Palladius said: ‘He did, if the Italian Bishops alone were ordered to assemble.’
Evagrius, Presbyter and deputy, said:[25] [It is plain] ‘that he promised to appear within four and even within two days. What then were you waiting for? was it, as you say, that you considered the opinion of your colleagues, theEastern Bishops was to be waited for? Then you ought to have said so in your message, and not to have pledged yourself to discussion.’
Palladius said: ‘I had come, believing it to be a General Council, but I saw that my colleagues had not assembled.I decided however[26] to come, in accordance with the summons, to bid you to do nothing to the prejudice of a future Council.’
12. AMBROSE, Bishop, said: ‘You yourself required that we should sit to-day, moreover, even this very day you have said yourself “we come as Christians to Christians.” You have therefore acknowledged us for Christians. You promised that you would engage in discussion: you promised that you would either assign your own reasons or accept ours. We therefore willingly accepted your opening, we wished that you should come as a Christian. I offered you the letter of Arius, which that Arius wrote, from whose name you say that you often suffer wrong. You say that you do not follow Arius. To-day your sentiments must be made clear; either condemn him, or support him by whatever passage you will.’
He went on; ‘Then according to Arius’s letter Christ the Son of God is not everlasting?’
Palladius said; ‘We said that we would prove ourselves Christians, but in a full Council. We do not answer you at all to the prejudice of a future Council.’
Eusebius, Bishop, said; ‘You ought to state your profession of faith straightforwardly.’
Palladius said; ‘And what do we reserve for the Council?’
13. AMBROSE, Bishop, said; ‘He has been unanimously condemned who denies the Eternity of the Son of God. Arius denied it, Palladius, who will not condemn Arius, follows him. Consider then, whether his opinion is approved of; it is easy to perceive whether he speaks according to the Scriptures, or against the Scriptures. For we read: Rom. i. 20. God’s eternal Power and Godhead. Christ is the Power of God. If then the Power of God is everlasting, Christ surely is everlasting; for 1 Cor. i. 18. Christ is the Power of God.’
Eusebius, Bishop, said; ‘This is our faith: this is the Catholic doctrine; who says not this, let him be anathema.’