when the Saint refused it saying that he would not participate of the Table of a man who had dispossessed an Emperor of his Life and Empire he answered to him That the Army had raised him to the Throne against his will that he had maintained himself therein by his Arms that God himself seemed to have established him by so many wonderful successes and that if any one had lost his Life it had been the misfortune of war and not his fault XL. The Passion of obtaining this Bishop so renowned for his Vertues and his Miracles the desire of sweetning the refusal which he had made him by outward Caresses and especially the thoughts of winning by appearances of Piety those good Men whom he had scared by his Perfidiousness obliged him to seek with so much haste the communication of the Saint which he at length procured after long solicitations but whatsoever Veneration he made appear for his Person he had no regard to his Remonstrances nor to his Prayers in the affair of Priscillian Bishop of Avila and some of his Followers XLI These Hereticks Spaniards by Nation joined to the Errors of Sabellius and the ravings of the Manicheans all the impurities of Gnostics in their nocturnal Assâ—â—blies with divers Women whom they had â—uced They covered all their Infamies with some appearances of humility an affected negligence in their habits and a surprizing austerity of life As this corruption which an Egyptian had lately sowed in Spain dispersed itself there some Bishops opposed it but their zeal not being accompanied with charity they persecuted those whom they might perhaps have brought over by moderate Proceedings They were cited before Councils The Emperor Gratian had granted an Order to chase them from the Cities and Churches where they were and even from all the Dominions of the Empire But they found means to get themselves established again and by Presents or Intrigues they won the Ministers of the Emperor and chased their Adversaries at their turn XLII These having learnt that Maximus was An. 385 going to pass into Gaul attended him there went to find him at Treves and presented to him a bloody Petition against Priscillian and his companions They were all referred to a Council which was to be held at Bourdeaux Priscillian fearing to be deposed there would not answer and appealed to the Tribunal of the new Emperor The Catholick Prelates by a shameful compliance demurred to this Appeal and this Cause Ecclesiastical in every Point became a Civil Cause The Accused was brought to Court and the Accusers followed him being resolved to destroy him without putting themselves to the trouble of converting him XLIII St. Martin who was then at Treves knowing that particular Passions had a greater share in this matter than the love of Truth remonstrated to them several times That their Conduct was scandalous That they lost the merit of their Zeal by their obstinate Accusations That they subverted the whole Order of Ecclesiastical Judgments That it was not a fitting thing to defend the Cause of God by humane Passions nor becoming for Bishops to pursue to death any Criminal whatsoever They to whom this instruction was directed were incensed at it instead of making an advantage thereof They were enraged to that degree as to accuse him of being the Protector of the Hereticks and a Heretick himself But the Saint laughed at this Calumny and continued to pray the Emperor to let those miserable persons live representing to him That he ought to stand to the Sentence of the Council which chased them from their Sees and that it was a thing unheard of for a secular Prince such a one as he to judge Ecclesiastical Causes Maximus being affected with his Reasons promised to save their Lives but they provoked him in such a manner that he referred the business of Priscillian to Evodius the Praetor and made him condemn him to be beheaded XLIV This execution was the ground of several disorders for the punishment of this Arch-Heretick did but corroborate his Heresy Those of his Sect made a most stately Funeral for him and honoured him as a Martyr and those who caused him to be condemned abusing their own credit and the favor of the Court persecuted Men of worth at their pleasure To fast and love retirement Sulpit. Sev. de vita S. Martini was sufficient to make a Man suspected to them it was a Crime to be wiser and more reformed than they They who had disobliged them were presently Priscillianists particularly when they might be Victims agreeable to the anger of the Prince or might encrease his Treasury with their Spoils for they deprived of life and Pacat. in Panegyr possessions according to their fancy and preserved the friendship of the Tyrant by Reproaches Cruelties and other Actions resembling his XLV Whilst Maximus enterprized upon the Rights of the Church in the West Theodosius re-established them at Constantinople For some Bishops having brought an Ecclesiastical Cause before a secular Tribunal and persons whom their Age and Characters rendred venerable having been cited and examined he was much displeased when he heard of it He made an Edict immediately