Section 494
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19 COUNCIL OF NICE. the name of Christ, in a time of persecution, perceiving that many were attracted by the force and elegance of their discourses, un dertook to rebuke them by remarking, that neither our Lord nor his apostles had taught us the rules of logic, or idle subtleties, but the truth, which is preserved by faith and good works. All who were present listened to him with admiration, and approved of what he had said. The speakers themselves became more mo derate in consequence ; and the noise and clamor excited by their animated declamation were no longer heard. It is also related that certain heathen philosophers were anx ious to take a part in the dispute, some of them wishing to be made acquainted with the doctrines of the gospel, and others, to whom the Christians were obnoxious, on account of the decaying credit of their own religion, desiring to create a misunderstanding, and to foment divisions among them. One of these "seekers after wisdom," in the vain confidence of his imagined eloquence, ' assuming an insolent manner, endeavored to turn the priests into ridicule. But a plain and illiterate old man, one of those who had been distinguished as confessors, was unable to bear his arro gance ; and, although unversed in the rules of logic and the art of disputation, ventured to accost him. This excited the laugh ter of some inconsiderate persons, to whom he was known, but alarmed the more reflecting, who apprehended that he might ex pose himself in so unequal a contest. Their respect for his cha racter, however, prevented any attempt to hinder him from speak ing. "Listen," he said, "philosopher, in the name of Jesus. There is one God, the Creator of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible, who has performed all this by the power of his Word, and established it by the holiness of his Spirit. The Word, which we call the Son of God, pitying the errors of men and their brutish way of life, condescended to be born of a woman, to sojourn among them, and to die for thei% salvation. He will come again, to judge the actions of every one in this life. We believe, in the simplicity of our hearts, that this is the truth. Do not then fruitlessly trouble yourself, in seeking arguments Sozomeri, I. 8.