Section 27
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XX LIFE OF EUSEB1US. Halicarnassus, in his Comparison of Herodotus and Thucydides, had long since intimated to the writers of histories, the propriety of ter minating their narratives at the consummation of some illustrious event, Eusebius had, therefore, it is likely, resolved to close his his tory with that peace, which after Diocletian's persecution shone, as he observes, like a light from heaven upon the church ; on this ac count, probably, he avoided mentioning the Nicene synod, lest he should be compelled to commence a narrative of renewed litigation, and that too of bishops one amongst another. Now what event more illustrious could have been desired by Eusebius, than that re pose, which after a most sanguinary persecution, had been restored to the Christians by Constantine ; when the persecutors, and Licinius being every where extinct, not a fear of past afflictions could exist. This epoch, therefore, rather than that of the Nicene council, afford ed the most eligible limit to his Ecclesiastical History. For in that synod, the contentions seemed not so much appeased as renewed ; and that not through any fault of the synod itself, but by the perti nacity of those who refused to acquiesce in the very salutary decrees of that venerable assembly. Having said thus much relative to the life and writings of Euse bius, it remains to make some rejnarks _ in reference tojthe soundness of his religious faith^^g^^rUiments. Let not the reader, however, here expect from us a defence, nor even any opinion of our own, but rather the judgment of the church and of the ancient fathers concern ing him. Wherefore, certain points shall be here premised, as pre liminary propositions, relying on which, we may arrive at the greater certainty relative to the faith of Eusebius. As the opinions of the ancients concerning Eusebius, are various, since some have termed him a Catholic, others a heretic, others a s^^rnv,* a person of a double tongue, or wavering faith, it is incumbent on us to inquire to which opinion we should chiefly assent. Of the law it is an inva riable rule, to adopt, in doubtful cases, the more lenient opinion as the safer alternative. Besides, since all the westerns, St. Jerome excepted, have entertained honourable sentiments relative to Eusebius, and since the Gallican church has enrolled t him in the catalogue of saints, it is questionless preferable to assent to the judgment of our * See Socrates, lib. 1. c. 23. •J-As may be learned from Victorius Aquitanus, the Martyrology of Usuardus, and from others.