whereby he prohibited all his Judges ordinary or extraordinary to undertake those Causes which related to Religion willing that the Bishops or other persons consecrated to God should have their particular Judges their Laws and their Formalities of Justice apart and that Ecclesiastical matters should be referred to the Heads of those Diocesses wherein they should happen XLVI He forbid the Pagans almost at the same time to sacrifice to their Gods and to search Futurity in the entrails of slain Beasts as well to August ep 48. Ambros in Orat. fun Theod. stop the insolence of some who might have prevailed by their Correspondences in Italy as to take from them the occasions of vain hopes by superstitious Presages and Observations which had oftentimes caused Troubles and Seditions in the Empire XLVII He applied himself also to a reformation of Manners and repressed the liberty of certain Cod. Theod. l. 10. singing Women and Players upon Instruments who went from house to house and by immodest Songs and soft effeminate Airs corrupted the minds of Youth Hier. ep 10. ad Fur. XLVIII After he had thus restored Order and Discipline in his Dominions by severe Ordinances he illustrated his Indulgence and his Piety by an Act of Clemency and Pardon The Emperors Append. Cod. Theod. had been used to deliver Prisoners every year towards Easter in order to preserve some Criminals upon that day wherein was accomplished the Mystery of the salvation of Mankind Constantine Ambr. op 33. the Great had put the same in practice his Children had followed his example and the young Valentinian had made a Law of this custom But the Piety of Theodosius went further for he published an Ordinance whereby he commanded the Prisons to be set open and the Criminals to be released to the end that
of the Camp of the Goths LXVII The Proposition of the King was accepted in the Emperor's Council and they had already deliberated upon the choice of Hostages when the two Parties found themselves as it were insensibly engaged for Baâ—urius Captain of the Iberians who were placed at the head of the Right Wing having perceived towards the Enemy's Camp a Body of Horse composed of Huns and Alains detached himself without order and immediately run to charge him The Barbarians without being moved attended him and repulsed him with great loss of his side whereupon arose a great noise on both sides Some Squadrons advanced to support the Iberians who retired in disorder but Alatheus suddenly thundred upon them â—nd after having cut in pieces all that had the â—ourage to resist him he pressed upon the rest so â—riskly that he overturned Hoâ—se and Foot and â—ut the whole Right Wing in disorder insomuch â—hat it was never able to recover itself LXVIII In the mean time Fritigern went out â—o Battel with a part of his Troops and run headâ—ong upon the Right Wing where were the Leâ—ions commanded by the Count Sebastian and enâ—ouraged by the presence of the Emperor Both one and t' other fought couragiously but at last the Goths gave way and whether it was that they â—ould not sustain the Enemy's Encounter or else â—ad a mind to draw them near their Camp that â—hey might not escape they retired as far as the â—ntrenchment of the Chariots There they stood â—irm as if they had resumed new Forces The Romans also made their utmost efforts to keep their â—dvantage but some Companies of Archers who guarded the Camp drawing upon them on one â—ide and Alatheus on the other who returned from persuing the Horse charging them in the Flank and an innumerable multitude of the Barbarians encompassing them on all sides they considered no further than to sell their Lives as dear as they could LXIX After having fought some time at a distance with flights of Arrows they came to Spear and Sword According as the Enemy got ground they stood close till such time as their Force being exhausted and overwhelmed by number they were for the most part cut in pieces The Count Sebastian Colonel of the Foot Valerian Great Master of the Horse Equitius neaâ— Kinsman of the Emperor and Great Master â— his Palace a matter of five and thirty Tribunes and an infinite number of other Officers remaineâ— upon the place The Emperor seeing this disorder could not tell what to resolve on Two Companies of his Guards protected him with their Shields Trajan was come to his assistance near his person with the greatest part of the Volunteers and cryed out that there was Relief a coming But all things were in confusion The Batavians who composed the Body of Reserve had takeâ— flight Victor and Ricomer could not succeed iâ— rallying their Men. Then Night being come Trajan advised the Emperor to save himself and sustaining himself alone the whole power of the Enemy he received several wounds and generously dyed for his Countrey and a Prince who had abused and shook him off not long before LXX Valens to conceal his flight joined company with some Soldiers who fled as well as he He advanced but little because the night was dark and the Country covered with dead bodies and to compleat his misfortune he was hurt with an Arrow by some rambling