The True History of Councils, Part 3 · Chapter 19
CHAP. XIX. Of the Council of Nice and ſome following.
§ 1. THis Hiſtorian having put himſelf into a military poſture ſeemeth to conceit that every word proceeds from an Enemy. And firſt he feigneth me to make Conſtantine judge that [the Biſhops and Councils were of little uſe] when I had no ſuch word or thought, but the contrary.
§ 2. Next he himſelf confeſſeth that which I blame thoſe Biſhops for; Even thoſe Libels which they Contentiouſly offered againſt one another; to have raiſed Quarrels inſtead of Peace, and which Conſtantine caſt altogether into the fire without reading them. And when he confeſſeth what I ſay, is he not a Railer at the Biſhops as much as I in that?
As to his excuſe that [It is no wonder conſidering their great diſſentions in Religion, &c.] I eaſily grant it: But in this excuſe he ſaith yet more againſt them.
§ 3. Becauſe I ſaid that Athanaſius differing from Conſtantine about the reception of Arius his repentance [Cauſed much Calamity] he feigneth me heinouſly to accuſe Athanaſius which I intended not: Even a juſt action may [Cauſe Calamity] as Chriſt ſaith his Goſpel would bring diviſion. All his labour in juſtifying Athanaſius fighteth but with a ſpectre of his own imagination. And yet I am inclined to think that if an Hypocrite Arius had been connived at to pleaſe ſuch an Emperor, the death of Arius would have left the Church quieter than it did; though he here thinks greater rigour had been ſafer: And I think multitudes of Sadduces, Infidels and debaucht Perſons in one of our Dioceſſes, yea or Pariſhes, is worſe than one Arius while Hypocriſie reſtrained him from Venting his opinion.
§ 4. And here he that dreamed I accuſed Athanaſius, really accuſeth Conſtantine as impoſed on by a Counterfeit Repentance and reſtoring the incendiary to opportunities of doing miſchief, and being againſt the means that might have ended that fatal miſchief. But I confeſs Conſtantine was no Biſhop, and therefore this is not an accuſation of Biſhops or a railing at them.
§ 5. Next when I had fully opened the Caſe of the Mel…tians out of Epiphanius on pretence of abbreviating, he leaves out that which he likes not, and tells us how the Nonconformiſts have advantaged the Papiſts: If I thought the man believed himſelf I would try to undeceive him▪ In the mean time I deſire him to think again which party moſt befriends the Papiſts; They that are for a reconciliation with them on theſe terms, that there may be acknowledged an Univerſal ſupreme human Power over all the Church on Earth, and the Pope to be Principium Unitatis and Patriarch of the Weſt, and he ſhall abate us the laſt 400 years Impoſitions, and all be accounted Schiſmaticks that unite not into this Church; and that all the Preachers in England ſhall be ſilenced that will not ſwear, promiſe, profeſs, and practiſe all that which is here impoſed on them, though they think it heinons ſin, and others think it but matter indifferent, and all the people ſhall be proſecuted that hear them; and that this Diviſion ſhall rather weaken the Kingdom, and advantage the Papiſts, than the Conſciences of men, as wiſe and faithful as themſelves ſhall be eaſed of ſuch Impoſitions, or they ſuffered to Preach the Goſpel of Chriſt: Or thoſe that being condemned to ſuch Silence, Priſons and Ruine, had rather be delivered, though a Papiſt be delivered with them, than be deſtroyed.] Methinks we are uſed by theſe Church-Fathers, as if they ſhould determine that a great part of the Proteſtants who are moſt againſt Popery, ſhall be hanged, unleſs the Papiſts will beg their pardon, or cut the Rope; which if theſe Proteſtants accept, they ſhall be ſaid to be the Promoters of the Papiſts.
§ 6. As for all his Exceptions againſt Epiphanius, they are nothing to me, who did not undertake to juſtifie his words, but tranſcribe them; nor think it worth my labour now to examine the Caſe of ſo ſmall concernment.
