As the Church of _Rome_ was rent by the Schism of _Novatian_, so was the Church of _Carthage_ by that of _Felicissimus_; and as the former, upon his being excommunicated by _Cornelius_, and the Council of _Rome_, had recourse to St. _Cyprian_, in like manner the latter, being cut off from the Communion of the Church by St. _Cyprian_, and the Council of _Carthage_, had recourse to _Cornelius_. But as the Doctrine of _Felicissimus_, though diametrically opposite to that of _Novatian_, was equally repugnant to the Catholic Truth, and to the Discipline established in the Church, as I have observed above, he was at first rejected by _Cornelius_, with great Steadiness and Resolution. But the Bishop of _Rome_ had, at last, been frightened into a Compliance, had he not been animated and encouraged by St. _Cyprian_: for the Followers of _Felicissimus_ having, in Imitation of the _Novatians_, appointed one of their own Faction, named _Fortunatus_, Bishop of _Carthage_, _Felicissimus_ took upon himself to carry to _Cornelius_ the Letters of the new and Third Bishop of that City. Accordingly he set out for _Rome_, attended by a Troop of seditious, desperate, and abandoned Men, says St. _Cyprian_[397]. _Cornelius_ rejected them at first with great Firmness, and immediately acquainted St. _Cyprian_ with what had passed; but _Felicissimus_ threatening to read publicly the Letters he had brought, if _Cornelius_ did not receive them, and to discover many scandalous Things, he was not a little intimidated. He therefore writ a second Letter to St. _Cyprian_, but betrayed in it a great deal of Fear and Weakness: however, the excellent Letter, which St. _Cyprian_ writ in Answer to his, inspired him with new Vigour, and kept him steady[398]. [Sidenote: _The Persecution renewed by_ Gallus.]