentioned, and in book 3 On the Merits and Remission of Sins, ch. 6, 7, 8, 9, where he quotes almost the whole of this letter, as also in book 4 Against the Two Letters of the Pelagians, ch. 8, and book 2 Against Julian, ch. 3. Saint Jerome confirms the same Baptism by this judgement of Cyprian and his colleagues, near the end of book 3 of the Dialogue against the Pelagians. Indeed the Council of Milevis, can. 2, condemns with anathema anyone who denies that little ones newly come from their mothers' wombs are to be baptized. Before Saint Cyprian, moreover, explicit mention of it is to be found in Origen, on Leviticus, hom. 8, on Luke, and on the Epistle to the Romans, chap. 6; in Tertullian, book On the Soul; Irenaeus, Against Heresies, book 2, chap. 39; Justin Martyr, question 56; Clement of Rome, book 6 of the Apostolic Constitutions, chap. 11; and Dionysius the Areopagite, last chapter of the Ecclesiastical Hierarchy. Dionysius ... to the tradition of the Apostles (continues)
(printed under page 576)
Variae lectiones.
Variant readings.
(printed under page 577)
(4) ‹anchor: not visible on the page foot› · call in col 1051 or 1052
Misericordis Dei gratiam August.
"the grace of the merciful God": Augustine.
(printed under page 577)
(5) ‹anchor: Heliseus› · call in col 1051
Fides, cum Heliseus Lam. Bod. 2. Heliseus Lam. NC. 1, 2.
"Fides, when Elisha": Lam., Bod. 2. "Elisha": Lam., NC. 1, 2.
(printed under page 577)
(6) ‹anchor: not visible on the page foot› · call in col 1051 or 1052
Nostrae in incrementis <!-- UNSURE: this line reaches the right edge of the crop; any further words of the variant are not visible. -->
"In the growth of our …"
Variorum notae.
Notes of various editors.
(printed under page 577)
(12) ‹anchor: baptizari non oportere› · call in col 1051
Baptizari non oportere. De Baptismo infantium vide Josephum Vicecomitem, lib. II, cap. 1, de antiquis Baptismi Ritibus, et scripta Anglicana Buceri pag. 655, 667, 781. Vide etiam tractatum Florentii Conrii de Statu parvulorum sine baptismo decedentium. Baluz.
"Ought not to be baptized." On the Baptism of infants see Giuseppe Visconti, On the Ancient Rites of Baptism, book 2, chap. 1, and Bucer's English writings, pp. 655, 667, 781. See also the treatise of Florence Conry On the State of Little Ones Dying without Baptism. Baluze.
(printed under page 577)
(13) ‹anchor: sanctificandum› · call in col 1051
Sanctificandum. Ita omnes editiones ante Pamelianam et plerique libri veteres. Pamelius scripsit, sacrificandum. Ita etiam Rigaltius, quamvis Goulartius, repudiata lectione Pamelii, scripsisset sanctificandum. Hanc lectionem maluerunt Angli. Recte quidem. Est enim optima. Vide Epistolam 76, ad Magnum, pag. 152, 155. Baluzius,
"To be sanctified." So all editions before Pamelius's and most of the old books. Pamelius wrote "sacrificandum." So too Rigault, although Goulart, rejecting Pamelius's reading, had written "sanctificandum." The English editors preferred this reading. Rightly indeed, for it is the best. See Epistle 76, to Magnus, pp. 152, 155. Baluze.
(printed under page 577)
(14) ‹anchor: omnibus visum est› · call in col 1051
In concilio nostro omnibus visum est. Augustinus lib. IV de Bapt. contra Donatistas, cap. 23, 24, infantium Baptismum traditioni apostolicae ascribit, hanc regulam proponens: Quod universa tenet Ecclesia, nec conciliis institutum, sed semper retentum est, non nisi auctoritate apostolica traditum rectissime creditur. Licet in concilio hoc Carthaginensi 66 episcoporum, omnibus visum sit nulli hominum nato misericordiam Dei et gratiam denegandam; haec non ad paedobaptismum statuendum adducta qui olim obtinuit; sed ad Afrorum hac in re judaizantium errorem refellendum vibrata, qui ad diem octavum, circumcisioni olim praestitutum, ritum illum differendum censebant. Fellus. — Notat Baluzius vocem deesse omnibus, quam valde superfluam appellat, in septem codicibus antiquis, exstare tamen ait apud Augustinum. Sed de inutilitate ejus mihi adhuc non constat. Routh.
