on of
Rimini. They repented, they believed, but they dreaded the unseasonable
rigor of their orthodox brethren; and if their pride was stronger than
their faith, they might throw themselves into the arms of the Arians, to
escape the indignity of a public penance, which must degrade them to the
condition of obscure laymen. At the same time the domestic differences
concerning the union and distinction of the divine persons, were
agitated with some heat among the Catholic doctors; and the progress of
this metaphysical controversy seemed to threaten a public and lasting
division of the Greek and Latin churches. By the wisdom of a select
synod, to which the name and presence of Athanasius gave the authority
of a general council, the bishops, who had unwarily deviated into error,
were admitted to the communion of the church, on the easy condition of
subscribing the Nicene Creed; without any formal acknowledgment of their
past fault, or any minute definition of their scholastic opinions. The
advice of the primate of Egypt had already prepared the clergy of Gaul
and Spain, of Italy and Greece, for the reception of this salutary
measure; and, notwithstanding the opposition of some ardent spirits,
[130] the fear of the common enemy promoted the peace and harmony of the
Christians. [131]

[Footnote 129: See Athanas. ad Rufin. tom. ii. p. 40, 41, and Greg.
Nazianzen Orat. iii. p. 395, 396; who justly states the temperate zeal
of the primate, as much more meritorious than his prayers, his fasts,
his persecutions, &c.]

[Footnote 130: I have not leisure to follow the blind obstinacy of
Lucifer of Cagliari. See his adventures in Tillemont, (Mem. Eccles. tom.
vii. p. 900-926;) and observe how the color of the narrative insensibly
changes, as the confessor becomes a schismatic.]

[Footnote 131: Assensus est huic sententiae Occidens, et, per tam
necessarium conilium, Satanae faucibus mundus ereptus. The lively and
artful dialogue of Jerom against the Luciferians (tom. ii. p. 135-155)
exhibits an original picture of the ecclesiastical policy of the times.]

The skill and diligence of the primate of Egypt had improved the season
of tranquillity, before it was interrupted by the hostile edicts of the
emperor. [132] Julian, who despised the Christians, honored Athanasius
with his sincere and peculiar hatred. For his sake alone, he introduced
an arbitrary distinction, repugnant at least to the spirit of his former
declarations. He maintai