Barbarians who shot at random wheresoever they heard a noise He fell from his Horse and was carried by some of his Domestics into a Country House they met in their way They had no sooner stopt the blood and laid on as well as they could the first apparel to his wound but a Troop of disbanded Goths came in disorder with a design to plunder the Ammian â— 31. House without knowing its Inhabitants at that time They attempted to force the doors and as they found resistance they renounced an Enterprize which they thought not to succeed in and where they did not expect to find much advantage Notwithstanding to revenge themselves of those who opposed them in the House they set fire to it and passed on It was there Valens overwhelmed with grief and pressed with the remorses of his conscience was burnt alive upon the ninth of August in the fourteenth year of his Reign and the fiftieth year of Ammian ib. Zoz l. 4. Hieronim in Châ—onic Oros l. 7. c. 33. Chrystost Epist ad vid. his Age. The Barbarians learnt his death by one of his Domesticks who was saved from the combustion and were afflicted at the loss of an opportunity to make an Emperor Prisoner and to make advantage of his Spoils Such was the deplorable end of Valens He had the fortune of evil Princes hated in his life and dying without being lamented LXXI History reports that since the battle of Cannae the Romans had not sustained a more considerable loss There remained upon the place Ammian l. 31. above two thirds of their Army the rest were dispersed and lodged in the Cities on all sides The Count Victor and Ricomer run with expedition to the Emperor Gratian to give him advice of this defeat and to hinder his advancement too far In the mean time the Goths thought only how to gather the fruits of their Victory and to plunder the Provinces whereof they esteemed themselves masters Gratian touched at the loss of this battle and his Uncle's death which he understood at the same time considered whether he should continue his March or return The Goths were powerful he had but few Troops to oppose them he lost the Empire if he should be overcome These reasons obliged him to retire to Sirmium till he should assemble greater Forces or that in the heat of Pillage division should arise amongst the Barbarians LXXII In the mean while he reflected in his mind upon all the circumstances of this war the blindness of the Court who had taken for Defenders of the State those who were its most dangerous Enemies the imprudence of the Emperor who had always either too much feared them or too much despised them the fatal adventure of this Prince who came to experiment the cruelty of those whose Faith he had debauched He considered he had writ to him a little 〈◊〉 â— â— de Fide before That the blood of so many Martyrs and the banishment of so many persecuted Bishops was the true cause of the Revolutions of the Empire that Princes could not assure themselves of the fidelity of men when they are not themselves faithful to God and that the â—nsurrection of an Arrian Nation against an Arrian Emperor was an effect of the divine Justice which punished impiâ—ty by impiety it self LXXIII To remedy these disorders and to render Heaven favorable to him he made forthwith an Edict whereby he repealed the Bishops that Theod. l. 5. c. 1 2. Socrat. l. 5. c. 2. Sozom. l. 7. c. 1. were exiled for the Catholick Faith
which their Nation provided or else had voluntarily inrolled themseves in the Emperor's service they were come with a design to take their opportunity and encourage their men to a revolt The Emperor retained them in his Court and loaded them with Riches and Honors Fravitas becoming amorous of a Roman Lady he made her espouse him and Eynap Legat Zoz l. 4. engaged him so well to the Empire 's Party by this marriage and by his favors that he since served with an exact fidelity in all its Wars and deserved at length to be advanced to the Consulship under the reign of Arcadius XXVIII This Captain forgetting his former resolutions and applying himself by gratitude to the service of Theodosius endeavoured to win over Eriulphus and represented to him several times that it was for his Interest and Honor to give himself up entirely to a Prince of whom he had received so many Favours and might still expect more But Eriulphus who had conceived an irreconcilable hatred against the Emperor persisted always in his design and defended himself upon what he was obliged by Oath There arose betwixt them upon this occasion a great controversie which remained a long time concealed Fravitas hoping that Eriulphus would render himself at length and judging that it was not safe to defer it moreover seeing that he was not in a condition yet to do any harm was contented to observe him in order to break his measures But the affair broke out all of a sudden for one day having been invited to one of those entertainments Aurel. Victor Theod. more decent than sumptuous which the Emperor made from time to time for his Courtiers the Wine made a discovery of what had passed They both grew hot and mutually reproached one another with