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M. Hardinge.
It is wonder to see, howe these menne abuse the Ecclesiastical histories. VVhereas thei talke a litle before of the sitting of Emperours in general Councelles, a man would thinke, that now also Theo∣dosius had benne saide to haue sitten among Bishoppes* 1.1 in some general Councel. But there is no sutche mater.* 1.2 Theodosius the Emperour conferred with Nectarius the Bishop of Constantinople, howe al Christen men might be brought to an vnitie in Faithe. And after that Nectarius had lerned of Sisin∣nius a greate Clerke, the best way to be, if al the heades of eche Heresie and Secte, might be induced to be iudged by the olde Fathers and Doctours of the Churche: the godly Emperoure hearing this aduise, caused bothe the Heretikes, and Catholiques also, to write eche of them sutche thinges, as eche of them had to saie for his Belefe. And after praier made, reading ouer al the writinges,‡ 1.3 he reiected the Arians, the Macedonians, and the Eunomians, ‡ embracing onely thier sentence, who agreed vpon the Consubstantialitie of the sonne of God. Here (saie these Defenders) Theodosius did not onely sitte a∣mongest the Bishoppes, but also ordered the whole arguing of the cause, tearing the papers of the He∣retikes, and allowing the Iudgemente of the Catholiques. To whiche obiection I make this answeare. First, that Theodosius here tooke counsel of Nectarius the Bishop, and folowed it: Secondely, that he in∣tended not to Iudge, whether opinion of al the Sectes were truer,* 1.4 but onely sought howe to ridde the Churche of cōtrouersies. Otherwise he would not onely haue taken counsel of Nectarius the Catholike Bishop, but also of the Arians, Macedonians, and Eunomians. For he is not a right Iudge, that calleth one side onely to him, and in iudgemente is ruled by it. If then it be plaine, that the Emperoure onely consulted with Catholiques, it is no lesse plaine,‡ 1.5 that he sate not Iudge vpon the Catholi∣ques. VVhat did he then? Verely he entended to execute that iudgement, whiche the Bishops had pro∣nounced at Nice, and therefore he conferred onely with menne of that side. And because he was en∣structed, that by disputation no good should come, he chose this way, to make al to write their opiniōs. Not that he minded nowe to lerne his Faithe out of their writinges, sith he had lerned that longe be∣fore, and professed the same in his Baptisme: but he sought a way, whereby to put al Heretiques to si∣lence. Therefore, hauing read al the writinges, and hauinge made his praier to God for grace,* 1.6 to chose the better side,* 1.7 whiche also he made not doubtinge of his Faithe (for els he were an Infidel, and vnworthy to be a Iudge, euen in the Temporal matters among Christians) but partely he declared, that al goodnes is to be asked of God,‡ 1.8 partely he would the Heretiques to vnderstande, that he wont not to worke with affection, but with the feare of God. Thus hauing praied and readen the writinges, he executed the iudgemente of the Nicene Councel, and reiected those Heretiques.
Nowe to retourne to the wordes of the Apologie, how saie thei, that the Emperoure not onely sate among Bishoppes, but also causae disceptationi praefuit, was chiefe Ruler and moderatour of the reasoning, and debating of the mater? Thei cannot saie thus, as of a Councel, whereof thei talke.‡ 1.9 For there was no Councel indicted, not onely by the Pope, but neither by the Emperoure, nor by any other Archebishop. ‡ It was a priuate callinge together of certaine heades of eche Secte, and not a solemne ordinarie councel. If there were no Councel of Bishoppes, no sittinge of Bishoppes: if no sitting, no pre∣sidence at al. Howe then was Theodosius President, and Iudge of Ecclesiastical causes?
If we shal reporte the thinge, as it was in truthe done, onely Theodosius vsed a politike way, to put Heretiques to silence.* 1.10 Other iudgement he tooke not vpon him, as he that protested alwaies, that Spi∣ritual causes, and controursies of Doctrine could not better be decided, then by Bishoppes. For whiche saieinge, S. Ambrose praised him. So that we are sure of Theodosius, that he neuer meante to inter∣medle with Ecclesiastical maters,* 1.11 otherwise then to execute the Bishoppes Decrees.