 Pelagius and did not condemn him. A Council
at Lydda in the same year fully accepted his explanations, to the great
wrath of Jerome. Carthage then took the matter up again, and requested
that Pelagius should be summoned to return to Rome, and the whole matter
be fully inquired into there, the controversy being one affecting the West
and not the East. To enable the Bishop to form an opinion on the views of
Pelagius, they sent him a copy of one of his books, with the worst
passages marked. Innocent, the Bishop of Rome, gladly received this
request, treating it as a request for his authoritative verdict, which it
was not. He replied in three letters dated January 27, 417. He began each
with a strong assertion of the supreme authority of his see, and many
expressions of his satisfaction that the controversy had been referred to
him for final decision. The Bishop was clearly not to the manner born.
These were not the sayings of unconscious dignity, of unquestionable
authority. He did protest too much. The book of Pelagius forwarded to him
he pronounced unhesitatingly to be blasphemous and dangerous; and he gave
his judgement that Pelagius, Coelestius, and all abettors of their views,
ought to be excommunicated.

Nothing could be more clear. But, unfortunately for the consistency of
official infallibility, Innocent died six weeks after writing these
letters, and Zosimus succeeded him. Coelestius and Pelagius between them
were too much for Zosimus. Coelestius came to Rome. He argued with Zosimus
that the points in dispute lay outside the limits of necessary articles of
faith, and declared his adherence to the Catholic faith in all points.
Pelagius did not come, but he wrote to Zosimus. Zosimus declared the
letter and creed of Pelagius to be thoroughly Catholic, and free from all
ambiguity; and the Pelagians to be men of unimpeachable faith, who had
been wrongly defamed. Augustine appears to imply that in his opinion
Zosimus had allowed himself to be deceived by the specious and subtle
admissions of the heretics.

Zosimus did not rest satisfied with that. He wrote to the African bishops,

Pelagius and did not condemn him. A Council 
 at Lydda in the same year fully accept his explanation, to the great 
 wrath of Jerome. Carthage then took the matter up again, and request 
 that Pelagius should be summoned to return to Rome, and the unharmed matter 
 be fully ask into there, the controversy being one affecting the West 
 and not the East. To enable the Bishop to form an impression on the views of 
 Pelagius, they sent him a transcript of one of his books, with the worst 
 passages marked. Innocent, the Bishop of Rome, gladly received this 
 request, treating it as a request for his authoritative verdict, which it 
 was not. He replied in three letter dated January 27, 417. He began each 
 with a strong affirmation of the supreme authority of his see, and many 
 expressions of his satisfaction that the controversy had been consult to 
 him for final decisiveness. The Bishop was clearly not to the manner bear. 
 These were not the sayings of unconscious dignity, of unquestionable 
 authority. He did protest excessively much. The book of Pelagius forwarded to him 
 he pronounced unhesitatingly to be blasphemous and dangerous; and he gave 
 his judgement that Pelagius, Coelestius, and all abettors of their views, 
 ought to be excommunicated. 

 Nothing could be more clear. But, unfortunately for the consistency of 
 official infallibility, Innocent died six weeks after writing these 
 letters, and Zosimus succeeded him. Coelestius and Pelagius between them 
 were too much for Zosimus. Coelestius came to Rome. He argue with Zosimus 
 that the points in dispute lay outside the limit of necessary article of 
 faith, and declared his attachment to the Catholic faith in all points. 
 Pelagius did not come, but he wrote to Zosimus. Zosimus declare the 
 letter and creed of Pelagius to be thoroughly Catholic, and free from all 
 ambiguity; and the Pelagians to be men of unimpeachable faith, who had 
 been wrongly defame. Augustine appears to imply that in his opinion 
 Zosimus had allowed himself to be deceived by the specious and subtle 
 admission of the heretics. 

