3.  As to the Church at Antioch (I mean that which is in agreement in the same doctrine), may the Lord grant that one day we may see it united.  It is in peril of being specially open to the attacks of the enemy, who is angry with it because there the name of Christian first obtained. cf. note on Theodoret in this series, p. 320.  There heresy is divided against orthodoxy, and orthodoxy is divided against herself. In 377 Meletius was in exile, and Paulinus the bishop of the “old Catholics,” or Eustathians (Soc., H.E. iv. 2, v. 5) opposing Vitalius, who was consecrated to the episcopate by Apollinaris.  On the confusion resulting from these three nominally orthodox claimants, vide Jerome’s Letter xvi. in this series, p. 20.  My position, however, is this.  The right reverend bishop Meletius was the first to speak boldly for the truth, and fought that good fight in the days of Constantine.  Therefore my Church has felt strong affection towards him, for the sake of that brave and firm stand, and has held communion with him.  I, therefore, by God’s grace, have held him to be in communion up to this time; and, if God will, I shall continue to do so.  Moreover the very blessed Pope Athanasius came from Alexandria, and was most anxious that communion should be established between Meletius and himself; but by the malice of counsellors their conjunction was put off to another season.  Would that this had not been so!  I have never accepted communion with any one of those who have since been introduced into the see, not because I count them unworthy, but because I see no ground for the condemnation of Meletius.  Nevertheless I have heard many things about the brethren, without giving heed to them, because the accused were not brought face to face with their accusers, according to that which is written, “Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth?” John vii. 51.  I cannot therefore at present write to them, right honourable brother, and I ought not to be forced to do so.  It will be becoming to your peaceful disposition not to cause union in one direction and disunion in another, but to restore the severed member to the original union.  First, then, pray; next, to the utmost of your ability, exhort, that ambition may be driven from their hearts, and that reconciliation may be effected between them both to restore strength to the Church, and to destroy the rage of our foes.  It has given great comfort to my soul that, in addition to your other right and accurate statements in theology, you should acknowledge the necessity of stating that the hypostases are three.  Let the brethren at Antioch be instructed by you after this manner.  Indeed I am confident that they have been so instructed; for I am sure you would never have accepted communion with them unless you had carefully made sure of this point in them.