The truth of this proposition will be shown by well attested acts of the acknowledged exercise of this superior jurisdiction.
St. VICTOR, POPE.[1] - In order to maintain Unity of discipline in the Church, he insisted on the Churches of Lesser Asia conforming to the observance of the Church of Rome, and of other Christian Churches, respecting the time of celebrating Easter. Several Councils held at Rome, in Palestine, in Gaul and other places, had unanimously determined the point, according to the Roman custom. Polycrates, and other Asiatic Bishops, were determined to adhere to their own custom. Pope Victor at last threatened to cut them off from the Communion of the Church. St. Irenæus in 200, wrote a letter to the Pope, in his own name and in that of his brethren in Gaul, recommending a toleration of the custom for some time longer, and advising him not totally to cut off so many Churches from the body of the Universal Church. But neither the Asiatic Bishops, whom Victor had threatened with excommunication, if they refused to comply with his requisition; nor those who endeavoured to dissuade him, out of motives of prudence and charity, from carrying his threat into execution, are known to have ever questioned his right to enforce his requisition. What could have given the Bishop of Rome jurisdiction over the Churches in Asia, but the Character of Supreme Pastor of the Universal Church? See Eusebius Eccl. Hist. L. v. c. 24. Polycrates' Letter to Victor. Ibid.
ST. STEPHEN,[2]—About the year 255, St.Stephen, Bishop of Rome, condemned the practice of rebaptising those, who had been otherwise, in due form, baptised by heretics. He required that St. Cyprian of Carthage, and Firmilianus of
