Church-history of the government of bishops and their councils abbreviated including the chief part…

so it can hardly be believed by them that read the History throughout, that Alexander and Athanasius wanted not something of the humble patience, meekness, and healing tenderness and skill that their Case required: For who is perfect? And how apt are great Bishops to be too violent against Dissenters, instead of healing them with Love and clear convincing Evidence?

§. 5. Happy had it been if Prudence had silenced this Heresy betimes, for never any one did so great mischief to the Church. The badness of it, was the honour of the Nicene Council that suppressed it, as far as in them lay. But alas, the Remedy seemed quickly conquered by the Disease: As Constantine had work enough to keep Peace among the Bishops in the Council, by his presence and reproofs; so when the Arians professed repentance, his peaceableness caused him too far to indulge them; by which some of them got such interest in his Court, as proved the following Calamity of the Church. And it is the sadder to think on, that the two great Emperors, Constantius and Valens, that were deceived by them, and drawn into violent Persecution, are noted to be otherwise none of the worst men. Epiphanius saith, p. 737. Accessit & Imp•ratorum favour cujus initium à Constantio Imperatore profectum est: Qui cùm caeteris in rebus perhumanus ac bonus esset,—& alioquinpius •c multis probitatis ornamentis praeditus, hâc unâre a• e•ravit, quod non impressa à parente fidei vestigia seq•utus est: Quod ipsum tamen ⟨p. 50⟩non illius culpâ factum, sed nonnullorum fraude, qui in die Judicii rationem reddituri sunt; qui specie & nomine tenùs Episcopi, sinceram Dei fidem labefactarunt. —Et beati Constantii in errorem ab illis inducti, qui rectae fidei regulam ignoravit, eâdemque ignorantiâ ad illorum se utpote sacerdotum Authoritatem accommodavit, quod ipsum error illorum, ac caecitas, dep […] ataque fides & ex diaboli profect a consilio, lateret. Accessit & alia causa quae huic serpentum officinae plurimum adjecit virium, Eusebius scilicet, qui callidè se insinuans, Valentis aures pii ac religiosi Imperatoris, ac Divini numinis amantissimi, corrupit. Qui quòd ab illo baptismo sit initiatus, ea causa fuit cur haec factio stabilis ac firma consisteret. If Epiphanius say true, we see what men these Persecuting Emperors were.