Butthesubjectwhohasreducedhisprincetothenecessityofdissembling，canneverexpectasincereandlastingforgiveness；andthetragicfateofConstanssoondeprivedAthanasiusofapowerfulandgenerousprotector。ThecivilwarbetweentheassassinandtheonlysurvivingbrotherofConstans，whichafflictedtheempireabovethreeyears，securedanintervalofreposetotheCatholicchurch；andthetwocontendingpartiesweredesiroustoconciliatethefriendshipofabishop，who，bytheweightofhispersonalauthority，mightdeterminethefluctuatingresolutionsofanimportantprovince。Hegaveaudiencetotheambassadorsofthetyrant，withwhomhewasafterwardsaccusedofholdingasecretcorrespondence；^120andtheemperorConstantiusrepeatedlyassuredhisdearestfather，themostreverendAthanasius，that，notwithstandingthemaliciousrumorswhichwerecirculatedbytheircommonenemies，hehadinheritedthesentiments，aswellasthethrone，ofhisdeceasedbrother。^121GratitudeandhumanitywouldhavedisposedtheprimateofEgypttodeploretheuntimelyfateofConstans，andtoabhortheguiltofMagnentius；butasheclearlyunderstoodthattheapprehensionsofConstantiuswerehisonlysafeguard，thefervorofhisprayersforthesuccessoftherighteouscausemightperhapsbesomewhatabated。TheruinofAthanasiuswasnolongercontrivedbytheobscuremaliceofafewbigotedorangrybishops，whoabusedtheauthorityofacredulousmonarch。Themonarchhimselfavowedtheresolution，whichhehadsolongsuppressed，ofavenginghisprivateinjuries；^122andthefirstwinterafterhisvictory，whichhepassedatArles，wasemployedagainstanenemymoreodioustohimthanthevanquishedtyrantofGaul。
[Footnote120:Athanasiustom。i。p。677，678defendshisinnocencebypatheticcomplaints，solemnassertions，andspeciousarguments。Headmitsthatlettershadbeenforgedinhisname，butherequeststhathisownsecretariesandthoseofthetyrantmightbeexamined，whetherthoselettershadbeenwrittenbytheformer，orreceivedbythelatter。]
[Footnote121:Athanas。tom。i。p。825—844。]
[Footnote122:Athanas。tom。i。p。861。Theodoret，l。ii。c。16。
TheemperordeclaredthathewasmoredesiroustosubdueAthanasius，thanhehadbeentovanquishMagnentiusorSylvanus。]
Iftheemperorhadcapriciouslydecreedthedeathofthemosteminentandvirtuouscitizenoftherepublic，thecruelorderwouldhavebeenexecutedwithouthesitation，bytheministersofopenviolenceorofspeciousinjustice。Thecaution，thedelay，thedifficultywithwhichheproceededinthecondemnationandpunishmentofapopularbishop，discoveredtotheworldthattheprivilegesofthechurchhadalreadyrevivedasenseoforderandfreedomintheRomangovernment。ThesentencewhichwaspronouncedinthesynodofTyre，andsubscribedbyalargemajorityoftheEasternbishops，hadneverbeenexpresslyrepealed；andasAthanasiushadbeenoncedegradedfromhisepiscopaldignitybythejudgmentofhisbrethren，everysubsequentactmightbeconsideredasirregular，andevencriminal。ButthememoryofthefirmandeffectualsupportwhichtheprimateofEgypthadderivedfromtheattachmentoftheWesternchurch，engagedConstantiustosuspendtheexecutionofthesentencetillhehadobtainedtheconcurrenceoftheLatinbishops。Twoyearswereconsumedinecclesiasticalnegotiations；
andtheimportantcausebetweentheemperorandoneofhissubjectswassolemnlydebated，firstinthesynodofArles，andafterwardsinthegreatcouncilofMilan，^123whichconsistedofabovethreehundredbishops。TheirintegritywasgraduallyunderminedbytheargumentsoftheArians，thedexterityoftheeunuchs，andthepressingsolicitationsofaprincewhogratifiedhisrevengeattheexpenseofhisdignity，andexposedhisownpassions，whilstheinfluencedthoseoftheclergy。Corruption，themostinfalliblesymptomofconstitutionalliberty，wassuccessfullypractised；honors，gifts，andimmunitieswereofferedandacceptedasthepriceofanepiscopalvote；^124andthecondemnationoftheAlexandrianprimatewasartfullyrepresentedastheonlymeasurewhichcouldrestorethepeaceandunionoftheCatholicchurch。