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6 Credibilily of the Gospel History.
school. Besides, Cyprian was not only master of the theory
of his art, but of the practical part likewise. He not only
understood the rules of rhetoric, and how to teach others
eloquence, but he was also eloquent himself; and very probably
composed for others arguments, or pleadings, or
harangues, or panegyrics, and such like discourses, for""
which he v» ould be well recompensed : and in these two
thing's, teaching- persons rhetoric, or qualifying them for the
bar, and perhaps sometimes composing pleadings for his
scholars, or others, I take to be comprehended the full meaning-
and intention of St. Augustine's * words, Avhere he speaks
of Cyprian's promoting or improving forensic disputes and
contentions.
Cyprian had a quick advancement to the highest offices
in the church. This is intimated by Jerom, and more particularly
related by' Pontius. Bishop Pearson" computes,
that he was made presbyter in 247, and bishop of Carthage
near the end of the year 248. The learned Benedictine, who
writes the life of St. Cyprian prefixed to Stephen Baluse's
edition of this father, thinks, that' he might be baptized in
the year 244 or 245, and made bishop in 248 or 249, supposing
it to be scarcely possible to determine exactly and with
certainty the year of those events. Pagi likewise thought
it to be doubtful, whether"' Cyprian was advanced to the
episcopate in the year 248 or 249.
Cyprian" was made bishop against his own inclhiation,
at the general and earnest desire of the people of Carthage.
But his election y was opposed by several presbyters of that
church, five in number, Avho' afterAvards gave him a great
deal of uneasiness. It is no where expressly said Avho was
Nunc probabo quas tu ab ore nostro laudes Cyprianae desideres. Certe ai
adhuc in schola rhetonim verba discipulis venderem, prius ab eis mercedem
sumerem. Vendore tibi volo laudem pudicissimEe conjugis tuse; prius mihi
mercedem da, pudicitiam tuam. Aug. Ep. 259. n. 4. al. 125.
' Et ut tantae vocis tuba, quae forensium mendaciorum certamina solebat
acuere, ad prosternendum pretiosis sanctomm mortibas dialDolum Cliristo miiitantes
et in ipso gloriantes devotos martyres excitaret. August. Semi. 312.
al. de diversis 116. ' Presbyteriiun et Sacerdotium statim accepit.
Pont. p. 2. Judicio Dei et plebis favore ad officium sacerdotii et episcopatus
gi'adum adhuc neophytus, et, ut putabatur, novel'a«, eleclus est. Id. p. 3.
" Pearson. Ann. Cypr. p. 8, 9. " Vit. S. Cypr. (ut supra) sect,
ii. p. 42. et sect. iv. p. 45. fin. " Vid. Pagi Crif. 248. n. 2.
" Non praeteribo etiam illud eximium, quemadmodum cum in dilectionera
ejus et honorem totus populus adspirante Domino prosiliret, hurailiter ille
secessit, antiquioribus cedens et indignum se titulo tanti honoris existimans, ut
dignus magis fieret. Pont. p. 3. ^ Quidam ilii rostiterunt, etiam
ut vinceret. Pont. p. 3. Vid. etiam Cypr. Ep. 43. al. 40. ' Vid
Pear. Ann. Cypr. 251. n. 3.