and before all ages, and this ἀνεφίκτως καὶ πᾶσιν ἀκαταλήπτως, by a most unfathomable and incomprehensible way of generation; that although he be subject to God the Father, yet notwithstanding before all times was he begotten of God, and in his nature is true and perfect God, being not of man afterwards made God, but of God for our sakes made man, yet without ever ceasing to be God; that they did abominate and anathematize the followers of Marcellus and Photinus, who under a pretence of asserting a divine monarchy, did, in conformity with the Jews, deny Christ's eternal essence and godhead, and his endless and immortal kingdom; that they acknowledged him to be the living and self-subsisting Word, the substantial Word of the Father, and God of God, being perfectly joined together, without any medium, or distance, or separation from each other. In conclusion they add, that they were forced thus largely to express themselves about these matters, not out of any vanity or affectation, but to remove all sinister suspicions of heterodoxy, with those that were unacquainted with their case, and that the Western bishops might understand the groundless calumnies of their adversaries; and their catholic sentiments appear to all uncorrupt and unbiassed persons to be consonant to, and founded in the holy scriptures.

XII. This account of their faith they gave to Eudoxius, bishop of Germanicia, Macedonius of Mopsuestia, Martyrius and Demophilus, to be carried into the West; where, when they arrived, they found a very convenient opportunity to deliver it. For very many of the Western prelates were about this time assembled in a synod at Milan, (where the emperor Constans kept his court,) to advise about the case of Athanasius, and to petition the emperor to interpose his authority to compose the distracted affairs of the church. The messengers arriving, presented their confession to the synod, desiring their concurrence in it. But they either not sufficiently understanding the criticisms of the Greek language, (as Socrates thinks,) or, more probably, judging some heretical poison to be couched under those specious expressions, refused to accept it; saying, they were content with the Nicene creed, and would admit no more, and that it was but reasonable that they who brought the con

f Socrat. l. ii. c. 19. Vid. Liber. Epist. ad Const. ap. Hilar. in fragm. v. s. 4.
Lib. ii. c. 20.

fession, should first explicitly condemn the Arian dorincte. This the eastern legates highly resented, and finding there was little hope to prevail, departed the synod in great passion and discontent. At this convention also Photinus," bishop of Sirmium, (who had sometime been scholar and deacon to Marcellus of Ancyra,) was condemned for some heretical propositions he had lately started, affirming our Saviour to be only a mere man, endeavouring to revive the long-since branded heresy of Paul of Samosata. And now it was, too, that Ursacius and Valens, two great sticklers against Athanasius, presenting the assembly with a book, wherein they expressly condemned the Arian and Photinian heresies, were absolved, and taken into the communion of the church. Towards the conclusion of this synod (as is most probable) Athanasius came to Milan, summoned thither by the emperor's mandate, by whom he was frequently admitted into his presence, and treated with great kindness and humanity. And though (as became a prudent man under his circumstances) he carried himself with all imaginable caution, never going alone into the emperor's presence, but always accompanied with a great train of bishops and others, yet could he not escape the lash of malice and envy; his adversaries hence taking occasion to traduce him to Constantius, suggesting that he had done ill offices between him and his brother Constans, possessing him with prejudices, and endeavouring to stir him up against him. Whereof, and of some other crimes, he very clearly purges himself in his Apology to Constantius.

SECTION VII.

THE ACTS OF THE SYNOD AT SARDICA.

A synod convened at Sardica, when. What number of bishops in it. No British bishops there. The Eastern prelates refuse to join with them of the West, and why. They transact synodically in separate assemblies. Publicly challenged by Athanasius and his party. The reasons of their refusal to proceed to a fair and open trial. Their trifling proposal to gain time rejected. The pretence of their being recalled by Constantius. Their deposing Athanasius and the principal of his party. Baronius offended with their sentencing pope Julius. Their confession of faith. Their circular epistle in the name of the Sardican synod. All this transacted at Sardica, not (as commonly believed) at Philippopolis. The proceedings of the true Sardican council. No confession or explication of faith made in this synod. Athanasius, Marcellus, and i Vid. Apol. ad Const. s. 4.

h Hilar. in fragm. ii. s. 19.

Asclepas, particularly absolved and restored. The mischiefs done by the Arians to the Catholics examined. The chiefs of the Arian faction sentenced and deposed. Their synodical epistles, and letters to the emperors.

