CHAPTER LIII
CONSTANTINE.
[IV. 52.
FFF time to translate him to a better inheritance, and summoned him to pay the debt of nature.
CHAPTER LV.
Constantine employed himself in Composition of Various Kinds to the Close of his Life.
CHAPTER LIII.
THESE offenders, however, were soon over-taken by divine chastisement.
To return to our emperor.
He had so thoroughly trained _ his mind in the art of reasoning that he continued to the last to compose discourses on various subjects, to deliver frequent orations in public, and to instruct his hearers in the sacred doctrines of religion.
He was also habitually engaged in legislating both on political and military questions ;* in short, in devising whatever might be conducive to the general welfare of the human race.
It is well worthy of remark, that, very shortly before his departure, he pronounced a funeral oration before his usual auditory, in which he spoke at length on the immortality of the soul, the state of those who had persevered in a life of godliness, and the blessings which God has laid up in store for them that love him.
On the other hand he made it appear by copious and conclusive arguments what the end of those will be who have pursued a contrary career, describing in vivid language the final ruin of the ungodly.
His powerful testimony on these subjects seemed so far to touch the consciences of those around him, that one of the self-imagined philosophers, of whom he asked his opinion of what he had heard, bore testimony to the truth of his words, and accorded a real, though reluctant, tribute of praise to the arguments by which he had exposed the worship of a plurality of gods.
By converse such as this with his friends before his death, the emperor seemed as it were to smooth and prepare the way for his transition to a happier life,
Hlaving reigned about Thirty-two Years, and lived above Sixty, he still had a Sound Body.
He completed the time of his reign in two and thirty years, wanting a few months and days,' and his whole life extended to about twice that period.
At this age he still possessed a sound and vigorous body, free from all blemish, and of more than youthful vivacity ; a noble mien, and strength equal to any exertion; so that he was able to join in martial exercises, to ride, endure the fatigues of travel, engage in battle, and erect trophies over his conquered enemies, besides gaining those bloodless victories by which he was wont to triumph over those who opposed him.?
CHAPTER LIV.
Of those who abused his Extreme Benevolence Jor Avarice and Hypocrisy.
IN like manner his mental! qualities reached the highest point of human perfection.
Indeed he was distinguished by every excellence of character, but especially by benevolence ; a virtue, however, which subjected him to censure from many, in consequence of the baseness of wicked men, who ascribed their own crimes to the emperor's forbearance.
In truth I can myself bear testimony to the grievous evils which prevailed during these times; I mean the violence of rapacious and unprincipled men, who preyed on all classes of society alike, and the scandalous hypocrisy of those who crept into the Church, and assumed the name and character of Christians.
His own benevolence and goodness of heart, the genuineness of his own faith, and his truthfulness of character, induced the emperor to credit the profession of these reputed Christians, who craftily preserved the semblance of sincere affection for his person.
The confidence he reposed in such men sometimes forced him into conduct unworthy of himself, of which envy took advantage to cloud in this respect the luster of his character."
CHAPTER LVI.
How he took Bishops with him on an Expedtion against the Persians, and took with him a Tent in the Form of a Church.
Ir is also worthy of record that about the time of which I am at present writing, the emperor, having heard of an insurrection of some barbarians in the East, observed that the conquest of this enemy was still in store for him, and resolved on an expedition against the Persians.
Accordingly he proceeded at once to put his forces in motion, at the same time communicating his intended march to the bishops who happened to be at his court, some of whom he judged it right to take with him as compan1 [In his Chronicon, Eusebius gives the more correct period of thirty years and ten months.
Constantine's reign began A.D. 306, and his death took place a.p. 337. — Bag.] Compare Prolegomena, also Clinton, Fastz Rom. an. 337.
2 Compare Prolegomena, under Character.
1 * Psychical qualities"
— including more than intellectual.
2 Compare Prolegomena, Character.
There is a striking touch of naturalness in this passage which tells for the historical trustworthiness of the bicgrap er, and though exposing the fault of the emperor yet gives a rather pleasing glimpse of his character.
* Compare remarks in Prolegomena, under Writings and Character, ,
IV. 61.]
THE LIFE OF"CONSTANTINE.
ions, and as needful coadjutors in the service of The building was surrounded by an open area of great extent, the four sides of which were terminated by porticos which enclosed the area and the church itself.
