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| Of the Disagreement respecting the Celebration of Easter.
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Chapter
V.—Of the Disagreement respecting the
Celebration of Easter.
But before this time another most virulent disorder had existed, and
long afflicted the Church; I mean the difference respecting the salutary feast
of Easter.3234
| 3234 For endless literature of the Paschal controversy, compare
articles in all the religious encyclopædias, especially perhaps
Steitz, in the Schaff-Herzog; and for history and discussion of the
question itself, see Hensley’s art. Easter, in Smith and
Cheetham, Dict. | For while one party asserted
that the Jewish custom should be adhered to, the other affirmed that
the exact recurrence of the period should be observed, without
following the authority of those who were in error, and strangers to
gospel grace.
Accordingly, the people being
thus in every place divided in respect of this,3235
| 3235 By some this phrase is joined to the preceding
paragraph,—strangers…“in this as in other
respects,” and so Bag. translates, but the division
followed here is that of Hein. | and the sacred observances of religion
confounded for a long period (insomuch that the diversity of judgment
in regard to the time for celebrating one and the same feast caused the
greatest disagreement between those who kept it, some afflicting
themselves with fastings and austerities, while others devoted their
time to festive relaxation), no one appeared who was capable of
devising a remedy for the evil, because the controversy continued
equally balanced between both parties. To God alone, the Almighty, was
the healing of these differences an easy task; and Constantine appeared
to be the only one on earth capable of being his minister for this good
end. For as soon as he was made acquainted with the facts which I have
described, and perceived that his letter to the Alexandrian Christians
had failed to produce its due effect, he at once aroused the energies
of his mind, and declared that he must prosecute to the utmost this war
also against the secret adversary who was disturbing the peace of the
Church.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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