perfidiousness The respect of the Prince was an obstacle to their further proceeding But Eriulphus going out to animate his men Fravitas pursued him forthwith in order to prevent him and having joyned him pretty near the Palace passed his Sword through his body and killed him It was not difficult for him to prove the ill intentions of the dead because he knew his accomplices and he since justified his fidelity through the whole conduct of his life Theodosius was no less careful to regulate the government of the Empire He made choice of qualified persons for the Magistrates and recommended to them Probity and Justice he made Laws and made them to be observed He resolved to abolish Paganism as much as Prudence would permit him not by persecutions but by deprivations of favours excluding those from Dignities who made profession thereof and punishing severely what they attempted against Religion and the State XXIX The Historian Zozimus takes an occasion from hence to cry down his Government accusing him of having minded his pleasures more than the necessities of the people of having kept a Table of too much delicacy and magnificence and too great a number of Officers to serve him of suffering himself to be governed by his Favourites â—oz l. 4. in the distribution of Charges of having sold the Offices and raised new Subsidies to maintain his indiscreet diversions and liberalities which had been without doubt worthy of blame But besides the suspicion one ought to have of an Historian that is visibly interessed who supports what he affirms by no particular action it would be unjust to prefer the testimony of one single man before that of many Ecclesiastical and Pagan Authors who have praised the Continence Frugality and Moderation of this Emperor altho' the one had no reason to conceal his faults and the others were not used to flatter him His inclination for Peace his zeal for the Christian Religion the deference he had for the Bishops and the necessity wherein he undoubtedly found himself to raise some Imposts in the beginning of his Reign in order to carry on the War against the Barbarians might serve as a foundation for what this Author has observed But it is time to resume the course of the History XXX The Arrians had been shook by the loss which they had sustained of their Churches but they were not yet pulled down Demophilus remained about Constantinople and those of his Sect acknowledged him still for Bishop of that Imperial City and went to confer with him and to confirm themselves in their error Some of them who imputed the whole cause of their disgrace to the hatred which Gregory of Nazianzum bore to them were resolved to get rid of him They gained a young Man of a seditious and undertaking temper who agreed to murder him in his Episcopal house It was not hard to get near him at a time when People came in multitudes to congratulate him upon the happy success of the affairs of Religion This Murderer having mixed himself in a crowd of Citizens was introduced with them into the Chamber of this Prelat where his indisposition and weariness retained him in Bed The Company rejoiced with him for the new acquisition of the Churches and after a thousand testimonies of affection and respect retired praising God aloud for having given them so wise and vertuous a Pastor XXXI The Assassin remained alone and being terrified of a sudden with the image of that Crime he was upon the point to execute and pressed with the remorse of his Conscience he cast himself at the feet of Gregory to implore his mercy Fear had put him to such a stand that he continued in that posture without saying a single word The Saint being surprized at so unexpected a sight lean'd on one side to raise him up and asked him several times who he was and what he desired of him but having received for answer nothing but a few inarticulate words and abrupt cryes and sighs he was moved to compassion and began to cry with him His Domesticks run at the noise and being unable to oblige this Wretch Greg. Niz â—â—â—m de 〈◊〉 â—uâ— to go from thence carried him by force into the Anti-chamber where being come to himself a little he confessed the design he had lifting up his hands to Heaven and shewing all the marks of a profound grief They brought him before the Archbishop to whom one of them came to tell him in a Consternation Learn my Lord the danger you have incurred This young Man whom you behold is an Assassin who came with an intention to murder you God has moved him he has confessed his Crime and the Tears which he sheds before you is an Argument of his hearty Repentance Gregory made the Murderer approach and embracing him with much tenderness God preserve you my Son said he to him since he has saved my life to day it is but just that I should save yours also All the satisfaction I demand of you is that you would renounce your heresy and think upon your salvation This Action was admired by his very Enemies He would never make use of his credit with the Emperor against
