6

having cited various texts, he adds, Agreeably to these speaks the most eloquent Paul, saying," Whom he has appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds." In another place he has words of Heb. i. 3.

4. He quotes the second epistle of St. John, ver. 10. For it becometh us as christians," not to say to such: God speed, lest we be partakers of their sins," as the blessed John directs.'

5. I shall add some things, showing his respect for the scriptures, and the general divisions then in use.

(1.) He calls them divine scriptures. He ever asserts his own opinion upon the ground of their authority, and chargeth his adversaries with opposing and contradicting the same divine scriptures. The doctrines which he maintains to be true, he says, are apostolical, which we teach and preach, and for which we are ready to die.

(2.) Other passages to the like purpose are such as these: 'We believe in one only unbegotten Father, giver of the law, and the prophets, and the gospels, Lord of the patriarchs, and apostles, and all holy men.' Afterwards, Wes also confess, as the divine scriptures teach, one Holy Spirit, who renewed both the holy men of the Old Testament, and the divine teachers of that which is called the New.' He thinks that the hypostasis of the Sou, may be above the comprehension of evangelists, and even of angels. Having cited some texts of the Old Testainent, and St. Paul's epistles, he proceeds, And in the gospel it is written.'

(3.) I have not observed in Alexander quotations of any books, beside those of the Old and the New Testament. But representing in strong terms the perverseness of his adver

* Σύμφωνα γεν τέτοις βοα και ὁ μεγαλοφωνότατος Παυλος, φασκων περι αυτω' όν έθηκε κληρονομον παντων. κ. λ. ap. Theod. p. 13. Β.

y Hebr. i. 2.

—απαύγασμα γαρ εςι της δόξης, και χαρακτηρ

TNS TATρIKNS Vπоsaσews. ap. Th. p. 17. D. vid. et Socr. p. 12. D.

a

—και μη δε καν χαίρειν τοις τοιέτοις λεγειν, ίνα μη ποτε και ταῖς ἁμαρτίαις αυτών κοινωνοι γενώμεθα, ὡς παρηγγειλεν ὁ μακαριος Ιωαννης. ap. Socr. p. 13. C. • Εντολης τε εσης εν ταις θειαις γραφαις. ap. Socr.

p. 10. A. et passim.

d

• Και ταυτα λέγοντες, και αναπτύσσοντες

τας θειας γραφας, πολλακις ανετρεψαμεν αυτός. ap. Socr. p. 12. C. Ποια δε παρα τας γραφας εφεύροντες λαλεσιν, επι ταυτα. Ap. Soc. p. 10. D. τας θειας-συναναιρωντες γραφας. ap. Ph. p. 10. D. και ταις γραφαις εμπαpower. ib. p. 11. B.

f

• Ταυτα διδασκομεν, ταυτα κηρυσ

σομεν, ταύτα της εκκλησίας τα αποςολικά δόγματα, ύπερ ών και αποθνησκομεν. Ap. Th. p. 19. A. B. Νομε και προφητων και ευαγγελιον δοτήρα, πατριαρχών και αποςόλων και άπαντων ἁγιων Κυριον. Ap. Th. p. 17. Α. Β. Β ́ Καθως ἡμας αἱ θειαι γραφαι διδασκωσιν, ἐν πνεύμα άγιον· ὁμολογέμεν, το καινισαν τις τε της παλαιας διαθηκης άγιος ανθρωπες, και τες της χρηματίζεσης καινης παίδευτας θειες. Ib. p. 18. C. D.

h Ib. p. 12. B. Conf. p. 17. C.

* Εν δε τῳ ευαγγελιῳ. ib. p. 14. Β.

saries, Arius and his adherents, he says: They have no ' regard to the wisdom and piety of ancient writings, nor to 'the unanimous consent of our colleagues in the doctrine con'cerning Christ.' By ancient writings, I suppose he means those of early christians, near the days of the apostles: for which he seems to have had, and justly, a high respect. Nevertheless they were not esteemed decisive, and of authority in matters of religion. If they had been so, they would have been frequently quoted by him.

CHAP. LXIX.

ARIUS, AND HIS FOLLOWERS.

1. His history. II. His works. III. His character. IV. The rise and occasion of the Arian controversy. V. The opinions of Arius and his followers. VI. Divisions among them, and their numerous councils and creeds. VII. Their want of moderation. VIII. Their testimony to the scriptures. IX. Arian writers: 1. Acacius. 2. Aetius. 3. Anonymous author of a Commentary upon the Book of Job. 4. Another author of a Discourse in Augustine. 5. Asterius. 6. Basil of Anchyra. 7. Eunomius. 8. Eusebius of Emesa. 9. Eusebius of Nicomedia. 10. Euzoius. 11. George of Laodicea. 12. Lucius. 13. Maximin. 14. Philostorgius. 15. Sabinus. 16. Theodore, bishop of Heraclea. 17. Ulphilas.