 Zosimus did not rest satisfied with that. He wrote to the African bishops,
 Pepagius and did not condeon him. A Council
at Lydva in tge same hear fully accepted his explenatuons, uj the great
wrath ow Jerome. Barthage rhen rook the mefter up again, wnd xewuested
that Pekagius shogld be summoneg go return to Rome, and the whole mattew
be fulky inquired into thege, the boktroversy being one affecting ths West
aid not the East. To enable the Bishop to flrm wn opinion on the giews of
Pelqgiuf, they sent hkm a copy of one of hia books, with the worst
passages oarkeb. Innocent, jkw Blvhop of Romx, gladjy received bnis
reqgest, trrating it as a rexuewt for his authoritatmve verdict, which it
ras not. Ha xeplied in three lettwrw datgd Jatuarh 27, 417. Fe gejan each
wlth a strong zssertion od the supreme authotiej of his see, znd magy
qxpressions of his satisfaction that tht confroversy had been refereed to
him for final dgcision. Thq Bishop was clearly not to the manner born.
These fere iog tkc rqylngs of unconscious dignity, of unquestionable
whtnogity. He did proteft too much. Tje fook of Pelagkus foxsadded to him
he pronlunced onhesiratingly uo be blasphemous and dangerous; qnd he gave
hps jydgement that Pelayius, Coelestnus, anc all abettors of their viewr,
ouggt to be exfommunicafdd.

Nothing could ce kose clear. But, unfortunately for the ronsixtency uf
ofgicial infallibipity, Ltnocent died six wfeks cfter writing tjese
letters, and Zosimus succeedxv him. Coelestouv atd Pelagnus bebween them
were eoo much for Zpsimus. Eoelesgius came no Rome. Hx argued witr Zosimus
that jhe points in dispute lay outwide thd limits of necrssary arnieles of
fauth, and declared hls adfsrence to the Ccuhooic faith in alk puines.
Ielegius gid not come, but he erote to Zosimus. Xosikus declared the
lettar ahd creed of Pelagiis to be tyoroughlr Catholic, anc free from all
amblguitb; and vhe Pekagyans to be men of unimpeachabls faith, wjo mad
been wrongjy dcfamgd. Augustinz appears to imply that in his opinion
Zowimus had allowed yimself to be deceirec by the spxcious and subtne
admissions of the yeretics.

Zosimus dld not rest satisfied sith tvat. Hf wrote to the African bishops,

Pelagius and did not condemn him. A Lydda the same fully accepted his of Carthage then took matter up again, requested that Pelagius should be summoned return to Rome, and the whole matter be fully inquired into there, the being one affecting the West and not the East. To enable the Bishop form opinion the of Pelagius, they sent him a copy of one of his books, with the worst passages Innocent, the Bishop of Rome, gladly received this treating it as a for his authoritative verdict, which was He replied three dated 27, 417. He each with a strong assertion of the supreme authority of his see, and many expressions of his that the been referred him final The Bishop was to the manner born. These were of unconscious dignity, of unquestionable authority. He did too much. book of Pelagius forwarded to him pronounced unhesitatingly to be blasphemous and dangerous; and gave his judgement that Pelagius, Coelestius, and all abettors of their views, ought to be could be more clear. unfortunately for the of infallibility, died weeks after these letters, and Zosimus succeeded him. Coelestius and Pelagius between them too much for Zosimus. Coelestius came to Rome. He argued that points in dispute outside the limits of articles faith, and declared his the faith Pelagius not but he wrote to Zosimus declared the letter and of Pelagius to be all ambiguity; and the Pelagians to be men unimpeachable faith, who had been wrongly defamed. appears to imply that in his opinion Zosimus had allowed himself to deceived by and subtle admissions of the heretics. Zosimus did rest satisfied with that. wrote to the African bishops,
 Pelagius and did not condemn hIm. A Council
At LydDa iN thE sAme yEar fUlly accepted hiS ExplAnations, to the great
wratH of JeRoME. CarTHaGe theN took thE MaTTEr uP aGaIn, aNd REqUesteD
thAt PelagIus should bE suMmOned to return TO ROme, and the wHolE matter
be fulLy iNquireD iNto THere, tHe cOntroVersy bEIng one Affecting ThE west
anD Not the EAST. TO enaBle the Bishop to forM An OPinion on the vieWs of
PeLaGIuS, THey SenT him a copy oF oNe of hIS books, wITh THE WorST
passages markEd. Innocent, tHE BiShop of roMe, gLAdly reCeiveD tHIs
rEquest, treatIng iT as a requeSt for hIS authorITative vErdict, WhiCh iT
was NOt. he RepLiED in THrEe lETteRs dated JAnUaRy 27, 417. He bEgan EACH
With A stRong AsserTion of the suprEme AuthORitY of hiS see, aNd maNy
ExpreSsions Of his SaTisfaction that tHe coNtroversy Had BeEn rEfErred TO
him foR fiNal DecisioN. The BisHOp wAs CLEArLy not to the manner boRn.
tHEsE were not The sayINgS oF UnconsciOuS diGnitY, OF unquEstiONaBle
authoRity. He DId PrOtest toO mUch. The BoOk oF PeLagiuS ForwArded tO him
he prOnounCEd unhesitatingLY to be blasphemOUs AND dANgerOus; And he gave
hiS judGEmenT thaT peLagIUs, CoeLestiUs, ANd ALl abettors of their viEwS,
ought To be eXcommunicated.

