CHAPTER XXX
CONSTANTINE.
[IV. 29. appointed for this special service.
One of the discourses thus translated I intend to annex, by way of specimen, to this present work, that one,
I mean, which he inscribed "To the assembly of the saints," and dedicated to the Church of God, that no one may have ground for deeming my testimony on this head mere empty praise. such his admonition and instruction.
And he himself both felt and uttered these sentiments in the genuine confidence of faith : but-his hearers were little disposed to learn, and deaf to sound advice ; receiving his words indeed with loud applause, but induced by insatiable cupidity practically to disregard them.
CHAPTER XXX.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
That he marked out before a Covetous Man How he listened standing to Eusebius' Decthe Measure of a Grave, and so put him to Shame. lamation in Honor of our Saviour's Sepulchre.
On one occasion he thus personally addressed one of his courtiers: " How far, my friend, are we to Carry our inordinate desires?"
Then drawing the dimensions of a human figure with ONE act, however, I must by no means omit to record, which this admirable prince performed in my own presence.
On one occasion, emboldened by the confident assurance I entertained of his piety, I had begged permission to pronounce a discourse on the subject of our
Saviour's sepulchre in his hearing.
With this request he most readily complied, and in the midst of a large number of auditors, in the interior of the palace itself, he stood and listened with the rest.
I entreated him, but in vain, to seat himself on the imperial throne which stood near: he continued with fixed attention to weigh the topics of my discourse, and gave his own testimony to the truth of the theological doctrines it contained.
After some time had passed, the oration being of considerable length, I was myself desirous of concluding; but this he would not permit, and exhorted me to proceed to the very end.
On my again entreating him to sit, he in his turn was displeased and said that it was not right to listen in a careless manner to the discussion of doctrines relating to God ; and again, that this posture was good and profitable to himself, since it was reverent to stand while listening to sacred truths.
Having, therefore, concluded my discourse, I returned home, and resumed my usual occupations. a lance which he happened to have in his hand, he continued:
"Though thou couldst obtain the whole wealth of this world, yea, the whole world itself, thou wilt carry with thee at last no more than this little spot which I have marked out, if indeed even that be thine.''!
Such were the words and actions of this blessed prince ; and though at the time he failed to reclaim any from their evil ways, yet notwithstanding the course of events afforded evident proof that his admonitions were more like Divine prophecies than mere words.
CHAPTER XXXI.
That he was derided because of his Excessive Clemency, MEANTIME, since there was no fear of capital punishment to deter from the commission of crime, for the emperor himself was uniformly inclined to clemency, and none of the provincial governors visited offenses with their proper penalties, this state of things drew with it no small degree of blame on the general administration of the empire; whether justly or not, let every one form his own judgment: for myself,
I only ask permission to record the fact.
CHAPTER XXXIV.
That he wrote to Eusebius respecting Easter, and respecting Copies of the Holy Scriptures.
CHAPTER XXXII.
Ever careful for the welfare of the churches of God, the emperor addressed me personally in a letter on the means of providing copies of the inspired oracles, and also on the subject of the most holy feast of Easter.
For I had myself dedicated to him an exposition of the mystical import of that feast; and the manner in which he honored me with a reply may be understood by any one who reads the following letter.
Of Constantine's Oration which he wrote to the Assembly of the Saints.
THE emperor was in the habit of composing his orations in the Latin tongue, from which they were translated into Greek by interpreters
[1 Since it is uncertain whether thou wilt be buried in the ground, or consumed by fire, or drowned in the sea, or devoured by wild beasts (Valesius in loc.).— Bag.] 1 Compare Prolegomena, under Character.
1 Compare the Oration itself following this work.
TV.) 372)]
THE LIFE OF CONSTANTINE.
CHAPTER XXXV.
Scriptures, the provision and use of which you know to be most needful for the instruction of Constantine's Letter to Eusebius, in praise of|the Church, to be written on prepared parchment in a legible manner, and in a convenient, portable form, by professional transcribers thoroughly practiced in their art.'
The catholicus? of the diocese has also received instructions by letter from our Clemency to be careful to furnish all things necessary for the preparation of such copies ; and it will be for you to take special care that they be completed with as little delay as possible.
