The estate of the Church with the discourse of times, from the apostles vntill this present: also of the liues of all the emperours, popes of Rome, and Turkes: as also of the Kings of Fraunce, England, Scotland, Spaine, Portugall, Denmarke, &c. With all the memorable accidents of their times. Translated out of French into English by Simon Patrike, Gentleman.

The great Councell of Nice. Anno domini. 320.

These debates and contentions brought great dolour and care vnto the good Emperour Constantine, and incontinent to

giue order therefore, seeing this euill from day to day got the vpper hand, sent Hosius Bishop of Corduba in Spaine to Alex∣ander, a man of great pietie and authoritie, with his Letters Pa∣tents to the Church, to finde meanes to extinguish this fire whose flames were blowne all ouer. Eusebius reciteth the Tenure of Constantines Letters full of all pietie, in the life of the said Emperour. Lib. 2.

Hosius furnished with these Letters came into Egipt, and did all that he could to agree Alexander & Arrius, but in vaine. Whereof the Emperour being aduertised, was more grieued then before, at the request of the Bishops, and instance of A∣lexander, as witnesseth Rufin. lib. 1. cap. 1. ordained at his owne charge an vniuersal Sinode at Nice, a town of Bithinia, the yeare of Christ. 320. after some, and the yeare of his Empire 17. At which Sinode, from all the parts of the earth came Bishops, and the number was 250. after Socrates. li. 1. ca. 8. besides Priests, Dea∣cons, A colites, & other multitudes. Theodoret. li. 1. ca. 7. saith 318. Bishops; and this is about the number wherof the most part of the Elders agree, that haue written thereof.

Some say, that the Emperour before he assembled this ge∣nerall Sinode, had caused Arrius to come vnto him, and in the presence of some Bishops hauing enquired of his heresie, Ar∣rius with an oath answered that he bred no heresies, then straight the Emperour in the presence of all said: If thou hast sworne with a good conscience, & that thy oath be made with a full faith, then departest thou an Innocent. But if falsly thou callest God to witnesse, let him whom thou hast offended take vengeance. So many spake for him which he before had gai∣ned. Notwithstanding the Emperour writ large Letters that men should take heede of Arrius that they builded not their Faithes vpon his heresies. These letters beganne with these words. Constantine the great Augustus, &c. The place for the Sinode was in the Emperours Pallace, wherein hee had placed seates couenable and conuenient for each state and degree. The Emperours seate was in the first ranke, and it was couered with Golde, as Eusebius saieth in his life. Liber. 3. Hee himselfe made the first exhortation

to enter into the matter, wherevnto by consent of all, Eusta∣chius Bishop of Antioche had charge to answere. The Empe∣rour the better to agree with them, proposed the great crueltie and tirannie of the persecutions passed: that now peace was open vnto them, and that it should be a straunge thing, the out∣ward enemies being vanquished, to stirre vp warres within. Theodoret. Lib. 1. Cap. 7.

Amongst the Bishops which were there assembled against Arrius was Macarius Bishop of Hierusalem, Eustachius Bishop of Antioche,* 1.1 Hosius Bishop of Corduba in Spaine, Pathuntius of Egipt, and Maximus, (these two had their eyes put out for the Faith) and many other persons which had suffered persecuti∣on vnder the aforesaid Titants.* 1.2 There was also Spiridian, Bi∣shop of Tremythe in Cyprus, and Nicholas Bishop of Mirme in Licia, a very graue man. Also Athanasius then a Deacon of the Church of Alexandria, Theophilus Bishop of the Gothes, and Alexander Bishop of Alexandria, &c. Spiridian was he that in Lent presented flesh to a Pilgrim as he passed by, and did eate himselfe, and caused him also to eate, saying that to pure Chri∣stians all things are pure. Hist. tripart. lib. 1. Chap. 10.

After that license was graunted to the two parties, Eusebi∣us Bishop of Nichomedia, the Patrone of Arrius, presented a Libell full of blasphemies, conteining briefly that which hath bene before said. That God who is for euer, was not alwaies the Father. And seeing all things were created of God, the sonne also must be a worke made, and many other blaspemies. This Libell was recited and read with great sorrowe of most part of them which were there, because of the blasphemies conteined therein, and was torne in peeces, to the great confu∣sion of the Author. There followed a very sharpe contention of both parts, which the Emperour harkened vnto with great patience. But finally Eusebius and his consorts fearing to be banished, made a countenance to renounce their errours, and to subscribe to the determination of the Fathers, except Secundus and Theon, as Athanasius reciteth in the decrees of the Sinode of Nice. But the Bishops after they knew their fraude, and how they disguised the truth with words, began to vse the

word Essence and Homousios, that is to say, of one same sub∣stance. Then the Eusebians abhorred these words, Homousios and Essentiall, as straunge & vnvsed in the holy scripture. The Fathers declared, that necessarily they were constrained to vse these words, to signifie that the Sonne was engendered of the substance of the Father, according to which, bee was consub∣stantiall to the Father, that is to say, of one same substance and essence.

A Philosopher who by no Arguments could be surmoun∣ted, was finally conuerted by a simple Bishop, who said vnto him: Harken Philosopher, there is one God which made all things in the power of his word, and by the sanctification of his holy spirite confirmed them. This word which we call the Sonne of God, hath redeemed mankinde, which was in the bottomelesse pit of hell, by his death and resurrection. Tor∣ment nor trouble thy selfe too much with thine owne ar∣guments and demonstrations in this matter which must be ap∣prehended by faith, and that Iesus Christ himselfe and his A∣postles hath taught vs. Answere mee, doost thou beleeue it is so? The Philosopher astonished said vnto him, I beleeue, and confesse to be vanquished, & after exhorted others of his pro∣fession, with him to beleeue the doctrine.

At the said Councell, Constantine hauing receiued diffa∣matorie Libels, accusations, debates, and particular quarells of Bishops one against an other, caused them all to be cast into the fire, that none might vnderstand their debates or errours. God hath ordeined you Bishops (saith he) and hath giuen you power to iudge of your selues, by meanes whereof we yeelde our selues to your iudgement. Men may not iudge you but God alone, vnto whom we referre the deciding and determi∣nation of your controuersies.

This humilitie of Constantine, afterward brought great da∣mage to his Successors.

The said Councell would haue forbidden Priests and Dea∣cons to dwell with their wiues:* 1.3 but Pathuntius whome Constan∣tine

had in such reuerence, that hee often caused him to come into his Pallace, and imbraced, yea kissed the place frō whence his eye was plucked out, rising vp, confessed that marriage was honourable amongst all men and the bed vndefiled: and said that the company of the husband with the wife was chastitie, and perswaded the Councell not to set out such Lawes which might giue occasion of fornicatiō both to them & their wiues. The Councell approued his opinion, and so dealt nothing vpō that matter, but left to euery one liberty to marry or not: ac∣cording as to euery one should seeme expedient: wherefore as before, so now also was it lawful for Priests to retain their wiues and to marry. But after Siritius & Gregorie the seuenth, forbad such marriage, and commaunded continency: which notwith∣standing the Easterne Priests neuer receiued.

It is not then true which some write, that Calixus who was be∣fore this Councell, commanded continencie: For then there would haue bene some mention of him in the said Councell and of his de∣cree. Eusebius.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Hist. Eccle. Li. 10. Chap. 4.
• * 1.2

  Spiridian.
• * 1.3

  Pathuntius.