We have hitherto seen with how much Temper, Moderation, and Candor, the Dispute was managed on St. _Cyprian_’s Side: he determined nothing without the Advice and Approbation of his Collegues assembled in Council; the Determinations of the Council he imparted to other Bishops, leaving them at full Liberty to embrace or reject them, and declaring, that no Disagreement in Opinion should occasion in him the least Breach of Charity. How different was the Conduct of the Bishop of _Rome_! [Sidenote: Stephen_’s Pride and Arrogance_.] He condescended, indeed, to answer the synodal Letter of the _African_ Bishops; but did it with that Pride and Arrogance, that in After-ages became the Characteristic of his Successors. He begins with the Dignity of his See, and his pretended Succession to St. _Peter_, which he takes care to put them in mind of: in the next Place, he rejects their Decrees with the utmost Indignation, and attempts to confute the Arguments alleged to support them: he then proceeds to Commands and Menaces, ordering St. _Cyprian_ to quit his Opinion, and threatening to cut off, from the Communion of the Church, all those who should presume to differ from him, and rebaptize Heretics: he concludes his Letter with a bitter Invective against St. _Cyprian_, branding that great Luminary of the Church with the reproachful Names of _false Christ_, _false Apostle_, _deceitful Workman_[439]. Such was Pope _Stephen_’s Answer to a most respectful Letter from a Council of 71 Bishops. _Pompeius_, Bishop of _Sabrata_ in the _Tripolitana_, hearing of this Letter, and being desirous to peruse it, as he had done all the rest on the same Subject, [Sidenote: _He is severely censured by St._ Cyprian.] St. _Cyprian_, in Compliance with his Desire, sent him a Copy of it; and at the same time writ him a Letter, wherein he treats _Stephen_, upon the just Provocation he had given him, with more than ordinary Sharpness and Acrimony, charging him with _Pride and Impertinence_, with _Self-contradiction and Ignorance_, with _Indiscretion_, _Obstinacy_, _Childishness_; nay, he styles him a _Favourer and Abetter of Heretics against the Church of God_[440]. St. _Cyprian_ was more provoked at _Stephen_’s abusive Language, than moved either by his Authority or Menaces. St. _Austin_ supposes the Opinion he held to have been false and erroneous; and yet owns, that he was not obliged to yield to the Authority of _Stephen_, nor give up the Point, till he was convinced by dint of Reason, or by the Decision of an Oecumenical Council[441]. [Sidenote: _St._ Cyprian _assembles a great Council at_ Carthage;] However, as St. _Cyprian_ sought nothing but Truth, upon the Receipt of _Stephen_’s Letter, he summoned a great Council, in order to have the Question canvassed anew, and examined with more Care and Attention. The Council met accordingly, on the First of _September_ 256. consisting of 85 Bishops, a great Number of Presbyters and Deacons, and a considerable Part of the People[442].