TheinsidiousedictsofJulianwereabolished；theecclesiasticalimmunitieswererestoredandenlarged；andJoviancondescendedtolament，thatthedistressofthetimesobligedhimtodiminishthemeasureofcharitabledistributions。^2TheChristianswereunanimousintheloudandsincereapplausewhichtheybestowedonthepioussuccessorofJulian。Buttheywerestillignorantwhatcreed，orwhatsynod，hewouldchooseforthestandardoforthodoxy；andthepeaceofthechurchimmediatelyrevivedthoseeagerdisputeswhichhadbeensuspendedduringtheseasonofpersecution。Theepiscopalleadersofthecontendingsects，convinced，fromexperience，howmuchtheirfatewoulddependontheearliestimpressionsthatweremadeonthemindofanuntutoredsoldier，hastenedtothecourtofEdessa，orAntioch。

　　ThehighwaysoftheEastwerecrowdedwithHomoousian，andArian，andSemi—Arian，andEunomianbishops，whostruggledtooutstripeachotherintheholyrace:theapartmentsofthepalaceresoundedwiththeirclamors；andtheearsoftheprincewereassaulted，andperhapsastonished，bythesingularmixtureofmetaphysicalargumentandpassionateinvective。^3ThemoderationofJovian，whorecommendedconcordandcharity，andreferredthedisputantstothesentenceofafuturecouncil，wasinterpretedasasymptomofindifference:buthisattachmenttotheNicenecreedwasatlengthdiscoveredanddeclared，bythereverencewhichheexpressedforthecelestial^4virtuesofthegreatAthanasius。Theintrepidveteranofthefaith，attheageofseventy，hadissuedfromhisretreatonthefirstintelligenceofthetyrant\'sdeath。Theacclamationsofthepeopleseatedhimoncemoreonthearchiepiscopalthrone；andhewiselyaccepted，oranticipated，theinvitationofJovian。ThevenerablefigureofAthanasius，hiscalmcourage，andinsinuatingeloquence，sustainedthereputationwhichhehadalreadyacquiredinthecourtsoffoursuccessiveprinces。^5Assoonashehadgainedtheconfidence，andsecuredthefaith，oftheChristianemperor，hereturnedintriumphtohisdiocese，andcontinued，withmaturecounselsandundiminishedvigor，todirect，tenyearslonger，^6

　　theecclesiasticalgovernmentofAlexandria，Egypt，andtheCatholicchurch。BeforehisdeparturefromAntioch，heassuredJovianthathisorthodoxdevotionwouldberewardedwithalongandpeacefulreign。Athanasius，hadreasontohope，thatheshouldbeallowedeitherthemeritofasuccessfulprediction，ortheexcuseofagratefulthoughineffectualprayer。^7

　　[Footnote1:ThemedalsofJovianadornhimwithvictories，laurelcrowns，andprostratecaptives。Ducange，Famil。Byzantin。

　　p。52。Flatteryisafoolishsuicide；shedestroysherselfwithherownhands。]

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