In the Pontificate of _Zephyrinus_, and, as _Eusebius_ seems to insinuate, in the Beginning of the Reign of _Caracalla_, that is, towards the Year 211 or 212. came to _Rome_ the celebrated _Origen_, being desirous, as he himself declared, to see that Church, so venerable for its Antiquity and Renown; but, after a very short Stay there, he returned to _Alexandria_[296]. [Sidenote: _Famous Dispute, at_ Rome, _between_ Caius _and_ Proclus.] About the same time happened, at _Rome_, the famous Dispute between _Caius_, a Presbyter of that Church and _Proclus_, a leading Man among the _Montanists_[297]. _Caius_ committed to Writing the Reasons and Arguments on both Sides[298]: but that Piece has not reached our Times, though it was well known to _Eusebius_, who styles it a Dialogue[299] and likewise to _Theodoret_[300]. [Sidenote: Tertullian _falls off from the Church_.] It was during the Pontificate of _Zephyrinus_ that _Tertullian_, the great Defender of the Christian Religion, fell off from the Catholic Church. His Fall, which was lamented by all the Faithful as a common Loss, is ascribed, by St. _Jerom_, to the Envy and ill Usage he met with from the _Roman_ Clergy[301]. [Sidenote: _The Titles of_ High Pontiff, _&c. whether, and in what Sense, given by_ Tertullian _to the Bishop of_ Rome.] But how ill soever he was used by them in those Days, he has perhaps met with worse Treatment at their Hands in latter Times; for they call upon him as an Evidence, to witness the Pope’s universal Jurisdiction, and to confirm to him the haughty Titles, which he assumes; but with how little Reason, will appear from the following Relation: A Catholic Bishop had, by a public Declaration, admitted Persons guilty of Adultery and Fornication to a Place among the Penitents. As _Tertullian_ was a strict Observer of Rites and Discipline, and a most zealous Asserter of the greatest Rigours of Religion, he could not brook so much Moderation and Indulgence: and therefore, in his Book _De Pudicitia_, which he wrote on that Occasion, he extols the Severity of the antient Discipline, aggravates the Greatness of those Offences, undertakes to confute the Arguments for Remission and Indulgence; and, speaking of the above-mentioned Declaration, he calls it _a peremptory Decree_, and styles the Bishop, who made it, _high Pontiff_, and _Bishop of Bishops_[302]. Hence the Advocates for the See of _Rome_ infer, that, even in those early Times, such Titles were given to the Bishop of _Rome_, and that his Decrees were even then deemed peremptory[303]. But in the first Place, it is uncertain whether that Declaration was published by the Bishop of _Rome_, or by some other great Bishop, perhaps of _Carthage_, of _Alexandria_, or _Antioch_; for no Bishop is named by _Tertullian_. In the second Place, it is evident from the Context, that, in the above-mentioned Passage, _Tertullian_ speaks ironically; and consequently all that can be inferred from thence is, that he gave those