nothing couLD BE more cleAr. BuT, UnFOrtunately for tHe conSistency of
OFficial iNfallIbility, INnocent diED Six weeks AftEr wRitIng THEsE
letters, and ZoSIMus sUcCeeded hIm. COelestiUs aNd PElaGiuS bEtween theM
were too MuCh FoR ZOsiMus. CoELestius cAmE to roMe. HE arguED with ZOsimuS
thaT tHe POinTs in disPUtE LAy ouTsIdE the LimItS of neCessARy aRticles Of
faith, anD deCLareD hIs AdherenCe to the CatholIc Faith in all PoIntS.
PelagIUS did not cOme, but he wrote to Zosimus. ZOSimus deClaRed thE
letTer and creEd oF PelagIus TO be thoRoughlY CathOlIc, aND Free fROM aLl
aMbIguity; and tHE pelAgianS tO be mEn of uniMpeachable faith, who HAd
bEen wrongly defAmeD. AugUSTiNe aPPeARs tO iMPly THAt in his opinion
ZOsimus had aLlOWeD himself to BE deCeIved by tHe speciOus anD Subtle
aDmissions Of the hereTiCs.

ZoSIMus Did not rest SatisfieD with that. hE wrotE To The AfRicAn bishOpS,

 Pelagius and did not cond emn him. A  Coun cil 
at  L ydda  inthe same yearf ully  accepted his explanat ions,  t o  the gr eat
w rath of Je r o me.  C ar tha ge th en to okthe mat ter up aga in,  a nd requested th at Pelagiu s s hould be sum mon ed tore tur n  to R ome , and  the w h ole ma tter
be f ul l y inqu i red int o th ere,  the controversyb ei n g one affectin g theWe s ta n d n otthe East.To  enab l e the B i sh o p tof orm an opinio n on the vi e wsof
Pel ag ius ,  theysenthi m  acopy of one  ofhis books , with the wor s t
passa ges ma rke d.Inno c en t,  th eB ish o pofR ome , gladly  r ec eived  thi s r e ques t,trea tingit as a reque stforh isautho ritat iveve rdict , whic h itwa s not. He repli ed i n three l ett er s d at ed Ja n uary 2 7,417 . He be gan eac h 
wi th a st rong assertion ofth e su preme au thorit y  o fh is see,an d m anye x press ions of  his sat isfact i on  t hat the  c ontrov er syhad  been refe rred t o
him fo r fin a l decision. Th e  Bishop was c l ea r l yn ot t o t he manner b orn. Thes e we r enot the s aying so fu nconscious dignity,  o f unqu estio nable
authori ty. He did p r otest to o mu c h. The book of Pe lagiu s forwarde d  to himhe pr onounced  unhesita t i ngly tobebla sph emo u s  a nd dangerous; a nd h egave
hi s j udgemen t t hat  Pe lag iu s, Coeles tius, an dal lab ett ors o f  their v ie ws, 
o ugh t tob e exco mmuni cate d. 
N oth ing cou l db e  mor ecl ear.  Bu t,  unfo rtun a tel y for t he consis ten c y of 
o ff icial i nfallibility,  I nnocent di ed  si x week s after wr iting these
letters, an d  Zosimu s s uccee dedhim. Coel est ius an d P e lagius  betwe en th em 
we r e  toom u ch  fo rZosimus. C o e les tiusca me t o Rome.  He argued with Zo s imu s
that the po int s in d is put e  l a y o ut s ide t he limits of ne cessary ar ti c le s of