Adjoining these porticos were ranges of stately chambers, with baths and promenades, and besides many apartments adapted to the use of those who had charge of the place.
God.
They, on the other hand, cheerfully declared their willingness to follow in his train, disclaiming any desire to leave him, and engaging to battle with and for him by supplication to God on his behalf.
Full of joy at this anwer to his request, he unfolded to them his projected line of march ;! after which he caused a tent of great splendor, representing in shape the figure of a church, to be prepared for his own use in the approaching war.
In this he intended to unite with the bishops in offering prayers to the God from whom all victory proceeds.
CHAPTER LX.
He also erected his own Sepulchral Monument in this Church.
ALL these edifices the emperor consecrated with the desiré of perpetuating the memory of the apostles of our Saviour.
He had, however, another object in erecting this building: an object at first unknown, but which afterwards became evident to all.
He had in fact made choice of this spot in the prospect of his own death, anticipating with extraordinary fervor of faith that his body would share their title with the apostles themselves, and that he should thus even after death become the subject, with them, of the devotions which should be performed to their honor in this place.
He accordingly caused twelve coffins to be set up in this church, like sacred pillars in honor and memory of the apostolic number, in the center of which his own was placed, having six of theirs on either side of it.
Thus, as I said, he had provided with prudent foresight an honorable resting-place for his body after death, and, having long before secretly formed this resolution, he now consecrated this church to the apostles, believing that this tribute to their memory would be of no small advantage to his own soul.
Nor did God disappoint him of that which he so ardently expected and desired.
For after he had completed the first services of the feast of Easter, and had passed this sacred day of our Lord ina manner which made it an occasion of joy and gladness to himself and to all; the God through whose aid he perfcrmed all these acts, and whose zealous servant he continued to be even to the end of life, was pleased at a happy time to translate him to a better life.
CHAPTER LVII.
How he received an Embassy from the Persians and kept the Night Vigil with others at the Feast of Easter.
In the meanwhile the Persians, hearing of the emperor's warlike preparations, and not a little terrified at the prospect of an engagement with his forces, dispatched an embassy to pray for conditions of peace.
These overtures the emperor, himself a sincere lover of peace, at once accepted, and readily entered on friendly relations with that people.
At this time, the great festival of Easter was at hand; on which occasion he rendered the tribute of his prayers to God, and passed the night in watching with the rest.
CHAPTER LVIII.
Concerning the Building of a Church in Honor of the Apostles at Constantinople.
AFTER this he proceeded to erect a church in memory of the apostles, in the city which bears his name.
This building he carried to a vast height, and brilliantly decorated by encasing it from the foundation to the roof with marble slabs of various colors.
He also formed the inner roof of finely fretted work, and overlaid it throughout with gold.
The external covering, which protected the building from the rain, was of brass instead of tiles ; and this too was splendidly and profusely adorned with gold, and reflected the sun's rays with a brilliancy which dazzled the distant beholder.
The dome was entirely encompassed by a finely carved tracery, wrought in brass and gold.
CHAPTER LXI.
fis Sickness at Helenopolis, and Prayers respecting his Baptism.
CHAPTER. LIX.
AT first he experienced some slight bodily indisposition, which was soon followed by positive disease.
In consequence of this he visited the hot baths of his own city ; and thence proceeded to that which bore the name of his mother.
Here he passed some time in the church of the Farther Description of the same Church.
SucH was the magnificence with which the emperor was pleased to beautify this church.
1 From this point to the end of the first sentence in ch. 58 is bracketed by Heinichen.
CONSTANTINE.
[IV. 61Lord of life and death, that my existence here: should be prolonged, and should I be destined. henceforth to associate with the people of God, and unite with them in prayer as a member of his. Church, I will prescribe to myself from this. time such a course of life as befits his service."
After he had thus spoken, the prelates performed. the sacred ceremonies in the usual manner, and, having given him the necessary instructions, made him a partaker of the mystic ordinance.
Thus was Constantine the first of all sovereigns. who was regenerated and perfected in a church dedicated to the martyrs of Christ; thus gifted with the Divine seal of baptism, he rejoiced in. spirit, was renewed, and filled with heavenly light: his soul was gladdened by reason of the fervency of his faith, and astonished at the manifestation of the power of God.