§ 7. When ſome have blamed me for condemning the Arians too much, he ſaith, that I ſay ſome what very much to the diſadvantage of the Doctrine of the Trinity, but he was ſo gentle as not to tell what it was, unleſs it be telling what Petavius the Jeſuite ſaith: About that I am wholly of his own mind. But the expreſs words which Petavius de Trinit. citeth out of all thoſe Old Fathers, cannot be denied: And verily they are ſo many, and ſo groſs, that unleſs his Argument ſatisfied me, viz. [The Votes of the Council of Nice ſhewed what was the Common ſence of the Church, better than the words of all thoſe Fathers] I ſhould think as Philoſtorgius in point of Hiſtory, that there were no ſufficient confuting of the Arians from thoſe Fathers, though ſometimes they have better words. Viſible words cannot be denied, even where they muſt be lamented. That's the difference between Mr. M's. Opinion of Hiſtory and mine.
§ 8. As to the Audians, I recite but Epiphanius's words, who in other caſes is greatly valued by theſe Accuſers: They will believe what he ſaith of Aerius. And as to what he ſaith to the contrary out of Theodoret, he may ſee that he ſaith all by hearſay, and ſaith, that They hid that which he accuſeth them of, and were Hypocrites, profeſſing too much ſtrictneſs, l. 4. c. 9. which is ſtill the common way of accuſing the beſt, againſt whom inſtead of proveable faults, they turn their ſtrictneſs into a crime. Epiphanius is much more particular than Theodoret in the ſtory.
§ 9. The reſt which he noteth of my words of the Council of Nice, have nothing needing a reply. Petavius hath fully proved that the Chorepiſcopi were true Biſhops. But now we are odious Presbyterians if we would but have a Biſhop in every City, that is, Corporation, Deſiring only that Diſcipline might become poſſible. And for this we are proclaimed to be againſt Biſhops; that is, ſaith this ſort of men; They that would have but One Biſhop over a thouſand, or many hundred, or ſcore Churches, are for Epiſcopacy; and they that would have every Church have a Biſhop, as of old, or at leaſt every great Town, and ſo would have twenty, or forty, or a hundred for one, are againſt Epiſcopacy: And that which is ſtrange is, Theſe men are believed.
§ 10. I praiſed the Council of Gangra for condemning ſome Superſtitions, and he ſaith, I have nothing againſt it: Whether it be a Common Miſtake that Arius was here received to Communion, I'le not ſtay to examine.
§ 11. When he hath weighed all he can for the Synod at Antioch, he is forced to confeſs that they were a packt company of Biſhops, that complied with Conſtantius and Euſebius's Contrivance. And what do I ſay worſe of them than he? As to the Canon againſt Prieſts or Deacons not gathering Aſſemblies againſt the Biſhops will, I am for it as much as he, if the Biſhops and Churches be ſuch as they were then; but not in France nor Italy.
He ſaith, I leave my ſting behind me, and end very angrily; for theſe only words [This is their ſtrength] mentioning the Councils (that was againſt Athanaſius) suppreſſing Diſſenters as ſeditious by force. I ſee angry men think others angry when they are, and are ſtung if we do but name their ſtinging us: As if Priſons and Ruine were not ſo ſharp a ſting as theſe four words. If it be not their ſtrength, why do they ſo truſt to it, as to confeſs that their Arguments and Keyes would do little to uphold their Prelacy without it. In the daies of the Uſurpers I moved for a Petition, that when they granted Liberty of Conſcience for ſo many others, they would grant Liberty for the full exerciſe of the Epiſcopal Government to all that deſired it. But the Epiſcopal Party that I ſpake to, would not endure it, as knowing what bare Liberty would be to their Cauſe, unleſs they could have the Sword to ſuppreſs thoſe that yield not to their Reaſons.
§ 12. Next he ſaith, I ſpare my Gall for about a dozentimes, not regarding how it contradicts his former Accuſations.
