But what most of all distinguished the Pontificate of _Victor_ was, the famous Controversy about the Celebration of _Easter_, between the Eastern and Western Bishops; the former keeping that Solemnity on the 14th Day of the first Moon, on what Day soever of the Week it happened to fall; and the latter putting it off till the _Sunday_ following. This, surely, could not be a Point of any Consequence, since the Apostles had not thought fit to settle any thing concerning it; nay, by observing the Paschal Solemnity themselves, some on the one Day, and some on the other, as it is manifest they did[268]; they plainly declared, that it was quite indifferent on what Day it was observed. Accordingly, from the Apostles Time to _Victor_’s, each Church had followed the Custom and Practice established by their respective Founders, without giving the least Disturbance to others, or being, on that Account, disturbed by them[269]. Pope _Anicetus_ even suffered such of the _Asiatics_ as happened to be at _Rome_, to celebrate _Easter_ after the manner of _Asia_[270]: _Soter_, indeed; and his Successor _Eleutherius_, obliged those who lived at _Rome_ to conform to the Custom of that Church; but that did not prevent their sending the _Eucharist_, or Sacrament, to the Bishops who followed the opposite Practice[271]; for a Custom then obtained among Bishops to send the _Eucharist_ to each other, especially at _Easter_, in Token of Communion and Peace; but this Custom was suppressed by the 14th Canon of the Council held in the Fourth Century at _Laodicea_[272]. [Sidenote: Victor_’s haughty Conduct_.] _Victor_, not satisfied with what his Two immediate Predecessors had done, took upon him to impose the _Roman_ Custom on all the Churches that followed the contrary Practice. [Sidenote: _Is opposed by the Bishop of_ Ephesus,] But, in this bold Attempt, which we may call the first Essay of Papal Usurpation, he met with a vigorous and truly Christian Opposition from _Polycrates_, at that Time Bishop of _Ephesus_, and one of the most eminent Men in the Church, both for Piety and Learning. He had studied, says _Eusebius_[273], the Scriptures with great Attention, had conferred with Christians from all Parts of the World, and had ever conformed his Life to the Rules of the Gospel. _Jerom_ speaks of him as a Man of excellent Parts, and one universally respected[274]. In the present Controversy, he peremptorily refused to relinquish the Practice of his own Church, which had been first introduced by the Apostles St. _John_ and St. _Philip_, and had been handed down to him by Seven Bishops of his own Family[275]. Hereupon _Victor_, impatient of Contradiction, wrote a Letter, threatening to cut him off from his Communion, unless he forthwith complied with the Practice of the Church of _Rome_[276]. [Sidenote: _and by a Council of all the Bishops of_ Asia minor.] _Polycrates_, greatly surprised at the hasty Proceedings of his Fellow