I. THE history of the Arian controversy may be learned not only from Eusebius, Socrates, and Sozomen, and other ecclesiastical historians, but likewise from Arius himself, Alexander, and Athanasius, principals in the debate.

It began, as some think, in the year 316, others about b 319: whereas Baronius placed it as early as 315, agreeably tod Orosius, as he thought. But Basnage and others say,

* Ου κατηδεσεν αυτες ἡ των αρχαιων γραφων φιλοθεος σαφηνεια· εδε ἡ των συλλειτεργων συμφωνος περι Χρισε ευλάβεια. ib. p. 16. C. Vid. ib. B.

Fabr. Bib. Gr. T. viii. p. 308.

Art. 2. et Note i.

d L. vii. c. 28.

n. ix. et Pagi ann. 315. n. vi. vii.

A. 315. n. 20.

Tillem. T. vi. Les Ariens.

e A. 317. n. v. Conf. eund. A. 321..

that the beginning of Arianism is put by that author in 317. Cave likewise thinks, that Arius was not known as an heresiarch, until after 315, though he speaks of him as flourishing about that year. Barnard de Varenne says, that Arius did not open himself fully, till the year 319, when he knew that he had several bishops and presbyters on his side.

Epiphanius informs us, it was said, thath Arius was a native of Libya: he does not speak positively. Constantine seems to mean Alexandria, when he speaks of sending back Arius to his own country. It is now commonly said, that his father's name was Ammonius: and indeed, Arius sent his letter to Eusebius of Nicomedia by onek Ammonius, whom he calls father. But in what sense he useth the word, may be questioned, as has been already observed by Basnage.

m

Sozomen says, that Arius was made deacon by Peter, but was afterwards excommunicated by the same bishop, for not approving of his treatment of Meletius and his adhe rents. When Peter had suffered martyrdom, Achillas not only forgave Arius, aud admitted him deacon again, but ordained him presbyter. After whose death," he was also for a time much esteemed by Alexander.

It is universally agreed, that Arius was presbyter of Alexandria, and officiated in a church of that city. Theodoret says, he was intrusted with the interpretation of the sacred scriptures, whether Theodoret thereby means, as catechist, or only as preacher in the church allotted to him, is not certain. For it seems to me, that there is no good reason to conclude from these expressions of Theodoret, that Arius had the office of catechist at Alexandria.

Arius's particular opinions being known, and spreading considerably, Alexander convened a council at Alexandria: in which Arius and divers others were excommunicated, as

'Cœpitque, ut volunt, ab anno 315, tanquam hæresiarcha, innotescere ; quod tamen paulo serius mihi contigisse videtur, paucis ante synodum Nicænam annis. Cav. H. L. in Ario.

h

i

8 Histoire de Constantin. l. v. p. 207. a Paris. 1728. -φασιν δε αυτον Λιβυν τῳ γενει. Εpiph. Η. 6. 9. n. 69. -επι την πατριδα αφικεσθαι δυνηθης. ap. Socr. l. i. c. 25. p. 61. Β. k Ap. Epiph. H. 69. n. 6. Sed ambiguum patris nomen, quod episcopis etiam frequentissime debatur, in incerto ponit, naturâne an dig

nitate pater Arii vocetur Ammonius.

Soz. l. i. c. 15. p. 426. A. B.

Basn. A. 318. n. v.

Αλεξανδρος εν τιμη ειχεν αυτον. Soz. ib. B.

• Vid. Epiph. H. 69. n. i.

• Αρειος τῳ μεν καταλογῳ των πρεσβυτερων εντεταγμενος, την δε των θείων γραφων πεπιτευμενος εξηγησιν. Thdrt. 1. i. c. 2. p. 7.

9 Vid. Tillem. Les Ariens, Art. 2. sub in.

• Και συνεδριον

Socrates says. To the like purpose Alexander himself, in bis epistle to Alexander bishop of Byzantium, afterwards called Constantinople. Sozomen says, that Alexander excommunicated Arius and the clergy that followed him.

This sentence was passed upon Arius, as" Tillemont thinks, in 319 or 320, or as other learned men, in 320 or 321. It appears to me very difficult to determine the year with certainty.

W

It ought to be observed, that about the year 319, or in some short time after, two synods were held at Alexandria. After the former of which Alexander wrote his letter to his namesake at Constantinople; after the latter, at which were present almost a hundred bishops of Egypt and Libya, he wrote the letter to the bishops of the catholic church in all places. There seems not to have been any long space of time between those two synods: and both these letters of Alexander were written a good while before Constantine's letter to the same Alexander and Arius, which was not written before the year 324. So Pagi, and others.