"In our council it seemed good to all." Augustine, On Baptism against the Donatists, book 4, chap. 23, 24, ascribes the Baptism of infants to apostolic tradition, setting out this rule: "What the whole Church holds, and was not instituted by councils but has always been retained, is most rightly believed to have been handed down by apostolic authority alone." Although at this Council of Carthage of 66 bishops "it seemed good to all that the mercy and grace of God is to be denied to no one born," these words were not brought forward to establish infant baptism, which had long prevailed, but were aimed at refuting the error of the Africans who judaized in this matter and held that the rite should be put off to the eighth day, once appointed for circumcision. Fell. — Baluze notes that the word "omnibus," which he calls quite superfluous, is missing in seven old manuscripts, but says it stands in Augustine. But I am not yet persuaded of its uselessness. Routh.
(printed under page 577)
(15) ‹anchor: nulla anima perdenda est› · call in col 1051
Nulla anima perdenda est. Citat hunc locum sanctus Augustinus in epistola ad Hieronymum de Origine Animarum. Baluz.
"No soul is to be lost." Saint Augustine quotes this passage in his letter to Jerome On the Origin of Souls. Baluze.
(printed under page 577)
(16) ‹anchor: dierum saecularium cursum› · call in col 1051
Secundum dierum saecularium cursum. Sic infra: Secundum saeculum, non secundum Deum. Nam apud Deum non est tempus. Dies igitur dicit saeculares, uti ab hominibus in saeculo numerantur. Rigaltius.
"According to the course of worldly days." So below: "According to the world, not according to God." For with God there is no time. So he calls them worldly days, as they are counted by men in the world. Rigault.
(printed under page 577)
(17) ‹anchor: viduae filium› · call in col 1051
Viduae filium. Ita veteres editiones et omnes fere libri veteres. Pamelius edidit viduae Sunamitis filium ex unico codice Anglicano, fassus vocem Sunamitis desiderari in caeteris antiquis codicibus. Angli scripserunt Sunamitidis. Ego sustuli hanc vocem, quam non dubito esse ex glossemate. Admoneo tamen me illam reperisse in quinque libris veteribus. Baluz.
"The widow's son." So the old editions and nearly all the old books. Pamelius printed "the son of the Shunammite widow" from a single English manuscript, admitting that the word "Sunamitis" is lacking in the other old manuscripts. The English editors wrote "Sunamitidis." I have removed this word, which I do not doubt comes from a gloss. I note, however, that I found it in five old books. Baluze.
(printed under page 577)
(18) ‹anchor: not visible on the page foot› · call in col 1051 or 1052
Inaequalitatem. Caeterae editt. quas vidi omnes praeter Benedictinam vel aequalitatem vel qualitatem habent, sed fortasse lectionem receptam in codicibus suis invenit Baluzius. Caeterum aenigmata isthaec ab insania illa prope absunt Origenis et aliorum quae fidem historiarum sacrarum subvertere ausa est, ut mysticum astrueret sensum Libris sacris. Routh.
"Inequality." All the other editions I have seen except the Benedictine have either "aequalitatem" or "qualitatem," but perhaps Baluze found the received reading in his manuscripts. For the rest, these riddles come close to that madness of Origen and others which dared to overturn the credibility of the sacred histories in order to build up a mystical sense for the sacred Books. Routh.
(printed under page 577)
(19) ‹anchor: not visible on the page foot› · call in col 1051 or 1052
Discrimen. Tres libri veteres habent differentiam vel discrimen, alius discrimen. Ex similibus fontibus, ut saepe monuimus, orta sunt tot vocabula synonyma apud Cyprianum. Baluz.
"Distinction." Three old books have "differentiam vel discrimen," another "discrimen." From similar sources, as we have often noted, arose so many synonymous words in Cyprian. Baluze.
(printed under page 577)
(20) ‹anchor: not visible on the page foot› · call in col 1051 or 1052
Praebeat patrem, Ita omnes fere libri veteres et omnes editiones. Atque ea lectio est optima. Nam certum est Deum se omnibus hominibus aequaliter praestare Patrem. Est enim Pater noster, in primis vero eorum qui credunt in eum, eorum qui per eum sanctificati et gratiae spiritualis nativitate reparati, filii hujus esse coeperunt, ut ait sanctus martyr libro de Oratione Dominica, pag. 206. Et tamen Pamelius magis probat conjecturam Costerii existimantis legendum esse parem; eamque conjecturam Pamelius, ut ipse ait, in sua editione posuisset, nisi contradicentes habuisset omnes libros manuscriptos et omnes editiones. Ego tamen vocem parem reperi in duobus codicibus antiquis. Baluz.
