CHAP. LXI. How from the City Alexandria * 1.1 Controversies were raised on account of Arius.
THese things the Emperour, like a most loud∣speaking Preacher of God, by his own Letter † 1.2 proclaimed to all the Provincialls; ‖ 1.3 di∣verting his Subjects from Diabolicall Errour; and exhorting them to the exercise of true Piety. But whilst he was exceedingly joyfull on account hereof, news was brought him, con∣cerning a disturbance of no small consequence, which had seized the Churches. At the hearing whereof he was extreamly troubled, and began earnestly to consider of a Cure. [The Ori∣ginall of the disturbance] was this. The peo∣ple of God were in a flourishing condition, and * 1.4 pleased themselves with the exercises of good Actions. There was no fear without, which might give disturbance: in regard, by the grace and favour of God, a splendid and most pro∣found Peace fortified the Church on all sides. But Envy framed treacherous designes against our Blessings. [At first] it crept in privately; but [afterward] it daunced in the very midst of the Conventions of the Saints. At length it raised Contention between the Bishops, and a 1.5 cast in discord and wranglings amongst them, under a pretence of the Divine † 1.6 Dogmata. From thence, as 'twere from some small spark, a great fire was kind∣led. Which began from the Alexandrian Church, as 'twere from an ‖ 1.7 Eminence; and afterwards over∣ran all Egypt, and Libya, and the Further Thebais. Moreover, it ruined the rest of the Provinces and Cities: in so much that, you might have seen not only the Prelates of the Churches fighting one with another with words; but the people also rent into factions; some inclining to this party; others, to that. b 1.8 Further, the spectacle of the things performed proceeded to such an height of ab∣surdity, that even in the very Theaters of the Infidells, the vanerableness of the Divine Do∣ctrine * 1.9 was traduced by a most ignominious and reproachfull derision.