THE SEVENTH COUNCIL OF CAETHAGE UNDER CYPRIAN. A.D. 256. CONCERNING THE BAPTISM OF HERETICS. THE JUDGMENT OF EIGHTT-SEVEN BISHOPS ON THE BAPTISM OF HERETICS. Pboosmitjm.— Wlien thePope Stephen had by his letterscon demned tliedecreesof theA fricanCouncilon thebaptism ofheretics*Cyprian lostno timeinholdinganothercouncil at Carthagewith a greaternumber of bishops. Having thereforesummoned eighty-sevenbishopsfrom Africa, Numidia, and Mauritania,who assembledat Carthagein the kalendsof September258, thisthird councilon the same matter of baptism was then celebrated;at the beginningof which,afterthe letterson eithersidehad been read,Cyprian,by implication,condemns theassump tionof Stepfien.Of thiscouncilthereexistsno further memorials than such as have been here collectedfrom Cyprian,and from St.Augustine,u De Baptismo contra Donatistas"book iii.ch.iv.v. and vi.,and book vii.ch. i ; and in thesenothingelseis containedthan thejudg ments of theeighty-sevenbishopson thenullityof baptism administeredby heretics.If any one desiresto seethese judgmentsimpugned,lethim consultAugustineas above. HEN, in the kalendsof September,a greatmany bishopsfrom the provincesof Africa,Numidia, and Mauritania,had met togetherat Carthage, togetherwith the presbytersand deacons,and a considerablepartof the congregationwho were alsopresent; 1 The resultsofthiscouncilaregiveninEp.lxxi.vol.i.p.256. 199