ThefriendsofAthanasiuswerenot，however，wantingtotheirleader，ortotheircause。Withamanlyspirit，whichthesanctityoftheircharacterrenderedlessdangerous，theymaintained，inpublicdebate，andinprivateconferencewiththeemperor，theeternalobligationofreligionandjustice。Theydeclared，thatneitherthehopeofhisfavor，northefearofhisdispleasure，shouldprevailonthemtojoininthecondemnationofanabsent，aninnocent，arespectablebrother。^125Theyaffirmed，withapparentreason，thattheillegalandobsoletedecreesofthecouncilofTyrehadlongsincebeentacitlyabolishedbytheImperialedicts，thehonorablereestablishmentofthearchbishopofAlexandria，andthesilenceorrecantationofhismostclamorousadversaries。
Theyalleged，thathisinnocencehadbeenattestedbytheunanimousbishopsofEgypt，andhadbeenacknowledgedinthecouncilsofRomeandSardica，^126bytheimpartialjudgmentoftheLatinchurch。TheydeploredthehardconditionofAthanasius，who，afterenjoyingsomanyyearshisseat，hisreputation，andtheseemingconfidenceofhissovereign，wasagaincalledupontoconfutethemostgroundlessandextravagantaccusations。Theirlanguagewasspecious；theirconductwashonorable:butinthislongandobstinatecontest，whichfixedtheeyesofthewholeempireonasinglebishop，theecclesiasticalfactionswerepreparedtosacrificetruthandjusticetothemoreinterestingobjectofdefendingorremovingtheintrepidchampionoftheNicenefaith。TheAriansstillthoughtitprudenttodisguise，inambiguouslanguage，theirrealsentimentsanddesigns；buttheorthodoxbishops，armedwiththefavorofthepeople，andthedecreesofageneralcouncil，insistedoneveryoccasion，andparticularlyatMilan，thattheiradversariesshouldpurgethemselvesfromthesuspicionofheresy，beforetheypresumedtoarraigntheconductofthegreatAthanasius。^127
[Footnote123:TheaffairsofthecouncilofMilanaresoimperfectlyanderroneouslyrelatedbytheGreekwriters，thatwemustrejoiceinthesupplyofsomelettersofEusebius，extractedbyBaroniusfromthearchivesofthechurchofVercellae，andofanoldlifeofDionysiusofMilan，publishedbyBollandus。SeeBaronius，A。D。355，andTillemont，tom。vii。p。1415。]
[Footnote124:Thehonors，presents，feasts，whichseducedsomanybishops，arementionedwithindignationbythosewhoweretoopureortooproudtoacceptthem。\"WecombatsaysHilaryofPoitiersagainstConstantiustheAntichrist；whostrokesthebellyinsteadofscourgingtheback；\"quinondorsacaedit；sedventrempalpat。HilariuscontraConstantc。5，p。1240。]
[Footnote125:SomethingofthisoppositionismentionedbyAmmianusx。7，whohadaverydarkandsuperficialknowledgeofecclesiasticalhistory。Liberius……perseveranterrenitebatur，necvisumhominem，necauditumdamnare，nefasultimumsaepeexclamans；apertescilicetrecalcitransImperatorisarbitrio。IdenimilleAthanasiosemperinfestus，&c。]
[Footnote126:MoreproperlybytheorthodoxpartofthecouncilofSardica。Ifthebishopsofbothpartieshadfairlyvoted，thedivisionwouldhavebeen94to76。M。deTillemontseetom。
viii。p。1147—1158isjustlysurprisedthatsosmallamajorityshouldhaveproceededasvigorouslyagainsttheiradversaries，theprincipalofwhomtheyimmediatelydeposed。]
[Footnote127:Sulp。SeverusinHist。Sacra，l。ii。p。412。]
