Elucidation.
————————————
(To them we have succeeded, p. 572.)
The
theory of Cyprian is
thus recognised in full council, by his colleagues, with respect to the
unity of the Church Catholic. They have never heard of any
counter theory, and they state it as a matter of course.
Fortunatus of “Tuccaboris” had shortly before referred to
the Church as “built upon a
rock
,” with evident
reference to
the faith
, for he adds, “not upon
heresy
.” Of a perpetuated
construction
, of
which any one bishop was the perpetuated
foundation
, nobody as
yet seems to have dreamed. “Other
foundation
can no
man lay than that is laid,” says St. Paul; viz.,
“Christ.” On Him, “the Stone, Elect,
precious,” St. Peter and all the apostles (the prophets as well)
are built as foundation-stones; and we also, as “lively
stones,” are built upon that foundation,
4814
into a holy temple.
This Council of Carthage sustains Cyprian also in
his judgment concerning the question of baptism, and it is a mistake to
say that it was ever overruled. Compare St. Basil,
Ad
Amphilochium
(
Epist. Canonica prima
, p. 19, vol. iii., ed.
Paris, 1638), where he refers to Cyprian and Firmilian
(“
our
Firmilian”) as “ancient men,” and
treats the question as still an open one.
4814
See p. 522, sec. 16,
supra
. All this interprets the
Petra
, not “Petrus.”