"Shows himself a father." So nearly all the old books and all the editions, and that reading is the best. For it is certain that God shows himself Father equally to all men. For he is our Father, but above all of those who believe in him, of those who, "sanctified through him and restored by the birth of spiritual grace, have begun to be his sons," as the holy martyr says in the book On the Lord's Prayer, p. 206. And yet Pamelius prefers the conjecture of Coster, who thinks "parem" (equal) should be read; and Pamelius, as he himself says, would have put that conjecture in his edition had not all the manuscript books and all the editions been against him. I, however, found the word "parem" in two old manuscripts. Baluze.
(printed under page 577)
(21) ‹anchor: horreat exosculari› · call in col 1052
Adhuc horreat exosculari. Rigaltius ait: Fidus, ad quem est haec epistola Cypriani, horre- (continues)
"Still shrinks from kissing." Rigault says: Fidus, to whom this letter of Cyprian is addressed, shrank (continues)
(printed under page 577)
Variae lectiones.
Variant readings.
<!-- UNSURE: the crop begins inside the variant-readings block; the line(s) above "Bod. 2." are cut off, so the variant(s) before 12 are incomplete. --> ([variant before 12; opening above the crop]) ‹anchor: not visible› · call in col 1053 or 1054
(continued) … Bod. 2.
(printed under page 578)
(12) ‹anchor: not visible on the page foot› · call in col 1053 or 1054
Delictorum Thu. Corb.
"Of sins": Thu., Corb.
Variorum notae.
Notes of various editors.
(printed under page 578)
(22) ‹anchor: sacramentum est› · call in col 1053
Sacramentum est. Pariter hujus typi meminit D. Augustinus contra Faustum Manich., lib. XVI, c. 29: Tertio die resurgens, quem Dominicum dicimus, qui post sabbatum numeratur octavus, etiam circumcisionem octavi diei ad se prophetandum pertinere declarat. Et paulo post: Quia ista resurrectio quae credita est non justificat, illa octavae diei circumcisione figurata est. Fellus.
"It is a sacrament." Saint Augustine likewise mentions this type, Against Faustus the Manichee, book 16, ch. 29: "Rising on the third day, which we call the Lord's day, counted the eighth after the sabbath, he declares that the circumcision of the eighth day also pertains to prophesying him." And a little after: "Because this resurrection, which is believed, justifies not, it was prefigured by that circumcision of the eighth day." [as printed] Fell.
(printed under page 578)
(23) ‹anchor: veritate completum› · call in col 1053
Veritate completum. Quidam libri veteres et editio Morellii habent in veritate. Quod potest esse melius. — Baluz. Adde editionem principem. Routh.
"Fulfilled in truth." Some old books and Morel's edition have "in veritate." Which may be better. — Baluze. Add the first edition. Routh.
(printed under page 578)
(23) ‹anchor: primus et Dominicus› · call in col 1053
Post Sabbatum primus et Dominicus. Magnum ante hos ducentos annos bellum cum maxima utrinque acerbitate gestum et pugnatum est inter Paulum de Middelburgo qui postea fuit episcopus Forosemproniensis, Petrum de Rivo sacrae paginae professorem in accademia Lovaniensi, et Thomam Bazin, episcopum Lexoviensem et dein archiepiscopum Caesariensem, an de octava sabbati, id est die Dominica, Christus resurrexisset. Tractatus Petri de Rivo editus fuit anno 1492, in urbe Lovaniensi, et Pauli adversus Petrum in libro sexto de Recta Paschae celebratione. At tractatus Thomae nondum editus habetur in bibliotheca regia. Baluz.
"The first after the Sabbath and the Lord's day." Two hundred years ago a great war was waged and fought with the utmost bitterness on both sides between Paul of Middelburg, afterwards bishop of Fossombrone, Peter de Rivo, professor of sacred scripture in the university of Louvain, and Thomas Basin, bishop of Lisieux and afterwards archbishop of Caesarea, over whether Christ rose on the eighth of the sabbath, that is, on the Lord's day. Peter de Rivo's treatise was published in 1492 in the city of Louvain, and Paul's against Peter in the sixth book On the Right Celebration of Easter. But Thomas's treatise, still unpublished, is kept in the royal library. Baluze.
