They endeavored to induce Photinus, even after his deposition, to assent to and subscribe these things, promising to restore him his bishopric, if by recantation he would anathematize the dogma he had invented, and adopt their opinion. But he did not accept their proposal, and on the other hand he challenged them to a disputation: [379] and a day being appointed by the emperor's arrangement, the bishops who were there present assembled, and not a few of the senators, whom the emperor had directed to attend to the discussion. In their presence, Basil, who at that time presided over the church at Ancyra, was appointed to oppose Photinus, and short-hand writers took down their respective speeches. The conflict of arguments on both sides was extremely severe; but Photinus having been worsted, was condemned, and spent the rest of his life in exile, during which time he composed treatises in both languages--for he was not unskilled in Latin--against all heresies, and in favor of his own views. Concerning Photinus let this suffice.
Now the bishops who were convened at Sirmium, were afterwards dissatisfied with that form of the creed which had been promulgated by them in Latin; for after its publication, it appeared to them to contain many contradictions. They therefore endeavored to get it back again from the transcribers; but inasmuch as many secreted it, the emperor by his edicts commanded that the version should be sought for, threatening punishment to any one who should be detected concealing it. These menaces, however, were incapable of suppressing what had already fallen into the hands of many. Let this suffice in regard to these affairs.>
[358] There were three councils held at Sirmium: one in 351, as already indicated in note 3, ch. 29; another in 357, in which Hosius and Potamius composed their blasphemy; and one in 359. It was in this last council that that creed was drawn up which was recited in Ariminum. The confusion of Socrates on this point has been alluded to in the Introd.
[359] Athan. de Synod. 27.
[360] Eph. iii. 15.
[361] Isa. xliv. 6.
[362] John i. 14.
[363] Gen. i. 26.
[364] Gen. xix. 24: Then the Lord...rained brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven.'
[365] Athanasius reads epi Sodoma, not eis soma. If this be the true reading, we should translate came down to Sodom,' &c.
[366] Ps. cix. 1 (LXX).
[367] John xiv. 16, 26.
[368] 1 Cor. xi. 3.
[369] Paul of Samosata, see I. 36, note 3.
[370] Athan. de Synod. 28, and Hilar. de Synod. calls this creed The blasphemy composed at Sirmium by Hosius and Potamius.'
[371] John xx. 17.
[372] Rom. iii. 29, 30.
[373] Of the same substance.
[374] Of similar substance.
[375] Isa. liii. 5.
[376] John xiv. 28.
[377] katholikon , universally accepted.'
[378] Matt. xxviii. 19.
[379] Epiphanius relates that Photinus, after he had been condemned and deposed in the synod of Sirmium, went to Constantius, and requested that he might dispute concerning the faith before judges nominated by him; and that Constantius enjoined Basilius, bishop of Ancyra, to undertake a disputation with Photinus, and gave leave that Thalassiuss, Datianus, Cerealis, and Taurus should be arbiters' (Valesius).
Chapter XXXI.--Of Hosius, Bishop of Cordova.
Since we have observed that Hosius the Spaniard was present [at the council of Sirmium] against his will, it is necessary to give some brief account of him. A short time before he had been sent into exile by the intrigues of the Arians: but at the earnest solicitation of those convened at Sirmium, the emperor summoned him thither, wishing that by persuasion, or by compulsion he should give his sanction to their proceedings; for if this could be effected, they considered it would give great authority to their sentiments. On this ground, therefore, as I have said, he was most unwillingly obliged to be present: and when he refused to concur with them, stripes and tortures were inflicted on the old man. Wherefore he was constrained by force to acquiesce in and subscribe to their exposition of the faith. Such was the issue of affairs at that time transacted at Sirmium. But the emperor Constantius after these things still continued to reside at that place, awaiting there the result of the war against Magnentius.