the council defined no such matter. He says, indeed, that some men were very hot that a supplement might be made to the faith agreed on in the council of Nice, but that the synod vehemently rejected the motion, and decreed that nothing should be further added to the faith, declaring that they fully acquiesced in the Nicene creed, as pious and orthodox, and complete enough, and that no other form should be admitted, lest the Nicene faith should be thought imperfect and insufficient, and a way laid open for men of wanton and petulant wits to attempt new creeds, as oft as humour or interest should incline them. Accordingly, in all ancient copies, both in Athanasius and St. Hilary, this additional appendage is left out, and it argued either insincerity, or at least great carelessness in Theodoret to insert it. It is mentioned also by Sozomen, who seems to make Hosius and Protogenes the principal contrivers of it, and that they were forced to write to Julius bishop of Rome to excuse it; that they did not thereby intend to derogate from the Nicene faith, but only more clearly to explain it, lest the Arians, making an ill use of that short compendium, should impose upon the unwary and the unskilful, by putting what sense they pleased upon it. k VIII. The persons accused, and who were now present, that their cause might be heard and canvassed in the synod, were Athanasius of Alexandria, Marcellus of Ancyra, and Asclepas of Gaza, who petitioned the synod that their accusers might be summoned to appear; which the accusers obstinately refusing, (though particularly challenged to it by the defendants more than once,) the fathers proceeded to take cognizance of their several cases. And first for Athanasius,' they caused all the acts and proceedings of the synod of Tyre, and the informations that had been taken in Maræotis, to be produced and read, and every particular to be thoroughly scanned, and the witnesses that were brought out of Egypt to be examined, and having accurately debated the whole matter, and found it from first to last nothing but a train of malice and villany; and being confirmed in it by the notorious tergiversation of the adverse party, who durst not abide the trial, or make good the charge they had exhibited, they pronounced him innocent of the crimes wherewith he had been defamed, restored him to his see, and with all the demonstrations of love and kindness, of respect and honour, 1 Athan. Apol. c. Arian. s. 46. ad Monachos. s. 16. k Lib. iii. c. 12. m embraced and entertained him. Next came on the cause of Marcellus, bishop of Ancyra. He had been long since sentenced and deposed by the Eusebian faction in the conventicle at Constantinople, for some un-orthodox assertions in his writings, tending to the heresy of Paul of Samosata. These he now explained, and shewed that his adversaries had maliciously perverted and misrepresented his meaning, urging those as dogmatical assertions, which he had only problematically handled by way of question. The synod approved his declaration, and accordingly absolved and restored him. But though by his subtlety and dissimulation he made shift a long time to blind the eyes of the catholic party, yet his Sabellian tenets were discovered afterwards, which that he took not up after his synodical absolution, but had all along craftily concealed them, is plain; however, my author assures us," that Athanasius perceiving it, suspended him from communion. Together with him, the council acquitted Asclepas bishop of Gaza; he making it appear by the Acts of the synod of Antioch, (which he then produced,) that even then, when his accusers were there present to manage the cause against him, he had been absolved by the sentence of that synod. IX. Next they proceeded to inquire into the carriage of the other party, and the intolerable mischiefs and injuries which they had done to the catholic bishops and churches. And here they met with nothing but blood and smoke, and a sad face of things: the good fathers were entertained with dismal and tragical stories of some that had been threatened, others condemned upon false and suborned accusations; some beaten, others wounded, and some directly murdered; many loaded and almost strangled with iron chains; more imprisoned, some whereof were stifled with the noisomeness of the prison; multitudes banished, and that into the most miserable and uncomfortable places, where hunger and nakedness would not fail to despatch them; churches had been set on fire, devout virgins stripped and rifled, and the common gaols filled with men of the holy order: and this for no other reason, but because they refused to enter into the Arian communion. All which was ready to be attested, partly by the confessors themselves then present in m Athan. Apol. c. Arian. s. 47. Sever. Sulp. 1. ii. c. 37. • Athan. Apol. c. Arian. s. 45. Ep. Syn. ad Jul. ap. Hilar. fragm. ii. s. 11. the council, partly by deputies sent by those that were absent; whole churches having sent commissioners to represent their complaints and grievances to the synod. Upon consideration of the whole affair, it was concluded, that they should proceed against the prime heads of the faction, those who had been chief authors and instruments of so many evils and mischiefs to the Christian world; and thereupon condemned and deposed Basil bishop of Ancyra,P Quintianus of Gaza, Theodorus of Heraclea, Narcissus of Hierapolis, Acacius of Cæsarea, Stephen of Antioch, Ursacius of Singidunum, Valens of Mursa, Menophantus of Ephesus, George of Laodicea, banishing them from the communion of the faithful; it being but fit (say they) that they who separate the Son from the Father, should themselves be separated from the catholic church; but especially in passing sentence against Gregory the Arian intruder at Alexandria, they shewed a particular detestation, pronouncing him not only to have been no bishop, but not worthy the name of a Christian; nulling all ordinations made by him, and forbidding any to bear that character that had received orders from him. This done, they wrote to the clergy and the church of Alexandria, to receive Athanasius as their lawful bishop, whom they had found, and adjudged innocent of the things charged upon him; warning all those