Chap. 4. Arius. 147 eaptivating in conversation, and well skilled in logic, and all the improvements of the human mind then fashionable in the world." "Such was the famous Arius, who gave name to one of the most powerful heresies which ever afflicted the Church of Christ, and of whom Cicero's words, with little variation, in his masterly character of Cataline, might be delivered : Had he not possessed some apparent virtues, he would not kave been able to form so great a design, nor to have proved so formidable an adversary." Indeed, if we look around upon the churches, we shall find that the greatest mischiefs are effected by men of specious character and popular virtues-men of loose morals cannot injure long. When Satan associates with the faithful, he assumes neither the intemperate, nor the unclean person, but he is transformed into an angel of light. There are three distinct characters of moral evil, earthly, sen▾ sual, devilish: the latter is the most difficult to impeach, and consequently the most mischievous. Arius was the disciple of Origen, and the scholar proceeded farther in the regions of speculation than his master. From the commencement of his profession, he manifested a prejudice for any party, more than for the orthodox, so that by the more pure and discerning he was watched with a cautious eye. From the writings and reasonings of this man, it appears to demonstration that he considered the oys (word) in point of essence inferior to the Father. He went so far as to assert "That there was a time when the Son of God was not; that he was capable of virtue or of vice; and that he was a creature, and mutable as creatures are!" Such sentiments as these, avowed and preached by a presbyter in the Christian communion, awakened the fears of some, and the bold retort of others. Alexander, the successor of Achillas, remonstrated with him, and endeavoured by gentle and lenient measures to restore him to a more scriptural system, but in vain-he persisted in spreading his doctrine, and succeeded in making disiples. Upon which Alexander resolved to call a synod of bishops, the event of which was, the doctrine of Arius was condemned, and he, with several of his adherents, expelled the church. These things threw the Christian world into a state of great confusion. Both parties were by far too much influenced by the spirit of pride, and many things, to the disgrace of both, were shamefully practised, so that paganism began to exult, saying, "Aha! so would we have it." These ecclesiastical disputes running high, awakened the most serious attention of Constantine. He wrote conciliatory letters both to Alexander and to Arius, in which he gave no opinion on the subject of debate, but urged mutual forbearance and forgiveness. In this interference he employed Hosius, bishop of Corduba, a man renowned for his faith and piety; but things were too obstinate to be thus settled. The emperor therefore resolved upon the call of the whole church, and accordingly the bishops from all parts of the Christian world were assembled at NICE in Bithynia. These ministers of the church are said to amount to the number of three hundred and eighteen, all of whom were brought from their respective stations, and maintained during the session of the council, at the cost of the emperor. With these bishops there was a vast body of presbyters, so that it is supposed the number of eeclesiastics present, was not less than six hundred. At this famous council, Constantine presided in person, and acted as moderator. In the controversy the Chap. 4. Nicene Creed. 149 Arians contended for the use of seripture phraseology, without explication or comment, by which means they would be left to affix to it, what sense they thought proper. To this the Trinitarians objected, by stating that such a test was no test at all, and thereby matters would be left without a remedy. The synod concluded by the vote of a very large majority against Arius and bis eoadjutors; and Hosius of Corduba was appointed to draw up a confession of faith, which is the same in substance as what is called the Nicene Creed.* This ereed was approved by the emperor, and he gave orders that all who would not subscribe should be banished. This heavy penalty fell upon Arius, and upon a few others with him, but the greater part of those tainted with his sentiments, some for the sake of peace, and more for the sake of their bishoprics, were induced to subscribe what they actually did not believe. Before this counsel broke up, some few other matters were determined, such as would deserve no place here, were it not to show the sad defection of Christianity in the increase of superstition, and human traditions. It was decreed that Easter should be kept at the same season through all the church; that celibacy in the clergy was a virtue; that new converts should not be * That called the Nicene Creed, as it stands in the English Common Prayer Book, appears not only to be a paraphrase, but also an abridgment, of the original. For the Nicene fathers, after they had laid down their own faith, proceeded to anathematize their opponents. This latter clause the English fathers omitted altogether, and some wise and good men in the church have expressed a wish that in the Athanasian Creed a similar omission had been observed... 150 Athanasius. Cent. 4. introduced to orders; that a certain course of penitenee should be enjoined on the lapsed, and many such things. During the debates at this council, a considerable combination of ability was displayed. Here Athanasius, afterward renowned for his creed, contended for the Trinitarian scheme; Eusebius of Nicomedia for the Arian system; and Eusebius of Cæsarea artfully contrived to keep in with both parties, by trimming between them. Acesius, a Novation bishop, was also at the council, which does the Nicene fathers great credit, especially when we consider that some resolutions were entered into in favour of that sect. CHAPTER V. CHURCH AFFAIRS TO THE DEATH OF CONSTANTIVE. Athanasius-Death of Arius-Baptism of Constantine. THE establishment of the Nicene creed, and the banishment of Arius, stopped not the spreading heresy, mor sufficiently awed those men who had been bold enough in the council to stand forth in its defence. In about three months it was judged expedient to add Eusebius of Nicomedia, and Theognis of Nice, to the number of the banished Arians. In the same year died Alexander bishop of Alexandria, and the famous Athanasius, to the general satisfaction of the church, sucseeded him in his episcopal office. He was about twenty-eight years of age when he was honoured with this appointment, and he held the see forty-six years, daring which time he was exposed to great trials from Chap. 5. Athanasius Banished. 151 the craft and malice of his enemies, the chief of which arose from the fury of the Arian party. Arius and his adherents, though in banishment, or in disgrace, were not without hope of recovering their liberty; nor did they fail to move every engine likely to produce the desired effect. A powerful one of this sort they had in Constantia, the emperor's sister, who had been prevailed upon by the Arian party, to espouse their cause, in which she succeeded so far, that by Constantine's orders, Arius, with his companions, was recalled, and recommended by the emperor to Athanasius for communion; but the Alexandrian champion of orthodoxy could not be prevailed upon to receive him. This contributed in no small degree to increase and inflame the rage of the heresiarchs, who marked Athanasius from that time as a suitable object for their revenge. Having obtained favour at court, they resolved to bring him to justice for certain crimes which they laid to his charge; the chief of which was, according to their allegations, that he had murdered Arsenius, a Meletian bishop; in order to prove which, they produced a dead man's hand, which they affirmed to be the hand of the murdered pastor, and found in the posses sion of Athanasius. This contrivance, however, failed, for the friends of the accused bishop produced the body of Arsenius, not only with both hands on, but alive and in good health. But the fury of Arianism rested not here; a synod of bishops was called at Tyre, in which Eusebius of Nicomedia played his part so well with the emperor, that in spite of justice and truth, Athanasius was banished into Gaul. Upon this great acquisition, Arius returned in triumph to Alexandria, to strengthen his party there; but the emperor ordered him to Constantinople, in order |