ButthevoiceofreasonifreasonwasindeedonthesideofAthanasiuswassilencedbytheclamorsofafactiousorvenalmajority；andthecouncilsofArlesandMilanwerenotdissolved，tillthearchbishopofAlexandriahadbeensolemnlycondemnedanddeposedbythejudgmentoftheWestern，aswellasoftheEastern，church。Thebishopswhohadopposed，wererequiredtosubscribe，thesentence，andtouniteinreligiouscommunionwiththesuspectedleadersoftheadverseparty。Aformularyofconsentwastransmittedbythemessengersofstatetotheabsentbishops:andallthosewhorefusedtosubmittheirprivateopiniontothepublicandinspiredwisdomofthecouncilsofArlesandMilan，wereimmediatelybanishedbytheemperor，whoaffectedtoexecutethedecreesoftheCatholicchurch。Amongthoseprelateswholedthehonorablebandofconfessorsandexiles，LiberiusofRome，OsiusofCordova，PaulinusofTreves，DionysiusofMilan，EusebiusofVercellae，LuciferofCagliariandHilaryofPoitiers，maydeservetobeparticularlydistinguished。TheeminentstationofLiberius，whogovernedthecapitaloftheempire；thepersonalmeritandlongexperienceofthevenerableOsius，whowasreveredasthefavoriteofthegreatConstantine，andthefatheroftheNicenefaith，placedthoseprelatesattheheadoftheLatinchurch:andtheirexample，eitherofsubmissionorresistance，wouldprobablebeimitatedbytheepiscopalcrowd。ButtherepeatedattemptsoftheemperortoseduceortointimidatethebishopsofRomeandCordova，wereforsometimeineffectual。TheSpaniarddeclaredhimselfreadytosufferunderConstantius，ashehadsufferedthreescoreyearsbeforeunderhisgrandfatherMaximian。TheRoman，inthepresenceofhissovereign，assertedtheinnocenceofAthanasiusandhisownfreedom。WhenhewasbanishedtoBeraeainThrace，hesentbackalargesumwhichhadbeenofferedfortheaccommodationofhisjourney；andinsultedthecourtofMilanbythehaughtyremark，thattheemperorandhiseunuchsmightwantthatgoldtopaytheirsoldiersandtheirbishops。^128TheresolutionofLiberiusandOsiuswasatlengthsubduedbythehardshipsofexileandconfinement。TheRomanpontiffpurchasedhisreturnbysomecriminalcompliances；andafterwardsexpiatedhisguiltbyaseasonablerepentance。PersuasionandviolencewereemployedtoextortthereluctantsignatureofthedecrepitbishopofCordova，whosestrengthwasbroken，andwhosefacultieswereperhapsimpairedbytheweightofahundredyears；andtheinsolenttriumphoftheAriansprovokedsomeoftheorthodoxpartytotreatwithinhumanseveritythecharacter，orratherthememory，ofanunfortunateoldman，towhoseformerservicesChristianityitselfwassodeeplyindebted。^129
[Footnote128:TheexileofLiberiusismentionedbyAmmianus，xv。7。SeeTheodoret，l。ii。c。16。Athanas。tom。i。p。
834—837。Hilar。Fragmentl。]
[Footnote129:ThelifeofOsiusiscollectedbyTillemont，tom。
vii。p。524—561，whointhemostextravaganttermsfirstadmires，andthenreprobates，thebishopofCordova。Inthemidstoftheirlamentationsonhisfall，theprudenceofAthanasiusmaybedistinguishedfromtheblindandintemperatezealofHilary。]
ThefallofLiberiusandOsiusreflectedabrighterlustreonthefirmnessofthosebishopswhostilladhered，withunshakenfidelity，tothecauseofAthanasiusandreligioustruth。Theingeniousmaliceoftheirenemieshaddeprivedthemofthebenefitofmutualcomfortandadvice，separatedthoseillustriousexilesintodistantprovinces，andcarefullyselectedthemostinhospitablespotsofagreatempire。^130YettheysoonexperiencedthatthedesertsofLibya，andthemostbarbaroustractsofCappadocia，werelessinhospitablethantheresidenceofthosecitiesinwhichanArianbishopcouldsatiate，withoutrestraint，theexquisiterancoroftheologicalhatred。^131Theirconsolationwasderivedfromtheconsciousnessofrectitudeandindependence，fromtheapplause，thevisits，theletters，andtheliberalalmsoftheiradherents，^132andfromthesatisfactionwhichtheysoonenjoyedofobservingtheintestinedivisionsoftheadversariesoftheNicenefaith。SuchwastheniceandcapricioustasteoftheemperorConstantius；andsoeasilywasheoffendedbytheslightestdeviationfromhisimaginarystandardofChristiantruth，thathepersecuted，withequalzeal，thosewhodefendedtheconsubstantiality，thosewhoassertedthesimilarsubstance，andthosewhodeniedthelikenessoftheSonofGod。Threebishops，degradedandbanishedforthoseadverseopinions，mightpossiblymeetinthesameplaceofexile；and，accordingtothedifferenceoftheirtemper，mighteitherpityorinsulttheblindenthusiasmoftheirantagonists，whosepresentsufferingswouldneverbecompensatedbyfuturehappiness。
