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| How Controversies originated at Alexandria through Matters relating to Arius.
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Chapter LXI.—How
Controversies originated at Alexandria through Matters relating to
Arius.3207
| 3207 For literature relating to Arianism, compare Literature at
the end of article by Schaff, in Smith and Wace, Dict. 1 (1877),
159, and in the Schaff-Herzog Encyclopædia, 1, p.
137. |
In this
manner the emperor, like a powerful herald of God, addressed himself by
his own letter to all the provinces, at the same time warning his
subjects against superstitious3208
| 3208 “Demoniacal.” 1709 renders
“diabolical.” | error, and
encouraging them in the pursuit of true godliness. But in the midst of
his joyful anticipations of the success of this measure, he received
tidings of a most serious disturbance which had invaded the peace of
the Church. This intelligence he heard with deep concern, and at once
endeavored to devise a remedy for the evil. The origin of this
disturbance may be thus described. The people of God were in a truly
flourishing state, and abounding in the practice of good works. No
terror from without assailed them, but a bright and most profound
peace, through the favor of God, encompassed his Church on every side.
Meantime, however, the spirit of envy was watching to destroy our
blessings, which at first crept in unperceived, but soon revelled in
the midst of the assemblies of the saints. At length it reached the
bishops themselves, and arrayed them in angry hostility against each
other, on pretense of a jealous regard for the doctrines of Divine
truth. Hence it was that a mighty fire was kindled as it were from a
little spark, and which, originating in the first instance in the
Alexandrian church,3209
| 3209 It
was at Alexandria that the controversy with Arius arose. He was called
to account by Alexander of Alexandria who summoned one council and then
another, at which Arius and his followers were
excommunicated. | overspread the
whole of Egypt and Libya, and the further Thebaid. Eventually it
extended its ravages to the other provinces and cities of the empire;
so that not only the prelates of the churches might be seen
encountering each other in the strife of words, but the people
themselves were completely divided, some adhering to one faction and
others to another. Nay, so notorious did the scandal of these
proceedings become, that the sacred matters of inspired teaching were
exposed to the most shameful ridicule in the very theaters of the
unbelievers.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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