第131章
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  But,asiftheconductoftheemperorhadbeenguidedbypassioninsteadofprinciple,threeyearsfromthecouncilofNicewerescarcelyelapsedbeforehediscoveredsomesymptomsofmercy,andevenofindulgence,towardstheproscribedsect,whichwassecretlyprotectedbyhisfavoritesister。Theexileswererecalled,andEusebius,whograduallyresumedhisinfluenceoverthemindofConstantine,wasrestoredtotheepiscopalthrone,fromwhichhehadbeenignominiouslydegraded。Ariushimselfwastreatedbythewholecourtwiththerespectwhichwouldhavebeenduetoaninnocentandoppressedman。HisfaithwasapprovedbythesynodofJerusalem;andtheemperorseemedimpatienttorepairhisinjustice,byissuinganabsolutecommand,thatheshouldbesolemnlyadmittedtothecommunioninthecathedralofConstantinople。Onthesameday,whichhadbeenfixedforthetriumphofArius,heexpired;andthestrangeandhorridcircumstancesofhisdeathmightexciteasuspicion,thattheorthodoxsaintshadcontributedmoreefficaciouslythanbytheirprayers,todeliverthechurchfromthemostformidableofherenemies。^83ThethreeprincipalleadersoftheCatholics,AthanasiusofAlexandria,EustathiusofAntioch,andPaulofConstantinopleweredeposedonvariousfaccusations,bythesentenceofnumerouscouncils;andwereafterwardsbanishedintodistantprovincesbythefirstoftheChristianemperors,who,inthelastmomentsofhislife,receivedtheritesofbaptismfromtheArianbishopofNicomedia。TheecclesiasticalgovernmentofConstantinecannotbejustifiedfromthereproachoflevityandweakness。Butthecredulousmonarch,unskilledinthestratagemsoftheologicalwarfare,mightbedeceivedbythemodestandspeciousprofessionsoftheheretics,whosesentimentsheneverperfectlyunderstood;andwhileheprotectedArius,andpersecutedAthanasius,hestillconsideredthecouncilofNiceasthebulwarkoftheChristianfaith,andthepeculiargloryofhisownreign。^84

  [Footnote83:WederivetheoriginalstoryfromAthanasius,tom。

  i。p。670,whoexpressessomereluctancetostigmatizethememoryofthedead。Hemightexaggerate;buttheperpetualcommerceofAlexandriaandConstantinoplewouldhaverendereditdangeroustoinvent。ThosewhopresstheliteralnarrativeofthedeathofAriushisbowelssuddenlyburstoutinaprivy

  mustmaketheiroptionbetweenpoisonandmiracle。]

  [Footnote84:Thechangeinthesentiments,oratleastintheconduct,ofConstantine,maybetracedinEusebius,inVit。

  Constant。l。iii。c。23,l。iv。c。41,Socrates,l。i。c。

  23—39,Sozomen,l。ii。c。16—34,Theodoret,l。i。c。14—34,

  andPhilostorgius,l。ii。c。1—17。Butthefirstofthesewriterswastoonearthesceneofaction,andtheothersweretooremotefromit。Itissingularenough,thattheimportanttaskofcontinuingthehistoryofthechurchshouldhavebeenleftfortwolaymenandaheretic。]

  ThesonsofConstantinemusthavebeenadmittedfromtheirchildhoodintotherankofcatechumens;buttheyimitated,inthedelayoftheirbaptism,theexampleoftheirfather。Likehimtheypresumedtopronouncetheirjudgmentonmysteriesintowhichtheyhadneverbeenregularlyinitiated;^85andthefateoftheTrinitariancontroversydepended,inagreatmeasure,onthesentimentsofConstantius;whoinheritedtheprovincesoftheEast,andacquiredthepossessionofthewholeempire。TheArianpresbyterorbishop,whohadsecretedforhisusethetestamentofthedeceasedemperor,improvedthefortunateoccasionwhichhadintroducedhimtothefamiliarityofaprince,whosepubliccounselswerealwaysswayedbyhisdomesticfavorites。Theeunuchsandslavesdiffusedthespiritualpoisonthroughthepalace,andthedangerousinfectionwascommunicatedbythefemaleattendantstotheguards,andbytheempresstoherunsuspicioushusband。^86ThepartialitywhichConstantiusalwaysexpressedtowardstheEusebianfaction,wasinsensiblyfortifiedbythedexterousmanagementoftheirleaders;andhisvictoryoverthetyrantMagnentiusincreasedhisinclination,aswellasability,toemploythearmsofpowerinthecauseofArianism。

