2$6 OF THE PROLONGATION 



pened .on the lake [antiently called Afcanios] on which 

 this city ftands, at the time of the fir ft Nicene council. 

 Among the great number of bifhops that met together 

 there from all quarters of the chriftian world, there was 

 an armenian prelate, who, though poor, was yet a very 

 virtuous and holy man, and even had the reputation 

 of working miracles. The greater part of the other 

 holy fathers of the council, were not indeed people 

 who pretended to fuch miraculous gifts ; yet, on the 

 other hand, they made a better figure than their arme- 

 nian confrater, but were mean-fpiriced enough to envy 

 h^m the talent of performing miracles, and, on all oc- 

 casions, to ridicule him for his poverty and his won- 

 ders. The good bifhop, with all his piety and meek- 

 nefs, was not indifferent to this din lion ; and, as the 

 right reverend prelates began to grow too fcurrilous, 

 his patience was at length o A uite worn out, and' he came 

 to the refolution of expofing them in fuch a manner, 

 as would caufe them to let him alone for the future. 

 And what courfe now does the holy man take ? One 

 fine day, when moft of the bifhops were walking out 

 by the fea-fhore, he took a plow, fet it upon the wa- 

 ter, yoked a pair of oxen to it, and perfectly at his 

 eafe, drove it backwards and forwards upon the lake 

 before their eyes, juft as a hufhandman plows his field. 

 We may eafdy imagine that the lords confraters made 

 large eyes at this. Nov/, right reverend lords, faid he 

 to them, on bringing his plow afhore, I have been 

 plowing, do you go there and fow, while I fit down 

 and reft a bit. — This the worthv prelates thought fit 

 to decline. The miracle. . however, of the holy bi- 

 fhop was attended with good effects, it made them 



aftiamed 



