CHAPTER XVI
CONSTANTINE.
[II. 14. ee eee tary trophy, by means of which Constantine's army had become habituated to victory, he admonished his soldiers never to direct their attack against this standard, nor even incautiously to allow their eyes to rest upon it ; assuring them that it possessed a terrible power, and was especially hostile to him; so that they would do well carefully to avoid any collision with it.
And now, having given these directions, he prepared for a decisive conflict with him whose humanity prompted him still to hesitate, and to postpone the fate which he foresaw awaited his adversary.
The enemy, however, confident in the aid of a multitude of gods, advanced to the attack with a powerful array of military force, preceded by certain images of the dead, and lifeless statues, as their defense.
On the other side, the emperor, secure in the armor of godliness, opposed to the numbers of the enemy the salutary and life-giving sign, as at once a terror to the foe, and a protection from every harm.
And for a while he paused, and preserved at first the attitude of forbearance, from respect to the treaty of peace to which he had given his sanction, that he might not be the first to commence the contest. stained from anything like ease, or luxurious living, and disciplined himself by fasting and bodily mortification, imploring the favor of God by supplication and prayer, that he might obtain his concurrence and aid, and be ready to execute whatever he might be pleased to suggest to his thoughts.
In short, he exercised a vigilant care over all alike, and interceded with God as much for the safety of his enemies as for that of his own subjects.
CHAPTER XV.
Treacherous Friendship, and Idolatrous Practices of Licinius.
Anp inasmuch as he who had lately fled before him now dissembled his real sentiments, and again petitioned for a renewal of friendship and alliance, the emperor thought fit, on certain conditions, to grant his request,' in the hope that such a measure might be expedient, and generally advantageous to the community.
Licinius, however, while he pretended a ready submission to the terms prescribed, and attested his sincerity by oaths, at this very time was secretly engaged in collecting a military force, and again meditated war and strife, inviting even the barbarians to join his standard,' and he began also to look about him for other gods, having been deceived by those in whom he had hitherto trusted.
And, without bestowing a thought on what he had himself publicly spoken on the subject of false deities, or choosing to
CHAPTER XVII.
Constantine's Victory.
Bur as soon as he perceived that his adversaries persisted in their resolution, and were already drawing their swords, he gave free scope to his indignation, and by a single charge' overthrew in a moment the entire body of the enemy, thus triumphing at once over them and their gods. acknowledge that God who had fought on the side of Constantine, he made himself ridiculous by seeking for a multitude of new gods.
CHAPTER XVI.
CHAPTER XVIII.
How Licinius counseled his Soldiers not to attack the Standard of the Cross.
Death of Licinius, and Celebration of the Event.
Havinc now learned by experience the Divine and mysterious power which resided in the saluHe then proceeded to deal with this adversary of God and his followers according to the laws of war, and consign them to fitting punishment.
Accordingly the tyrant himself, and they whose counsels had supported him in his impiety, were together subjected to the just punishment of death.
After this, those who had so lately been deceived by their vain confidence in false deities, acknowledged with unfeigned sincerity the God of Constantine, and openly professed their belief in him as the true and only God.
1 [** He consented to leave his rival, or, as he again styled Licinius, his friend and brother, in the possession of Thrace, Asia
Minor, Syria, and Egypt; but the provinces of Pannonia, Dalmatia, Dacia, Macedonia, and Greece, were yielded to the Western empire, and the dominions of Constantine now extended from the confines of Caledonia to the extremity of Peloponnesus." —Gibbon, Decline and Fall, chap. X1V.— Bag.] 2 [Gibbon (chap. XIV.) says that the reconciliation of Constantine and Licinius maintained, above ezght years, the tranquillity of the Roman world.
If this be true, it may be regarded as one proof that our author's work is rather to be considered as a general sketch of Constantine's life and character than as a minutely correct historical document.
— Bag.] There is either a strange lack of perspective in this account, or else Eusebius omits all account of the first wars with Licinius (314) which resulted in the division of territory mentioned in the above note.
This latter view is plausible on comparison with the account in the Church History.