authorized these frequent Translations against the ancient Hieronym de Scrip. Eccl. Laws yet this reproach did not belong to Gregory whatsoever some Ecclesiastical Authors have written For two Metropolitans having at the same Rusfin l. 2. c. 9. Secrat l. 5. c. 7. time pretended to the Bishoprick of Saâ—ime he had yielded his Right for the advantage of Peace and had never performed the office and his Father having since called him to Nazianzum for his assistance in the government of that Greg Naz. epist 42. 46. Church he laboured therein as Coadjutor not as Titular Thus it was no difficult matter to justify himself thereupon and to defend his promotion LV. The Bishops who had elected him and were dissatisfied upon it would most willingly have deserted him but decency required them to support what they had done Gregory being a little concerned that he should be the sport of the passions of Men who accused him or took his part as the fancy prevailed made use of this opportunity to execute the design which he had Grâ—g Naz. Carm. de vita sua long since entertained of retiring He entred into the Council and said to the Bishops That he beg'd of them to desist in what related to him and to consider nothing but the peace and union of the Church That since he was the cause of the Tempest he would willingly like another Jonas be cast into the Sea That he had râ—ceived the Bishoprick against his inclination and that he resigned it with joy as a Commission which had been entrusted with him As also that his Age and his Infirmities made him desire after so many agitations an interval of solitude and repose in order to dispose him to die well He bid them farewel conjuring them That since he had taken away the principal subject of their division to reunite themselves in all the rest and to give him a Successor that should be zealous for the good of the Church and the defence of the Faith This discourse surprized the Bishops but it was not displeasing to them Some had the satisfaction of seeing him fall of himself who had been made without them others were glad of being delivered from the trouble of maintaining an action they repented of The resignation of the Archbishop was received and he went out of the Assembly without any one's importuning him Greg. carm 〈◊〉 vita sua to stay Some holy Prelates stopt their ears that they might not hear his resignation and departed along with him LVI There remained nothing more than to make the Emperor agree to his design He went to find him and after having beg'd of him to establish Peace in the Council and to retain by his Authority those whom the fear of God did not retain he petitioned him for his permission to retire Theodosius who was not used to be entreated for such Favors was surprized at his Request and endeavored by strong Considerations to stop him he would even interpose himself to maintain him in his Dignity But the Archbishop represented to him that it was not for so just and pious an Emperor as he to prefer the Interests of a private Man to those of the whole Church and that as for him he thought himself obliged to make this sacrifice of his See at a time when his old Age and Infirmities left him scarce any strength to assist his Flock otherwise than by his Prayers and Wishes LVII After having procured the Emperor's consent he assembled the People in his Cathedral and pronounced in presence of all the Fathers of the Council that last and celebrated Sermon where he rendred an account of his Administration Greg. Naz. Orat. 32. and his Conduct He represented the state of the Church of Constantinople how the Faith had been revived in his time how it was increased what he had done and suffered upon that subject He explained the Doctrine which he had preach'd and trusting to his innocence after the example of Samuel and St. Paul he took his Auditors for Witnesses of his disinteressedness and the care he had taken after having declared the Gospel to them to be enclosed within himself and to preserve the purity of his Priesthood He exposed in a few words the principal causes of his Retirement which were the Contests he saw raised in the Church and the importunate Reproaches which were made him of treating the Hereticks with too much Civility and of keeping nothing in his Retinue his Table or his Person Idem Orat. 32. 49. that testified the grandeur of his Rank which they called ill supporting of his Dignity and condemning too openly the excess and secular stateliness of others In a word after having exhorted the People to retain the Faith which he had taught them the Hereticks to be converted the Courtiers to be reclaimed the Bishops to reunite and quit their Sees like him if they might thereby contribute towards a Peace after having wished for his Successor a worthy Man who without wanting Charity and Condescention might have the Courage to procure Enemies for the sake of Justice he took leave of each of his Churches and particularly of his dear Anastasy then of all the Societies and Orders of the City He beg'd of them to remember him and his labors for which he demanded no other recompence than the permission of retiring Instead of the usual Applauses there was heard nothing but Lamentations