_Faustinus_, and the other Bishops of _Gaul_, did not apply, on this Occasion, to _Stephen_ alone, but to him, and to St. _Cyprian_. Why then should their applying to the Bishop of _Rome_ be construed, as it is, by all the Roman Catholic Writers, into a tacit Acknowlegement of his universal Jurisdiction, and not the like Construction be put on their applying to the Bishop of _Carthage_? But, in Truth, neither can bear such a Construction, since the Bishops of _Gaul_ did not refer the Cause of _Marcian_ either to _Stephen_, or to St. _Cyprian_: they writ to both only for their Advice and Approbation. _Stephen_ was backward, for Reasons unknown to us, in giving his; and therefore St. _Cyprian_, in a Letter, which he writ on this Occasion, pressed him to encourage with his Letters the People of _Arles_, and the Bishops of _Gaul_, to depose _Marcian_, and appoint another in his room[418]. Was not this plainly acknowleging, not in the Bishop of _Rome_, but in the People and Clergy, the Power of deposing one Bishop, and appointing another in his room?
But to return to _Stephen_: His rash Conduct had involved the Churches of _Spain_ in endless Calamities, had not St. _Cyprian_, and the other Bishops of _Africa_, zealously interposed. The Bishops of _Spain_, having judged Two of their Collegues unworthy of the Episcopacy, _viz._ _Basilides_ of _Leon_ and _Astorga_, and _Martial_ of _Merida_, had disposed of their Sees to others, appointing _Sabinus_ in the room of the former, and _Felix_ in that of the latter. They were both _Libellatici_, and guilty of many other Crimes, for which _Martial_ had been deposed; but _Basilides_, returning to himself, and conscious of his own Guilt, had voluntarily resigned, declaring he should think it a great Happiness to be readmitted, after due Satisfaction, to the Communion of the Church, even in the Capacity of a Layman. But, Ambition getting the better of all his good Resolutions, he soon began to pant after his former Condition; and, thinking the Favour and Interest of the Bishop of _Rome_ might greatly contribute to his Re-establishment, he undertook a Journey to that City; [Sidenote: _He suffers himself to be imposed upon._] and there, as St. _Cyprian_ expresses himself, _imposed upon our Collegue_ Stephen, _who lived at a great Distance, and was ignorant of the Truth, seeking unjustly to be restored to his Bishoprick, from which he had been justly deposed_[419]. Being thus admitted to the Communion of the Bishop of _Rome_, he returned well satisfied to _Spain_, and there exercised all Episcopal Functions, as he had formerly done. St. _Cyprian_ does not tell us, in express Terms, that _Martial_ too had recourse to _Rome_; but that he had, may, perhaps, be gathered from his Words; for he writes, that, notwithstanding the Craft and Deceit _Martial_ had used, probably in imposing upon _Stephen_, he had not been able to preserve his Episcopacy[420]. Besides, he acted as a Bishop after he had been deposed by a Synod; which he would have hardly attempted, had he not been countenanced by some Bishop of Rank and Dignity. Be that as it will, the Churches of _Leon_, _Astorga_, and _Merida_, applied, in this their Distress, to the Bishops of _Africa_, imploring, both by Letters and Deputies, their Advice and Assistance. The Deputies were the Two new Bishops _Felix_ and _Sabinus_; and their Deputation was backed by a pressing Letter from _Felix_, Bishop of _Saragosa_, whom St. _Cyprian_ styles a Propagator of the Faith, and Defender of the Truth[421]. [Sidenote: Martial _of_ Merida _excommunicated by the Bishops of_ Africa, _tho’ admitted by_ Stephen _to his Communion_.] These Letters being read at _Carthage_, in a Council of 28 Bishops, with St. _Cyprian_ at their Head, it was concluded, that _Basilides_ and _Martial_ ought not to be acknowleged as Bishops; that it was not lawful to communicate with them; that such Bishops as did, ought to be excommunicated themselves; and, finally, that their imposing upon _Stephen_, instead of giving them any kind of Right to the Sees they had forfeited by their Wickedness, added to their Guilt. By the same Council, the Election of _Sabinus_ and _Felix_ was confirmed, and they acknowleged by all the _African_ Bishops as their Collegues[422].