Mr. Blount's oracles of reason examined and answered in nine sections in which his many heterodox opinions are refuted, the Holy Scriptures and revealed religion are asserted against deism & atheism / by Josiah King ...

Pag. 98.

If you will believe the Learned Peta∣vius, and other Arians, they did offer to be try'd by the Fathers that preceded the Nicene Council.

ANSWER.

Petavius is a late Author, and unless he brings Proof for what he says, he is not to be relied on in historical Matters of so remote Antiquity. Sandius in his Nucleus, Hist. Eccles. p. 256. cites our Bishop Taylor to the same purpose, viz. That the Arians appealed to the Fathers for Tri∣al, and that the Offer was declined.

To which our learned Dr. Gardiner in the Appendix ad Nucleum, makes this Answer, Ego vero a reverendi Tayleri manibus venia petita, fa∣teor me Socratis & Zozomeni verbis potius assenteri, &c. I for my part am forced to beg Bishop Taylor's Pardon, and do confess, that I assent rather to Socrates and Sozomen, who report the contrary. Which Answer is good and valid.

The Bishops that lived in those Days were far enough from declining Trial by the Fathers, that preceded the Nicene Council, that they desired nothing more. The Arians were the Men (as Socrates says, lib. 5. c. 10.) that trust∣ed to 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. They were the Men that refused the Judgments of the Ancients, and defended themselves by Niceties and Disputations. And to the same purpose Sozomen, lib. 7. c. 12.

I will cite two or three Authorities more, which will make this thing so very plain, that nothing but reading Fathers at second hand,

and too great Credulity can apologize for Mr. Blount.

Athanasius is known to be a Bishop, who made as great a Figure in the Church as any one in his time; a Man of great Learning, and ex∣emplary Piety, and one that was as well acquain∣ted with the Methods that the Orthodox and Arians made use of, as any Man could possibly be. This great Athanasius, in his Book of the Decrees of the Nicene Synod, says,

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Behold, we have demonstrated this our Opinion from Fathers to Fathers, as they delivered the same to us. But for your parts, O new Jews and Disciples of Caiaphas! What Fathers can you produce that are Fautors of your Heresies? Truly ye cannot bring so much as one of the number of those who were account∣ed Prudent and Wise, all such detest you. Ye can alledge none but your Father the Devil, who was the sole Author of this Heresie and Defection from the Truth.

Alexander, Bishop of Alexandria, a Person in nothing inferior to Athanasius; one that had all the Qualifications desireable in a good Pre∣late.

In an Epistle of his to Alexander Bishop of Constantinople, (as we find it in Theodoret's Ecclesiastical History, Book the first, Chapter fourth) says, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

You Arians have so good Opinion of your selves, as that you think none of the Ancients are worthy to be compared to you. Neither will ye endure, that those who in my younger Days were esteemed as our Guides and Masters, should upon any Terms be equalled to you. Neither will ye grant that any of our present Colleagues have any competent Knowledge of these Controversies. Ye think your selves to be the only wise Men; and that although ye have nothing, yet ye enjoy all things. You boast, that you alone are the finders out and possessors of Truth; and that to you such Mysteries are revealed, and kept from other Men.

By which Words Alexander of Alexandria signifies, that the Arian Sentiments were repug∣nant to the Doctrine of the most ancient Fa∣thers, to the Doctrine of his immediate Prede∣cessors, and of all those Bishops who had the

Government of the Church, when this unhap∣py Arian Heresy began. He signifies also, that the first Defenders of Arianism were Enthusi∣asts, and pretenders to extraordinary Revela∣tion.

To these two, I will only add St. Austin, who treating of the blessed Trinity at large in fif∣teen Books, in his first Book, Chapter the 3d. he delivers his Mind as fully, and as much to the purpose, as either of the two before quoted: Thus he says, Omnes quos legere potui qui ante me scripserunt de Trinitate, divinorum librorum veto∣rum & novorum Catholici tractatores, hoc intende∣runt secundum Scripturas docere, quod pater & fi∣lius & spiritus sanctus unius ejusdemque substantiae inseparabili aequalitate divinam insinuent unitatem.

All the Authors that I have met with, who have written before me of the holy Trinity; all the Orthodox Writers and Commentators of the Divine Books of the Old and New Te∣stament proposed this to themselves, to prove, that according to the Holy Scriptures, the Fa∣ther, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, have one and the same Substance, which includes a Divine Unity with an inseparable Equality.

This last Testimony of St. Austin is very re∣markable, and as comprehensive as the most zealous Trinitarian could desire. And from hence we cannot but observe, how blamewor∣thy some very learned Men of the Roman Com∣munion have been; who, though they sincere∣ly believe the Doctrine of the Holy Trinity,

yet by affirming, either by mistake or design, that this heavenly Doctrine cannot be proved by Scripture, nor by the Fathers that preceded the Nicene Council, but only by unwritten Tradition they have given great advantage to the Antitrinitarian to triumph, and have con∣firmed them in their Heterodox Opinion, nem∣pe hoc vult Ithacus, magno & mercantur Achivi.