and Groans during this discourse every one retired to his house drowned in tears and the Archbishop being moved to compassion but notwithstanding inflexible in his resolution went to enjoy the pleasures of that solitude which he had always tenderly loved LVIII Theodosius who lookt upon the choice of a new Archbishop of Constantinople as one of the most considerable affairs of the Empire went the next day to the Council and complained of those disputes and continual dissentions whereby Sozom. l. 7. c. 7. the Catholicks underwent a scandal and from whence the Hereticks reaped great advantages He testified to the Bishops his displeasure to see Gregory obliged to quit the See of his Imperial City whereto it had been even necessary to call him if he had been established therein especially after the services he had rendred to this Church and the dangers he had incurred in restoring Religion thereto He told them That notwithstanding his unwillingness to grant him his Conge at a time when the Church had so much need of learned peaceable and holy Prelates he had consented at his instant solicitations for the advantage of Peace but that he requested of them to seek out a man that might worthily supply his room and to agree so well upon this choice that there might be no longer a division amongst them LIX He ordered them to make each a memorial of those whom they esteemed capable of this Idâ—m c. â— charge and to present him all those names in a single sheet to the end that he might
the East had been agitated with cruel Tempests and that after these Persecutions the Churches stood in need of the presence of their Pastors That besides they had not the consent of their Brothers but for the Council of Constantinople and that there was not sufficient time to consult them upon the subject of that of Rome They made the same Reply to those who had invited them to this Council They added a profession of Faith whereby they acknowledged the Trinity and the Incarnation and after having rendred them an account of the election of Nectarius and that of Flavian they desired them to approve thereof and to abandon their particular Affections for the common Interest of the Church They also deputed three Bishops of their Body to those of Italy to testify their desires to see them and to assure them of their inclinations for Union and their zeal for the Faith The Emperor observing under these demonstrations of Friendship and Religion abundance of coldness and indifference in their minds received their Excuses and thought it convenient to hinder an Assembly that would be composed of two Parties already formed and which in all appearance would produce nothing but disturbances like those he had seen at Constantinople with so much displeasure Whereupon he sent word to the Emperor Gratian and to the Bishops of Italy That he had made serious reflections upon the demand which had been proposed for a general Council at Rome and that the Prelates of his Empire whom he had consulted thereupon had alledged to him the difficulty of the Journey in an advanced season and the small likelihood there was that they might be able to leave their Churches in order to be present at an Assembly which was not of that necessity after the Council of Constantinople That he could not resist these Allegations but he pray'd them to be persuaded that he would contribute towards Peace with the utmost of his power and would dispose all those thereto that were Dependants upon him LXXII In the mean time the Goths of Athanaric's Retinue were arrived in their â—own Country As they had not been chased away for any subject of particular hatred they were received without any difficulty The Fidelity which they had preserved to their Prince to the very last appeared commendable to the very Barbarians and Fritigern to whom it imported to esteem so good an example willingly retained them near his person and favoured them upon every occasion These did not cease to declare the mighty things they had seen at Constantinople and above all to praise the magnificence and courtesie of Theodosius They entertained the King and Peoplâ— with the Civilities and Endearments which he haâ— shewed Athanaric and the Honours he had reâ—dred to him after his death They exposed thâ— Presents he had made to them they repeated thâ— obliging words he had said to them and by veâ—tue of relating the great qualities of the Emperoâ— they reduced their whole Nation as much posseâ—sed against him as it was to fear him and esteeâ— him LXXIII Fritigern who saw himself advanceâ— in years who was afraid of Revolutions and besides knew how to prize and acknowledge vertuâ— resolved to seek the alliance and protection of â— Prince that was represented to him so puissaâ— and so generous He proposed his design to thâ— Army The Captains and Soldiers consenteâ— thereto the one being affected with the gooâ— entertainment of their Companions the otherâ— encouraged by the hopes of serving a liberal and gracious Emperor The King solicited the Grotungues who had been associated with him during several years to pursue the same intention