5. While I was in this position another
letter came to me, addressed to a certain Dazizas, but in reality
written to all the world. This is obvious from its very rapid
distribution, for in a few days it was delivered all over Pontus, and
was travelling about Galatia; indeed it is said that the carriers of
this good news traversed Bithynia, and reached the Hellespont
itself. What was written against me to Dazizas In
Letter cxxxi. the name appears as Dazinas, or Dexinas.
In this place the mss. agree in the form
Dazizas. you are very well aware, for they do not
reckon you as so far beyond the bounds of their friendship as to have
left you alone undistinguished by this honour. However, if the
letter has not reached you, I will send it to you. In it you will
find me charged with craft and treachery, with corruption of Churches
and with ruin of souls. The charge which they think the truest of
all is, that I made that exposition of the faith for secret and
dishonest reasons, not to do service to the Nicopolitans, but with the
design of disingenously extracting a confession from them. Of all
this the Lord is Judge. What clear evidence can there be of the
thoughts of the heart? One thing I do wonder at in them, that
after signing the document presented by me, they show so much
disagreement, that they confuse truth and falsehood to satisfy those
who are accusing them, quite forgetful that their written confession of
the Nicene Creed is preserved at Rome, and that they with their own
hand delivered to the council at Tyana the document brought from Rome
which is in my hands, and contains the same creed. They forgot
their own address, when they came forward and bewailed the deceit by
which they had been tricked into giving their adhesion to the document
drawn up by the faction of Eudoxius, ? The Creed of
Arminum. and so
bethought them of the defence for that error, that they should go to
Rome Eustathius,
Silvanus, and Theophilus went to Rome after the Lampsacene Council
of 365. and there
accept the creed of the Fathers, that so they might make amends,
for the mischief they had done the Church by their agreement in
evil, by their introduction of something better. Now the
very men who undertook long journeys for the faith’s sake,
and made all these fine speeches, are reviling me for walking
craftily, and for playing the plotter under the cloke of
love. It is plain from the Letter, now being carried about,
that they have condemned the faith of Nicæa. They saw
Cyzicus, and came home with another creed. The Synod of
Tyana had been ready to recognise the Eustathians as Catholics in
374. The Semi-Arian Council of Cyzicus was held in 375 or 376
(Mansi iii. 469).