  WhilethetwoarmieswereengagedintheplainsofMursa,andthefateofthetworivalsdependedonthechanceofwar,thesonofConstantinepassedtheanxiousmomentsinachurchofthemartyrsunderthewallsofthecity。Hisspiritualcomforter,Valens,theArianbishopofthediocese,employedthemostartfulprecautionstoobtainsuchearlyintelligenceasmightsecureeitherhisfavororhisescape。Asecretchainofswiftandtrustymessengersinformedhimofthevicissitudesofthebattle;

  andwhilethecourtiersstoodtremblingroundtheiraffrightedmaster,ValensassuredhimthattheGalliclegionsgaveway;andinsinuatedwithsomepresenceofmind,thatthegloriouseventhadbeenrevealedtohimbyanangel。ThegratefulemperorascribedhissuccesstothemeritsandintercessionofthebishopofMursa,whosefaithhaddeservedthepublicandmiraculousapprobationofHeaven。^87TheArians,whoconsideredastheirownthevictoryofConstantius,preferredhisglorytothatofhisfather。^88Cyril,bishopofJerusalem,immediatelycomposedthedescriptionofacelestialcross,encircledwithasplendidrainbow;whichduringthefestivalofPentecost,aboutthethirdhouroftheday,hadappearedovertheMountofOlives,totheedificationofthedevoutpilgrims,andthepeopleoftheholycity。^89Thesizeofthemeteorwasgraduallymagnified;andtheArianhistorianhasventuredtoaffirm,thatitwasconspicuoustothetwoarmiesintheplainsofPannonia;andthatthetyrant,whoispurposelyrepresentedasanidolater,fledbeforetheauspicioussignoforthodoxChristianity。^90

  [Footnote85:Quiaetiamtumcatechumenussacramentumfideimeritovideretiupotuissenescire。Sulp。Sever。Hist。Sacra,l。

  ii。p。410。]

  [Footnote86:Socrates,l。ii。c。2。Sozomen,l。iii。c。18。

  Athanas。tom。i。p。813,834。HeobservesthattheeunuchsarethenaturalenemiesoftheSon。CompareDr。Jortin\'sRemarksonEcclesiasticalHistory,vol。iv。p。3withacertaingenealogyinCandide,ch。iv。,whichendswithoneofthefirstcompanionsofChristopherColumbus。]

  [Footnote87:SulpiciusSeverusinHist。Sacra,l。ii。p。405,406。]

  [Footnote88:CyrilapudBaron。A。D。353,No。26expresslyobservesthatinthereignofConstantine,thecrosshadbeenfoundinthebowelsoftheearth;butthatithadappeared,inthereignofConstantius,inthemidstoftheheavens。Thisoppositionevidentlyproves,thatCyrilwasignorantofthestupendousmiracletowhichtheconversionofConstantineisattributed;andthisignoranceisthemoresurprising,sinceitwasnomorethantwelveyearsafterhisdeaththatCyrilwasconsecratedbishopofJerusalem,bytheimmediatesuccessorofEusebiusofCaesarea。SeeTillemont,Mem。Eccles。tom。viii。p。

  715。]

  [Footnote89:ItisnoteasytodeterminehowfartheingenuityofCyrilmightbeassistedbysomenaturalappearancesofasolarhalo。]

  [Footnote90:Philostorgius,l。iii。c。26。HeisfollowedbytheauthoroftheAlexandrianChronicle,byCedrenus,andbyNicephorus。SeeGothofred。Dissert。p。188。Theycouldnotrefuseamiracle,evenfromthehandofanenemy。]

