Councils effected. The doctrines which, by Tradition alone, she had received from her Elders, she, in writing, consigns to her children; comprising in few words the great substance of belief, and, not unfrequently, to remove obscurity, conveying in some more expressive term the unchanged point of Faith.” Commonit. c. xxiii. p. 353.
As the Christian faith spread, and Churches were formed, no sooner was that Faith endangered by innovation, the order of discipline disturbed, or other controversies excited, than recourse was had to Synods or Councils. In these, the convened Ministers of religion, by deliberation and an united effort, were enabled to oppose the progress of error, and to re-establish or to maintain concord and the order of discipline. But it was not before the fourth century, when Constantine had embraced the Christian belief, and the Arian controversy had convulsed the Christian world, that a general meeting of distant Prelates was deemed necessary, or could have been accomplished, though necessary. At all times, provincial Synods had met; an intercourse among the Churches was maintained; the Apostolic Faith, through a succession of Pastors, was preserved inviolate; and error was successfully opposed.
CENT. IV.
COUNCIL OF NICE, G.C.-In 325, the first general Council, summoned by Constantine, met at Nice, in Bithynia, composed of 318 Bishops, wherein Arius was condemned ; a profession of Faith enacted; the time of celebrating Easter determined ; and several Canons of discipline passed. Into
