Section 294
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 263 CHAPTER XLIII. Of JVovatus, his manners and habits, and his heresy. ABOUT this time appeared Novatus, a presbyter of the church of Rome, and a man elevated with haughtiness against these (that had fallen), as if there was no room for them to hope salvation, not even, if they performed every thing for a genuine and pure confession. He thus became the leader of the peculiar heresy of those who, in the pomp of their imaginations, called themselves Cathari. A very large council being held on account of this, at which sixty indeed of the bishops, but a still greater number of presbyters and deacons were present; the pastors of the remain ing provinces, according to their places, deliberated separately what should be done : this decree was passed by all ; " That Novatus, indeed, and those who so arrogantly united with him, and those that had determined to adopt the uncharitable and most inhuman opinion of the man, these they considered among those that were alienated from the church ; but that brethren who had incurred any calamity should be treated and healed with the remedies of repentance." There are also epistles of Cornelius, bishop of Rome, addressed to Fabius, bishop of Antioch, which show the transactions of the council of Rome, as also, the opinions of all those in Italy and Africa, and the regions there. Others there are also written in the Roman tongue, from Cyprian, and the bishops with him in Africa. In these, it is showrn that they also agree in the neces sity of relieving those who had fallen under severe temptations, and also in the propriety of excommunicating the author of the heresy, and all that were of his party. To these is attached also an epistle from Cornelius on the decrees of the council, besides others on the deeds of Novatus, from which we ma y add extracts, that those who read the present work may know the circum stances respecting him. What kind of a character Novatus was, Cornelius informs Fabius, writing as follows : " But that you may know, says he, how this singular man, who formerly