buâ— they refused it whether it was that they werâ— urged to go and join the body of their Nationâ— from which they were divided or else that they were in hopes their Cavalry might still be able to make some irruptions upon the lands of the Empire and carry off some considerable booty Fritigern then made choice of the chief Capâ—ains of his Army and sent them to Theodosius in â—rder to desire his friendship and to entreat him â—o entertain for him and all his People the same â—oodness which he had discovered for Athanaric â—nd those of his Retinue He promised to be inâ—iolably fixed to the interests of the Empire and â—o do it as much service if it lay in his power as â—e had prejudice heretofore under an Emperor â—ss wise and generous than he Theodosius received this Deputation with all the â—onour and testimonies of friendship imaginable â—e promised to treat the Goths as his Allies and â—o love them as his Subjects Altho' they had proâ—osed to him no Condition he made them very â—dvantageous ones giving Orders for the proviâ—ing them with Necessaries in abundance and asâ—igning Zoz l. 4. Oros to them Lands in certain Provinces of the Empire The Goths from this time were always â—erviceable to the Emperor There was a matter â—f twenty thousand who served in divers places â—mongst his Troops the rest confined themselves â—o the banks of the Danube to obstruct the incurâ—ions of other Barbarians into the Countrey of the Romans LXXIV About this time the Bishops of Italy â—enewed their instances with Gratian upon the â—onvocation of a general Council which they preâ—ended to hold at Rome but this Prince referred â—hem to Theodosius to discharge himself of this â—are that he might not enter into the Disputes â—etween the Eastern and Western Bishops They wrote to Theodosius then upon this Subject They â—dded thereto Complaints against the Elections of Flavian and Nectarius They even disapproved of that of Gregory of Nazianzum and declared themselves in favor of Maximus desiring that his Cause might be decided at Rome as those of Athanasius Peter of Alexandria and many other Prelates of the East who had recourse to the judgment of the Roman Church The Emperor to put an end to this affair and to remove all subject of division wrote to them smartly That their Reasons were not sufficient to assemble an universal Council That the Elections of Nectarius and Flavian havinâ— been made in the East they ought not to be judged out of places where all the Parties were present That the Bishops of the East had some reason to be offended â— their unreasonable demands That as for Maximus â— admired that such enlightned Prelates had been so credulous in relation to a notorious Impostor whom he waâ— resolved to punish if he was impudent enough to come near Constantinople Thus Theodosius was careful of the affairs of the State together with those of the Church and deserved the favor of God in so many wonderful Successes which made his Reign worthy of admiration and praise The CONTENTS of the THIRD BOOK I. STate of the Eastern Empire II. State of the West III. Vertues and Defects of the Emperor Gratian. IV. Revolt of Maximus V. He draws in the Pagans VI. He intices the Troops over VII He passes the Sea and renders himself Master of Gaul VIII
formerly bestowed upon the Arians The number of the Catholics encreasing every day the Patriarch Theophilus prayed the Emperor to grant him this forsaken Church He obtained it visited it and had a mind to make some reparations therein As they were digging they found dark Caves more fit to conceal crimes than to celebrate the Ceremonies of Religion The Gentiles who were unwilling to have the Shame of their Mysteries discovered or those hidden places raked up where they found parts of humane bodies dissevered which had served for their wicked Sacrifices hindred the Workmen from proceeding The Christians insisted upon it the thing came to an open Sedition Notwithstanding the Christians were in greatest number yet as they were more moderate than the others they were beaten in some encounters There were even some of them that were taken and barbarously massacred because they would not oblige themselves to sacrifice to Idols The Magistrates went several times to the Temple of Serapis where the seditious had intrenched themselves and endeavored to make them return to their Duty but being unable to force them or to reduce them by reason and threatnings they gave the Emperor information of it who answered them That the Martyrs which they had made were rather to be praised than pitied but to avoid such disorders for the future it was necessary to cut off the cause that is to say to destroy the Temples This Letter being read publickly the Christians testified their joy by extraordinary crys the affrighted Gentiles hid themselves or betook themselves to flight They began to execute the Sentence by demolishing the Temple of Serapis and by the overthrowing that famous Idol which King Sesostris had got made They divided it in several pieces and dragg'd it along the streets CXIII They gave the same entertainment to all the