Footnote N16: Three Councils were held at _Sirmium_, one in 349. another in 352. and the Third in 357. In the First, _Photinus_, Bishop of that City, was condemned, for reviving the Heresy of _Paul_ of _Samosata_. This Council was intirely composed of the Western Bishops, who attempted to depose _Photinus_, but were vigorously opposed by the People. The Second Council of _Sirmium_ was convened by the Emperor _Constantius_, and consisted of the Eastern Bishops only, who condemned anew, and deposed _Photinus_. By this Council a Symbol, or Creed, was composed, which has been transmitted to us in _Greek_ by St. _Athanasius_, and in _Latin_ by St. _Hilarius_; and is intirely Orthodox. In the Third Council of _Sirmium_ a new Creed was composed by _Potamius_ Bishop of _Lisbone_, and signed by _Ursacius_, _Valens_, _Germinius_, and the other Bishops there present. This Creed was altogether _Arian_; for not only the Word _Consubstantial_ was rejected by it, but the Son was declared to be unlike the Father in Essence, to be less than the Father, and to have had a Beginning. And it was this Second Symbol of _Sirmium_ that _Liberius_ signed at _Berœa_. Upon his Arrival at _Sirmium_ he found there _Basilius_ of _Ancyra_, _Eleusius_ of _Cyzicus_, and the other _Semi-Arian_ Bishops, who were lately come from the Council of _Ancyra_, where they had condemned the Doctrine of the _Pure Arians_, and established that of the _Semi-Arians_, holding the Son to be like the Father in Nature and Essence, but not _Consubstantial_, or of the same Substance. And this Doctrine _Liberius_ signed out of Complaisance to the Emperor, that nothing might obstruct his Return to _Rome_. He signed it in a kind of Council, consisting of the _Semi-Arian_ Bishops, whom I have mentioned above. -----