[Footnote130:TheconfessorsoftheWestweresuccessivelybanishedtothedesertsofArabiaorThebais，thelonelyplacesofMountTaurus，thewildestpartsofPhrygia，whichwereinthepossessionoftheimpiousMontanists，&c。WhenthehereticAetiuswastoofavorablyentertainedatMopsuestiainCilicia，theplaceofhisexilewaschanged，bytheadviceofAcacius，toAmblada，adistrictinhabitedbysavagesandinfestedbywarandpestilence。
Philostorg。l。v。c。2。]
[Footnote131:SeethecrueltreatmentandstrangeobstinacyofEusebius，inhisownletters，publishedbyBaronius，A。D。356，No。92—102。]
[Footnote132:Caeterumexulessatisconstat，totiusorbisstudiiscelebratospecuniasqueeisinsumptumaffatimcongestas，legationibusquoqueplebisCatholicaeexomnibusfereprovinciisfrequentatos。Sulp。SeverHist。Sacra，p。414。Athanas。tom。i。
p。836，840。]
ThedisgraceandexileoftheorthodoxbishopsoftheWestweredesignedassomanypreparatorystepstotheruinofAthanasiushimself。^133Six—and—twentymonthshadelapsed，duringwhichtheImperialcourtsecretlylabored，bythemostinsidiousarts，toremovehimfromAlexandria，andtowithdrawtheallowancewhichsuppliedhispopularliberality。ButwhentheprimateofEgypt，desertedandproscribedbytheLatinchurch，wasleftdestituteofanyforeignsupport，Constantiusdespatchedtwoofhissecretarieswithaverbalcommissiontoannounceandexecutetheorderofhisbanishment。Asthejusticeofthesentencewaspubliclyavowedbythewholeparty，theonlymotivewhichcouldrestrainConstantiusfromgivinghismessengersthesanctionofawrittenmandate，mustbeimputedtohisdoubtoftheevent；andtoasenseofthedangertowhichhemightexposethesecondcity，andthemostfertileprovince，oftheempire，ifthepeopleshouldpersistintheresolutionofdefending，byforceofarms，theinnocenceoftheirspiritualfather。SuchextremecautionaffordedAthanasiusaspeciouspretencerespectfullytodisputethetruthofanorder，whichhecouldnotreconcile，eitherwiththeequity，orwiththeformerdeclarations，ofhisgraciousmaster。ThecivilpowersofEgyptfoundthemselvesinadequatetothetaskofpersuadingorcompellingtheprimatetoabdicatehisepiscopalthrone；andtheywereobligedtoconcludeatreatywiththepopularleadersofAlexandria，bywhichitwasstipulated，thatallproceedingsandallhostilitiesshouldbesuspendedtilltheemperor\'spleasurehadbeenmoredistinctlyascertained。Bythisseemingmoderation，theCatholicsweredeceivedintoafalseandfatalsecurity；whilethelegionsoftheUpperEgypt，andofLibya，advanced，bysecretordersandhastymarches，tobesiege，orrathertosurprise，acapitalhabituatedtosedition，andinflamedbyreligiouszeal。^134ThepositionofAlexandria，betweentheseaandtheLakeMareotis，facilitatedtheapproachandlandingofthetroops；whowereintroducedintotheheartofthecity，beforeanyeffectualmeasurescouldbetakeneithertoshutthegatesortooccupytheimportantpostsofdefence。Atthehourofmidnight，twenty—threedaysafterthesignatureofthetreaty，Syrianus，dukeofEgypt，attheheadoffivethousandsoldiers，armedandpreparedforanassault，unexpectedlyinvestedthechurchofSt。Theonas，wherethearchbishop，withapartofhisclergyandpeople，performedtheirnocturnaldevotions。Thedoorsofthesacrededificeyieldedtotheimpetuosityoftheattack，whichwasaccompaniedwitheveryhorridcircumstanceoftumultandbloodshed；but，asthebodiesoftheslain，andthefragmentsofmilitaryweapons，remainedthenextdayanunexceptionableevidenceinthepossessionoftheCatholics，theenterpriseofSyrianusmaybeconsideredasasuccessfulirruptionratherthanasanabsoluteconquest。Theotherchurchesofthecitywereprofanedbysimilaroutrages；