But whereas I recite the horrid Accuſations of the Council at Philippopolis againſt Athanaſius, Paulus and Marcellus, of open Matters of Fact, as Murder, Perſecutions, Burning of Churches, Wars, Flames, Dragging Prieſts to the Market-place with Chriſts Body tyed about their necks, ſtripping Conſecrated Virgins naked before a concourſe of People [and offering to ſend meſſengers on both ſides to Try the Fact, and to be themſelves condemned if it prove not true] he is offended that I ſeem ſtaggered at this, Athanaſius having detected before ſo many Subornations, &c.
Anſw. I did not ſay that I was ſtaggered, much leſs doubted which of them did the wrong: But that a Reader may by ſuch a Temptation be aſtoniſhed, and confounded whom to believe. But d d I ever rail more at Biſhops than he here doth? What 1. So great a number of Biſhops, 2. Deliberately in Council, 3. To affirm ſo vehemently, 4 Such matters of open Fact, 5. And offer it to the Trial of Witneſſes of both ſides; and all this to be falſe, 6. And to be but the conſequent of former Subornations and Perjury; can you name greater wickedneſs?
Obj. But they were Arians. Anſw. But they were Biſhops. The worſe for being Arians. 2. Yet called but Semi-Arians, and renounced Arius, and pretended Reconciliation. 3. And they were the Oriental part of the Council at Sardica, called General by the Papiſts. 4. And they were believed againſt Marcellus by Baſil and Chryſoſtom: But all that I cite it for, is to tell the Reader what a doleful caſe the Church was faln into, by the depravation of the Biſhops. Did none of theſe profeſs before to be Orthodox? I do not ſay that it was quatenus Biſhops that they did all this, but that multitudes of Biſhops were then become the ſhame and calamity of the Church.
§ 13. Next he ſcorningly accuſeth me for giving too ſoft a Character of the Circumcellians; and ſaith, My Moderation and Charity may extend to John of Leyden. And he calls them The Moſt barbarous and deſperate Villains that ever defamed Chriſtianity by aſſuming the Title.]
Anſ. 1. This is the man that ſaith I rail. I named ſo many and great ſins of theirs, that I little thought any Reader would have thought that I ſpared them too much. 2. Yet they were Donatists, and of them Optatus himſelf ſaith, lib. 5. [Apud vos & apud nos Una est Eccleſiaſtica converſatio; Communes Lectiones: Eadem Fides; ipſa Fidei Sacramenta, eadem mysteria] that is, ſaith Albaſpine [Una Eccleſiastica diſciplina: Eodem modo Scripturas Explicamus: Ipſa Regula Fidei: Idem Mysterium quod confertur & ſignificatur, & eadem res viſibilis per quam res ſpiritualis datur] in lib. 5. p. 153.
And ſaith Optatus, lib. 1. [Nequis dicat me inconſiderate eos fratres appellare, qui tales ſunt. Quamvis & illi non negent & omnibus notum ſit, quod nos odio habeant, & execrentur, & nolunt ſe dioi fratres noſtros; tamen nos recedere à timore Dei non poſſumus—ſunt igitur ſine dubio fratres quamvis non boni: Quare nemo miretur eos me appellare fratres, qui non poſſant non eſſe fratres.
Obj. But the Circumcellians were worſe than the reſt.
Anſw. They were of the ſame Religion, but the unruly furious part in their practice: And Optatus ſaith, Though they would rail in words [ſed unum quidem vix inveuimus cum quo p…r literas, vel hoc modo loquatur:] And ſo goes on to call Parmenian his Brother. And it's worth the conſideration how much Albaſpine includeth in Fraternity; note firſt, & in Obſervat.
