70 MANUAL OF INSTRUCTION. 



physical violence to carry their points. In some 

 cases the disgraceful proceedings of mobs were 

 prompted in the name of religious questions. 

 Even the Councils were not free from undignified 

 conduct, and on some occasions, seemed to forget 

 that "the servants of the Lord must not strive." 



Excommunication was resorted to by the Bishops, 

 and by small local councils, very frequently, so that 

 one who was declared orthodox in one place was 

 condemned as a heretic in another. 



But notwithstanding so much that was object- 

 ionable adheres to the history of the Church of those 

 times, God has overruled all controversies and 

 strifes of men to the preserving of the faith as He 

 caused it to be delivered to kiAy men of old, and 

 we are to look at the six councils as declaring 

 authoritatively what was tha 7 1th. 



