Page:History of the First Council of Nice.djvu/100

90 the Council when they perceived that it was very strong in point of numbers. Theonas and Secundus, not choosing to dissimulate in the same way, were excommunicated, by one consent, as those who esteemed the Arian blasphemy above evangelical doctrines. The bishops then returned to the Council, and drew up twenty laws to regulate the discipline of the church."

Sozomen says: "With the view of reforming the life and conduct of those, who were admitted into the churches, the Synod enacted several laws which were called canons. Some thought that a law ought to be passed, enacting, that bishops and presbyters,