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90 Credibiidij of the Guspel History,
mans. Nevertheless, afterwards there arose a dispute among
them upon this point, m hich divided the sect ; as is related
by " Socrates and " Sozomen.
I took notice just now, that Cyprian was not unwilling" to
allow that Novatus thought rightly about the Trinity ; but
M'hether he was really orthodox, or held the Nicene faith, is
another question, and a point not so easily decided. From"
Jerom andy Rufinus we learn, that the people of the Macedonian
sect at Constantinople were fond of the book which
Novatus wrote upon the Trinity, supposing it favourable to
their notion about the Spirit. And among the moderns
Frederic Spanheim says, that^ though Novatus maintained a
Trinity of persons in one Godhead, against Sabellius, and
asserted Christ's divinity, yet he speaks in a most dangerous
manner of the Spirit, as less than Christ, and a creature.
Tillemont^ says, that, in the 22d and 24th chapters of his
book upon the Trinity, he teaches the Son to be less than the
Father, and the Spirit to be less than the Son; and that there
are in him other things tending- to Arianism. Du Pin'^ and"^
Bishop Bull are better satisfied Avith the treatise upon the
Trinity. But enough of that matter.
The Novatians are said by several ancient writers to have
condemned second marriages as unlawful and sinful, insomuch
that they would not receive those to communion who married
a second time. So*^ Epiphanius, and*^ Augustine in his Book
and in another work, entitled, Of the Advantage
of Heresies :
of Widowhood, if it be his, he' joins them with the Cataphrygians,
as agreeing with them in this respect : and Rufinus°
upon the Creed says roundly, that Novatus, meaning, I
" Socr. 1. V. cap. 21. p. 282. ^ Soz. 1. vi. cap. 24. 1. vii. cap. 18.
" Transit ad inclytum martyrem CyprJanum, et dicit, Tertulliani librum, cui
titulus est de Trinitate, sub nomine ejus Constantiuopoli a IMacedonianse partis
haereticis lectitari. In quo crimine mentitur duo. Nam nee Tertulliani liber
est, nee Cypriani dicitur, sed Novatiani, cujus et inscnbitur titulo et auctoris
eloquium styli proprietas demonstrat. Hieron. Apol. adv. Ruf. 1. 2. p. 415.
T. iv. Bened. ^ Vid. Ruf. de Adult. Libr. Orig. ap. Hieron. T. v. p. 253.
^ Ac quamquam in una deitate perj-onarura Tnnitatem distinguit, contra
Sabellium, adstruatque Christi divinitatem : tamen de Sp. S. ut minore Chnsto,
et creatura, locutus admodum periculose est. Spanh. Hist. Ec. Sect iii. p. 782.
^ See TiUemont. Les Novatiens, art. 3.
'' Du Pin. Bibl. des Auf. Eccl. " Def. Fid. >'ic. Sect, ii.cap. x.
^ OiiTOi CE s ftsXovrai ciya/iotf nriKOiviiivtiv' a yap nc [iera to ftaitriana
iTvva. 495. ® Secundas nuptias non admittunt. Hajr. 38.
'' Aug. de Bono. Vid. cap. 4. T. vi, Bened.
8 Et quod Novatus solicitavit, lapsis pcenitentiam denegando, et secundas
nuptias, cum forte iniri eas necessitas exegerit, condemnando. Rufin. in Symb.
Ap. cap. 39. p. 22G. ap. Cyprian. Op. edit. Baluz. p. 27. Oxon. ap. Hieron.
Ojjer. p. 142. f. T. v. Benedict.