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As soon as John was raised to the episcopal dignity, he devoted his
attention first to the reformation of the lives of his clergy; he
reproved and amended their ways and diet and every procedure of their
manifold transactions. He also ejected some of the clergy from the
Church. He was naturally disposed to reprehend the misconduct of
others, and to antagonize righteously those who acted unjustly; and he
gave way to these characteristics still more in the episcopate; for his
nature, having attained power, led his tongue to reproof, and nerved
his wrath more readily against the enemy. He did not confine his
efforts to the reformation of his own church; but as a good and
large-minded man, he sought to rectify abuses throughout the world.
Immediately upon entering the episcopate, he strove to put an end to
the dissension which had arisen concerning Paulinus, between the
Western and Egyptian bishops and the bishops of the East; since on
this account a general disunion was overpowering the churches in the
whole empire. He requested the assistance of Theophilus in effecting
the reconciliation of Flavian with the bishop of Rome. Theophilus
agreed to cooperate with him in the restoration of concord; and
Acacius, bishop of Berea, and Isidore, whom Theophilus had
proposed as a candidate for ordination instead of John, were sent on
an embassy to Rome. They soon effected the object of their journey,
and sailed back to Egypt. Acacius repaired to Syria, bearing
conciliatory letters to the adherents of Flavian from the priests of
Egypt and of the West. And the churches, after a long delay once
more laid aside their discord, and took up communion with one another.
The people at Antioch, who were called Eustathians, continued,
indeed, for some time to hold separate assemblies, although they
possessed no bishop. Evagrius, the successor of Paulinus, did not,
as we have stated, long survive him; and I think reconciliation
became easier for the bishops from there being no one to oppose. The
laity, as is customary with the populace, gradually went over to those
who assembled together under the guidance of Flavian; and thus, in
course of time, they were more and more united.
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