who had any ways communicated with Gregory and his party, to repent and withdraw, and return to the communion of the catholic church. They wrote also to Julius of Rome, desiring him to impart what had been transacted in the council to the bishops of Italy, Sicily, and Sardinia, lest being imposed upon by the adverse party, they might receive communicatory letters from them. Besides this, they drew up (as is usual in such cases) a circulare or general epistle to all the bishops of the catholic church, giving them a particular account of what had passed from the first meeting of the council, desiring them to look upon the persons they had condemned as under a just anathema, and to have no manner of communion with them; and that they would ratify the sentence and judgment of the synod, by adding their own suffrage and subscription to it: P Athan. Apol. c. Arian. s. 48. et ad Monachos. s. 17. r Ext. ap. Hilar. fragm. ii. s. 9, etc. q • Ext. ap. Athan. Apol. c. Arian. s. 44. et ap. alios passim. which was accordingly done, the synodical determination being subscribed by at least three hundred and forty-four bishops. Lastly, having formed and agreed upon twenty-one canons concerning the rites and good government and discipline of ecclesiastic matters, and concluded upon an address with letters to the emperors, to be sent by some of their own body, the council broke up, and the fathers returned home to their several sees. SECTION VIII. HIS ACTS FROM THE TIME OF THE SARDICAN COUNCIL TILL THE DEATH OF POPE JULIUS. Constans's smart message to his brother Constantius, in behalf of Athanasius. The vigorous persecution raised by the Arians against the Catholics. The cold entertainment of the Sardican legates at the court of Constantius. A villanous plot against one of the legates detected and punished. Constantius's relaxation of the severities against the Catholics, why. The death of Gregory, the Arian bishop of Alexandria. Athanasius recalled by several letters from Constantius. His taking leave of the Western parts, and arrival at the court at Antioch. What discourse passed between him and the emperor. Constantius's letters and rescripts in his behalf. His positive denial of a church to the Arians at Alexandria, requested by the emperor; his journey towards Alexandria. The first occasion of Apollinaris's starting aside from the catholic church. A synod assembled at Jerusalem, which entertained Athanasius, and gave him communicatory letters. Constantius's kind message to him upon the death of Constans. His coming to Alexandria, and the mighty expressions of joy for his return. His composing the state of that church. Ursacius and Valens desire reconciliation; their libel of satisfaction sent to him. His making use of a church not yet dedicated, without the emperor's leave. The ill use made of this by his enemies. The fresh attempts of the Arians against him. Their address to the emperor to that purpose. The crimes charged upon him. Letters forged in his name. A synod holden at Sirmium against Photinus. A confession of faith drawn up in general terms. The disputation between Photinus and Basil of Ancyra. The mistake of Socrates and some others about this council. Constantius's march against Magnentius. The imposture used by Valens bishop of Mursa to gain favour with the emperor. THE persons deputed by the council to carry an account of their synodical transactions to Constantius, were Vincentius bishop of Capua, and Euphratas bishop of Colen. Together with whom (says Theodoret, though others not improbably suppose it was not till some time after) the emperor Constans sent Salias, a general in the army, a person renowned for his justice and piety. Their business was, to prevail with the emperor to put the t Lib. ii. c. 8. VOL. II. S decrees of the synod in execution, and to permit the ejected bishops, whom they had restored, quietly to return to their several sees. And indeed, if it be true what Socrates reports," Constans wrote to his brother with some smartness, in this manner. "Athanasius and Paulus are here with me; whose cause having inquired into, I find they are persecuted upon the account of religion. If therefore you will engage to restore them to their sees, and to proceed against those who have unjustly created them all this trouble, I will send them to you. But if you shall refuse to do this, take notice, that I myself will come thither, and restore them their sees, whether you will or no." This letter is not mentioned by Athanasius himself, nor can it be assigned to the time of the Sardican synod, Paulus being at that time in quiet possession of his see of Constantinople, and therefore must necessarily be referred to some time preceding that council, when Paul was under his second exile. But whatever messages were sent to the Eastern court, they availed little, their enemies having got the start, and in all places having barred up the doors against them: for immediately upon their return from Sardica, they so wrought upon that emperor's easy and credulous temper, that he gave them leave to proceed against the catholic party; which they did with all imaginable force and cruelty, especially against the bishops and clergy. Some they loaded with the heaviest calumnies, others they banished, others they put to death, as at Adrianople; where, with the assistance of their old trusty friend, count Philagrius, they beheaded many ; (the monuments of which savage inhumanity, Athanasius tells us, he himself saw without the city at his return ;) and when Lucius the bishop reproved their impious practices, they bound him neck and hands with chains, and sent him into exile, where he died. Edicts they procured from the emperor for the casting them out of all cities and churches, and putting them to death wherever they should be found; and that all ports and gates should be strictly watched, that if any of the bishops restored by the synod should return to their bishoprics, they might be immediately apprehended: and having the advantage of the public posts, messengers were despatched into all parts; and where they met with any that disallowed their proceedings, they either scourged them like slaves, or imprisoned, or banished W u Lib. ii. c. 22. w Athan. ad Monachos. s. 18. |