Father_. In these Passages is contained a very different Doctrine from that which is laid down in those I have quoted above: and hence some of the Friends of _Origen_, and among the rest _Ruffinus_, concluded the latter Passages to have been foisted in by the _Arians_, denying the Divinity of the Word; while others, allowing them to be _Origen_’s, undertook to explain them in a Catholic Sense, in Opposition to the _Arians_ confirming their Doctrine with the Authority of so eminent a Writer. But his Enemies, attending only to the Passages where he seemed to establish an Inequality in the Trinity, not only condemned him as an Heretic, but all who stood up in his Defence, or attempted to interpret his Words in a Catholic Sense. Footnote N45.1: Socr. l. 4. c. 26. ----- But what seems most of all surprising, and quite unaccountable, in the Conduct of that Father, is, that though he had with so much Noise procured _Origen_ to be condemned as an Heretic, and his Books to be prohibited, particularly his _Periarchon_, or, as some will have it, the _Periarchon_ alone, as containing most of his heretical Tenets; yet, in a private Letter to _Paulinus_, he refers him to that very Piece for the Decision of some Questions of the greatest Importance[1381]. But to return to _Anastasius_: [Sidenote: _The Bishops of_ Africa _apply to_ Anastasius _and_ Venerius _of_ Milan.] The same Year 401. in which _Origen_ was condemned, the Churches of _Africa_ being greatly distressed for want of Ecclesiastics, the Bishops of the Province of _Carthage_, assembling under _Aurelius_ Bishop of that City, resolved to dispatch one of their Body into _Italy_ to acquaint _Anastasius_, and _Venerius_ Bishop of _Milan_, with the Condition of the _African_ Churches, and implore their Assistance[1382]. Which of the Bishops was charged with this Legation, or what Success attended it, we are no-where told. But as _Paulinus_, who afterwards writ the Life of St. _Ambrose_, and belonged to the Church of _Milan_, was at this Time sent into _Africa_, and continued there, some have not improbably conjectured, that _Venerius_ at least assisted his Collegues in _Africa_ with a Supply of as many Ecclesiastics as he could spare. _Baronius_ supposes _Anastasius_ to have relieved those Churches with the like Supply; but this Supposition he builds upon the paternal Care which _Anastasius_ had, as _universal Pastor_, of all the Catholic Churches[1383], which is building on a false Foundation. [Sidenote: Anastasius _advises the Bishops of_ Africa _not to dissemble the Cruelties of the_ Donatists.]