CHAPTER XIII
Tsa3)]
THE LIFE OF
CONSTANTINE.
which have come to my knowledge such as are most suitable, and worthy of lasting record, and endeavor to narrate them as briefly as possible.
Henceforward, indeed, there is a full and free opportunity for celebrating in every way the praises of this truly blessed prince, which hitherto we have been unable to do, on the ground that we are forbidden to judge any one blessed before his death,! because of the uncertain vicissitudes of life.
Let me implore then the help of God, and may the inspiring aid of the heavenly Word be with me, while
I commence my history from the very earliest period of his life. life of the ungodly: for from that early period his noble nature, under the leading of the Divine
Spirit, inclined him to piety and a life acceptable to God.
A desire, moreover, to emulate the example of his father had its influence in stimulating the son to a virtuous course of conduct.
His father was Constantius* (and we ought to revive his memory at this time), the most illustrious emperor of our age ; of whose life it is necessary briefly to relate a few particulars, which tell to the honor of his son.
CHAPTER XIII.
CHAPTER XII.
Of Constantius his Father, who refused to imitate Diocletian, Maximian, and Maxentus, in their Persecution of the Christians.
That like Moses, he was reared in the Palaces of Kings.
AT a time when four emperors? shared the administration of the Roman empire, Constantius alone, following a course of conduct different from that pursued by his colleagues, entered into the friendship of the Supreme God.
ANCIENT history relates that a cruel race of tyrants oppressed the Hebrew nation; and that God, who graciously regarded them in their affliction, provided that the prophet Moses, who was then an infant, should be brought up in the very palaces and bosoms of the oppressors, and instructed in all the wisdom they possessed.
And when in the course of time he had arrived at manhood, and the time was come for Divine justice to avenge the wrongs of the afflicted people, then the prophet of God, in obedience to the will of a more powerful Lord, forsook the royal household, and, estranging himself in word and deed from the tyrants by whom he had been brought up, openly acknowledging his true brethren and kinsfolk.
Then God, exalting him to be the leader of the whole nation, delivered the Hebrews from the bondage of their enemies, and inflicted Divine vengeance through his means on the tyrant race.
This ancient story, though rejected by most as fabulous, has reached the ears of all.
But now the same God has given to us to be eye-witnesses of miracles more wonderful than fables, and, from their recent appearance, more authentic than any report.
For the tyrants of our day have ventured to war against the Supreme God, and have sorely afflicted His Church.'
And in the midst of these, Constantine, who was shortly to become their destroyer, but at that time of tender age, and blooming with the down of early youth, dwelt, as that other servant of God had done, in the very home of the tyrants,' but young as he was did not share the manner of For while they besieged and wasted the churches of God, leveling them to the ground, and obliterating the very foundations of the houses of prayer,* he kept his hands pure from their abominable impiety, and never 'in any respect resembled them.
They polluted their provinces by the indiscriminate slaughter of godly men and women; but he xept his soul free from the stain of this crime.'
They, involved in the mazes of impious idolatry, enthralled first themselves, and then all under their authority, in bondage to the errors of evil demons, while he at the same time originated the profoundest peace throughout his dominions, and secured to his subjects the privilege of celebrating without hindrance the worship of God.
In short, while his colleagues oppressed ali men by the most grievous exactions, and rendered their lives intolerable, and even worse than death, Constantius alone governed his people with a mild and tranquil sway, and exhibited towards them a truly parental and fostering care.
Numberless, indeed, are the other virtues of this man, which are the theme of praise to all; of these I will record one or two instances, as specimens of the quality of those which I must pass by in silence, and then I will proceed to the appointed order of my narrative.
8 Constantius Chlorus, Neo-Platonist and philanthropist.
Compare following description.
1 The author of the chapter heading means of course Galerius.
Maxentius was not emperor until after the death of Constantius.
1 [Alluding probably to Ecclesiastes xi. 28, "' 4 utes Bone blessed before his death; fora man shall be known in his children."
Or, ssibly, to the well-known opinion of Solon to the same effect. ide Herod, i. 32; Aristot. Eth. Nicom. i. 11.— Bag.]
Compare also above, chapter 7.
; 1 The persecuting emperors.
Compare Prolegomena, Lz/e.
2 He was brought up with Diocletian and Galerius.
Compare Prolegomena, Life.
