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"CONSTANTINUS AUGUSTUS to the holy council
assembled in Tyre.
"In the general prosperity which distinguishes the present time, it
seems right that the Catholic Church should likewise be exempt from
trouble, and that the servants of Christ should be freed from every
reproach.
"But certain individuals instigated by the mad desire of contention,
not to say leading a life unworthy of their profession, are endeavoring
to throw all into disorder. This appears to me to be the greatest of
all possible calamities. I beseech you, therefore, in post haste,
as the phrase goes, to assemble together, without any delay, in
formal synod; so that you may support those who require your
assistance. heal the brethren who are in danger, restore unanimity to
the divided members, and rectify the disorders of the Church while
time permits; and thus restore to those great provinces the harmony
which, alas! the arrogance of a few men has destroyed. I believe
every one would admit that you could not perform anything so pleasing in
the sight of God, so surpassing all my prayers as well as your own,
or so conducive to your own reputation, as to restore peace.
"Do not ye therefore delay, but when you have come together with all
that sincerity and fidelity which our Saviour demands of alI His
servants, almost in words that we can hear, endeavour with redoubled
eagerness to put a fitting end to these dissensions.
"Nothing shall be omitted on my part to further the interests of our
religion. I have done all that you recommended in your letters. I
have sent to those bishops whom you specified, directing them to repair
to the council for the purpose of deliberating with you upon
ecclesiastical matters. I have also sent Dionysius , a man of
consular rank, to counsel those who are to sit in synod with you, and
to be himself an eye witness of your proceedings, and particularly of
the order and regularity that is maintained. If any one should dare on
the present occasion also to disobey our command, and refuse to come to
the council, which, however, I do not anticipate, an officer will
be despatched immediately to send him into banishment by imperial
order, that he may learn not to oppose the decrees enacted by the
emperor for the support of truth.
"All that now devolves upon your holinesses is to decide with
unanimous judgment, without partiality or prejudice, in accordance
with the ecclesiastical and apostolical rule, and to devise suitable
remedies for the offences which may have resulted from error; in order
that the Church may be freed from all reproach, that my anxiety may be
diminished, that peace may be restored to those now at variance, and
that your renown may be increased. May God preserve you, beloved
brethren."
The bishops accordingly repaired to the council of Tyre. Amongst
them were those who were accused of holding heterodox doctrines; of
whom Asclepas, bishop of Gaza, was one. The admirable Athanasius
also attended. I shall first dwell on the tragedy of the accusation,
and shall then relate the proceedings of this celebrated tribunal.
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