You have authority also, in virtue of this letter, to use two of the public carriages for their conveyance, by which arrangement the copies when fairly written will most easily be forwarded for my personal inspection ; and one of the deacons of your church may be intrusted with this service, who, on his arrival here, shall experience my liberality.
God preserve you, beloved brother !" his Discourse concerning Easter.
"VicTtoR COoNSTANTINUS, Maximus AUGUSTUS, to Eusebius.
"Tt is indeed an arduous task, and beyond the power of language itself, worthily to treat of the mysteries of Christ, and to explain in a fitting manner the controversy respecting the feast of Easter, its origin as well as its precious and toilsome accomplishment.'
For it is not in the power even of those who are able to apprehend them, adequately to describe the things of God.
I am, notwithstanding, filled with admiration of your learning and zeal, and have not only myself read your work with pleasure, but have given directions, according to your own desire, that it be communicated to many sincere followers of our holy religion.
Seeing, then, with what pleasure we receive favors of this kind from your Sagacity, be pleased to gladden us more frequently with those compositions, to the practice of which, indeed, you confess yourself to have been trained from an early period, so that I am urging a willing man, as they say, in exhorting you to your customary pursuits.
And certainly the high and confident judgment we entertain is a proof that the person who has translated your writings into the Latin tongue is in no respect incompetent to the task, impossible though it be that such version should fully equal the excellence of the works themselves.
God preserve you, beloved brother."
Such was his letter on this subject: and that which related to the providing of copies of the Scriptures for reading in the churches was to the following purport.
CHAPTER XXXVII.
How the Copies were provided.
SucH were the emperor's commands, which were followed by the immediate execution of the work itself, which we sent him in magnificent and elaborately bound volumes of a threefold and fourfold form.'
This fact is attested by another letter, which the emperor wrote in acknowledgment, in which, having heard that the city Constantia in our country, the inhabitants of which had been more than commonly devoted to superstition, had been impelled by a sense of religion to abandon their past idolatry, he testified his joy, and approval of their conduct.
1 Molz. in a note regards these as lectionaries, but they are usually thought to have been regular copies of the Scriptures in Greek o> Nepeaagiit and N. T., and the Codex Sinaiticus has been thought to be one of them.
It dates from not earlier than the time of Eusebius, as it contains the Eusebian Canons, but yet from the fourth century.
Altogether it is not impossible that it was one of these, and at all events a description of it, extracted from Scriveners (/xtroduction, 1883, p. 88 sq.), will be a fair illustration.
''134 inches in length by 14§ inches high," , "' Beautiful vellum."
' Each page comprises four columns, with 48 lines in each column."
'' Continuous noble uncials."
'' Arranged in quires of four or three sheets."
It is evident from comparison of several quotations of Eusebius that the copy of the New Testament which he himself used was not closely related with the Sinaitic text, unless the various readings headed by this MS. are all mistakes originating with it, Compare allusions in the notes to such different readings.
The last clause, although in the text of Heinichen, is of doubtful authority, 2 This word is a transcription, rendered '"' Procurator " by Bag., and is perhaps corresponding to that official
(cf. Long. article Fiscus,in Smith, Dict. Gr. and R. Ant.). But this transcription is pe es (cf. Ffoulkes, Catholicus, in Smith and Cheetham, zet.).
CHAPTER XXXVI.
Constantine's Letter to Eusebius or the Preparation of Copies of the Holy Scriptures.
"Vicror CONSTANTINUS, Maximus AUGUSTUS, to Eusebius.
"It happens, through the favoring providence of God our Saviour, that great numbers have united themselves to the most holy church in the city which is called by my name.
It seems, therefore, highly requisite, since that city is rapidly advancing in prosperity in all other respects, that the number of churches should also be increased.
Do you, therefore, receive with all readiness my determination on this behalf.
I have thought it expedient to instruct your Prudence to order fifty copies of the sacred
8 The fact that the Sinaiticus exhibits two or three hands suggests that it was prepared with rapidity, and the having various scribes was a way to speed.
1 [The parchment copies were usually arranged in quaternions, i.e. four leaves made up together, as the ternions consisted of three leaves.
The quaternions each contained sixteen pages, the ternions twelve (Valesius in loc.). — Bag.] So probably, although the threecolumned form of the Sinaiticus and the four of the Vaticanus suggest a possible other meaning.
1 [i.e. through the sufferings and resurrection of Christ. — Bag.]