parsimonious honors, which he bestowed on the Judge of the World. The
opinions of Arianism might satisfy a cold and speculative mind: but
the doctrine of the Nicene creed, most powerfully recommended by the
merits of faith and devotion, was much better adapted to become
popular and successful in a believing age.

The hope, that truth and wisdom would be found in the assemblies of
the orthodox clergy, induced the emperor to convene, at
Constantinople, a synod of one hundred and fifty bishops, who
proceeded, without much difficulty or delay, to complete the
theological system which had been established in the council of Nice.
The vehement disputes of the fourth century had been chiefly employed
on the nature of the Son of God; and the various opinions which were
embraced, concerning the Second
, were extended and transferred, by a natural analogy, to the Third
person of the Trinity. Yet it was found, or it was thought, necessary,
by the victorious adversaries of Arianism, to explain the ambiguous
language of some respectable doctors; to confirm the faith of the
Catholics; and to condemn an unpopular and inconsistent sect of
Macedonians; who freely admitted that the Son was consubstantial to
the Father, while they were fearful of seeming to acknowledge the
existence of Three Gods. A final and unanimous sentence was pronounced
to ratify the equal Deity of the Holy Ghost: the mysterious doctrine
has been received by all the nations, and all the churches of the
Christian world; and their grateful reverence has assigned to the
bishops of Theodosius the second rank among the general councils.
Their knowledge of religious truth may have been preserved by
tradition, or it may have been communicated by inspiration; but the
sober evidence of history will not allow much weight to the personal
authority of the Fathers of Constantinople. In an age when the