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domination of heresy, however prolonged, is but one stage in its existence; it ever hastens to an end, and that end is the triumph of the Truth. "I myself have seen the ungodly in great power," says the Psalmist, "and flourishing like a green bay tree; I went by, and lo, he was gone; I sought him, but his place could nowhere be found." And so of the present perils, with which our branch of the Church is beset, as they bear a marked resemblance to those of the fourth century, so are the lessons, which we gain from that ancient time, especially cheering and edifying to Christians of the present day. Then as now, there was the prospect, and partly the presence in the Church, of an Heretical Power enthralling it, exerting a varied influence and a usurped claim in the appointment of her functionaries, and interfering with the management of her internal affairs. Now as then, "whosoever shall fall upon this stone shall be broken, but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder." Meanwhile, we may take comfort in reflecting, that, though the present tyranny has more of insult, it has hitherto had less of scandal, than attended the ascendancy of Arianism; we may rejoice in the piety, prudence, and varied graces of our Spiritual Rulers; and may rest in the confidence, that, should the hand of Satan press us sore, our Athanasius and Basil will be given us in their destined season, to break the bonds of the Oppressor, and let the captives go free.

The original Creed of Nicæa, as contained in Socr. Hist. i. 8.

Πιστεύομεν εἰς ἕνα θεὸν, πατέρα παντοκράτορα, πάντων ὁρατῶν τε καὶ ἀοράτων ποιητήν.

Καὶ εἰς ἕνα κύριον Ἰησοῦν χριστὸν, τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ θεοῦ· γεννηθέντα ἐκ τοῦ πατρὸς μονογενῆ· τοῦτ ̓ ἔστιν ἐκ τῆς οὐσίας τοῦ πατρὸς, θεὸν ἐκ θεοῦ καὶ φῶς ἐκ φωτός, θεὸν ἀληθινὸν ἐκ θεοῦ ἀληθινοῦ· γεννηθέντα οὐ ποιηθέντα, ὁμοούσιον τῷ πατρί· δι' οὗ τὰ πάντα ἐγένετο, τά τε ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ καὶ τὰ ἐν τῇ γῇ. Δι' ἡμᾶς τοὺς ἀνθρώπους καὶ διὰ τὴν ἡμετέραν σωτηρίαν κατελθόντα, καὶ σαρκωθέντα, καὶ ἐνανθρωπήσαντα· παθόντα, καὶ ἀναστάντα τῇ τρίτῃ ἡμέρᾳ, ἀνελθόντα εἰς τοὺς οὐρανοὺς, ἐρχόμενον κρίναι ζῶντας καὶ νεκρούς.

Καὶ εἰς τὸ ἅγιον πνεῦμα.

ἢ ἐξ

Τοὺς δὲ λέγοντας, ὅτι ἦν ποτὲ ὅτε οὐκ ἦν· καὶ πρὶν γεννηθῆναι οὐκ ἦν· καὶ ὅτι ἐξ οὐκ ὄντων ἐγένετο ἑτέρας ὑποστάσεως ἢ οὐσίας φάσκοντας εἶναι· ἡ κτιστὸν, ἢ τρεπτὸν, ἢ ἀλλοιωτὸν τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ θεοῦ· ἀναθεματίζει ἡ ἁγία καθολικὴ καὶ ἀποστολικὴ ἐκκλησία.

CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE.

PERSONS AND EVENTS INTRODUCED INTO THE FOREGOING

HISTORY.

(The dates are, for the most part, according to TILLEMONT.)

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Pantænus, Missionary to the Indians, pp. 43, 105

189

Demetrius, Bishop of Alexandria, p. 43.

189

Clement of Alexandria, Master of the Catechetical School, pp.

49-91

189

Theodotus and Artemon, heretics, pp. 22, 35, 117

193

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Noetus, heretic, pp. 120, 127

Ammonius the Eclectic, p. 104

Irenæus, Bishop of Lyons, p. 55, martyred

Origen, aged 18, Master of the Catechetical School, p.

Tertullian, pp. 142, 192, falls away

into Montanism

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217

220

231

232

Philostratus writes the Life of Apollonius Tyanæus, p. 112

Origen converts Gregory Thaumaturgus, p. 68

Gregory Thaumaturgus delivers his panegyric on Origen, p. 111 239

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Dionysius, Bishop of Rome, animadverts on Dionysius of

Alexandria, p. 129

260

Paulus of Samosata, heretic, pp. 3, 28, 176, 191, 209

260

Council against Paulus, pp. 28, 131; with Creed, pp. 131, 2.

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Quarto-decimans of the Proconsulate come to an end, P. 14

276

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Hosius, Bishop of Corduba, pp. 256, 7, 260, 297, 332-5
Meletian Schism in Egypt, pp. 244, 289–291

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Alexander excommunicates and writes against Arius, pp. 223, 319

4, 244.

320

Battle of Hadrianople, pp. 247, 253

323

Constantine writes to Athanasius and Arius, p. 254

324

Ecumenical Council of Nicæa, p. 257

325

Audius, the Quarto-deciman in Mesopotamia, p. 15

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