THE LIFE OF SAINT ATHANASIUS,

BISHOP OF ALEXANDRIA.

SECTION 1.

HIS ACTS FROM HIS BIRTH TILL THE FIRST CONDEMNATION OF ARIUS BY THE SYNOD OF ALEXANDRIA.

Alexandria his birth-place. The greatness of that city. His personating a bishop, and administering baptism when a child. The care taken of his education, and being placed under Peter bishop of that see. The breach between Peter and Meletius under the Diocletian persecution. The rise and occasion of the Meletian schism. Arius, who; his taking part with Meletius. Achillas, how long bishop of Alexandria; proved not to be the Arian Achillas against Sandius. Alexander's succeeding him in that see, and his advancement stomached by Arius. The various accounts concerning the first occasion of Arius's venting his impious principles, inquired into. What his principles were, represented from the fragments of his own writings. His notions (probably) borrowed from the schools of the degenerate Platonists. His industrious propagating of his doctrine, especially by means of the weaker sex, Condemned by a synod at Alexandria.

THE city of Alexandria, pleasantly situated in a clear and a wholesome air, not far from the Delta, or western canal of the Nile, having the Pharus on a promontory on the one side, and the Maræotic lake on the other, had, during the line of the Ptolemies, been the regal seat of the kings of Egypt, as afterwards the metropolis of the kingdom, and the residence of the Præfectus Augustalis, when brought under the Roman power: a city not more ennobled by the greatness of its founder, than proud in the riches of its traffic, the confluence of all nations resorting thither, the fame of its schools, and the learning and eminency of its professors, in which respect it outvied Rome, and rivalled the glory of Athens itself. Nor was it the least addition to its honour, that amongst many other fathers of the

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church, illustrious for learning and piety, it gave birth to Athanasius, a person so renowned in the histories of the church: for here was he born about the close of the third century, as is evident from some other periods and passages of his life. His parents (though the silence of antiquity has concealed their names) are said to have been peculiarly eminent for piety and virtue,a who left no other child but him, as if heaven designed him on purpose to be the sole heir both of their estate and virtue. While he was yet but a youth, and had not outgrown the cares and tutorage of domestic education, he happened (if the story which we are told be sufficiently authentic) to be recommended to public notice upon a very remarkable occasion.

II. The church of Alexandria kept an anniversary commemoration of the martyrdom of St. Peter, their late bishop, who a little before had suffered under the Diocletian persecution. This festival, Alexander, newly advanced to that see, now celebrated; when the public solemnities of the day being over, he was returned to his house, which stood by the sea-side, whither he had invited his clergy to dine with him: of whose coming, while he was in expectation looking out at a window, he found himself entertained with no unpleasing diversion. A company of youths playing together on the shore, were fallen upon a humour of fancying themselves an ecclesiastic college. Athanasius, the ripest probably both in parts and years, personated the bishop; some were presbyters, others deacons, others represented catechumens and competentes, who sued to be initiated with the holy rites. Hitherto Alexander was well enough contented with the childrens' sport, but when he saw them take upon them to administer what he thought resembled the sacred and solemn rites of the church, and the most hidden and concealed mysteries of religion, he sent some of the clergy (who by this time were come) to inquire into the meaning of the action. The children affrighted at first, began to deny what they had done, affirming that there was no more in it than common sport, but being severely pressed, confessed the mystery of the whole childish scene that Athanasius had sustained the place of a bishop, and had baptized some children whom they presented to him, who

a Vit. Athan. Oper. ejus. vol. ii. p. 518. ed. 1600.

b Rufin. Hist. Eccl. 1. i. c. 14. Socrat. 1. i. c. 15. Sozom. 1. ii. c. 17. Vit. Athan, ap. Phot. Cod. CCLVIII. Vit. Athan. ubi supr. p. 519.

had not been baptized before. This put him upon inquiring farther into the manner and circumstances of that affair, and whether it had been managed by the usual way of interrogations and answers, and finding that every thing had been exactly done according to the custom and constitutions of the church, upon advice with his clergy it was concluded, that the children so initiated should not be rebaptized, but only consummated by confirmation. And having sent for Athanasius's parents, and those of the rest, who had wantonly usurped the place of the clergy, he delivered them to them with a solemn charge to give them such education as might fit them for the ministry of the church, and the discharge of that office which in sport they had taken upon them. Athanasius hereupon was consigned to masters and tutors, and being sufficiently perfected in human arts and studies, his parents returned him to the bishop, who took him into his family, used him as his secretary and amanuensis, to read to him and write for him; and when maturity of age had qualified him for it, ordained him deacon; and finding his parts brisk and pregnant, and his zeal vigorous and sincere, took him into his most private councils, used his assistance in his most important controversies and affairs, carried him along with him to the council of Nice, where, in all his contests with Arius, and his constant conflicts with the party afterwards, he shewed himself a stout and able champion of the Catholic cause. For the clearer understanding of which affair, it being the great transaction of his whole life, we must step back a-while, that we may derive the notices of things from the fountain-head.

