One of the chief Motives that induced _Theodosius_ to assemble so numerous a Council at _Constantinople_, was, to hear what Remedy they could suggest against the Schism of the Church of _Antioch_, which caused such Jealousies between the East and the West as seemed to forebode an imminent Rupture[1162]. But before the Fathers of the Council entered upon that important Subject, _Meletius_ died; and his Death, which ought to have put an End to the present Disturbances, served only to increase them, and engage the contending Parties more warmly in the Dispute. It had been agreed by _Meletius_ and _Paulinus_, that the Survivor should be sole Bishop of all the Orthodox at _Antioch_[1163]. _Socrates_ and _Sozomen_ add[1164], that Six Presbyters, who it was most likely might be one Day raised to that See, bound themselves by a solemn Oath not to vote for any other, nor to accept themselves the Episcopal Dignity, so long as either of the Two lived. [Sidenote: _The Disturbances in the Church of_ Antioch _increased_.] However, _Meletius_ was no sooner dead, than some of the Prelates present at the Council moved for chusing him a Successor, which occasioned many long and warm Debates. _Gregory Nazianzen_, elected Bishop of _Constantinople_ a few Days before, exerted all his Eloquence to divert the Council from a Resolution, which, he said, would prove fatal to the Church, and kindle a Flame, which perhaps it might never be in their Power to extinguish[1165]. Several other Prelates, Enemies to Strife and Contention, falling in with _Gregory_, spoke to the same Purpose, exhorting their Collegues, with great Zeal and Eloquence, to put an End at last to the unhappy Divisions that had so long rent the Church, by allowing _Paulinus_, already stricken in Years, to govern peaceably the remaining Part of his Life[1166]. But the far greater Part were for a new Election, offering no other Reason to recommend such a Step, but that the East, where our Saviour had appeared, ought not to yield to the West[1167]. So that the Resolution of giving a Successor to _Meletius_ was taken merely out of Pique to the Western Bishops, who, having the Bishop of _Rome_ at their Head, had begun to treat their Brethren in the East with great Haughtiness, and assume an Air of Authority that did not become them; but that had been better resented on any other Occasion than on this.