their. Couneils abridged 4S CHAP. III. The Council of Nice, and force following it. f. 4. XXX. E come now to the firft General Council: Genera only as to the Roman Worldor Empire, as the Hifq- ry and Subfcriptions prove , and not as to the Whole World, as the Papifts with notorious impu- dence affirm : which I have elfewhere fully proved. This Council was called, as isprobably gathered, Anno325. in the acth year of Conffantinr (thoughothers affign other years.) That they were congregate about the Arian Herefieand the Eaftern Controverfie is commonly known: As alfo what wifdom and diligence C-onflantine ufed to keep the Bithops in peace: Who prefently brought in their Libels of accufations againft each others whichhe took andburnt without reading them, earneftlyelltorting them to peace, and by his prefence and prudent fpeech reprefing their heats and contentions ; whereby theSynod was brought to a happy end as to both the controverted Caufes r And Eufebins Nicomed. and Arius were broughtto counterfeitrepentance and confent to the Nicene Faith;which Confiantine perceiving, being fet upon the healing of the divided Bithops and Churches, he commanded thatArius fhould (as reformed) be recei- ved to Communion ; whichAthanafüss refuting caufed much calamityafter. ward. S. z. Becaufe the Cafeof the Melerians is brought in by this Council, I think it ufeful (for our warning in thefe times) to recite the Sumof their Rory out ofEpiphanies, p.717, trc. Har. 6S. Meletius (faith he) was a Bifhop in Thebais in Egypt, offincere Faith even to the death. In Diocletians Persecution, Peter Bifhop of Altx,ßndria, and he, were the chief of the Bi thops that were laid in Prifon, asdefigned to Martyrdom; while they were there long together withmany fellow- prifoners, many called toTryal before them wereput to death, = andmany forfear fubfcribed to Idolatry, or denyed Chrift : And when they had done,.. profetfed repentance and craved peace ofthe Church : As it hadbeen in. Novatnehis Schifines, fo it fell out here ; Peter Bifhop of Alexan. was for peace and pardon; Meletius and molt of the other fuffering prifoners, were againft it, and Paid, Ifthey may thus revolt to fave themfelves; ,.and, be prefently pardoned, it will tempt others torevolt : Peter feeing his,:o. pinion was rejefted, >rathly tookhis Cloak and hang'd it like a Curtain. over the midft of the prifon-room, and Paid, Thofethat arefor me, come ro me on this fide, and thofe that are for Meletius go on that fide to him: Whereupon far molt of the . Bithops, Priefts, Monks, and people that were in prifon went toMeletius, and but few to Peter: (A fouler Rupture than.
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