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584 Credibility of the Gospel History.
M'ards in the same letter, he mentions Acacius' with other
commentators uhom he had made use of, though for learning-
they fell much short of Origen and Eusebius.
Tillemont supposes Acacius to be tlie author of'" a book
against Sabellius : one of the fourteen small pieces published
by Sirmond, as written by Eusebius.
Sozomen says of Acacius that" he was a diligent imitator
of his predecessor, by whom he had been instructed in sacred
learning; [or in the knowledge of the sacred scriptures;] that
he was a man of good sense, and able to express himself
agreeably, and that he left behind him many books worthy
of notice. In another place he says, that" the dignity of
his see, and the reputation of his master, together with his
succeeding to the possession of his library, gave Acacius a
great deal of authority. He moreover says that he was very
dexterous in accomplishing his designs.
Philostorgiussays,thatP Acacius was a bold disputant, very
ready at discerning the merits of a cause, and able to express
his thoughts to advantage. He likewise chargeth him*! with
dissimulation upon some occasions. And indeed Acacius
is generally reckoned a man of unsteady principles.
1 hope this may suffice for an account of Acacius, with
regard to letters, and his general character. For his behaviour
and management at synods, his various fortune, his
differences with Cyril of Jerusalem, and others, I beg* leave
to refer to other"^ writers.
2. Aetius, according- to^ Cave, began to be famous about
the year 359, and died in 366, or soon after, in the reig-n of
Valens.
Socrates has a' chapter, entitled, Of Aetius the Syrian,
Master of Eunomius. He says, that Aetius was born at
Antioch, and studied some while at Alexandria ; from
' Ego et in adolescentia et in extrema setate profiteer et Originetn et Eusebium
Caesariensem viros esse doctissimos, sed errasse. Quod e contrario de
Theodore, Acacio, Apollinario possLimus dicere. Et tamen omnesin explanafionibus
scripturarum sudoris sui inemoriam reliquerunt. lb. p. 220. m.
'" See Les Arieiis, art. 28. et Eiisebe de Ccsaree, art. 9.
" 'Oq, TTQog avTov EvatjSwv rov t^rjXov fx*^^' ''"'*• ^'''' '^vrq) tsq \sQsq vaiScv-
OiiQ \oy8c, iKavog re votiv kcu (ppa^eiv a^tiOQ tyivtro, wq koi voXKa ffvyypanfiara
Xoya a^ia KaraXnrtiv. Soz. 1. lii. c. 2. p. 499. C.
" Kai eTrtfTrjfXH TrpocrwQ iKKXijaiag, xai Eufff/^tov rov nor^^tXs SiSaffKaXov
avxii}V, Kai Ty toKr)