This Council is supposed to have been held in a Grotto, or Cave, where there was no room but for 50 at a time; and yet they are all said to have been present when _Marcellinus_ owned his Crime, and divested himself of his Dignity. And what a despicable Figure does he make on that Occasion! At first he denies the Charge; but, being convicted by 72 Eye-witnesses, he owns it at last, but in Terms more becoming a School-boy, trembling at the Sight of a Rod, than a penitent Bishop, before so grave an Assembly. But the most remarkable Passage in that Piece is the Dispute between _Urbanus_ High Pontiff of _Jupiter_, and _Marcellinus_ High Pontiff of the Christians. _Urbanus_, to convince his Fellow-Pontiff that he ought not to scruple offering Incense to _Jupiter_, alleges the Example of the Mages offering Incense to _Christ_. _Marcellinus_ answers, That the offering of Incense on that Occasion was mysterious; and unravels the Mystery. Hereupon _Urbanus_, unacquainted with Mysteries, appeals to the Judgment of the Emperors _Dioclesian_ and _Maximian_; to this Appeal _Marcellinus_ agrees; and the Controversy is referred by both _Pontiffs_ to be decided by the Two Emperors. They, no doubt, gave Sentence in favour of _Jupiter_ and _Urbanus_; and then _Dioclesian_, taking _Marcellinus_ with him into the Temple of _Vesta_, persuaded him there to offer Incense to _Jupiter_, _Hercules_, and _Saturn_. How these Three Deities came to have a Place in the Temple of _Vesta_, the Compiler of these Acts alone knows. Such are the Absurdities and Contradictions, of which that Piece is wholly made up. But it flatters the Ambition of the Successors of _Marcellinus_; on occasion of his Fall it exalts the See of _Rome_ above all other Sees: its Authority therefore must not be called in question: all the Absurdities and Contradictions it contains, must be blindly believed; the Memory of _Marcellinus_ most unjustly slandered; the Testimonies of _Theodoret_, and St. _Austin_, clearing him from all Guilt, disregarded and rejected. And may not this be interpreted as a tacit Declaration, that they had rather he had been guilty than innocent, provided his Guilt could any-ways contribute to the Aggrandizing of their See? What can we think their Ambition will spare, since they have thus sacrificed to it the Character of one of their Predecessors, whose Memory is revered by all Antiquity? The Church of _Rome_ honours _Marcellinus_ as a Saint; and, not withstanding his pretended Apostasy, allows him a Place amongst her Martyrs; probably by way of Reparation for the Injustice done him. [Sidenote: Marcellinus _falsly supposed to have died a Martyr_.] But his Martyrdom may be justly questioned; at least it seems to have been utterly unknown to St. _Austin_, who flourished not long after his Time, since he never mentions it, tho’ it would have afforded him the strongest Argument he could possibly use to silence the _Donatists_. His Martyrdom, 'tis true,