Some of them were ransomed with difficulty and at per large price others have not sito correlato been preciso the present time. I have related these things, my brother, not without an object, but that you anche upon us. Those indeed will understand them the best who have had the largest experience of them.”

A little further on he adds: “These divine ong us, who now are seated with Christ, and are sharers per his kingdom, partakers of his judgment and judges with him, received some of the brethren who had fallen away and become chargeable with the guilt of sacrificing. When they perceived that their conversion and repentance were sufficient sicuro be acceptable with him who by no means desires the death of the sinner, but his repentance, having proved them they received them back and brought them together, and met with them and had fellowship with them per prayers and feasts. What counsel then, brethren, do you give us concerning such persons? Shall we have the same judgment and rule as theirs, and observe their decision and charity, and spettacolo mercy preciso those whom they pitied? Or, shall we declare their decision unrighteous, and set ourselves as judges of their opinion, and grieve mercy and overturn order?” These words Dionysius very properly added when making mention of those who had been weak con the time of persecution.

AFTER this, Novatus, a presbyter of the church at Rome, being lifted up with arrogance against these persons, as if there was no longer for them verso hope of salvation, not even if they should do all things pertaining preciso per genuine and sebbene conversion, became opportunista of the heresy of those who, mediante the pride of their imagination, call themselves Cathari. Thereupon a very large synod assembled at Rome, of bishops con number sixty, and per great many more presbyters and deacons; while the pastors of the remaining provinces deliberated sopra their places privately concerning what ought onesto be done. A decree was confirmed by all, that Novatus and those who joined with him, and those who adopted his brother-hating and inhuman opinion, should be considered by the church as strangers; but that they should heal such of the brethren as had fallen into misfortune, and should minister onesto them with the medicines of repentance.

There have reached us epistles of Cornelius 3, bishop of Rome, to Fabius, of the church at Antioch, which esibizione what was done at the synod at Rome, and what seemed best onesto all those in Italy and Africa and the regions thereabout. Also other epistles, written sopra the

Latin language, of Cyprian and those with him in Africa, which esibizione that they agreed as esatto the necessity of succoring those who had been tempted, and of cutting off from the Catholic Church the leader of the heresy and all that joined with him. Another epistle of

Cornelius, concerning the resolutions of the synod, is attached onesto these; and yet others, on the conduct of Novatus, from which it is proper for us preciso make selections, that any one who sees this rete informatica may know about him.

What should we do?

“But that you may know that verso long time spillo this rebitious desire puro himself and concealed it — using as per cloak for his rebellion those confessors who had adhered preciso him from the beginning — Rso desire preciso speak.

Cornelius informs Fabius what sort of a man

Maximus, one of our presbyters, and Urbanus, who twice gained the highest honor by confession, with Sidonius, and Celerinus, per man who by the grace of God most heroically endured all kinds of torture, and by the strength of his faith overcame the weakness of the flesh, and mightily conquered the adversary — these men found him out and detected his craft and duplicity, his perjuries and falsehoods, his indivis-sociability and cruel friendship. And they returned to the holy church and proclaimed mediante the presence of many, both bishops and presbyters and a large number of the laity, all his craft and wickedness, which for a long time he had concealed. And this they did with lamentations land repentance, because through the persuasions of the crafty and malicious beast they had left the church for the time.” Verso little farther on he says: