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A Concise History of the Christian Church
A Concise History of the Christian Church Author:Martin Ruter Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: The controversy concerning the celebration of Easter, which had perplexed and divided the Church during the preceding century, was decided by the council of Nice... more », in favour of the western churches; and all Christians were commanded to commemorate this festival on the first Sunday which followed the fourteenth day of the first moon after the vernal equinox. The Emperor Constantino watched, in common with the other Christians, on the vigil of this solemn season ; and, in addition to the lights which had been formerly kindled on this occasion, commanded not only the whole church, but also the whole city to be illuminated; which, in consequence of this request, exhibited on that evening a scene of uncommon splendour. This season was observed by the generality of Christians with peculiar reverence and marked attention. Valentinian, in the year 367, released from prison, on the occasion of this festival, all such as were not notorious delinquents ; and established a custom which was imitated by succeeding emperors. Private persons also embraced the occasion which this season afforded to evince their beneficence and charity, particularly by granting manumission to slaves, as a proper expression of that mercy, commemorated by this festival, which brought freedom to thetcaptive and happiness to all mankind. (Bingham, lib. xx, c. 5.) CHAPTER IV. OF THE SECTS WHICH APPEARED IN THE FOURTH CENTURY. Abuse of Mysticism—Eustathians and Messalians—Donatists—Disputes concerning the succession to the see of Carthage—Donatus—Violence of the parties—Rogations— Arius—Principles of the Arians—Arius condemned and exiled—Council of Nice—Arian- isra condemned there—Arius recalled from banishment by Constantine—Death of Arius —Arianism protected by Constantius—Semi-Arians—Eunomians—Contests between...« less