(Diocletian, Maximian, Galerius, and Constantius. — Bag.
For account of these persecutions, see Church History, and notes of McGiffert.
4 Compare the Church History, 8.13, and Lactantius, De mort. pers. 15.
The latter says he allowed buildings to be destroyed, but spared human life.
CONSTANTINE.
[I. 14. ee ee
CHAPTER XV.
CHAPTER XIV.
Of the Persecution raised by his Colleagues.
How Constantius his Father, being reproached with Poverty by Diocletian, filled his Treasury, and afterwards restored the Money to those by whom it had been contributed.
By command of the supreme authorities of the empire, the governors of the several provinces had set on foot a general persecution of the godly.
Indeed, it was from the imperial courts themselves that the very first of the pious martyrs proceeded, who passed through those conflicts for the faith, and most readily endured both fire and sword, and, the depths of the sea ; every form of death, in short, so that in a brief time all the royal palaces were bereft of pious men.
The result was, that the authors of this wickedness were entirely deprived of the protecting care of God, since by their persecution of his worshipers they at the same time silenced the prayers that were wont to be made on their own behalf.
In consequence of the many reports in circulation respecting this prince, describing his kindness and gentleness of character, and the extraordinary elevation of his piety, alleging too, that by reason of his extreme indulgence to his subjects, he had not even a supply of money laid up in his treasury; the emperor who at that time occupied the place of supreme power sent to reprehend his neglect of the public weal, at the same time reproaching him with poverty, and alleging in proof of the charge the empty state of his treasury.
On this he desired the messengers of the emperor to remain with him awhile, and, calling together the wealthiest of his subjects of all nations under his dominion, he informed them that he was in want of money, and that this was the time for them all to give a voluntary proof of their affection for their prince.
CHAPTER XVI.
How Constantius, feigning Idolatry, expelled those who consented to offer Sacrifice, but retained in his Palace all who were willing to confess Christ.
As soon as they heard this (as though they | had long been desirous of an opportunity for showing the sincerity of their good will), with zealous alacrity they filled the treasury with gold and silver and other wealth ; each eager to surpass the rest in the amount of his contribution : and this they did with cheerful and joyous countenances.
And now Constantius desired the messengers of the great emperor' personally to inspect his treasures, and directed them to give a faithful report of what they had seen; adding, that on the present occasion he had taken this money into his own hands, but that it had long been kept for his use in the custody of the owners, as securely as if under the charge of faithful treasurers.
The ambassadors were overwhelmed with astonishment at what they had witnessed : and on their departure it is said that the truly generous prince sent for the owners of the property, and, after commending them severally for their obedience and true loyalty, restored it all, and bade them return to their homes.
On the other hand, Constantius conceived an expedient full of sagacity, and did a thing which sounds paradoxical, but in fact was most admirable.
He made a proposal to all the officers of his court, including even those in the highest stations of authority, offering them the following alternative : either that they should offer sacrifice to demons, and thus be permitted to remain with him, and enjoy their usual honors ; or, in case of refusal, that they should be shut out from all access to his person, and entirely disqualified from acquaintance and association with him.
Accordingly, when they had individually made their choice, some one way and some the other, and the choice of each had been ascertained, then this admirable prince disclosed the secret meaning of his expedient, and condemned the cowardice and selfishness of the one party, while he highly commended the other for their conscientious devotion to God.
He declared, too, that those who had been false to their God must be unworthy of the confidence of their prince ; for how was it possible that they should preserve their fidelity to him, who had proved themselves faithless to a higher power?
He determined, therefore, that such persons should be removed altogether from the imperial court, while, on the other hand, declaring that those men who, in bearing witness for the truth, had proved themThis one circumstance, then, conveys a proof of the generosity of him whose character we are attempting to illustrate : another will contain the clearest testimony to his piety.
1 Or the senior Augustus.
"Diocletian is thus entitled in the anoient panegyrists and in inscriptions." — Heznichen.
It was '' towards the end of the second century of the Christian era" that there began to be a plurality of Axugustz, but 'from this time we find two or even a greater number of August; and though in that and in all similar cases the persons honored with the title were regarded as participators of the imperial power, still the one who received the title first was looked upon as the head of the empire,''—Smith, Dict, Gr. and Rom. Ant.
