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
happens for the most part in divisions observing all the motions of the Prince to draw from thence conjectures upon their Interests The Arrians seeing him appear with so much grandeur whose Laws they had despised expected to be used as they deserved Altho' they were afraid to come near him yet they could not dispence themselves from going to see him because they composed the Body of the Clergy and besides it was of importance to them to discover what was suspected to have been resolved against them The Emperor received them with honour and without being willing to enter into any discussion of Religion answered to their Civilities as he had done to those of others The Catholicks who were desirous to see them humbled were offended at the good entertainment they had received Altho' they were assured of the good intentions of Theodosius they questioned his having the force to execute them They affirmed openly that he had made no distinction Greg. Naz Carm. de vita sua between Catholicks and Arrians that he encouraged the Hereticks in sparing them that the present mischiefs of the Church could not be cured but by violent applications that it was strange that wicked Emperors should be so fervent in maintaining Impiety and that the good should be so slow and circumspect in keeping up the truth Greg. Naz. ibid. Gregory of Nazianzum himself complained of this conduct but he was convinced at length that this Prince managed himself very prudently because in matter of Faith sweetness and complaisance is the most effectual means to bring over the minds of People and that the business of Religion is to persuade and not to command XXIII Theodosius without seeming much concerned at these Controversies stay'd for a convenient time to execute his design He judged that to re-establish the Orthodox Faith it was most proper to begin with Constantinople which was the common place of the East and West and as it were the Center where the extremities of the world re-unite and from whence the Faith would afterwards easily communicate itself to all the parts of the Empire But the Enterprize was not without difficulty This City had been founded by a Catholick Emperor and instructed in the Faith by two of the holy Bishops of that Age. It had not long enjoyed the fruits of the Peace which that Prince had there maintained nor of the instructions which those Prelats had given there The Emperors being turned Arrians at the solicitation of their Pastors who were already so and the temporal Authority uniting with the spiritual for the destroying of the Faith there hapned in a little time a wonderful Revolution The Clergy followed the Doctrine of the Archbishops the Court framing itself to the Religion of the Prince and the People was drawn by the example of both Those who persisted in the ancient Faith were contented to bewail in private or else were dispersed by the Persecutions During these Troubles divers Sects were established in this Capital of the Empire where every Novelty found always Partisans The Macedonians there made a Body and a separate Communion The Apollinarists held their Assemblies Socrat. l. 5. c. 8. Greg. Naz. Orat. 44. Sozom. l. 4. c. 25. Ruffin l. 1. c. 23. there in peace The Novatians had publick Churches there The Catholicks alone had neither the means nor liberty to assemble They made from time to time some endeavors to raise themselves but they were immediately oppressed This oppression had continued for the space of 40 years wheâ— Gregory of Nazianzum was sent thither As â—e Greg. carm l. p. 511. was under the protection of Theodosius whose Rescript he carried they durst not persecute him but not being able to obtain a Church for him and his he made in the house of Nicobulus hiâ— Kinsman and his Friend a Chappel which he called the Anastasy or Resurrection because 't was there the Catholick Faith which was as it were Orat. 26. dead in Constantinople had happily begun to revive The cares and labours of this Apostolical Man had pretty well succeeded and the number of the Faithful was considerably encreased but yet compared to the Arrians they made but a small Body and all the Church they had was the Anastasy Demophilis who had heretofore signalized himself by the persecution which he had made to Pope Liberius and by the zeal which he testified for the Party had been translated from the See of Berâ—haea to that of Constantinople Valens had established him therein and for about ten years he had governed this Church encouraging his People to the defence of Heresy and making the hatred he shewed for the Catholicks to be a point of godliness XXIV Theodosius after he had sedulously instructed himself in all these things judged it high time to make himself appear He went in Ceremony accompanied with all his Court to the Anastasy where all the Catholicks being assembled received him with extraordinary Joy and Acclamations Gregory advancing to salute him the Greg. Naz. Carm. de vita sua Emperor embraced him with much tenderness and publickly commended his Piety his Prudence and his indefatigable Zeal for the re-establishment of Religion then turning towards the People he exhorted them to persist in the Faith and assured them of his protection He assisted at the Celebration of the Divine Mysteries and when they were concluded he had a pretty long Conference with the Bishop He discovered to him the design he had to use his Authority against the Arrians and to restore the Catholicks to their ancient Rights This Saint reports that he spoke to him in these terms or to the like effect God makes use of us my Father to establish