  Thesentimentsofajudiciousstranger,whohasimpartiallyconsideredtheprogressofcivilorecclesiasticaldiscord,arealwaysentitledtoournotice;andashortpassageofAmmianus,whoservedinthearmies,andstudiedthecharacterofConstantius,isperhapsofmorevaluethanmanypagesoftheologicalinvectives。\"TheChristianreligion,which,initself,\"saysthatmoderatehistorian,\"isplainandsimple,heconfoundedbythedotageofsuperstition。Insteadofreconcilingthepartiesbytheweightofhisauthority,hecherishedandpromulgated,byverbaldisputes,thedifferenceswhichhisvaincuriosityhadexcited。Thehighwayswerecoveredwithtroopsofbishopsgallopingfromeverysidetotheassemblies,whichtheycallsynods;andwhiletheylaboredtoreducethewholesecttotheirownparticularopinions,thepublicestablishmentofthepostswasalmostruinedbytheirhastyandrepeatedjourneys。\"

  ^91OurmoreintimateknowledgeoftheecclesiasticaltransactionsofthereignofConstantiuswouldfurnishanamplecommentaryonthisremarkablepassage,whichjustifiestherationalapprehensionsofAthanasius,thattherestlessactivityoftheclergy,whowanderedroundtheempireinsearchofthetruefaith,wouldexcitethecontemptandlaughteroftheunbelievingworld。^92Assoonastheemperorwasrelievedfromtheterrorsofthecivilwar,hedevotedtheleisureofhiswinterquartersatArles,Milan,Sirmium,andConstantinople,totheamusementortoilsofcontroversy:theswordofthemagistrate,andevenofthetyrant,wasunsheathed,toenforcethereasonsofthetheologian;andasheopposedtheorthodoxfaithofNice,itisreadilyconfessedthathisincapacityandignorancewereequaltohispresumption。^93Theeunuchs,thewomen,andthebishops,whogovernedthevainandfeeblemindoftheemperor,hadinspiredhimwithaninsuperabledisliketotheHomoousion;buthistimidconsciencewasalarmedbytheimpietyofAetius。TheguiltofthatatheistwasaggravatedbythesuspiciousfavoroftheunfortunateGallus;andeventhedeathoftheImperialministers,whohadbeenmassacredatAntioch,wereimputedtothesuggestionsofthatdangeroussophist。ThemindofConstantius,whichcouldneitherbemoderatedbyreason,norfixedbyfaith,wasblindlyimpelledtoeithersideofthedarkandemptyabyss,byhishorroroftheoppositeextreme;healternatelyembracedandcondemnedthesentiments,hesuccessivelybanishedandrecalledtheleaders,oftheArianandSemi—Arianfactions。^94Duringtheseasonofpublicbusinessorfestivity,heemployedwholedays,andevennights,inselectingthewords,andweighingthesyllables,whichcomposedhisfluctuatingcreeds。Thesubjectofhismeditationsstillpursuedandoccupiedhisslumbers:theincoherentdreamsoftheemperorwerereceivedascelestialvisions,andheacceptedwithcomplacencytheloftytitleofbishopofbishops,fromthoseecclesiasticswhoforgottheinterestoftheirorderforthegratificationoftheirpassions。Thedesignofestablishingauniformityofdoctrine,whichhadengagedhimtoconvenesomanysynodsinGaul,Italy,Illyricum,andAsia,wasrepeatedlybaffledbyhisownlevity,bythedivisionsoftheArians,andbytheresistanceoftheCatholics;andheresolved,asthelastanddecisiveeffort,imperiouslytodictatethedecreesofageneralcouncil。ThedestructiveearthquakeofNicomedia,thedifficultyoffindingaconvenientplace,andperhapssomesecretmotivesofpolicy,producedanalterationinthesummons。ThebishopsoftheEastweredirectedtomeetatSeleucia,inIsauria;whilethoseoftheWestheldtheirdeliberationsatRimini,onthecoastoftheHadriatic;andinsteadoftwoorthreedeputiesfromeachprovince,thewholeepiscopalbodywasorderedtomarch。TheEasterncouncil,afterconsumingfourdaysinfierceandunavailingdebate,separatedwithoutanydefinitiveconclusion。

