_Pius_ governed the Church for the Space of Fifteen Years, and died in 157. the Twentieth of _Antoninus_[194]. The _Roman_ Martyrology tells us, that he was martyred in the Persecution of _Antoninus Pius_; but in that Prince’s Reign there was no Persecution; nor is the Title of Martyr given him by _Irenæus_. [Sidenote: _Writings ascribed to him._] _Baronius_ ascribes to this Pope a Decree, commanding the Festival of _Easter_ to be kept on _Sunday_, and quotes the Chronicle of _Eusebius_[195]. This Decree is indeed mentioned in some Editions of that Writer; but _Scaliger_ assures us, that no Mention is made of it in any Manuscript Copy; and therefore he has left it out in his Edition[196]. As to the Celebration of _Easter_, it is manifest from _Irenæus_, that though _Pius_, as well as his Predecessors _Sixtus_, _Telesphorus_ and _Hyginus_, differed from the Bishops of _Asia_, yet they did not on that Account separate themselves from their Communion[197]. On this Pope are fathered several spurious Pieces, _viz._ some Decrees, Two Letters ranked among the Decretals, and Two more written to _Justus_ Bishop of _Vienne_ in _Dauphiné_. The Decrees, as well as the Decretals, are universally rejected; and yet F. _Pagi_ quotes one of them to prove the real Presence in the Sacrament[198]. The two Letters to _Justus_ are deemed genuine by _Baronius_[199], by Cardinal _Bona_[200], and by _Blondel_ in his Treatise of the Sibyls[201], who nevertheless suspects them elsewhere[202]. On the other hand, they are absolutely rejected as false by Dr. _Pearson_[203], by _Cotelerius_[204], and _Natalis Alexander_[205], who discover several Expressions in them that were not in Use till some Ages after, and a great many Incoherences. To say with _Le Sueur_, That they were written originally in _Greek_, and in latter Times translated into _Latin_[206], is but a poor Evasion. As for the Fable of _Hermes_, the Brother of _Pius_, who, by the Command of an Angel appearing to him in the Disguise of a Shepherd, is said to have written a Book shewing, that _Easter_ ought to be kept on _Sunday_, I refer the Reader to _Platina_, and such-like Writers. ----- Footnote 185: Opt. l. 2. p. 48. Footnote 186: Aug. ep. 53. Footnote 187: Epiph. hær. 42. Footnote 188: Euseb. l. 5. c. 24. Footnote 189: Iren. l. 3. c. 3. Footnote 190: Apud Euseb. l. 4. c. 22. Footnote 191: Epiph. hær. 42. c. 1. Footnote 192: Idem ib. Footnote 193: Bell. l. 2. c. 21. Footnote 194: Euseb. l. 4. c. 11. Footnote 195: Bar. ad ann. 159. Footnote 196: Euseb. chron. not. Scal. p. 119. Footnote 197: Euseb. l. 5. c. 24. Footnote 198: Pagi in Pio, n. 2. Footnote 199: Bar. ad ann. 166. Footnote 200: Bona rer. liturgic. l. 1. c. 3. Footnote 201: Blond. l. 2. c. 6. Footnote 202: Idem de la primauté. Footnote 203: Pears. in Ign. l. 2. p. 170. Footnote 204: Cotel. not. in script. Apost. p. 42, 43. Footnote 205: Nat. Alex. t. 1. p. 89.