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Aiiius, (ind /lis Followers. A. U. 316. 579
nuincrous creeds, and for niakiiig' new creeds alinust every
year; thus showing- themselves dissatisfied with their own [x iforniances,
and rescinding" what had been befon; established
by them, lie says, it was matter of great grief to himself,
and many others, that tlie whole world was disturbed by
them. Nor coidd they without pain see those'' who were
called clergymen, continually running- from one place to
another, to learn how they ought to believe in Jesus Christ.
It was, moreover, a cause of scandal to catechuniens, and of
much laughter to the heathen.
These numerous synods, this frequent creed-making,
occasioned that remark of Ammianus Marccllinus, a heathen
author; that^ Constantius corrupted the simplicity of the
christian religion ; and that the bishops of his reign, continually
galloping to councils, jaded all the post-horses, and
wore out all the public carriages of the empire. The same
complaint is found in some^ of the ecclesiastical writers.
VII. In their creeds they are generally very free in anathematizing
such as differed from them. In their council
at Antioch in 341, under the direction of Eusebius of Nicomedia,
and his friends, they say :
' We^ anathematize all
' heretical pravity. And if any one contrary to the sacred
' doctrine of the scriptures say, that the Son is a creature as
' one of the creatures or if any one shall teach or preach
' any thing beside what we have received, let him be anathe-
' ma.' And in a like manner, more at large in their long
creed at Antioch, in 345, which may be seen in"' Athanasius,
and*^ Socrates. Their creed at Sirmium, against Photinus,
in 351, concludes with'^ seven and twenty anathemas, three
of which are these: ' If*^ any one say, that Abraham did not
oTi nTj Trap irtpuyv, aX\a irap avTUiv, ra avTuv t/c/SaXXtrai. Ad. Ep. ./Eg. et
Lib. n. 6. in. p. 275.
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