1 Compare accounts of martyrs in th
i ee Ce rty'
¢ palaces, in the Church
I. 19.]
THE LIFE OF CONSTANTINE.
and this sudden change took place in the first year after their persecution of the churches.' selves to be worthy servants of God, would manifest the same fidelity to their king, he entrusted them with the guardianship of his person and empire, saying that he was bound to treat such persons with special regard as his nearest and most valued friends, and to esteem them far more highly than the richest treasures,
From that time Constantius alone received the honors of chief Augustus, having been previously, indeed, distinguished by the diadem of the imperial Czesars,? among whom he held the first rank ; but after his worth had been proved in this capacity, he was invested with the highest dignity of the Roman empire, being named chief Augustus of the four who were afterwards elected to that honor.
Moreover, he surpassed most of the emperors in regard to the number of his family, having gathered around him a very large circle of children both male and female.
And, lastly, when he had attained to a happy old age, and was about to pay the common debt of nature, and exchange this life for another,
God once more manifested His power in a special manner on his behalf, by providing that his eldest son Constantine should be present during his last moments, and ready to receive the imperial power from his hands.°
CHAPTER XVII.
Of his Christian Manner of Life.
Tue father of Constantine, then, is said to have possessed such a character as we have briefly described.
And what kind of death was vouchsafed to him in consequence of such devotion to God, and how far he whom he honored made his lot to differ from that of his colleagues in the empire, may be known to any one who will give his attention to the circumstances of the case.
For after he had for a long time given many proofs of royal virtue, in acknowledging the Supreme God alone, and condemning the polytheism of the ungodly, and had fortified his household by the prayers of holy men,' he passed the remainder of his life in remarkable repose and tranquillity, in the enjoyment of what is counted blessedness, — neither molesting others nor being molested ourselves.
CHAPTER XIX.
Of his Son Constantine, who in his Youth accompanied Diocletian into Palestine.
Tue latter had been with his father's imperial colleagues,' and had passed his life among them, as we have said, like God's ancient prophet.
And even in the very earliest period of his youth he was judged by them to be worthy of the highest honor.
An instance of this we have ourselves seen, when he passed through Palestine with the senior emperor,' at whose right hand he stood, and commanded the admiration of all who beheld him by the indications he gave even then of royal greatness.
For no one was comparable to him for grace and beauty of person, or height of stature ; and he so far surpassed his compeers in personal strength as to be a terror to them.
He was, however, even more conspicuous for the excellence of his mental' qualities than for his superior physical endowments; being gifted in the first place with a sound judgment,' and having also reaped the advantages of a liberal education.
He was Accordingly, during the whole course of his quiet and peaceful reign, he dedicated his entire household, his children, his wife, and domestic attendants, to the One Supreme God: so that the company assembled within the walls of his palace differed in no respect from a church of God ; wherein were also to be found his ministers, who offered continual supplications on behalf of their prince, and this at a time when, with most,? it was not allowable to have any dealings with the worshipers of God, even so far as to exchange a word with them.
CHAPTER XVIII.
That after the Abdication of Dioclehan and Maximian, Constantius became Chief Augustus, and was blessed with a Numerous
Offspring.
1 The persecution was in 303 or 304.
Compare discussion of date in Clinton, Fastz Rom. ann. 303-305.
The abdication was in Tue immediate consequence of this conduct . ie} was a recompense from the hand of God, inso5 much that he came into the supreme authority of the empire.
For the older emperors, for some unknown reason, resigned their power ; 2 Eusebius uses the terms Augustus, king, autocrat, and Czsar with a good deal of interchangeableness.
It is hard to tell sometimes whether king (BactAevs) means emperor or Czsar.
In general, Augustus has been transferred in translations, and king and autocrat both rendered emperor, which seems to be his real usage.
3 Constantine reached him just before his death, though possibly some weeks before.
Compare Prolegomena.
1 Diocletian and Galerius.
2 Diocletian.
He was on his way to Egypt in the famous campaign against Achilleus in 296-297.
1 'Ts said to have" is added eotrecouraly here by an earlier editor, but Heinichen omits, as it would seem
Eusebius himself did.
2 Other readings are "' with the others," or "' with the rest," but in whatever reading it refers to all the other emperers.
3 Or "' psychical," meaning more than intellectual.
4 Rather, perhaps, " self-control."