Bishop, assembled in _Ephesus_ a Council of all the Bishops of _Asia minor_, when it was unanimously resolved, that the Practice, which they had received from their Predecessors, ought not to be changed[277]. Agreeably to this Resolution, _Polycrates_ writ to _Victor_, acquainting him therewith; and, at the same time, modestly insinuating, that, as to his Menaces, he had better forbear them, since they had no manner of Effect upon him, or his Brethren[278]. [Sidenote: _He cuts them off from his Communion._] Upon the Receipt of this Letter _Victor_, giving the Reins to an impotent and ungovernable Passion, published bitter invectives against all the Churches of _Asia_, declared them cut off from his Communion, sent Letters of Excommunication to their respective Bishops; and, at the same time, in order to have them cut off from the Communion of the whole Church, writ to the other Bishops, exhorting them to follow his Example, and forbear communicating with their refractory Brethren of _Asia_[279]. They all complied, to be sure, with the Desire of the Head of the Church, who had Power to command; but, out of his great Moderation, chose to exhort and advise! [Sidenote: _No Regard had to his Excommunication._] No; not one followed his Example, or Advice; not one paid any sort of Regard to his Letters, or shewed the least Inclination to second him in such a rash and uncharitable Attempt; but, on the contrary, they all joined, as _Eusebius_ assures us[280], in sharply censuring and rebuking him, as a Disturber of the Peace of the Church. [Sidenote: _He is censured by_ Irenæus.] Among the rest _Irenæus_, then Bishop of _Lions_, writ him an excellent Letter, putting him in mind of the Moderation of his Predecessors, and telling him, that though he agreed with him in the Main of the Controversy, yet he could not approve of his cutting off whole Churches, for the Observance of Customs, which they had received from their Ancestors. He writ, at the same time, to many other Bishops[281], no doubt, to dissuade them from joining the Bishop of _Rome_. However that be, it is certain, that, by this means, the Storm was laid, a Calm was restored to the Church, and the _Asiatics_ allowed to follow undisturbed their antient Practice[282]. But Pope _Victor_, says _Baronius_[283], excommunicated the _Asiatics_, which he would never have ventured to do, had he not known, that he had Power and Jurisdiction over them. [Sidenote: _Had no Power over the_ Asiatics.] The Argument may be thus retorted against him: The _Asiatics_ made no Account of his Excommunication; which they would not have ventured to do, had they not known, that he had no Power nor Jurisdiction over them. Besides, _Victor_ did not excommunicate them, as that Word is now understood; that is, he did not cut them off from the Communion of the Catholic Church; for all the other Bishops continued to communicate with them, as they had done before; he only