CHAPTER LI

TREACHEROUS ARTS OF LICINIUS AGAINST THE BISHOPS, AND HIS PROHIBITION OF SYNODS

AND at first he made secret inquiry respecting the ministers of God subject to his dominion (and who had never in any respect offended against his government), and with industrious malice sought occasions of accusation against them. And when he found himself at a loss to substantiate any charge, or find a real ground of objection against them, he next enacted a law, to the effect that the bishops should never on any account hold communication with each other, nor should any one of them be permitted to absent himself on a visit to a neighbouring church; nor, lastly, should the holding of synods, or councils for the consideration of affairs of common interest, be further sanctioned. Now this was clearly a pretext for displaying his malice against us. For we were compelled either to violate the law, and thus be amenable to punishment, or else, by compliance with its injunctions, to nullify the statutes of the Church: inasmuch as it is impossible to bring important questions to a satisfactory adjustment, except by means of synods. In other cases also this enemy of God, being determined to act in opposition to our pious prince, gave his directions accordingly. For whereas the one encouraged the social intercourse of the priests of God, desiring thus to honour Him whom they served, and with a view to peace and unity of judgment; the other, whose object it was to destroy every thing that was good, used all his endeavours to bring discord into the general harmony.