In this view the conditions referred to above relate to the terms on which Licinius was spared on Constantia's request, and what follows is the explanation of the alleged oath-breaking of Constantine in putting Licinius to death.
1 " With one shout and charge.''
This does not agree with the account of the final struggle by which Licinius came into Constantine's ors as generally given, and lends some probability to the view that after he had been captured he again revolted.
II. 21.)
HE) LIBR OF CONSTANTINE.
of the other division of the empire; and his laws, which breathed a spirit of piety toward
God, gave promise of manifold blessings, since they secured many advantages to his provincial subjects in every nation, and at the same time prescribed measures suited to the exigencies of the churches of God.
For first of all they recalled those who, in consequence of their refusal to join in idol worship, had been driven to exile, or ejected from their homes by the governors of their respective provinces.
In the next place, they relieved from their burdens those who for the same reason had been adjudged to serve in the civil courts, and ordained restitution to be made to any who had been deprived of property.
They too, who in the time of trial had signalized themselves by fortitude of soul in the cause of God, and had therefore been condemned to the painful labor of the mines, or consigned to the solitude of islands, or compelled to toil in the public works, all received an immediate release from these burdens ; while others, whose religious constancy had cost them the forfeiture of their military rank, were vindicated by the emperor's generosity from this dishonor: for he granted them the alternative either of resuming their rank, and enjoying their former privileges, or, in the event of their preferring a more settled life, of perpetual exemption from all service.
Lastly, all who had been compelled by way of disgrace and insult to serve in the employments of women,! he likewise freed with the rest.
CHAPTER XIX.
Rejoicings and Festivities.
AND now, the impious being thus removed, the sun once more shone brightly after the gloomy cloud of tyrannic power.
Each separate portion of the Roman dominion became blended with the rest; the Eastern nations united with those of the West, and the whole body of the Roman empire was graced as it were by its head in the person of a single and supreme ruler, whose sole authority pervaded the whole.
Now too the bright rays of the light of godliness gladdened the days of those who had heretofore been sitting in darkness and the shadow of death.
Past sorrows were no more remembered, for all united in celebrating the praises of the victorious prince, and avowed their recognition of his preserver as the only true God.
Thus he whose character shone with all the virtues of piety, the emperor Vicror, for he had himself adopted this name as a most fitting appellation to express the victory which God had granted him over all who hated or opposed him,! assumed the dominion of the East, and thus singly governed the Roman empire, re-united, as in former times, under one head.
Thus, as he was the first to proclaim to all the sole sovereignty of God, so he himself, as sole sovereign of the Roman world, extended his authority over the whole humanrace.
Every apprehension of those evils under the pressure of which all had suffered was now removed ; men whose heads had drooped in sorrow now regarded each other with smiling countenances,
CHAPTER XXI.
and locks expressive of their inward joy.
With processions and hymns of praise they first of all, as they were told, ascribed the supreme sovereignty to God, as in truth the King of kings ; and then with continued acclamations rendered
His Laws concerning Martyrs, and concerning Ecclesiastical Property.
SucH were the benefits secured by the emperor's written mandates to the persons of those who had thus suffered for the faith, and his laws made ample provision for their property also. honor to the victorious emperor, and the Cesars, his most discreet and pious sons.
The former afflictions were forgotten, and all past impieties forgiven: while with the enjoyment of present happiness was mingled the expectation of continued blessings in the future.
With regard to those holy martyrs of God who had laid down their lives in the confession of His name, he directed that their estates should be enjoyed by their nearest kindred ; and, in default of any of these, that the right of inheritance should be vested in the churches.
Farther, whatever property had been consigned to other parties from the treasury, whether in the way of sale or gift, together with that retained in the treasury itself, the generous mandate of the emperor directed should be restored to the original owners.
Such benefits did his bounty, thus widely diffused, confer on the Church of God.
CHAPTER XxX.
Constantine's Enactments in Favor of the ConSessors.
MoREOVER, the emperor's edicts, permeated with his humane spirit, were published among us also, as they had been among the inhabitants
1 Like very many other things which Eusebius tells of Constantine, that which was entirely customary with other emperors as well
1 [In the gynezcia (yvvacxeta), or places where women, and subsequently slaves of both sexes, were employed in spinning and ee for the emperor.
