To this Assembly were read the Letter of _Jubaianus_ to St. _Cyprian_, his Answer to it, and _Jubaianus_’s Reply; with the Letter of the former Council to _Stephen_, and _Stephen_’s Answer to the Council. These Pieces being read, St. _Cyprian_ made a short Discourse, exhorting his Collegues to speak their Mind freely: the Words he used on this Occasion alluded, without Doubt, to the Pride and Arrogance of the Bishop of _Rome_; _Let none of us_, says he, _set up for the Bishop of Bishops; let none of us presume to reduce our Collegues by a tyrannical Fear to the Necessity of obeying_: he concluded with protesting anew, in the most solemn manner, that he left every one the full Liberty of following what Opinion he liked best; and that no Man should, on that score, be judged by him, or separated from his Communion[443]. [Sidenote: _which confirms the antient Practice_.] The Discourse being finished, each Bishop delivered his Opinion, and St. _Cyprian_ the last, all approving, with one Consent, the Baptizing of Heretics. _Pamelius_ and others count 87 Bishops present at the Council, because _Natalis_ of _Oea_ spoke for the Two other Bishops of _Libya Tripolitana_, viz. _Pompeius_ of _Sabrata_, and _Dioga_ of _Leptis the Great_[444], who were absent. The Third Council of _Carthage_ having thus confirmed the Decrees of the Two former, notwithstanding the Threats and Menaces of the Bishop of _Rome_, it was thought adviseable for the Peace of the Church to acquaint him therewith; and at the same time to inform him more particularly of the Reasons, on which their Opinion was grounded. [Sidenote: _Deputies sent to_ Stephen, _how treated_.] Deputies were accordingly dispatched to _Rome_ for that Purpose; but _Stephen_ not only refused to see or hear them, but would not allow any of his Flock to correspond with them, to supply them with the Necessaries of Life, or even to admit them under the same Roof; excluding them not only from his Communion, but from common Hospitality, says, _Firmilian_, who wrote this very Year[445]. [Sidenote: _He excommunicates all who held the opposite Opinion._] He did not stop here; but, transported with Rage, or Zeal, as _Baronius_ is pleased to style it, he cut off from his Communion all the Bishops who had assisted at the Council, and all those who held the same Opinion, that is, the Bishops of _Africa_, _Numidia_, _Mauritania_, _Cilicia_, _Cappadocia_, _Galatia_, and _Egypt_[446]. But _Stephen_’s Anathemas proved, as those of _Victor_’s had done before, _bruta fulmina_; no Regard was had to them, no, not even by those of his own Party; who, by continuing in Communion with those whom he had cut off from his, sufficiently declared their Thoughts touching his rash and unchristian Conduct. This Dispute, says St. _Austin_, occasioned no Schism in the Church, the Bishops continuing united in Charity, notwithstanding their Disagreement in Opinion[447]. No Thanks to