Section 303
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272 ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. hold the office quite eight months, when dying he transferred it to Stephen. To this Stephen, Dionysius wrote the first of his epis tles on baptism, as there was no little controversy, whether those turning from any heresy whatever, should be purified by baptism; as the ancient practice prevailed with regard to such, that they should only have imposition of hands with prayer. CHAPTER III. Cyprian, and the bishops connected with him, maintained, that those ivho had turned from heretical error, should be baptized again. CYPRIAN, who was bishop (Ttoipqv) of the church of Carthage, was of opinion, that they should be admitted on no conditions, before they were first purified from their error by baptism. But Stephen, who thought that no innovations should be made con trary to traditions that had prevailed from ancient times, was greatly offended at this. CHAPTER IV. The epistles that Dionysius wrote on this subject. DIONYSIUS, therefore, after addressing to him many arguments by letter, on this subject, finally showed, that as the persecution had abated, the churches, every where averse to the innovations of Novatus, had peace among themselves. But he writes as follows.