Section 307
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276 ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. said, the landmarks of thy neighbour, which thy fathers have placed. His fourth epistle On Baptism was written to Dyonisius at Rome, who was then a presbyter, but ere long was ordained bishop of that church. From this it is evident, that this same Dionysius of Rome was a learned and excellent man, as is proved by the Dionysius of Alexandria. But he wrote to him, among other matters, respecting the affairs of Novatus, as follows. CHAPTER VIII. The heterodoxy of Novatus. WE justly cherish an aversion to the Novatian, says he, by whom the church is split asunder, and some of the brethren have been drawn into impiety and blasphemy, and most nefari ous doctrine has been introduced respecting God, and our most gracious Lord and Saviour Christ has been calumniated as de void of compassion ; which also, beside all this, sets aside the holy baptism, and overturns the faith and confession that pre cede it, and totally drives away the Holy Spirit from themselves, should there happen to be any hope yet, that he would remain or return to them. CHAPTER IX. The ungodly baptism of heretics. BUT there was also a fifth epistle written by him to Xystus, bishop of Rome, in which, stating many things against the here tics, he relates that some occurrence like the following took place in his times. " Really brother," says he, " I need your counsel, and I beg your opinion, on an affair that has presented itself to me, and in which, indeed, I am afraid I may be deceived. One of the brethren that collected with us, who was considered a believer long since, even before my ordination, and who I think assem