k

THE good emperor Constans, at the instance and solicitation of Athanasius and the Western bishops, had often and earnestly dealt with his brother Constantius, that the Nicene faith might, be established, and the exiled bishops restored, and so a period put to the church's troubles, who now at length consented that the matter should be referred to the decision of a general council, which was accordingly called by the imperial letters, Ann. Chr. 347, not long after that at Milan; for that it was after that convention, is evident, as from other circumstances, so especially from what Athanasius himself tells us, that at his being at Milan, Constans assured him, that he had written to his brother, that a synod might be held about this matter. The place appointed for the council was Sardica, an eminent city of Illyricum, (perhaps an ancient colony from Sardis in the Lesser Asia, and upon that account so oft in Athanasius styled ń Σépdwv Tós, the city of the Sardians,) a place conveniently situate in the confines of the Eastern and the Western empire, and in that regard equally fit for both. Hither out of both empires met to the number of about one hundred and seventy prelates, as Athanasius expressly tells us. Socrates," indeed, and those who follow his account, affirm, that there were no less than three hundred bishops out of the West only, and for this cite the testimony of Athanasius. But the mistake is gross and palpable; for Athanasius in that place says," not that so many met at Sardica, (though his translator indeed makes him say so,) but that his cause had been adjudged and ratified by so many, partly in that synod, partly by the suffrages of those who both before and after it had subscribed in his behalf, the whole number amounting to about three hundred and forty-four. Amongst which we find mention of the bishops of Britain, whence it is generally taken for granted, not only by common writers, but even by those who see farther than ordinary into such matters,°

Ad Monachos. s. 15.

1 Ibid.

m Lib. ii. c. 20. Sozom. 1. iii. c. 12. Vit. Pauli ap. Phot. Cod. 257. Vit. Athan. ibid. aliique plurimi. ■ Apol. c. Arian. s. 1. et s. 50.

• Usher. de prim. Eccl. Brit. c. 8. Seld. in Eutych. p. 123. Burt. Comm. in Anton.

p. 86.

'that our British bishops were present at this council; when yet the most that can be inferred from that place is, that they only ratified and subscribed what the synod determined in the cause of Athanasius, the synod sending their decision into several provinces for the approbation of those who could not be present at the council. And indeed in the title of the synodical epistle, (as it is extant in Athanasius, but more entirely in Theodoret,9) where all the provinces are reckoned up from whence they came, no mention is made of Britain: which I have therefore noted, not being willing that the honour of our country should be built upon uncertainties and mistakes. So that the number of the bishops must be reduced to almost one half, not above seventy-six coming out of the East, and out of above thirty-five provinces of the West (for out of so many, Athanasius tells us," this synod was collected) not full an hundred, who yet could not agree when they came together.

II. For the Eastern bishops arriving at Sardica, kept themselves in a separate assembly, refusing to join with the bishops of the West, and though there were some amongst them, men orthodox in their judgments, and of peaceable tempers, yet were they so influenced by the major part, either by promises or threatenings, that they durst not stir from them, two only excepted, Arius, a Palestine bishop, and Asterius, bishop of Arabia, who got away by stealth, and came over to the catholic party. The truth is, they found a quite other face of things than what they looked for: they came with a confident persuasion that Athanasius durst not appear, and abide a trial, and were strangely surprised, not only to find him here, but that he was prepared, and openly challenged them to a trial; they perceived that things would be managed here according to the strict rules of ecclesiastic discipline, that no force could be put upon the synod, no guards set at the doors, no great men of their party admitted from court, who might awe and direct proceedings; the usual arts by which they had hitherto prevailed, and for which end they had now brought with them count Musonianus, and Hesychius an officer of the imperial palace, by whose authority and influence they doubted not but they should be able to carry the day; they were amazed to see so many there

P Apol. c. Arian. s. 50.

9 Hist. Eccl. 1. ii. c. 8.

Ad Monachos. s. 17.

* Athan. c. Arian. s. 36. Epist. Syn. Sard. ibid. s. 37, etc. Epist. ad Monachos. s. 15,

whom they had deposed and banished, and treated with all kinds of barbarous inhumanity, some having brought along with them the chains and instruments of cruelty wherewith they had been tortured, others shewing the wounds and the scars which they had received. The friends and kindred of those whom they had put to death, appeared to exhibit their complaints, and messengers came in the name of whole churches to represent the injuries and sufferings which they had undergone from the rage of the Arian party. Nor did it a little sensibly touch them, that Arius and Asterius were gone over to the synod, who had come along with them, and were privy to their most intimate councils and transactions. These things prophesied to them no good success; they saw it was to no purpose to let their cause come to a fair open trial; that Athanasius had all acts ready that concerned his case, which would sufficiently blast and expose their cause, and that they had no potent friends in the synod to support it: that therefore it was most advisable to break up and be gone, to prevent their being condemned upon the place; that if they departed, they should find one means or another to propagate and uphold their cause; and if the synod should condemn them after their departure, they had a sure friend of the emperor, who, they doubted not, would protect and assist them.

III. Hereupon they shut themselves up in the palace, where they were lodged, and where they daily held their consults. They were several times cited by the synod to appear, and that with smart provocations: if they came with a design to try the merits of the cause, why did they decline it? Either they should not have come at all, or being come, they could not, without just disparagement to their cause, refuse it. Athanasius and his brethren, whom they had so heavily charged, were there present; if they had any thing to object against them, they were required to do it; if they had not, the synod must proceed against them as false and unjust accusers. Athanasius also, together with Marcellus and Asclepas his fellow-sufferers, publicly challenged them to it, assuring the synod they would not only refute their slanders and calumnies, but make it fully appear what mischiefs and miseries they had brought upon their several churches. Protogenes, bishop of Sardica, and Hosius, the aged confessor and venerable bishop of Corduba, and now president