[Sidenote: _The Communion between the East and the West renewed._]
As _Flavianus_ declined the Judgment of the _Western_ as well as the _Egyptian_ Bishops, and the Emperor gave no farther Ear to their Remonstrances and Complaints, the Resolution taken by the Council of _Capua_ was put in Execution; which was, to renew the Communion and good Understanding between the East and the West, and abandon the Church of _Antioch_ to its Schism, which, after so many promising Remedies applied in vain, began now to be deemed an incurable Evil[1310].
[Sidenote: Bonosus _accused before the Council_.]
The Council of _Capua_, after the above-mentioned Resolution concerning the Difference between _Flavianus_ and _Evagrius_, heard a Charge brought by some Bishops against _Bonosus_, Bishop of _Naissus_ in _Dacia_, according to some, or, as others will have it, of _Sardica_, the Metropolis of that Province. He was accused of a Crime against the Canons of the Church and the Law of God[1311], and likewise of Heresy. [Sidenote: _His Errors._] The Crime is not specified; but as for the Heresy, I gather from _Austin_, that he held the Son to be inferior to the Father[1312]; and from _Ambrose_, that he taught, the Virgin _Mary_ had had other Children after the Birth of _Christ_[1313]. [Sidenote: _The judging of his Cause committed by the Council to the neighbouring Bishops, who condemn him._] He had, it seems, been condemned by _Damasus_, who died in 384[1314]. but still held his See, and was not driven from it, even by the Council of _Capua_. For the Fathers of that Assembly committed the hearing and judging of his Cause to the Bishops in his Neighbourhood, chiefly to those of _Macedon_, under their Metropolitan _Anysius_, Bishop of _Thessalonica_[1315]. The neighbouring Bishops assembled, pursuant to the Order of the Council; and _Bonosus_, as well as his Accusers, appearing before them, they found the Charge so well supported, that they immediately forbid him to enter his Church; which was suspending him from all Episcopal Functions. _Bonosus_ complained loudly of this Sentence, and even advised with the Bishop of _Milan_, whether he might not, in Defiance of a Judgment so rash and immature, still exercise the Functions of his Office, and, in case of Opposition, repel Force with Force. _Ambrose_ exhorted him, in the strongest Terms, to acquiesce to the Sentence, to conduct himself with the Prudence, Temper, and Moderation, that became a Bishop; and, above all, not to undertake any thing that might be interpreted as a Contempt of the Authority of his Judges, since he could not contemn their Authority, without contemning at the same time that of the Council, which had appointed them[1316]. In the mean time the Bishops of _Macedon_, having more leisurely examined the Cause of _Bonosus_, wrote to _Syricius_, referring the Decision to him, and declaring their _Abhorrence of the detestable Error, that the Virgin_ Mary _had other Children besides Christ_. If this was an Error, which may well be doubted, it was one that did no-way affect the Christian Faith, and therefore did not deserve such a severe Condemnation: but as it thwarted the favourable Opinions then entertained in the Church concerning Virginity, it is no Wonder that it should meet with so rough a Treatment[N35].