(printed under page 578)
(25) ‹anchor: propter quod› · call in col 1054
Propter quod, etc. Refert hunc locum sanctus Augustinus sermone 294, pag. 1193 novae editionis. Baluzius. — Ibi S. Augustinus, vel alius quis, adduxit locum, haec quidem praefatus: Sanctus Cyprianus est, quem in manus sumpsi, antiquus episcopus sedis hujus quid senserit de baptismo parvulorum, imo quid semper Ecclesiam sensisse monstraverit, paululum accipite. Routh.
"Wherefore," etc. Saint Augustine cites this passage in Sermon 294, p. 1193 of the new edition. Baluze. — There Saint Augustine, or someone else, brought in the passage with this preface: "It is Saint Cyprian whom I have taken in hand, an ancient bishop of this see; hear for a little what he thought about the baptism of little ones, or rather what he showed the Church has always thought." Routh.
(printed under page 578)
(26) ‹anchor: a gratia consequenda› · call in col 1054
A gratia consequenda. Tres libri veteres praeferunt ad gratiam consequendam. Baluz.
"From obtaining grace." Three old books give "ad gratiam consequendam" (to obtaining grace). Baluze.
(printed under page 578)
(27) ‹anchor: porro autem› · call in col 1054
Porro autem, etc. Totum hunc locum descripsit sanctus Hieronymus in fine libri tertii adversus Pelegianos. Sed apud Hieronymum legitur remissio pro remissa; et pro eo quod apud Cyprianum recte scriptum est de ope nostra ac divina misericordia, in Hieronymo habet de ope nostra ad divinam misericordiam. Baluz.
"But further," etc. Saint Jerome copied out this whole passage at the end of the third book against the Pelagians. But in Jerome "remissio" is read for "remissa"; and where Cyprian rightly has "of our help and the divine mercy," Jerome has "of our help to the divine mercy." Baluze.
(printed under page 578)
(28) ‹anchor: gravissimis delictoribus› · call in col 1054
Gravissimis delictoribus. Negatoribus, sacrificatis, libellatis. Delictores dicit eos qui fidem Christo datam deseruerunt, dereliquerunt. Observavimus supra ad Epist. LV (al. LII). Rigalt. — At vero magis suadet illud, si posteat crediderint, isthaec verba de hominibus christianam fidem amplexis atque idcirco Baptismum petentibus, exponere, per quem quidem Baptismi ritum in nomine Divino celebratum peccata omnia remitti ac deleri credebat antiquitas. Routh.
"To the gravest offenders." The deniers, those who sacrificed, those who took certificates. He calls offenders those who deserted and abandoned the faith pledged to Christ. We observed this above on Epist. 55 (alias 52). Rigault. — But the words "if afterwards they believe" argue rather for explaining these words of people who embraced the Christian faith and therefore sought Baptism, by which rite of Baptism, celebrated in the divine name, antiquity believed all sins were remitted and blotted out. Routh.
(printed under page 578)
(29) ‹anchor: secundum Adam› · call in col 1054
Nisi quod secundum Adam. Vix alibi reperitur, apud antiquos scriptores, locus ad confirmandum dogma de originali peccato, magis appositus, et expressus. De veterum hac in causa placitis consulatur auctor Historiae Palagianae, lib. II, qui tamen immerito sugillat Clementem Alexandrinum, quasi doctrinam de originali peccato non satis intellexisset, siquidem quae Stromat., lib. III, ab ipso disputata sunt, adversus Eucratitas intentabantur, qui ferebant τὴν γένεσιν ἁπλῶς ἐπικατάρατον ut ait Epiph. Porro asserebant Adamum damnatum. Iren., lib. I, c. 30 Fell. — Hierony. (continues) <!-- UNSURE: "intellexisset" is broken in the print (letters dropped); read from what remains. -->
"Except that, according to Adam." Scarcely anywhere else among the ancient writers is a passage found more apt and explicit for confirming the dogma of original sin. On the views of the ancients in this matter consult the author of the Pelagian History, book 2, who nevertheless unfairly taunts Clement of Alexandria as though he had not sufficiently understood the doctrine of original sin, since what he argued in Stromata book 3 was aimed against the Encratites, who held "generation to be simply accursed," as Epiphanius says. Moreover, they asserted that Adam was damned. Irenaeus, book 1, ch. 30. Fell. — Jerome (continues)
(printed under page 578)
Variae lectiones.
