_Julius_, finding his Letter made no Impression on the _Eusebians_, applied with several other Bishops to the Emperor _Constans_, who, at their Request proposed to his Brother _Constantius_ the assembling of an Oecumenical Council, in order to put an End to those unhappy Divisions. [Sidenote: _The Council of_ Sardica.] To this Proposal _Constantius_ agreed; and accordingly, by the Command of the two Princes, a numerous Council met in 347. at _Sardica_, the Metropolis of _Dacia_ in _Illyricum_[689]. _Julius_, apprehending it dangerous to abandon his Flock at that Juncture, did not assist in Person, but by his Deputies _Archidamus_ and _Philoxenes_, who signed in his Name[690]. The Orientals came, but withdrew soon after, upon the Council’s refusing to exclude _Athanasius_, and some others, whom they had condemned[691]. But by the orthodox Bishops, who remained, the Acts of the Council of _Rome_ were confirmed, _Athanasius_ and Three other Bishops declared innocent; and those, who had been placed in their room, not only deposed, but anathematized, and intirely cut off from the Communion of the Catholic Church[692]. The Council, before they broke up, writ several Letters; and, among the rest, one to the Emperors; one to the Bishop of _Rome_; and a circular Letter to all the Bishops of the Catholic Church, acquainting them with what had passed, and exhorting them to join the Council, and declare to the World, that they accepted their Decrees by subscribing to them[693]. The circular Letter was subscribed first by the great _Osius_ Bishop of _Cordoua_, and in the Second place by the Pope’s Legates[694]. In their Letter to _Julius_ they beg him to notify their Decrees to the Bishops of _Sardinia_, _Sicily_, and _Italy_, lest any of them should receive Letters of Peace and Communion from the Bishops they had condemned[695]. In this Letter the Council says, or rather is made to say, That _it is very meet or reasonable, that all Bishops should acquaint their Head, that is, the See of St._ Peter, _with what passes in their respective Provinces_[696]. I agree with _Blondel_[697], that this Passage is foisted in; but cannot acquiesce to the only Reason he alleges to support his Opinion, _viz._ the Barbarity of the _Latin_ Expression (_valde congruentissimum est_); for such a Slip might easily escape Men wholly bent on defending the Truth, and speaking it; and besides, we are not certain, that this Letter was originally written in _Latin_. The want of Connexion between that Sentence, and what is said both before and after it, is, I think, a more convincing Proof of Forgery.