  ThecounciloftheWestwasprotractedtilltheseventhmonth。

  Taurus,thePraetorianpraefectwasinstructednottodismisstheprelatestilltheyshouldallbeunitedinthesameopinion;andhiseffortsweresupportedbythepowerofbanishingfifteenofthemostrefractory,andapromiseoftheconsulshipifheachievedsodifficultanadventure。Hisprayersandthreats,theauthorityofthesovereign,thesophistryofValensandUrsacius,thedistressofcoldandhunger,andthetediousmelancholyofahopelessexile,atlengthextortedthereluctantconsentofthebishopsofRimini。ThedeputiesoftheEastandoftheWestattendedtheemperorinthepalaceofConstantinople,andheenjoyedthesatisfactionofimposingontheworldaprofessionoffaithwhichestablishedthelikeness,withoutexpressingtheconsubstantiality,oftheSonofGod。^95ButthetriumphofArianismhadbeenprecededbytheremovaloftheorthodoxclergy,whomitwasimpossibleeithertointimidateortocorrupt;andthereignofConstantiuswasdisgracedbytheunjustandineffectualpersecutionofthegreatAthanasius。

  [Footnote91:Socuriousapassagewelldeservestobetranscribed。Christianamreligionemabsolutametsimplicem,anilisuperstitioneconfundens;inquascrutandaperplexius,quamcomponendagraviusexcitaretdiscidiaplurima;quaeprogressafusiusaluitconcertationeverborum,utcatervisantistiumjumentispublicisultrocitroquediscarrentibus,persynodosquasappellantdumritumomnemadsuumsahereconanturValesiusreadsconaturreivehiculariaeconcideretservos。

  Ammianus,xxi。16。]

  [Footnote92:Athanas。tom。i。p。870。]

  [Footnote93:Socrates,l。ii。c。35—47。Sozomen,l。iv。c。

  12—30。Theodoreli。c。18—32。Philostorg。l。iv。c。4—12,l。

  v。c。1—4,l。vi。c。1—5]

  [Footnote94:Sozomen,l。iv。c。23。Athanas。tom。i。p。831。

  TillemontMemEccles。tom。vii。p。947hascollectedseveralinstancesofthehaughtyfanaticismofConstantiusfromthedetachedtreatisesofLuciferofCagliari。Theverytitlesofthesetreatiesinspirezealandterror;\"MoriendumproDeiFilio。\"\"DeRegibusApostaticis。\"\"DenonconveniendocumHaeretico。\"\"DenonparcendoinDeumdelinquentibus。\"]

  [Footnote95:Sulp。Sever。Hist。Sacra,l。ii。p。418—430。TheGreekhistorianswereveryignorantoftheaffairsoftheWest。]

  Wehaveseldomanopportunityofobserving,eitherinactiveorspeculativelife,whateffectmaybeproduced,orwhatobstaclesmaybesurmounted,bytheforceofasinglemind,whenitisinflexiblyappliedtothepursuitofasingleobject。TheimmortalnameofAthanasius^96willneverbeseparatedfromtheCatholicdoctrineoftheTrinity,towhosedefenceheconsecratedeverymomentandeveryfacultyofhisbeing。EducatedinthefamilyofAlexander,hehadvigorouslyopposedtheearlyprogressoftheArianheresy:heexercisedtheimportantfunctionsofsecretaryundertheagedprelate;andthefathersoftheNicenecouncilbeheldwithsurpriseandrespecttherisingvirtuesoftheyoungdeacon。Inatimeofpublicdanger,thedullclaimsofageandofrankaresometimessuperseded;andwithinfivemonthsafterhisreturnfromNice,thedeaconAthanasiuswasseatedonthearchiepiscopalthroneofEgypt。Hefilledthateminentstationaboveforty—sixyears,andhislongadministrationwasspentinaperpetualcombatagainstthepowersofArianism。FivetimeswasAthanasiusexpelledfromhisthrone;twentyyearshepassedasanexileorafugitive:andalmosteveryprovinceoftheRomanempirewassuccessivelywitnesstohismerit,andhissufferingsinthecauseoftheHomoousion,whichheconsideredasthesolepleasureandbusiness,astheduty,andasthegloryofhislife。Amidstthestormsofpersecution,thearchbishopofAlexandriawaspatientoflabor,jealousoffame,carelessofsafety;andalthoughhismindwastaintedbythecontagionoffanaticism,Athanasiusdisplayedasuperiorityofcharacterandabilities,whichwouldhavequalifiedhim,farbetterthanthedegeneratesonsofConstantine,forthegovernmentofagreatmonarchy。HislearningwasmuchlessprofoundandextensivethanthatofEusebiusofCaesarea,andhisrudeeloquencecouldnotbecomparedwiththepolishedoratoryofGregoryofBasil;butwhenevertheprimateofEgyptwascalledupontojustifyhissentiments,orhisconduct,hisunpremeditatedstyle,eitherofspeakingorwriting,wasclear,forcible,andpersuasive。Hehasalwaysbeenrevered,intheorthodoxschool,asoneofthemostaccuratemastersoftheChristiantheology;andhewassupposedtopossesstwoprofanesciences,lessadaptedtotheepiscopalcharacter,theknowledgeofjurisprudence,^97andthatofdivination。^98Somefortunateconjecturesoffutureevents,whichimpartialreasonersmightascribetotheexperienceandjudgmentofAthanasius,wereattributedbyhisfriendstoheavenlyinspiration,andimputedbyhisenemiestoinfernalmagic。