At the conclusion of the ceremony he arrayed himself in shining imperial vestments, brilliant as the light," and reclined on a couch of the purest white, refusing to clothe himself with the purple any more. martyrs, and offered up supplications and prayers to God.
Being at length convinced that his life was drawing to a close, he felt the time was come at which he should seek purification from sins of his past career, firmly believing that whatever errors he had committed as a mortal man, his soul would be purified from them through the efficacy of the mystical words and the salutary waters of baptism.'
Impressed with these thoughts, he poured forth his supplications and confessions to God, kneeling on the pavement in the church itself, in which he also now for the first time received the imposition of hands with prayer.'
After this he proceeded as far as the suburbs of Nicomedia, and there, having summoned the bishops to meet him, addressed them in the following words.
CHAPTER LXII.
Constantine's Appeal to the Bishops, requesting them to confer upon him the Rite of Baptism.
"THE time is arrived which I have long hoped for, with an earnest desire and prayer that I might obtain the salvation of God.
The hour is come in which I too may have the blessing of that seal which confers immortality ; the hour in which I may receive the seal of salvation.
I had thought to do this in the waters of the river Jordan, wherein our Saviour, for our example, is
CHAPTER LXIII.
How after his Baptism he rendered Thanks to God.
He then lifted his voice and poured forth a strain of thanksgiving to God; after which he added these words.
" Now I know that I am truly blessed : now I feel assured that I am accounted worthy of immortality, and am made a partaker of Divine light."
He further expressed his compassion for the unhappy condition of those who were strangers to such blessings as he enjoyed: and when the tribunes and generals. of his army appeared in his presence with lamentations and tears at the prospect of their bereavement, and with prayers that his days might: yet be prolonged, he assured them in reply that he was now in possession of true life ; that none but himself could know the value of the blessings he had received; so that he was anxious rather to hasten than to defer his departure to God.
He then proceeded to complete the needful arrangement of his affairs, bequeathing an annual donation to the Roman inhabitants. of his imperial city; apportioning the inheritance of the empire, like a patrimonial estate, among his own children ; in short, making every disposition according to his own pleasure.! recorded to have been baptized: but God, who knows what is expedient for us, is pleased that I should receive this blessing here.
Be it so, then, without delay :' for should it be his will who is "
1 Literally '' salutary word of cleansing," but the paraphrase of Bag. will stand well whichever of the readings, "' salutary cleansing,'' or "' salutary word of cleansing," is adopted.
2 [These words seem to prove that the emperor now first became acatechumen.
His postponement of baptism until his last illness (after having stood forward so long as the public advocate and protector of the Christian religion), and the superstitious reliance which he was encouraged to place on the late performance of this '' mysterious" rite, afford an evidence of the melancholy obscuration of Christian truth at the very time when Christianity was ostensibly becoming the religion of the Roman Empire.
There is probably too much truth in the following remarks of Gibbon:
The pride of Constantine, who refused the privileges of a jcatechumen, cannot easily be explained or excused: but the delay of his baptism may be justified by the maxims and practice of ecclesiastical antiquity. The sacrament of baptism was supposed to contain a full and absolute expiation of sin; and the soul was pane | restored to its original purity, and entitled to the promise of eternal salvation.
Among the proselytes of Christianity, there were many who judged it imprudent to precipitate a salutary rite, which could not be repeated; to throw away an inestimable privilege, which could never be recovered," &c.
(Decline and Fall, ch. 20).— Bag.| On the forms of admission to the catechumenate, compare Marriott, Baptzs7, in Smith and Cheetham, Dict.
1 Or "no hesitation."
On this clause a deal of controversy has hinged.
'No hesitation shall longer prevail" is the rendering of Molz., and Keim (Uebertritt C. p. 1) similarly gives ''let all duplicity be banished."
In the view of this translation, Constantine had been hedging all his life, trying to be Christian to Christians and heathen to heathen.
