[538:1] The following is the chronology of Pearson:—­

Clement died A.D. 83. 
Evaristus, A.D. 83 to A.D. 91. 
Alexander, A.D. 91 to A.D. 101. 
Xystus, A.D. 101 to A.D. 111. 
Telesphorus, A.D. 111 to A.D. 122. 
Hyginus, A.D. 122 to A.D. 126. 
Pius, A.D. 127 to A.D. 142. 
Anicetus, A.D. 142 to A.D. 161. 
Soter, A.D. 161 to A.D. 170. 
Eleutherius, A.D. 170 to A.D. 185. 
Victor, A.D. 185 to A.D. 197.

—­“Minor Works,” ii. pp. 570; 571.

[539:1] I have endeavoured, from the records of the late Synod of Ulster, to estimate the medium length of the incumbency of a moderator for life, being the senior minister of a presbytery of from ten to fifteen members, and have found that the average of thirty-six successions amounted to between eight and nine years.  In these presbyteries young ministers generally constituted a considerable portion of the members.  Had they all been persons advanced in life, the average must have been greatly reduced.

[539:2] During that part of the second century which terminated with the death of Hyginus, the average duration of the life of a Roman bishop very little exceeded eight years; whereas, during the remainder of the century, it amounted to nearly twelve years.  According to the chronology of Pearson the disproportion is still greater, being as eight years and a fraction to fourteen years.  If we insert the episcopate of Anacletus, it will be nearly as seven to fourteen.

[539:3] In the verses erroneously attributed to Tertullian, the Church of Rome is represented as in a flourishing state when visited by Cerdo.

    “Advenit Romam Cerdo, nova vulnera gestans
     Detectus, quoniam voces et verba veneni
     Spargebat furtim; quapropter ab agmine pulsus,
     Sacrilegum genus hoc genuit spirante dracone. 
     Constabat pietate vigens Ecclesia Romae
     Composita a Petro, cujus successor et ipse
     Jamque loco nono cathedram suscepit Hyginus.”

[540:1] Euseb. iv. 11.  Irenaeus says that Valentine, the most famous and formidable of the Gnostic teachers, “came to Rome under Hyginus, was in his prime under Pius, and lived until the time of Anicetus.”—­Contra Haeres., iii. 4.  Sec. 3.  Cyprian speaks of “the more grievous pestilences of heresy breaking forth when Marcion the Pontian emerged from Pontus, whose master Cerdo came to Rome during the episcopate of Hyginus.”—­Epist. lxxiv.  He adds—­“But it is acknowledged that heresies afterwards became more numerous and worse.”—­Epist. lxxiv.  Opera, pp. 293, 294.

[540:2] Euseb. iv. 11.  See also a fragment attributed to Irenaeus in Stieren’s edition, i. 938.

[540:3] See Mosheim, “Commentaries,” by Vidal, ii. 266.

[541:1] Hieronymus, “Comment, in Titum.”