  [Footnote96:WemayregretthatGregoryNazianzencomposedapanegyricinsteadofalifeofAthanasius;butweshouldenjoyandimprovetheadvantageofdrawingourmostauthenticmaterialsfromtherichfundofhisownepistlesandapologies,tom。i。p。

  670—951。IshallnotimitatetheexampleofSocrates,l。ii。c。

  l。whopublishedthefirsteditionofthehistory,withoutgivinghimselfthetroubletoconsultthewritingsofAthanasius。

  YetevenSocrates,themorecuriousSozomen,andthelearnedTheodoret,connectthelifeofAthanasiuswiththeseriesofecclesiasticalhistory。ThediligenceofTillemont,tom。viii,

  andoftheBenedictineeditors,hascollectedeveryfact,andexaminedeverydifficulty]

  [Footnote97:SulpiciusSeverusHist。Sacra,l。ii。p。396

  callshimalawyer,ajurisconsult。ThischaractercannotnowbediscoveredeitherinthelifeorwritingsofAthanasius。]

  [Footnote98:Dicebaturenimfatidicarumsortiumfidem,quaeveauguralesportenderentalitesscientissimecallensaliquotiespraedixissefutura。Ammianus,xv。7。Aprophecy,orratherajoke,isrelatedbySozomen,l。ivc。10,whichevidentlyprovesifthecrowsspeakLatinthatAthanasiusunderstoodthelanguageofthecrows。]

  ButasAthanasiuswascontinuallyengagedwiththeprejudicesandpassionsofeveryorderofmen,fromthemonktotheemperor,theknowledgeofhumannaturewashisfirstandmostimportantscience。Hepreservedadistinctandunbrokenviewofascenewhichwasincessantlyshifting;andneverfailedtoimprovethosedecisivemomentswhichareirrecoverablypastbeforetheyareperceivedbyacommoneye。ThearchbishopofAlexandriawascapableofdistinguishinghowfarhemightboldlycommand,andwherehemustdexterouslyinsinuate;howlonghemightcontendwithpower,andwhenhemustwithdrawfrompersecution;andwhilehedirectedthethundersofthechurchagainstheresyandrebellion,hecouldassume,inthebosomofhisownparty,theflexibleandindulgenttemperofaprudentleader。TheelectionofAthanasiushasnotescapedthereproachofirregularityandprecipitation;^99buttheproprietyofhisbehaviorconciliatedtheaffectionsbothoftheclergyandofthepeople。TheAlexandrianswereimpatienttoriseinarmsforthedefenceofaneloquentandliberalpastor。Inhisdistresshealwaysderivedsupport,oratleastconsolation,fromthefaithfulattachmentofhisparochialclergy;andthehundredbishopsofEgyptadhered,withunshakenzeal,tothecauseofAthanasius。Inthemodestequipagewhichprideandpolicywouldaffect,hefrequentlyperformedtheepiscopalvisitationofhisprovinces,fromthemouthoftheNiletotheconfinesofAethiopia;familiarlyconversingwiththemeanestofthepopulace,andhumblysalutingthesaintsandhermitsofthedesert。^100Norwasitonlyinecclesiasticalassemblies,amongmenwhoseeducationandmannersweresimilartohisown,thatAthanasiusdisplayedtheascendancyofhisgenius。Heappearedwitheasyandrespectfulfirmnessinthecourtsofprinces;andinthevariousturnsofhisprosperousandadversefortuneheneverlosttheconfidenceofhisfriends,ortheesteemofhisenemies。

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