The basis of the hypothesis is too slight for it to have any weight in view of the overwhelming documentary evidence of the frequent public professions of Christianity by Constantine, for which see Prolegomena, under Character. iscussion of various points relating to his baptism will be found under Lzterature, under the names Busaeus,
Castelli, Dalhus, Frimelius Fuhrmann, Guidi, Halloix, Hynitzsch, Jacobus of Sarug, Nicolai, Polus,
Schelstrate, Scultetus, Tentzel, Walther, Withof.
[It was customary for neophytes to wear white ga ich: they faa aside on the eighth day tran their Caption. ap as 1 The idea of ownership in empire which seems so strange in these days of sepeblics, and is disallowed even by theoretical monarch-ists, seems to have been a most matter-of-course one in the mind of Constantine, and Eusebius was a true imperialist regarding " tyranies"" and "' republics" as in the same category.
Whether it was. by '' divine right" or '' natural right" they were quite sure it was a "right," and one to be freely exercised,
IV. 68.]
THE DCIFEWOER CONSTANTINE.
CHAPTER LXIV.
position in the principal chamber of the imperial palace, and surrounded by candles burning in Constantine's Death at Noon on the Feast of\candlesticks of gold, presenting a marvelous Pentecost. spectacle, and such as no one under the light of the sun had ever seen on earth since the world itself began.
For in the central apartment of the imperial palace, the body of the emperor lay in its elevated resting-place, arrayed in the symbols of sovereignty, the diadem and purple robe, and encircled by a numerous retinue of attendants, who watched around it incessantly night and day.
ALL these events occurred during a most important festival, I mean the august and holy solemnity of Pentecost, which is distinguished by a period of seven weeks, and sealed with that one day on which the holy Scriptures attest the ascension of our common Saviour into heaven, and the descent of the Holy Spirit among men.
In the course of this feast the emperor received the privileges I have described ; and on the last day of all, which one might justly call the feast of feasts, he was removed about mid-day to the presence of his
God, leaving his mortal remains to his fellow mortals, and carrying into fellowship with God that part of his being which was capable of understanding and loving him.'
Such was the close of Constantine's mortal life.
Let us now attend to the circumstances which followed this event.
CHAPTER LXVILI.
Fle received the same Honors from the Counts and other Officers as before his Death.
THE military officers, too, of the highest rank, the counts, and the whole order of magistrates, who had been accustomed to do obeisance to their emperor before, continued to fulfill this duty without any change, even after his death entering the chamber at the appointed times, and saluting their coffined sovereign with bended knee, as though he were still alive.
After them the senators appeared, and all who had been distinguished by any honorable office, and rendered the same homage.
These were followed by multitudes of every rank, who came with their wives and children to witness the spectacle.
These honors continued to be rendered for a considerable time, the soldiers having resolved thus to guard the body until his sons should arrive, and take on themselves the conduct of their father's funeral.
No mortal had ever, like this blessed prince, continued to reign even after death, and to receive the same homage as during his life: he only, of .all who have ever lived, obtained this reward from God: a suitable reward, since he alone of all sovereigns had in all his actions honored the Supreme God and his
Christ, and God himself accordingly was pleased that even his mortal remains should still retain imperial authority among men; thus indicating to all who were not utterly devoid of understanding the immortal and endless empire which his soul was destined to enjoy.
This was the course of events here.
CHAPTER LXV.
Lamentations of the Soldiery and their Officers.
IMMEDIATELY
the assembled spearmen and body-guard rent their garments, and prostrated themselves on the ground, striking their heads, and uttering lamentations and cries of sorrow, calling on their imperial lord and master, or rather, like true children, on their father, while their tribunes and centurions addressed him as their preserver, protector, and benefactor. The rest of the soldiery also came in respectful order to mourn as a flock the removal of their good shepherd.
The people meanwhile ran wildly throughout the city, some expressing the inward sorrow of their hearts by loud cries, others appearing confounded with grief: each mourning the event as a calamity which had befallen himself, and bewailing his death as though they felt themselves bereft of a blessing common alike to all.
CHAPTER LXVI.
Removal of the Body from Nicomedia to the Palace at Constantinople.
CHAPTER LXVIII.
Resolution of the Army to confer thence-forward AFTER this the soldiers lifted the body from its couch, and laid it in a golden coffin, which they enveloped in a covering of purple, and removed to the city which was called by his own name.