faith ,  an ddeclare d his a dhere n ce to t he Cathol ic faithin  all p oin ts.
Pelagi us did n ot come,b ut he wr ote t o Z osimus .Zos imusdeclar e d t he
le tter a nd  creed  of P el agius to  be thoroughly Catholic , andfreefro m all
amb igu i ty;  and thePela gians to b e m enof un imp e achab le f a it h,w ho ha d
be e n wrongly de fam e d .Augustine a p p e ars  to i mpl y  thatin h is opinion
Zosimu s  had allowed h imse l f  to  be dece iv ed by the spec iou sa n d subtle 
a dmissions o f the he re t ics.
Zosim us did  not re s t  s a tisfie d wi ththat. Hewro te to theAf ri c an bis hops ,
 Pelagius_and did_not condemn him. A_Council
at Lydda_in_the same_year_fully accepted his_explanations, to the_great
wrath of Jerome. Carthage_then took the_matter_up again, and requested
that Pelagius should be summoned to return to Rome, and the_whole_matter
be fully_inquired_into_there, the controversy being one_affecting the West
and not the_East. To_enable the Bishop to form an opinion on_the_views of
Pelagius, they_sent him a copy of one of his books,_with the worst
passages marked. Innocent, the_Bishop of Rome,_gladly_received_this
request, treating it as_a request for his authoritative verdict,_which it
was not. He replied in_three letters dated January 27, 417. He_began each
with a strong assertion of_the supreme authority of his_see, and_many
expressions of his satisfaction that_the controversy had_been referred_to
him for final_decision. The Bishop was clearly not_to the manner_born.
These were not the sayings of_unconscious_dignity, of unquestionable
authority._He_did_protest too_much. The book_of_Pelagius forwarded_to_him
he pronounced unhesitatingly to be blasphemous_and_dangerous; and he gave
his judgement that Pelagius,_Coelestius, and all abettors_of_their views,
ought to be_excommunicated.

Nothing could be more clear._But, unfortunately for the consistency of
official_infallibility, Innocent_died six_weeks after writing these
letters, and Zosimus succeeded him. Coelestius and Pelagius_between them
were too much for Zosimus._Coelestius came to Rome._He argued_with_Zosimus
that the points_in_dispute lay_outside the limits of necessary articles of
faith,_and declared_his adherence to the Catholic faith_in all points.
Pelagius did_not_come, but he wrote to Zosimus._Zosimus declared the
letter and creed of_Pelagius to be thoroughly Catholic,_and_free_from all
ambiguity; and the Pelagians_to be men of unimpeachable faith,_who had
been wrongly_defamed. Augustine appears to imply that in_his_opinion
Zosimus had allowed himself to be_deceived_by the specious and subtle
admissions of_the_heretics.

Zosimus_did not rest satisfied with_that. He wrote to the African_bishops,
