CHAPTER IV

THE MACEDONIANS WHO HAD SUBSCRIBED THE HOMOOUSIAN DOCTRINE, RETURN TO THEIR FORMER ERROR

AFTER the deputation from the Macedonians to Liberius, that sect was admitted to entire communion with the churches in every city, intermixing themselves indiscriminately with those who from the beginning had embraced the form of faith published at Nice. But when the emperor Gratian had passed the law which permitted the several sects to reunite in the public services of religion, they again resolved to separate themselves; and having met at Antioch in Syria, they came to the decision afresh that the word consubstantial ought to be rejected, and that communion was by no means to be held with the supporters of the Nicene Creed. They however derived no advantage from this attempt; for the majority of their own party being disgusted at the fickleness with which they sometimes maintained one opinion, and then another, withdrew from them, and thenceforward became firm adherents to those who professed the doctrine of consubstantiality.