Here it was placed in an elevated OS ER ee EE OE EE ee ee 1 Compare Prolegomena, Life, Last Years; also for age at time of death, Prolegomena, p. 411, ote. the Title of Augustus on his Sons.
MEANWHILE the tribunes selected from the troops under their command those officers whose fidelity and zeal had long been known to the emperor, and dispatched them to, the Cesars
CONSTANTINE.
[IV. 68. had by this time arrived, proceeded to celebrate his father's funeral in the city which bears his name, himself heading the procession, which was preceded by detachments of soldiers in military array, and followed by vast multitudes, the body itself being surrounded by companies of spearmen and heavy armed infantry.
On the arrival of the procession at the church dedicated to the apostles of our Saviour, the coffin was there entombed.
Such honor did the youthful emperor Constantius render to his deceased parent, both by his presence, and by the due performance of this sacred ceremony. with intelligence of the late event.
This service they accordingly performed.
As soon, however, as the soldiery throughout the provinces received the tidings of the emperor's decease, they all, as if by a supernatural impulse, resolved with one consent, as though their great emperor had been yet alive, to acknowledge none other than his sons as sovereigns of the Roman world: and these they soon after determined should no longer retain the name of Cesar, but should each be honored with the title of Augustus, a name which indicates the highest supremacy of imperial power.
Such were the measures adopted by the army; and these resolutions they,communicated to each other by letter, so that the unanimous desire of the legions became known at the same point of time throughout the whole extent of the empire.
CHAPTER LXXI.
Sacred Service in the Church of the Apostles on the Occasion of Constantine's Funeral.
As soon as [Constantius] had withdrawn himself with the military train, the ministers of God came forward, with the multitude and the whole congregation of the faithful, and performed the rites of Divine worship with prayer.
At the same time the tribute of their praises was given to the character of this blessed prince, whose body rested on a lofty and conspicuous monument, and the whole multitude united with the priests of God in offering prayers for his soul, not without tears, — nay, rather with much weeping ; thus performing an office consonant with the desires of the pious deceased.'
In this respect also the favor of God was manifested to his servant, in that he not only bequeathed the succession of the empire to his own beloved sons, but that the earthly tabernacle of his thrice blessed soul, according to his own earnest wish, was permitted to share the monument of the apostles ; was associated with the honor of their name, and with that of the people of God ; was honored by the performance of the sacred ordinances and mystic service; and enjoyed a participation in the prayers of the saints.
Thus, too, he continued to possess imperial power even after death, controlling, as though with renovated life, a universal dominion, and retaining in his own name, as Victor, Maximus, Augustus, the sovereignty of the Roman world.?
CHAPTER LXIX.
Mourning for Constantine at Rome; and the Honor paid him there through Paintings after his Death.
On the arrival of the news of the emperor's death in the imperial city, the Roman senate and people felt the announcement as the heaviest and most afflictive of all calamities, and gave themselves up to an excess of grief.
The baths and markets were closed, the public spectacles, and all other recreations in which men of leisure are accustomed to indulge, were interrupted.
Those who had erewhile lived in luxurious ease, now walked the streets in gloomy sadness, while all united in blessing the name of the deceased, as the one who was dear to God, and truly worthy of the imperial dignity.
Nor was their sorrow expressed only in words: they proceeded also to honor him, by the dedication of paintings to his memory, with the same respect as before his death.
The design of these pictures embodied a representation of heaven itself, and depicted the emperor reposing in an ethereal mansion above the celestial vault.
They too declared his sons alone to be emperors and Augusti, and begged with earnest entreaty that they might be permitted to receive the body of their emperor, and perform his obsequies in the imperial city.
CHAPTER LXXII.
Of the Phenix.
CHAPTER LXX.
WE cannot compare him with that bird of Egypt, the only one, as they say, of its kind, which dies, ne ae Sets eine RE | ae a a eG eee el ot A His Burial by his Son Constantius at Constantinople.
Tuus did they there testify'their respect for the memory of him who had been honored by God.
The second of his sons, however, who 1 [alleging to his desire of being buried in the church of the apostles, and sharing their honors, as noticed in ch. 60. — Bag.|
* [It appears that an' interregnum of about three months took place, during which all the laws and edicts continued to be issued in the name of Constantine, as before his death.
— Bag.]