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214 Credibilily of the Gospel History.
of Alexander afford reason to conclude that Lucian returned,
or was restored, to the catholic communion before his death ;
and probably, in the beg inning of the episcopate of Tyrannus,
who* succeeded Cyril about the year 297, near the end
of the third century, or however before
cution, which began in February 303.
Dioclesian's perse-
That passage of Alexander would lead us to think that
Lucian was in the sentiments, or at least in the interests of
Paul of Samosata ; and '' that for some reasons he greatly
disliked the act of the council which deposed Paul. And
there are other things which may be reckoned of some moment
: for in the former part of the Creed ascribed to Lucian
there are some expressions which seem ov;er-orthodox ; insomuch
that bishop Bull'^ could not forbear to say, they are
stronger than any used by the council of Nice : and, if so,
others may be apt to conclude they must be Sabellian ;
though in the latter part of the same Creed "^ are expressions
favourable to Arianism ; which may be what the orthodox
christian in the Dialogue before referred to, calls an addition,
and says is contrary to Lucian's Creed: meaning, perhaps,
tlie former part'' of it. However, it may be thought by
some that Lucian, in the speech preserved by Rufinus, speaks
not of the Word, or Logos, as a distinct person, but only as
the wisdom of God.
But how shall >ve reconcile this with the high esteem paid
to Lucian by the Arians of the fourth century 1 For certainly
Paulianism, or Sabellianism, and Arianism, are very different
: it would likewise be hard to conceive how Eusebius,
who was exceedingly averse to the Sabellian scheme, should
say that I>ucian was an excellent man in all respects.
Upon the whole, it is very difficult to reconcile the accounts
concerning' Lucian, or to determine where his fault
lay, if he was gnilty of any. As the Arians in general, and
many catholics of the fourth century, showed a great regard
» See TiUem. in St. Lucien, p. 149. and note 4. Mem. T. v. P. iii.
'' See before. Vol. ii. ch. xliii.
*= Inao pene ausim affirniare absolutam Filii divinitatem aliquatenus in
Lucianaeo Symbolo efficacius et significantius exprimi, quara in ipso Nicaeno
Quippe vera ilia, Deum ex Deo, totiim ex toto, perfectum ex perfecto, quae
confessionis Lucianaeae sunt, peifectam Filii divinitatem, et aiqualem paternae
naturam, disertius annuntiant, quam ista Nicaeni Symboli, &c. Def. Fid.
Nic. p. 146.
^ Twv ovofxarmv ax airXwc, n^t apyoiv KSifitvoi:', aWa ar\fiaivovr(i)v OKpi-
jSwf Tr}v iciav tKOTH ru)v ovofiaZ,ontvo)v vTrnrratriv tc kcu Snhxv Kai rahv' u>q
tivai Ty fitv vrro^aau Tfua, ry Ct muKpoiviq, tv. ap. Socr. 1. ii. f. 10. p. 88. A.
' Though I have argued as above, 1 certainly do not take any part of the
Creed ascribed to Lucian to be his
.