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Cornelius of Rome. A. D. 25 1
that Eusebius^ speaks of but three epistles of Cornelius to
that bishop of Antioch. However, it cannot be questioned
but Cornelius wrote other letters beside those mentioned by
Jerom. Eusebius'" speaks of a letter of his to Dionysius of
Alexandria. He likewise wrote several letters" to Cyprian,
two of which y we still have. And Tritemius expressly says,
that^ Cornelius wrote many letters to Cyprian bishop of
Carthage, and other letters to others. The eig^ht letters of
Cyprian to Cornelius, mentioned by Jerom, still remain.
1 shall by and by make use of the long- letter to Fabius,
mentioned by Jerom, there being* considerable fragments of
it preserved by Eusebius in his Ecclesiastical History.
There are not many texts of scripture quoted in the two
remaining letters of Cornelius to Cyprian, or the just-mentioned
fragments : but it may be well taken for granted, that
he received the same books with Cyprian and other christians
of that age.
I take no notice of the pieces which, without ground, have
been ascribed by some to this bishop of Rome. •Such as
desire farther information of these may consult^ Basnage,*'
Tillemont, and others.
II. Cornelius, as St. Jerom says, was succeeded by Lucius.
Herein he agrees with'' Eusebius, who adds, that Lucius did
not sit out full eight months. At present, the day of his
ordination and the duration of his episcopate are reckoned*^
uncertain. However, bishop Pearson thought it probable
that^ Lucius was ordained on the 25th of September, and sat
five whole months and ten days, dying on the fourth of
March, 253. Basnage^ differs very little from him. Lucius
was banished from Rome under Gall us ; but he soon° returned.
Of his speedy release there is no reason known, beside
the divine goodness. We have a letter of St. Cyprian to
Lucius, wherein he congratulates him'^ upon his return from
" H. E. L. vi. cap. 43. p. 242. B. C. D. " — k«i KopvrjXuf) n^
Kara 'Pwfirjv ypaipii, StKuntvoQ avm Tr}V Kara ts "RonaTH ettitoXj;!/. H. E.
1, vi. cap. 46. p. 247. D. '' Vid. Basnag. ibid.
y Apud Cyprian. Ep. 49, 50. [juxta Pamelium.] 46, 48.
^ Ad Cyprianum Carthaginensem episcopum plures scripsit epistolas, et
alias ad alios. Trithem. de Script. Ec. cap. 40. * Ann. 252. n. xii.
^ Mem. Ecc. T. iii. P. iii. Saint Corneille, Art. 17. p. 71. et Note xv.