§. 27. After this Theodorets turn came, that had been for Nestorius, and the Bishops all cried out, Let Theodoret curse Nestorius. Theodoret desired that a Petition of his to the Emperor and to Leo's Legate, might be read; that they might see whether he were of their belief or not. They cried out, We will have nothing read; presently curse Nestorius, Theodoret told them that he had been bred of the Orthodox, and so taught, and preached; and was against not only, Nestorius and Eutyches, but all men else that held not the right. The Bishops interrupted him, clamouring, speak out plainly, cursed be Nestorius and his Opinions; cursed be Nestorius and those that love him. Theodoret answered, I take not my self to say true, but I know I please God: I would first satisfy you of my belief; for I seek not preferment, I need not honour, nor come hither for that: But because I am calumniated, ⟨p. 108⟩I come to satisfy you that I am Orthodox; and I Anathematize every Heretic that will not be converted, and Nestorius and Eutyches, and every man that saith, there are two Sons, or thinks so, I Anathematize. The Bishops again took this for daubing, and cried out, say plainly, Anathema to Nestorius, and them which hold that which is his. Theodoret said, Unless I may explain my own belief, I will not say it. I believe—Here they interrupted, and all cried out, He is a Heretic, He is a Nestorian: cast out the Heretic. Reader, would a man have believed that were not forced by Evidence, That this Council was of Nestorius's mind, and confirmed his own Doctrine of the Unity of Christs persons and two Natures, who thus furiously cried down Theodoret? (except as to the aptitude of the word [Greek or Hebrew].) And is it not a doleful Thought that the worthy Bishops of the Church, even in a General Council, should no better know the way of peace? And do not these words here translated out of Binnius, p. 92. and 106. agree too well with Greg. Nazianzen's Character of Bishops and Councils? Not but that the Church had always some Learned, Godly, Wise, and Peaceable Men, (such as Gregory Naz. and Theodoret were, and many more, especially in Afric;) but you see that they were born down by the stream of unskilful, worldly, temporizing, violent Men; after once worldly greatness made it the way to preferment, and it became their business to strive who should be uppermost and have his will.)
§. 27. After this Theodorets turn came, that had been for Nestorius, and the Bishops all cryed out, Let Theodoret curse Nestorius. Theodoret desired that a Petition of his to the Emperour and to Leo's Legate, might be read; that they might see whether he were of their belief or not. They cryed out, We will have nothing read; presently curse Nestorius, Theodoret told them that he had been bred of the Orthodox, and so taught, and preached; and was against not only, Nestorius and Eutyches, but all men else that held not the right. The Bishops interrupted him, clamouring, speak out plainly, cursed be Nestorius and his Opinions; cursed be Nestorius and those that love him. Theodoret answered, I take not my self to say true, but I know I please God: I would first satisfie you of my belief; for I seek not preferment, I need not honour, nor come hither for that: But because I am calumniated, ⟨p. 108⟩I come to satisfie you that I am Orthodox; and I Anathematize every Heretick that will not be converted, and Nestorius and Eutyches, and every man that saith, there are two Sons, or thinks so, I Anathematize. The Bishops again took this for dawbing, and cryed out, say plainly, Anathema to Nestorius, and them which hold that which is his. Theodoret said, Vnless I may explain my own belief, I will not say it. I believe—Here they interrupted, and all cryed out, He is a Heretick, He is a Nestorian: cast out the Heretick. Reader, would a man have believed that were not forced by Evidence, That this Council was of Nestorius's mind, and confirmed his own Doctrine of the Vnity of Christs persons and two Natures, who thus furiously cryed down Theodoret? (except as to the aptitude of the word 〈non-Latin alphabet〉.) And is it not a doleful Thought that the worthy Bishops of the Church, even in a General Council, should no better know the way of peace? And do not these words here translated out of Binnius, p. 92. and 106. agree too well with Greg. Nazianzen's Character of Bishops and Councils? Not but that the Church had always some Learned, Godly, Wise, and Peaceable Men, (such as Gregory Naz. and Theodoret were, and many more, especially in Africk;) but you see that they were born down by the stream of unskilful, worldly, temporizing, violent Men; after once worldly greatness made it the way to preferment, and it became their business to strive who should be uppermost and have his will.)
