Section 536
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54 COUNCIL OF NICE. the greatest number of churches exist in the places which have been already mentioned, but also that it is most religious and equitable that all should wish what the strictest reason seems to require, and to have no fellowship with the perjury of the Jews. And, to sum up the whole in a few words, it was agreeable to the common judgment of all, that the most holy feast of Easter should be celebrated on one and the same day. Nor is it becom ing, that in so sacred an observance there should be any diversity ; and it is better to follow that decision, in which all participation in the sin and error of others is avoided. This being the case, receive with cheerfulness the heavenly and truly divine com mand. For whatever is transacted in the holy councils of the bishops, is to be referred to the divine will. Wherefore, having announced to our beloved brethren what has been already writ ten, it is your duty to receive and establish the arguments already stated, and the observance of the most holy day ; that when I shall come into your beloved presence, so long desired by me, I may be able to celebrate, with you, on one and the same day, the holy festival, and that in all things I may rejoice with you ; see ing that the cruelty of the devil is taken away by divine power, through my instrumentality, and that your faith, your peace and concord is every where flourishing. May God preserve you, my beloved brethren. CANONS. The whole number of canons, universally admitted to be genuine, which were framed by the Council of Nice, is twenty. All of these were translated, with a view to insertion among the documents. But as the work has been extended considerably beyond the original design, as the canons relate altogether to mat. ters of discipline, and most of them would probably be of little general interest