Section 241
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210 ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. not to cut off whole churches of God, who observed the tradition of an ancient custom. After many other matters urged by him, he also adds the following : " For not only is the dispute respect ing the day, but also respecting the manner of fasting. For some think, that they ought to fast only one day, some two, some more days ; some compute their day as consisting of forty hours night and day ; and this diversity existing among those that observe it, is not a matter that has just sprung up in our times, but long ago among those before us, who perhaps not having ruled with suf ficient strictness, established the practice that arose from their simplicity and inexperience. And yet with all, these maintained peace, and we have maintained peace with one another ;. and the very difference in our fasting establishes the unanimity in our faith." To these he also adds a narrative, which I may here appropriately insert. It is as follows : " And those presbyters who governed the church before Soter, and over which you now preside, I mean Anicetus and Pius, Hyginus with Telesphorus and Xystus, neither did themselves observe, not did they permit those after them to observe it. And yet, though they themselves did not keep it, they were not the less on peace with those from churches where it was kept, whenever they came to them ; al though to keep it then was so much the more in opposition to those who did not.* Neither at any time did they cast off any merely for the sake of the form. But those very presbyters be fore thee, who did not observe it, sent the eucharistf to those of churches who did. And when the blessed Polycarp went to Rome, in the time of Anicetus, and they had a little difference among themselves likewise respecting other matters, they im mediately were reconciled, not disputing much with one another on this head. For neither could Anicetus persuade Polycarp not to observe it, because he had always observed it with John the * The meaning of this passage, if it has any obscurity, is, that the act of observing and celebrating, was a more decided attitude of opposition, in the very face of the church that did not observe the festival at this time. And that the western church bore with this, is here adduced as proof of the love and unity prevailing in the churches. j-The bishops were accustomed at Easter to send the eucharist to one another.