TheCatholicsofConstantinoplewereanimatedwithjoyfulconfidencebythebaptismandedictofTheodosius；andtheyimpatientlywaitedtheeffectsofhisgraciouspromise。Theirhopeswerespeedilyaccomplished；andtheemperor，assoonashehadfinishedtheoperationsofthecampaign，madehispublicentryintothecapitalattheheadofavictoriousarmy。Thenextdayafterhisarrival，hesummonedDamophilustohispresence，andofferedthatArianprelatethehardalternativeofsubscribingtheNicenecreed，orofinstantlyresigning，totheorthodoxbelievers，theuseandpossessionoftheepiscopalpalace，thecathedralofSt。Sophia，andallthechurchesofConstantinople。ThezealofDamophilus，whichinaCatholicsaintwouldhavebeenjustlyapplauded，embraced，withouthesitation，alifeofpovertyandexile，^37andhisremovalwasimmediatelyfollowedbythepurificationoftheImperialcity。
TheAriansmightcomplain，withsomeappearanceofjustice，thataninconsiderablecongregationofsectariesshouldusurpthehundredchurches，whichtheywereinsufficienttofill；whilstthefargreaterpartofthepeoplewascruellyexcludedfromeveryplaceofreligiousworship。Theodosiuswasstillinexorable；butastheangelswhoprotectedtheCatholiccausewereonlyvisibletotheeyesoffaith，heprudentlyreenforcedthoseheavenlylegionswiththemoreeffectualaidoftemporalandcarnalweapons；andthechurchofSt。SophiawasoccupiedbyalargebodyoftheImperialguards。IfthemindofGregorywassusceptibleofpride，hemusthavefeltaverylivelysatisfaction，whentheemperorconductedhimthroughthestreetsinsolemntriumph；and，withhisownhand，respectfullyplacedhimonthearchiepiscopalthroneofConstantinople。Butthesaintwhohadnotsubduedtheimperfectionsofhumanvirtuewasdeeplyaffectedbythemortifyingconsideration，thathisentranceintothefoldwasthatofawolf，ratherthanofashepherd；thattheglitteringarmswhichsurroundedhisperson，werenecessaryforhissafety；andthathealonewastheobjectoftheimprecationsofagreatparty，whom，asmenandcitizens，itwasimpossibleforhimtodespise。Hebeheldtheinnumerablemultitudeofeithersex，andofeveryage，whocrowdedthestreets，thewindows，andtheroofsofthehouses；heheardthetumultuousvoiceofrage，grief，astonishment，anddespair；andGregoryfairlyconfesses，thatonthememorabledayofhisinstallation，thecapitaloftheEastworetheappearanceofacitytakenbystorm，andinthehandsofaBarbarianconqueror。
^38Aboutsixweeksafterwards，Theodosiusdeclaredhisresolutionofexpellingfromallthechurchesofhisdominionsthebishopsandtheirclergywhoshouldobstinatelyrefusetobelieve，oratleasttoprofess，thedoctrineofthecouncilofNice。Hislieutenant，Sapor，wasarmedwiththeamplepowersofagenerallaw，aspecialcommission，andamilitaryforce；^39
andthisecclesiasticalrevolutionwasconductedwithsomuchdiscretionandvigor，thatthereligionoftheemperorwasestablished，withouttumultorbloodshed，inalltheprovincesoftheEast。ThewritingsoftheArians，iftheyhadbeenpermittedtoexist，^40wouldperhapscontainthelamentablestoryofthepersecution，whichafflictedthechurchunderthereignoftheimpiousTheodosius；andthesufferingsoftheirholyconfessorsmightclaimthepityofthedisinterestedreader。Yetthereisreasontoimagine，thattheviolenceofzealandrevengewas，insomemeasure，eludedbythewantofresistance；andthat，intheiradversity，theAriansdisplayedmuchlessfirmnessthanhadbeenexertedbytheorthodoxpartyunderthereignsofConstantiusandValens。Themoralcharacterandconductofthehostilesectsappeartohavebeengovernedbythesamecommonprinciplesofnatureandreligion:butaverymaterialcircumstancemaybediscovered，whichtendedtodistinguishthedegreesoftheirtheologicalfaith。Bothparties，intheschools，aswellasinthetemples，acknowledgedandworshippedthedivinemajestyofChrist；and，aswearealwayspronetoimputeourownsentimentsandpassionstotheDeity，itwouldbedeemedmoreprudentandrespectfultoexaggerate，thantocircumscribe，theadorableperfectionsoftheSonofGod。ThediscipleofAthanasiusexultedintheproudconfidence，thathehadentitledhimselftothedivinefavor；whilethefollowerofAriusmusthavebeentormentedbythesecretapprehension，thathewasguilty，perhaps，ofanunpardonableoffence，bythescantypraise，andparsimonioushonors，whichhebestowedontheJudgeoftheWorld。TheopinionsofArianismmightsatisfyacoldandspeculativemind:butthedoctrineoftheNicenecreed，mostpowerfullyrecommendedbythemeritsoffaithanddevotion，wasmuchbetteradaptedtobecomepopularandsuccessfulinabelievingage。
[Footnote37:Socratesl。v。c。7andSozomenl。vii。c。5
......购买会员看全站小说，或者下载APP免费观看所有作品 点击立即下载，搜索"History Of The Decline And Fall Of The Roman Empir",免费读到尾