exposition.[1] Cyprian's inference from St Matt. xvi. 18 was that "the Church should be built upon the Bishops, and that every act of the Church should be guided by them as presidents."[2]
And this is the principle upon which Cyprian acts. After assembling the local Bishops and forming their own decision, Cyprian wrote to Stephen, Bishop of Rome, in the following terms:—
"These considerations, dear brother, we bring home to your conscience out of regard to the office we hold in common, and to the simple love we bear you. We believe that you, too, from the reality of your religious feeling and faith, approve what is religious as well as true. Nevertheless, we know there are those who cannot readily part with principles once imbibed, or easily alter a view of their own, but who, without hurting the bond of peace and concord between colleagues, hold to special practices once adopted among them, and herein we do no violence to any one and impose no law. For, in the administration of the Church each several prelate has the free discretion of his own will having to account to the Lord for his action."[3]
Quoting Cyprian's own words St Augustine repeats the passage from a letter:—