Variant readings.
(printed under page 579)
(13) ‹anchor: not visible on the page foot› · call in col 1055 or 1056
Accipiendum Oxon.
"To be received": Oxford.
(printed under page 579)
(14) ‹anchor: not visible on the page foot› · call in col 1055 or 1056
Recenter natos Bod. 2. Lam.
"Newly born": Bod. 2, Lam.
(printed under page 579)
(15) ‹anchor: not visible on the page foot› · call in col 1055 or 1056
Ortu flentes Lam. Bod. 2. Lin. NC. 1, 2.
"Weeping at their birth": Lam., Bod. 2, Lin., NC. 1, 2.
Variorum notae.
Notes of various editors.
(printed under page 579)
(30) ‹anchor: nativitatis suae ortu plorantes› · call in col 1055
Nativitatis suae ortu plorantes. Scriptores Ethnici infantium modo natorum fletum, miseriarum sequentis vitae omen putabant: Cyprianus pietati ascribit, et ceu precum inarticulatam formulam commendat. Fell. — Quidam ex patribus Antenicaenis, cujus tamen nomen mea excidit memoria, recens natorum vagitus ad deplorationem peccati poenaeque originis suae detorquet. Routh.
"Weeping at the rise of their birth." Heathen writers held the weeping of newborn infants to be an omen of the miseries of the life to follow; Cyprian ascribes it to piety and commends it as a kind of inarticulate form of prayer. Fell. — One of the ante-Nicene Fathers, whose name has nevertheless slipped my memory, turns the wailing of the newborn into a lament for the sin and punishment of their origin. Routh.
(printed under page 579)
(31) ‹anchor: De Basilide et Martiale› · call in col 1055
De Basilide et Martiale. Haec epistola tot et tantas tamque inter se dissimiles habet variantes lectiones in antiquis exemplaribus et editionibus, ut mihi in illis colligendis et disponendis recte magnus labor insumendus fuerit, multum taedii, devoratum. Annotandas enim arbitratus sum ut etiam multa et magna exempla darem audaciae librariorum veterum, qui omnia licita et illicita ausi sunt in describendis sancti martyris operibus. Atque ut inde initium sumam ubi sunt scripta nomina episcoporum, sunt aliqui codices antiqui, sunt etiam aliquot editiones, in quibus ea desunt. In tribus antiquis codicibus, in quibus illa praetermissa sunt legitur: Cyprianus et caeteri episcopi presbyteris et diaconibus et plebibus in Hispania consistentibus In uno regio haec tantum: Cyprianus Caecilio et aliis fratribus salutem. Vetustiores editiones habent nomina episcoporum. Pamelio et Rigaltio placuit ea omittere, quia existimabant haud dubie illa esse superfla. Reinhartus et Angli reposuerunt. Certum est hanc epistolam esse responsionem ad epistolam quam episcopi Hispani scripserant ad Afros in causa Basilidis et Martialis. Nulla illic mentio epistolae ab illis scriptae ad Romanos. Et tamen Baronius, verisimili et vehementi se duci conjectura ait ut existimet Felicem et Sabinum episcopos Hispanos, qui missi fuerant in Africam, ut sic Cypriani quoque suffragio sua ipsorum electione probata, inde tum ipsius, tum aliorum ipsius collegarum litteris pariter communiti Romam ad refellenda Basilidis mendacia adnavigarent, Sedisque apostolicae auctoritate compescerent contumaces qui Hispaniae episcopos contempsissent. At quia levis conjectura, ut Cicero ait, non penditur, ista inter leves numerabitur. Baluz.
"Of Basilides and Martial." This letter has so many and such great variant readings in the old copies and editions, and so unlike one another, that in collecting and arranging them I have had to spend great labour, I may rightly say, and swallow much tedium. For I judged they should be noted so that I might also give many great examples of the audacity of the old copyists, who dared everything, lawful and unlawful, in transcribing the works of the holy martyr. And to begin where the bishops' names are written: there are some old manuscripts, and some editions too, in which they are missing. In three old manuscripts in which they are omitted we read: "Cyprian and the other bishops to the presbyters and deacons and peoples dwelling in Spain." In one royal manuscript only this: "Cyprian to Caecilius and the other brethren, greeting." The older editions have the bishops' names. Pamelius and Rigault chose to omit them, because they thought them without doubt superfluous. Reinhart and the English editors restored them.
(printed under page 579)