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III. Peter, bishop of Alexandria, succeeded Theonas in that see, Ann. Chr. 300, or at most but the year before. And scarce had he sitten three years quietly in the chair, when the Diocletian persecution overtook the church, wherein he, with many more of note and quality, was apprehended and cast into prison, in which number was Meletius, bishop of Lycus in Thebais, a person, next Peter, of greatest authority and power, and under him director-general of all the affairs of the church. The severity of the persecution (so Epiphanius relates the story, though nowhere more confused and careless than in the Meletian and Arian relations, and in this case reporting things not very conc Vid. Athan. Apol. c. Arian. s. 6. et Gelas. Cyz. Hist. Conc. Nic. 1. ii. c. 11. d Adv. Melet. Hæres. lxviii. c. 2.

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sistently with other writers of those times) tempted many of all orders of men to renounce the faith, and comply with the Gentile rites, who repenting afterwards of what they had done, applied themselves to the martyrs and confessors in prison for absolution, that they might be restored to peace and communion with the church. This Meletius and others would by no means yield to, affirming it would set open the door to apostacy from the Christian faith, if, when men had lapsed into idolatry, they might at their return find so ready entertainment. Peter, acted with the resentments and compassion of a common father, was for the more mild and moderate opinion, that a time of penance being assigned, they might be re-admitted into the church, lest affliction be added to the afflicted, and men being put upon a desperate issue might be tempted to a total and final apostacy from Christianity. But not being able to prevail either by arguments or entreaties, he hang up his mantle across the prison, crying out," they that are of my side, let them come hither; they that are for Meletius, let them go to him." Whereupon a few bishops and others came over to him, the greatest part remaining with Meletius: which widened the difference into such a breach, that ever after they parted companies, and in all acts of divine worship kept their separate assemblies. But it was not long before Meletius himself stood in need of that mercy which he had so rigidly denied to others, being, through the infirmity of his faith, betrayed to offer sacrifice to idols; which, though not mentioned by Epiphanius, (who doubtless transcribed his reports out of the Acts of the Meletians, which may justly. be presumed partial in their own cause,) is yet by a much better author, I mean Athanasius himself, who adds, that for this, and some other crimes, whereof he stood convict, (meaning, I suppose, his schismatical proceedings,) Peter, in a common meeting of bishops, deposed him from his order. The issue was, Peter received the crown of martyrdom; Meletius, being got out of prison, still bore up himself with the power and reputation of a bishop, ordaining bishops, presbyters, and deacons wherever he came, erecting churches for his own party, and refusing to communicate with the other; each party distinguishing their assemblies by an inscription over their church-doors; those who belonged to Peter, and possessed the churches of the old founda

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Apol. c. Arian. s. 59. Socrat. l. i. c. 6.

tions, entitling themselves, "the Catholic Church;" those of Meletius, "the Church of the Martyrs." This schism commenced anno 306, Meletius vomiting up nothing but railings and reproaches against Peter and his successors, complaining how much he had been injured by them. How far he and his party were censured in the Nicene synod, and what were their conspiracies and combinations against Athanasius, we may hear more afterwards.

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IV. Amongst others that went along with the Meletian schism, was Arius, the son of Amonius, a Libyan by birth, (a country fruitful in monstrous and unnatural productions,) though Photius and some others expressly make him an Alexandrian:" a man of a subtle and versatile wit, of a turbulent and unquiet head, but which he veiled with a specious mask of sanctity. Upon his deserting the Meletian party, he was made deacon by Peter; but disliking afterwards the bishop's severe proceedings against Meletius, was rejected and expelled the church. A little before Peter's suffering, he mightily solicited to be again restored to his place. But Peter knew the temper of the man too well to hearken to it; and if the Acts of his martyrdom," of no inconsiderable antiquity, be of any credit, he was expressly forbidden it by a vision from heaven; our Lord appearing to him in the form of a beautiful youth, with a bright shining countenance, clad in a linen coat, torn all in pieces from top to bottom. And when the good bishop asked who had thus rent his garment, he answered, it was Arius had done it; and withal charged him not to admit him to communion: great and powerful intercession would be made for him to that end, but he should not do it, but should give the like charge to Achillas and Alexander, his presbyters, who were to be his successors. The next day came a great crowd of presbyters and deacons to the prison, (whom Arius had engaged to speak for him,) earnestly importuning the bishop for his absolution. No sooner had they mentioned his name, but he interrupted them; "Arius (said he) shall be separated from the glory of God, both in this world, and in that which is to come, even as he himself separated the Son of God

f Epist. i. ad Mich. Bulg. p. 4.

8 Sozom. 1. i. c. 15.

Act. Martyr. S. Petr. Gr. Lat. à Combef. edit. p. 197. et ex iis Nicet. Thes, Orth, Fid. 1. v. c. 1. confer. Anastas. Sinait. 'Odny. c. 5.

i Act. Martyr. à Combef. p. 193, etc.