Vide znfra, ch. 34.— Bag.] See note on ch.
34. as Constantine has the appearance of being peculiar to him, Victor is a common title of various emperors.
CONSTANTINE.
[II. 22.
"To all who entertain just and sound sentiments respecting the character of the Supreme
Being, it has long been most clearly evident, and beyond the possibility of doubt, how vast. a difference there has ever beén between those who maintain a careful observance of the hallowed duties of the Christian religion, and those who treat this religion with hostility or contempt.
But at this present time, we may see by still more manifest proofs, and still more decisive instances, both how unreasonable it were to question this truth, and how mighty is the power of the Supreme God: since it appears that they who faithfully observe His holy laws, and shrink from the transgression of His commandments, are rewarded with abundant blessings, and are endued with well-grounded hope as well as ample power for the accomplishment of their undertakings.
On the other hand, they who have cherished impious sentiments have experienced results corresponding to their evil choice.
For how is it to be expected that any blessing would be obtained by one who neither desired to acknowledge nor duly to worship that God who is the source of all blessing?
Indeed, facts themselves are a confirmation of what I say.
CHAPTER XXII.
How he won the Favor of the People.
But his munificence bestowed still further and more numerous favors on the heathen peoples and the other nations of his empire.
So that the inhabitants of our [Eastern] regions, who had heard of the privileges experienced in the opposite portion of the empire, and had blessed the fortunate recipients of them, and longed for the enjoyment of a similar lot for themselves, now with one consent proclaimed their own happiness, when they saw themselves in possession of all these blessings; and confessed that the appearance of such a monarch to the human race was indeed a marvelous event, and such as the world's history had never yet recorded.
Such were their sentiments.
CHAPTER XXIII.
That he declared God to be the Author of his Prosperity: and concerning his Rescripts.
AND now that, through the powerful aid of God his Saviour, all nations owned their subjection to the emperor's authority, he openly proclaimed to all the name of Him to whose bounty he owed all his blessings, and declared that He, and not himself, was the author of his past victories.
This declaration, written both in the Latin and Greek languages, he caused to be transmitted through every province of the empire.
Now the excellence of his style of expression' may be known from a perusal of his letters themselves, which were two in number; one addressed to the churches of God ; the other to the heathen population in the several cities of the empire.
The latter of these I think it well to insert here, as connected with my present subject, in order on the one hand that a copy of this document may be recorded as matter of history, and thus preserved to posterity, and on the other that it may serve to confirm the truth of my present narrative.
It is taken from an authentic copy of the imperial statute in my own possession ; and the signature in the emperor's own handwriting attaches as it were the impress of truth to the statement I have made.
CHAPTER XXV.
An Illustration from Ancient Times.
"For certainly any one who will mentally retrace the course of events from the earliest period down to the present time, and will reflect on what has occurred in past ages, will find that all who have made justice and probity the basis of their conduct, have not only carried their undertakings to a successful issue, but have gathered, as it were, a store of sweet fruit as the produce of this pleasant root.
Again, whoever observes the career of those who have been bold in the practice of oppression or injustice ; who have either directed their senseless fury against God himself, or have conceived no kindly feelings towards their fellow-men, but have dared to afflict them with exile, disgrace, confiscation, massacre, or other miseries of the like kind, and all this without any sense of compunction, or wish to direct thoughts to a better course, will find that such men have received a recompense proportioned to their crimes.
And these are results which might naturally and reasonably be expected to ensue.! a ee eee
CHAPTER XXIV.
Law of Constantine respecting Piety towards God, and the Christian Religion) "VicToR CONSTANTINUS, Maximus AUGUSTUS, to the inhabitants of the province of Palestine.
1 There is a curious unanimity of effort on the part of theological amateurs, ancient and modern, to prove that those upon whom the tower in Siloam fell were guiltier than others.
This was the spirit of Lactantius and it is not to be wondered at that Constantine should adopt such a peculiarly self-satisfying doctrine.
1 " The value of our narrative" is the rendering of Molzberger.
"' The powerfulness of his language." — 7709.
1 Compare Epitome in Sozomen, 1, 8.