Section 469
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438 ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. he proceeded to the extremes of madness, in his movements* the divinely favoured emperor ragarded him as no more to be tole rated, but ' taking his prudent measures and mingling the firm principles of justice with his humanity, he determines to come to the protection of those who were so miserably oppressed by the tyrant ; and in this, by banishing smaller pests, he thus ad vanced to save vast multitudes of the human race. For as he had exercised only his humanity, in commiserating him the time before this, a man who was by no means deserving of compas sion, it proved of no avail to him, who wrould not renounce his iniquity, but rather increased his madness against the people his subjects. But to the oppressed there was no hope of salvation left, in the cruelties they endured from the savage beast. Where fore, also, Constantine the protector of the good, combining his hatred of wicked ness with the love of goodness, went forth with his son Crispus, the most benevolent Cesar, to extend a saving arm to all those that were perishing. Both, therefore, the father and son, having as it were God the universal King, and his Son our Saviour, as their leader and aid, drawing up the army on all sides against the enemies of God, bore away an easy victory; all things being prospered to them by God in the conflict accord ing to their wishes. Suddenly then, and sooner than said, those that but yesterday breathed threats and destruction, were no more, not even leaving the memory of their name. Their paint ings, (their effigies) their honours received the deserved contempt and disgrace, and those very scenes which Licinius had seen oc curring to the iniquitous tyrants, these same he experiened him self. As he would neither receive instruction, nor grow wise by the chastisements of his neighbours, he proceeded in the same course of impiety, and was justly hurled down the same precipice with them. He, therefore, lay prostrated in this way. But the mighty and victorious Constantine, adorned with every virtue of religion, with his most pious son, Crispus Cesar, resembling in all things his father, recovered the east as his own, and thus rehad plotted against the life of Constantine, A. D. 314, and ten years afterwards he was overthrown, and deprived of the imperial dignity, having his life spared, only for a short time at the entreaties of his wife, Constantino's sister.