other Pagan Divinities Their Weakness appeared the Delusions and Tricks of the Priests were discovered and several were converted to Jesus Christ Theodosius learning this happy News lifted up his Hands to Heaven and cried out I give thee thanks O God in that thou hast destroyed the Errors of that superstitious City without obliging me to spill the blood of my Subjects He wrote immediately to the Patriarch to rejoyce with him for the favor which God had shewn to his Church and sent him an order to collect all the Idols of Gold or Silver which had been pulled down and to distribute the value of them to the poor of his Diocess adding that he should make appear to the Gentiles that the Zeal of Christians was not mixed with any sort of Avarice and that he should give them an example of a pure and disinteressed Religion They sold every piece of those precious Statues They made Vessels of Charity of other Mettals which had been of service to Superstition Theophilus reserved only an Idol which he set up in the public place to the end that Posterity might one day laugh at the Gentiles by seeing the remains of their ridiculous Worship which seemed to them more injurious than all the rest This Patriâ—rch built a Church in honour of St. John Baptist in â—he place of the Temple of Serapis all the Bihops of Egypt followed this example and a little â—fter this Province so tied to its Superstitions had 〈◊〉 deliverance CXIV Theodosius more satisfied with the hapâ—y success of Religion than his Triumphs departâ—d Sozom. l. 〈◊〉 c. 14. from Rome the first day of September in order to â—eturn to Milan and from thence to Constantinople He restored the Empire to Valentinian and imâ—rinted Ambr. Ep. Orat. de obit Theod. so well in his mind the Catholick Religiâ—n by his repeated instructions that this young â—rince who was naturally disposed to do well beâ—ame the defender of the Faith and put himself Ambr. in fun Valent. â—ntirely under the discipline of St. Ambrose whom â—e honored as his Father to his death The Empress Justine who had taken so much â—are to inspire into him that Heresy with which â—he was infected had not the satisfaction to behold his triumph and re-establishment God permitted her to dye before the accomplishment of â—he war She was the daughter of Justus Goverâ—or of La Marche under the Emperor Constantius She had espoused in her first Nuptials the Tyrant Socrat l. 〈◊〉 c. 26. Magnentius who after he had lost the battle of Mursa in Pannonia became the murderer of himâ—elf to avoid the punishment which his Rebellion had deserved The Great Valentâ—ian became â—morous of her and married her after the death of the Empress Severa his first Wife She was a Princess fierce imperious fixed â—o her own sense â—nd possessed with all the imâ—iâ—â—ies of the Arians The influence she had over the spirit of her Husband and the Authority she â—ad taken over her Son had occasioned great troubles in the Church and if God had not opposed to her a Bishop aâ— Sulp. Sever. Dialog 2. c. 6. unshaken as St. Ambrose was the Arians had becomâ— masters in Milan and it had been experienceâ— what an abused Princess can do that joyns to thâ— infirmity of her Sex the violence of her passion The CONTENTS of the Fourth BOOK An. 390 I. SEdition at Thessalonica II. Anger of Theodosius appeased by St. Ambrose and rekindled by Ruffin III. Temper of Theodosius IV. Chastisement of the Seditious of Thessalonica V. Remonstrance of St. Ambrose to Theodosius VI. Repentance of Theodosius VII St. Ambrose excommunicates Theodosius VIII Ruffin endeavors to comfort Theodosius IX Ruffin negotiates an Absolution for Theodosius X. Theodosius presents himself at the door of the Church XI Theodosius doth Penance publickly and is absolved XII Theodosius places himself amongst the Laity XIII Heresy of Jovinian Theodosius takes upon him to destroy it XIV Theodosius reforms divers Abuses XV. Order of the Church for Penance XVI Disorder in the Church of Constantinople XVII State and Functions of Deaconesses Regulation of their Age and Testaments XVIII Death of the Empress Galla. XIX Theodosius returns into the East XX. Theodosius chases a Troop of Barbarians out of Macedonia XXI Theodosius arrives at Constantinople His Piety XXII Original Manners and Fortune of Ruffin XXIII Jealousy against Ruffin XXIV Quarrel of Promotus and Ruffin Anger of Theodosius XXV Ruffin abuses Favor destroys his Enemies XXVI New Revolutions in the West XXVII Edict of Theodosius against Relapsers XXVIII Valentinian orders a Comedian Woman at Rome to be carried off XXIX Intrigues of Flavian XXX Revolt of Arbogastes His Employments his Manners XXXI Valentinian desires to be baptized by St. Ambrose XXXII Jealousy of Valentinian Insolence of Arbogastes XXXIII Valentinian begs the succor of Theodosius he writes to St. Ambrose XXXIV Death of Valentinian his great qualities XXXV Eugenius is made Emperor XXXVI Theodosius learns the death of Valentinian St. Ambrose makes his Encomium at Milan XXXVII Eugenius makes an Alliance with the People of the Rhine XXXVIII Eugenius sends Ambassadors to Theodosius XXXIX Eugenius