and，duringatleastfourmonths，Alexandriawasexposedtotheinsultsofalicentiousarmy，stimulatedbytheecclesiasticsofahostilefaction。Manyofthefaithfulwerekilled；whomaydeservethenameofmartyrs，iftheirdeathswereneitherprovokednorrevenged；bishopsandpresbytersweretreatedwithcruelignominy；consecratedvirginswerestrippednaked，scourgedandviolated；thehousesofwealthycitizenswereplundered；and，underthemaskofreligiouszeal，lust，avarice，andprivateresentmentweregratifiedwithimpunity，andevenwithapplause。
ThePagansofAlexandria，whostillformedanumerousanddiscontentedparty，wereeasilypersuadedtodesertabishopwhomtheyfearedandesteemed。Thehopesofsomepeculiarfavors，andtheapprehensionofbeinginvolvedinthegeneralpenaltiesofrebellion，engagedthemtopromisetheirsupporttothedestinedsuccessorofAthanasius，thefamousGeorgeofCappadocia。Theusurper，afterreceivingtheconsecrationofanAriansynod，wasplacedontheepiscopalthronebythearmsofSebastian，whohadbeenappointedCountofEgyptfortheexecutionofthatimportantdesign。Intheuse，aswellasintheacquisition，ofpower，thetyrant，Georgedisregardedthelawsofreligion，ofjustice，andofhumanity；andthesamescenesofviolenceandscandalwhichhadbeenexhibitedinthecapital，wererepeatedinmorethanninetyepiscopalcitiesofEgypt。Encouragedbysuccess，Constantiusventuredtoapprovetheconductofhisminister。Byapublicandpassionateepistle，theemperorcongratulatesthedeliveranceofAlexandriafromapopulartyrant，whodeludedhisblindvotariesbythemagicofhiseloquence；expatiatesonthevirtuesandpietyofthemostreverendGeorge，theelectedbishop；andaspires，asthepatronandbenefactorofthecitytosurpassthefameofAlexanderhimself。ButhesolemnlydeclareshisunalterableresolutiontopursuewithfireandswordtheseditiousadherentsofthewickedAthanasius，who，byflyingfromjustice，hasconfessedhisguilt，andescapedtheignominiousdeathwhichhehadsooftendeserved。^135
[Footnote133:AmplematerialsforthehistoryofthisthirdpersecutionofAthanasiusmaybefoundinhisownworks。SeeparticularlyhisveryableApologytoConstantius，tom。i。p。
673，hisfirstApologyforhisflightp。701，hisprolixEpistletotheSolitaries，p。808，andtheoriginalprotestofthepeopleofAlexandriaagainsttheviolencescommittedbySyrianus，p。866。Sozomenl。iv。c。9hasthrownintothenarrativetwoorthreeluminousandimportantcircumstances。]
[Footnote134:AthanasiushadlatelysentforAntony，andsomeofhischosenmonks。Theydescendedfromtheirmountains，announcedtotheAlexandriansthesanctityofAthanasius，andwerehonorablyconductedbythearchbishopasfarasthegatesofthecity。Athanastom。ii。p。491，492。SeelikewiseRufinus，iii。
164，inVit。Patr。p。524。]
[Footnote135:Athanas。tom。i。p。694。Theemperor，orhisAriansecretarieswhiletheyexpresstheirresentment，betraytheirfearsandesteemofAthanasius。]
ChapterXXI:PersecutionOfHeresy，StateOfTheChurch。
PartVI。
Athanasiushadindeedescapedfromthemostimminentdangers；andtheadventuresofthatextraordinarymandeserveandfixourattention。OnthememorablenightwhenthechurchofSt。
TheonaswasinvestedbythetroopsofSyrianus，thearchbishop，seatedonhisthrone，expected，withcalmandintrepiddignity，theapproachofdeath。Whilethepublicdevotionwasinterruptedbyshoutsofrageandcriesofterror，heanimatedhistremblingcongregationtoexpresstheirreligiousconfidence，bychantingoneofthepsalmsofDavidwhichcelebratesthetriumphoftheGodofIsraeloverthehaughtyandimpioustyrantofEgypt。Thedoorswereatlengthburstopen:acloudofarrowswasdischargedamongthepeople；thesoldiers，withdrawnswords，rushedforwardsintothesanctuary；andthedreadfulgleamoftheirarmswasreflectedbytheholyluminarieswhichburntroundthealtar。