Section 488
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6 COUNCIL OF NICE. lence of the multitude, and suffered from the sanguinary decrees of rulers and princes. If, under the milder sway of a few of the Roman emperors, they enjoyed an interval of comparative repose, it was only to be followed by a renewal of their calamities. At length, however, a brighter prospect was opened to the Christian world. \ In consequence of the victory of Constantine over the tyrant Licinius, in the year of our Lord 323, external tranquillity was fully secured to the Church ; and in order to confirm it, seve ral beneficial laws were enacted by the emperor. He recalled those who had been banished for the profession of the faith ; and the property of such as had been despoiled of their goods was re stored. He gave directions for enlarging the ancient churches, and building new and more splendid ones. He commanded that the clergy should be held in honor ; and shielded their persons from indignity and outrage. The people were exhorted to relin quish idolatry, and embrace the true religion ; and many other salutary measures were adopted, to extend the influence, and pro mote the welfare of Christianity. But while Constantine was zealously employed in this lauda ble design, and the Church was protected from foreign enemies, a dissension had arisen in its own bosom, which occasioned much animosity, and long continued. to disturb its domestic peace. J It happened that Alexander, bishop of Alexandria, in Egypt, dis puting one day, in the presence of his presbyters and other clergy, on the subject of the three divine persons, and being desirous of making a display of hi& knowledge, remarked, that in the Trinity there was a unity.* Arius, one of his presbyters, who was well versed in the art of reasoning and in metaphysical distinctions, thinking that the bishop was desirous of introducing the opinion of Sabellius t of Lybia, inclined to an error directly opposed to it, and replied, with great asperity, that if the Father begat the Son, the latter must have had a beginning ; from which, he continued, it clearly followed that there was a time when he was not, and * Socrates, L. I. c. 5. t It will be recollected that Sabellius, who lived about the middle of the third century, believed in a modal Trinity, considering the Son and Holy Spirit as different manifestations only of the Godhead, and not as separate persons.