3. And they were Orthodox fierce Prelatiſts, doing all this for the preheminence of their Biſhops. And what if ſome Prelatiſts now ſhould hurt their Brethren more than the Circumcellians did, muſt I call them therefore the moſt barbarous Villains that ever defamed Chriſtianity. Angustine ſaith, They made a Water of ſome Salt or ſharp thing, and caſt in mens Eyes in the night in the ſtreets: No man can think that this barbarous action was done by the moſt, or any but ſome furious fools: They ſay that they would wound themſelves to bring hatred on the Catholicks, as if they had done it, or drove them to it: He that knoweth what Self-love is, will believe that this was the caſe but of a few; and an eaſier wrong than ſome that abhor them do to their Brethren. And muſt we needs Rail indeed againſt ſuch numbers of hurtful Prelatiſts? What if any rude perſons of your Church ſhould be Whoremongers, Drunkards, Blaſphemers, and ſeek the Impriſonment of their Brethren, yea their Defamation and Blood by Perjury, ſhould the Church be for their ſakes ſo called, as you call them? I ſpeak them no fairer than Optatus did.
§ 14. When p. 57. I commend the many good Canons of the African Councils, and the faithfulneſs of the Biſhops, he noteth none of this, becauſe it proveth the untruth of his former Accuſations.
And when I name twenty five or twenty ſix more Councils of Biſhops, ſome General, and ſome leſs, which were for Arianiſm, or a compliance with them, he defendeth none of them, but excuſeth them, and ſaith, that [they were not much to the honour of the Church: Yet the evil Edicts and Conſequences of them are rather to be charged on the Arian Emperour, than the Biſhops.]
Anſw. 1. This is the ſame man that elſewhere ſo overdoes me in accuſing the Arians.
2. The Emperour was Erroneous, but ſaid to be otherwiſe very commendable. And is it not more culpable for Biſhops to Err in the Myſteries of Divinity, than a Lay-man? And for many hundred to Err, than for One Man? And do you think that the Biſhops Erring did not more to ſeduce the Flocks, than the Emperour's?
But he ſaith, that [If many fell in the Day of Tryal, they are rather to be pitied, than inſulted over, for we have all the ſame infirmities, &c.
Anſw. I wrote in pity of them and the Church, without any inſulting purpoſe. If any now to avoid lying in Priſon, and ſtarving their Families, by Famine, ſhould ſurrender their Conſciences to ſinful Subſcriptions after a Siege of Nineteen years, I ſhall pity them, and not inſult over them. Nay, if I ſpeak of thoſe that lay the Siege, and call out for more Execution, I do it not inſultingly, but with a grieved heart for the Church and them.
But when I largely recited Hillary's words of them, he ſaith, [The Account is very ſad] (and what ſaid I more?) But, ſaith he, yet ſuch as ſhews rather the Calamity, than the Fault of the Biſhops.]
Anſw. Nay then, no doubt, it's no fault to Conform. Hillary then, and all that kept their ground, were in a great fault for ſo heavily accuſing them. And ſo the World turned Arians in ſhew (as Hierom and Hillary ſpeak) is much acquit, and the Nonconformiſts are the faulty Railers for accuſing them. It had been enough to ſay, It was no Crime; but to ſay, no Fault, is too gentle for the ſame man that ſo talkt of Perjured Arians before.
§ 15. Yet becauſe he is forced to confeſs that it was moſt by far of all the Biſhops, even in Councils (he of Rome not excepted) that thus fell, he muſt ſhew how it offended him to be forced to it, by telling the world how contentious I have been against all ſorts and Sects (the firſt is falſe, and he knows it I think, and the latter is true formally of a Sect as ſuch; even his own Sect.) And ſome judge me ſuch a stranger to Peace, as to need a Moderator to stand between me and the Contradictions of my own Books.]
Anſw. Yes, the Biſhops Advocate Roger L'Estrange, where nothing but groſs ignorance, or malice, or negligence, could have found Contradictions, were the whole places peruſed. And where I am ſure my ſelf, that there is none; I have ſomewhat elſe to do than to write more, to ſhew the Calumnies of ſuch Readers. Who moſt ſeeks Peace, you, or thoſe that you proſecute? One would think it ſhould not be hard to know if men be willing.