The history of the church from our Lords incarnation, to the twelth year of the Emperour Maricius Tiberius, or the Year of Christ 594 / as it was written in Greek, by Eusebius Pamphilius ..., Socrates Scholasticus, and Evagrius Scholasticus ... ; made English from that edition of these historians, which Valesius published at Paris in the years 1659, 1668, and 1673 ; also, The life of Constantine in four books, written by Eusibius Pamphilus, with Constantine's Oration to the convention of the saints, and Eusebius's Speech in praise of Constantine, spoken at his tricennalia ; Valesius's annotations on these authors, are done into English, and set at their proper places in the margin, as likewise a translation of his account of their lives and writings ; with two index's, the one, of the principal matters that occur in the text, the other, of those contained in the notes.

CHAP. XXXVII. How, after Athanasius was exiled, Arius, being sent for from Alexandria by the Emperour, raised disturbances against Alexander Bishop of Con∣stantinople.

WHile these things were transacted, the thirtieth year of Constantines Reign was compleated. a 1.1 Arius and his followers being returned to Alexandria, caused a ge∣neral disturbance in that City again. For the populace of Alexandria were very much troubled both at Arius and his Complices's return, and also at the exile of their Bi∣shop Athanasius. But when the Emperour understood the perversness of Arius's mind, he ordered him to be sent for again to Constantinople, there to give an account of the disturbances he had endea∣voured to rekindle. Alexander, who had some time before that succeeded Metrophanes, did then preside over the Church of Alexandria. The conflict this man had with Arius at that time, was a sufficient proof of his piety and accepta∣bleness to God. For upon Arius's arrival there, both the people were divided into two factions, and there also arose an universal commotion all the City over: some of them affirming, that the Nicene Creed ought to continue unshaken and without any alteration; and others pertina∣ciously asserting that Arius's opinion was con∣sonant to reason; Alexander was hereupon re∣duced to a great straight. And more especially, because Eusebius of Nicomedia had sorely threat∣ned him, saying that he would forthwith cause him to be deposed, unless he would admit Arius and his followers to Communion. But Alex∣ander was not so sollicitous about his own depo∣sition, as he was fearful of the enervating of the Doctrine of Faith, which they earnestly endea∣voured to subvert. For looking upon himself as the keeper and patron of the determinations made by the [Nicene] Synod, he made it wholly his business to prevent the wresting and depravation of those Canons. Being therefore reduced to those extremities, he entirely bad farwell to [the assi∣stances of] Logick, and made God his Refuge. He devoted himself to continued fasts, and omit∣ted no form or manner of praying. Now, he made this resolution within his own mind, and what he had resolved he secretly performed. Having shut up himself alone in the Church which is called Irene, he went to the Altar, laid himself prostrate on the ground under the b 1.2 holy Table, and poured forth his prayers [to God] with tears: he continued doing this for many nights and days together. Moreover, he asked of God, and received [what he had desired.] His petition was this; that if Arius's opinion were true, he might not see the day appointed for the disquisition thereof: but, if that Faith which he professed were true, that Arius (in re∣gard he was the Authour of all these mischiefs) might suffer condign punishment for his im∣piety.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Socrates does here follow Rufinus, who says that Arius (after the Synod at Jerusalem) returned to Alexandria; and a little after that (when his de∣vices would doe no good there) was recalled to Constantinople by Eusebius. But all this is false, as we intimated before, in re∣gard Arius died long before the Jerusalem Synod. Vales.
• b 1.2

  Rufinus (book 1. chap. 12. Eccles. Hist.) from whom So∣crates bor∣rowed this, words this passage thus, sub altari ja∣cens, lying under the altar▪ So∣zomen tells the same story; book 2. chap. 29. Vales.