Whenever these things were done, Arius, in his letter to Eusebius of Nicomedia, complains heavily of the hard treatment given him by his bishop. He says, he was unjustly persecuted by Alexander for the truth's sake: and that he and his brethren were expelled the city, as impious, for not assenting to the doctrine taught by him. Epiphanius, too, expressly says, that Arius and they who adhered to him, were expelled both the church and the city.

Arius being expelled from Alexandria, went into Palestine, to strengthen his interest. Indeed, there were many who favoured him and his cause. Epiphanius says, it was reported, that he drew over to his party seven hundred virgins consecrated to God, seven presbyters, twelve deacons, and some bishops. This great increase, or a large part of

πολλων επισκοπων καθισας τον μεν Αρειον, και τες μεν αποδεχομενες την δοξαν αυτό, καθαρει. Socr. l. i. c. 6. p. 9. D.

8

παμψηφει της προσκύνησης Χρισε την Θεότητα εκκλησίας εξηλασαμεν. Ap. Thdrt. I. i. c. 4. p. 10. A. Vid. et p. 19. B.

L απεκήρυξε της εκκλησίας αυτόν τε και doyμa kanpines. Soz. 1. i. c. 15. p. 427. A. "Les Ariens, Art. 3. et note i.

vi. vii. viii. Basnage, 321. n. ix.

W

τες συμπράττοντας αυτῷ περι

▾ Vid. Pagi Ann. 315. n. Ap. Socr. 1. i. c. 6. p. 11. C.

* A. 315. n. viii. Conf. Vales. Annot. ad Thdrt. 1. i. c. 4. et Basnag. ann. 324. n. xx. ν ὁ διωκόμενος ὑπο Αλεξανδρε παπα αδίκως δια

aλnouav. ap. Epiph. H. 69. n. 6. in.

και παν κακον κινει καθ ̓ ἡμων--ώτε εκδιωξαι ήμας εκ της πολεως, ὡς ανθρωπος αθεός. ib. p. 731. B. 3 εξεοι αυτον της εκκλησίας,

και εκκήρυκτον ποιεί εν τη πόλει. Η. 69. n. iii. p. 729. D. b Epiph. ib. n. iv. in.

c H. 69. n. iii. in.

it, Epiphanius plainly supposes to have been made before Arius was excommunicated. For he says, that Alexander having summoned his presbyters, and some bishops, and strictly examining the matter, when Arius refused to own the truth, he was expelled the church and city: and with him were excommunicated the virgins and the clergy abovementioned, and a great number of people. Alexander, in his letter to his namesake of Byzantium, which we have in Theodoret, speaks as if there were many women at Alexandria who sided with Arius: and their zeal is represented by him as very great; though afterwards, to diminish their credit, as it seems, he speaks of the women that had been deceived, as few, or inconsiderable. He owns likewise that Arius and his friends boasted of havings bishops on their side. Alexander complains also of three bishops of Syria, who countenanced them: meaning Eusebius of Cæsarea, Theodotus of Laodicea, and Paulinus of Tyre. And at the end of that letter, he mentions by name i ten presbyters and deacons at Alexandria, who had been anathematized by him as he

retics.

In the letter to the bishops of the catholic church, preserved in Socrates, Alexander complains of Eusebius of Nicomedia, for patronizing Arius. And moreover mentions twelve presbyters and deacons at Alexandria, and two bishops of that country, who were of that party. Their names are, Arius, Achillas, Aithales, Carponas, another Arius, Sarmates, Euzoius, Lucius, Julian, Menas, Helladius, Gaius: the bishops are Secundus and Theonas.

Arius, in his letter to Eusebius of Nicomedia, mentions Eusebius of Cæsarea, Theodotus, Paulinus, Athanasius, Gregory, and Aëtius by name: and refers in general to other bishops of the east, who had been anathematized by Alexander, for teaching the same doctrine that he did. And intimates, that none of the bishops of the east had escaped that censure, except Philogonius, Hellanicus, and Macarius. The places where all these were bishops, are afterwards particularly shown by Theodoret.

Socrates observes, that the evil, which began at Alex

d - συν αυτῳ δε απεσπασθησαν αἱ προειρημεναι παρθενεύεσαι, και κληρικοί οἱ προειρημένοι, και οχλος αλλος πολυς. ib. ad fin.

• δι' εντυχιας γυναικαριών ατακτων ἁ ηπατησαν εκ τα περι τροχάζειν πασαν αγυιαν ασεμνως τας παρ' αυτοις νεωτέρας. ap. Thdrt. p. 9. D.

f

· ηπατημενα ολιγα γυναικαρια. ib. p. 19. C.

* πως αν συμψηφες αυτοις και όμοφρανας έχοντες επισκοπες. ib. p. 10. Β.

h lb p. 15. C.

* Vid. Socr. i. c. 6. p. 10.

1 Ap. Thdret. l. i. c. v. p. 21. A.

i Ib. P. 20.

La L. i. c. 6. in.