Prophecies of_ Montanus.] But herein I must beg Leave to disagree with that learned Writer, and likewise with Dr. _Cave_[233]; for it was not, in my Opinion, _Eleutherius_, but his Successor _Victor_, who received the Prophecies of _Montanus_. _Tertullian_, the only Author who informs us, that the Dreams of that Enthusiast were approved by the Bishop of _Rome_, does not distinguish that Bishop by his Name; so that he is to be found out only by Reasoning and Chronology. Now, on one hand, we read in _Tertullian_, that _Montanus_ had been opposed by _the Predecessors_ of the Bishop, who embraced his Opinions[234]; and, on the other, in _Eusebius_[235], that the Heresy of _Montanus_ was first broached in the Year 171. the Eleventh of the Reign of _M. Aurelius_, and the Fourth of the Pontificate of _Soter_, the immediate Predecessor of _Eleutherius_; these Two therefore, and these alone, were the Bishops, who could oppose _Montanus_; and, since the first Broaching of that Heresy, the only Predecessors of the Bishop who embraced it. _Victor_, the Successor of _Eleutherius_, was greatly provoked against the _Asiatic_ Bishops, on account of their refusing to comply with the Custom of the Church of _Rome_, in the Celebration of _Easter_; and therefore might, out of Spite to them, approve of the Opinions which they had condemned: for _Montanus_, and his Followers, had been already condemned, as _Eusebius_ informs us[236], by several Synods held in _Asia Minor_. [Sidenote: _Councils held without consulting the Bishop of_ Rome.] No Opinion is now deemed heretical, unless condemned by the Bishop of _Rome_, who claims that Prerogative as peculiar to himself; but the Synods of _Asia_, the first mentioned in History, after that of the Apostles at _Jerusalem_, condemned the Opinions of _Montanus_, and cut him off from their Communion, without consulting or even acquainting therewith, the Bishop of _Rome_. But, to return to the Martyrs; some are of Opinion, that they condemned, in their Letters, the Tenets of _Montanus_, and his Followers; but, at the same time, wrote in their Favour, to far as to intreat the Bishops of _Asia_, and _Eleutherius_ Bishop of _Rome_, to treat them with Indulgence, and admit them, upon Repentance, to their Communion[237]. This is but a bare Conjecture, not authorized by any of the Antients; and we don’t find, that the _Montanists_ ever shewed the least Inclination to return to the Communion of the Church. [Sidenote: Florinus _and_ Blastus _broach their new Doctrine_.]