Section 508
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26 COUNCIL OF NICE. •• chiefly intended for the church of Alexandria, as being most in terested in all the acts of the Synod. It is also addressed to all the faithful of Egypt, Pentapolis, Lybia, and all other churches whatever. The emperor Constantine wrote at the same time two letters, in order to promulgate the ordinances of the council, and to make them known to those, who were not present at the con vention. The first* is particularly addressed to the church of Alexandria, and informs them that the faith has been examined, and placed in so clear a light that no difficulty remains. Copies of this letter were dispatched to all the provinces. The secondt is directed to the churches in general. He published also another letter, or more properly an edict, directed to the bishops and people, condemning Anus and his writings. He says that Porphyry, having composed impious books against Chrisdanity, rendered himself infamous in the eyes of posterity, and that his writings were destroyed. It has in like manner, he continues, been de creed, that Arius and his followers be called Porphyrians, so that they may bear the name of him whom they have imitated ; and that if any book written by Arius shall be found, it shall be com mitted to the flames, that no monument of his corrupt doctrine may descend to future ages. He declares that whoever shall be convicted of having concealed any book composed by Arius, in stead of burning it, shall suffer death immediately after his appre hension. With whatever degree of aversion we may contemplate the doctrines of Arius, it is painful to witness so melancholy a forgetfulness in the first Christian emperor, of the benignant temper of Him, who rebuked the unhallowed zeal of the disciples, as not knowing what spirit they were of, when they would have called down fire from heaven to consume the /inhospitable Samaritans. At the same time, Arius7 and the tw0 prelates who adhered the most obstinately to his party, Secundiis and Theonas, were ban ished by the emperor. The council concluded its session on the twenty-fifth day of August, A. D. 325, a month after the commencement of the twentieth year of the reign of Constantine, who ascended the throne on the twenty-fifth of July, A. D. 306 ; but it is thought * Documents, G. t Documents, H.