The Conference at Carthage.
THE Catholick Bishops had often demanded, ever since the Year 403. a Conference with * 1.1 the Donatist Bishops, to examine the Reasons which these pretended for their Separation from the Church in an amicable manner. The Donatist Bishops had constantly refused it, till the Year 406. and then consented to have one. They caused this Design to be authorized by an Order of the Emperor Honorius, dispatched at Ravenna the 14th. of October 410. Count Marcellinus was nominated President; and for the Execution of that Order, Two Rules wer made; the one to appoint the Day of the Conference, and the other to fix the manner of Procee∣dings, and to oblige the Bishops of both sides, to declare whether they accepted of it.
The Conference began at Carthage upon the First Day of June 411. The Donatist Bishops met there to the Number of 278. and the Catholicks were 286.
Marcellinus ordered, That Seven Bishops of each Party should be chosen to speak, of whom the chiefest of the Catholicks were St. Augustin, and Alypius, and that besides these, Seven should be named to assist as Councellors, and Four to over-look, that the Notaries should faithfully set down what should be said. He commanded also, That every one should set his Hand to what he asserted; and that whatsoever was done should be communicated to the People. He orde∣red, That the Thirty Six deputed Bishops should be admitted into the Place of the Conference. But the Donatists would be all there; and the Catholicks were contented, that their Eighteen Deputies only should be present.
The First Day was spent in personal Contests, concerning the Bishop's Qualifications. Marcellinus confessed at First, That it was above his capacity to be a judge of that Cause; and that it should rather be decided by those, of whose Disputes he undertook to judge. He caused the Emperor's Letter to be read, whereby he was appointed to be Judge. He promises them not to judge of any thing that should not be clearly proved by either Party. He gave the Do∣natists leave to chuse one to be judge with him of that Cause.
Nothing Remarkable was done in the Second Meeting on the 3d. of June. The Donatists having desired time to examine the Acts of the First, Marcellinus granted it to them, and ad∣journed the Conference to the Eighth Day of that Month.
An Accident happened about the manner of their Session. Marcellinus having desired the Bishops to sit down, the Donatists pretended, That it was forbiden by Scripture. The Catho∣lick Bishops would not keep their Seats, while the Donatist Bishops were standing. Marcelli∣nus, out of Respect to the Bishops, caused his Seat to be taken away.
In the Eighth Day of the Third Session, the Donatists disputed long about the Qualities of Opposers, and Defenders. But at last, St. Augustin obliged them to come to the main Que∣stion, which was, Where was the Catholick Church? The Donatists confessed, That that was it, which was spread throughout the whole Earth; and so they had only now to examine Which Party was united with the Churches of other Parts of the World: And in this Point, the Catholicks had the upper hand. To divert the Question, the Donatists desired, That the Acts which they had in their Hands might be read: And so they entered upon the Examination of Caecilian's case. They presented a Memorial, wherein they affirmed, That the F••ults of every particular Member, infected a whole Community; and consequently, that Caecilian be∣ing guilty, the Catholicks were in the wrong for keeping with him, and that they had a suf∣ficient Reason to divide from him. This was the Point in Question. St. Augustin answered it fully, proving out of Holy Scripture, that the Church upon Earth will always consist of good and evil Members. He confirmed that Proposition by St. Cyprian's Authority, and urged the Donatists Example against themselves, alledging their Behaviour towards the Maximianists. After this, St. Augustin concludes, That though Caecilian had been guilty, yet that argued no∣thing against the Cause of the Church.
Yet Marcellinus would have it examined, Whether he was really Guilty: His Innocence was proved, as well as that of Felix of Aptungis, who ordained him by Acts of the Judgments given in their behalf, whereby they had been pronounced guiltless of the Crimes lay'd to their Charge.