you in this Church 'T is a Reward that is due to your Vertue and your Labours The whole City is disorder'd and pretends either to contradict Greg. Naz. ibid. my Orders or to make me consent to leave it in its possession But nothing ought to discourage a Prince that sustains so pious a Cause The undertaking appears impossible to many till such time as I shall have performed it I go to work with the assistance of Heaven I cannot make a better use of my power than to employ it in the service of God from whom I hold it nor do any thing of greater advantage for one of the principal Churches of the world than to prefer to it such a Pastor as you Gregory replied to the Emperor That the resolution which he had taken to maintain Religion was worthy of him that all good Men had expected to be happy under his Reign that he was unquestionably designed to repair the faults of his Predecessors that God would bless his Intentions since he had none but just ones and that after having fixed the Empire in peace there remained no more than to fix the Church likewise therein As to the honour Theodosius would do him he returned him thanks in terms full of acknowledgment and humility representing
Gratian is abandoned of the Army and the People IX Death of Gratian. X. Maximus sends Ambassadors to Theodosius XI The Empress Justine sends St. Ambrose to Maximus XII St. Ambrose stops Maximus on t'other side of the Alps. XIII Theodosius associates his Son Arcadius to the Empire XIV Education of Arcadius XV. Qualities of Arsenius Tutor of Arcadius XVI Conduct of Theodosius in reference to the Education of his Son XVII Conduct of Arsenius in Relation to Arcadius XVIII Reflections of Arsenius upon his Condition and his Retreat XIX Theodosius assembles the Heads of the different Sects XX. An easy Method to determine Ecclesiastical Differences XXI Theodosius disappoints the Hereticks XXII Theodosius commands each Sect to give its Profession of Faith in Writing XXIII Theodosius tears the Forms of the Hereticks XXIV Confusion of the Hereticks XXV Edicts of the Emperor against the Hereticks XXVI Clemency of Theodosius XXVII Wise remonstrance of Amphilochus XXVIII The Pagans attempt to rise in the West XXIX Humour of Symmachus his request for the An. 383 altar of Victory XXX Consequence of the request of Symmachus St. Ambrose writes to Valentinian to oppose it XXXI Answer to the request of Symmacus by St. Ambrose XXXII The Pagans lose their cause XXXIII New efforts of the Hereticks XXXIV Edict of the Emperor against the Hereticks XXXV The Jews prohited from keeping Christian Slaves XXXVI Birth of Honoriâ—s XXXVII Treaty of the three Emperors XXXVIII Cruelties of Maximus XXXIX St. Martin begs the pardon of two Criminals XL. Maximus endeâ—vours to gain St. Martin and makes him eat at his Table XLI Errors of Priscillian and his followers XLII An Ecclesiastical cause carried to a Secâ—lar Tribunal XLIII Prudent remonstrance of St. Martin XLIV Condemnation of Priscillian consequence of his death XLV Ordinance of Theodosius concerning Ecclesiastical judgments XLVI Sacrificing to Idols prohibited XLVII Reformation of manners XLVIII Deliverance of Prisoners at the Feast of Easter XLIX Death of the Princess Pulcheria L. Death of the Empress Flaccilla her Vertues LI. Aversion of the Empress Justine for St. Ambrose LII Edict against the Catholicks Constancy of Benevolus LIII St. Ambrose is provoked to a Dispute before the Emperor LIV. St. Ambrose refuses to come to a conference in the Palace LV. Orders to deliver the Churches of the Catholicks to the Arians LVI The People shut themselves up in the Cathedral St. Ambrose refuses to abandon iâ— LVII Negotiation to have a Church in the Suburbs LVIII Vain Attempts of the Empress to reduce St. Ambrose LIX Deputation of Lords to the Emperor LX. The Persecution ceases LXI Pretence of Maximus to enter into Italy LXII Irruption of the Groâ—ungues their Attempts to pass the Danube LXIII Vigilance and Dexterity of Promotius LXIV Defeat of the Grotungues LXV Theodosius arrives at the Camp gives Liberty to all the Prisoners LXVI The Grotungues enrolled in the Service of the Emperor LXVII Rash Action of Gerontius LXVIII The Grotungues slain LXIX Theodosius cites Gerontius to appear orders him to be taken up LXX Theodosius writes to Maximus and to the Empress â—ufâ—ine upon the subject of St. Ambrose LXXI Second Emhassy of St. Ambrose to Maximus LXXII Aâ—dience given to St. Ambrose Maximus perplexed LXXIII St. Ambrose discovers the Intentions of Maximus He is not believed LXXIV Entrance of Maximus into Italy Flight of Valentinian and Justine LXXV Policy of Maximus LXXVI Valentinian and Justine arrive at Thessalonica Wise remonstrance of Theodosius LXXVII Theodosius concludes upon War Marries the Princess Galla. LXXVIII New Impost Sedition of Antioch LXXIX Resolution taken against the City of Antioch LXXX Desolation of the Inhabitants of Antioch LXXXI Descent of the Solitaries into Antioch LXXXII Journey of Flavian Archbishop of Antioch LXXXIII Discourse of the Archbishop to Theodosius LXXXIV Theodosius pardons those of Antioch LXXXV Malice of the Historian Zozimus LXXXVI The Widow Olympias refuses to marry Elpidius the Emperors Kinsman LXXXVII Persecution made to the Widow Olympias LXXXVIII Olympias restored to her Possessions LXXXIX Theodosius disposes himself to a War against Maximus XC Theodosius renews his Edicts against the Hereticks XCI Maximus preparâ—s for War XCII Treason discovered in the Army of Theodosius XCIII Valentinian and his Mother embark themselves XCIV Theodosius surprizes Maximus in Pannonia XCV Passage of the Save Victory of Theodosius XCVI Theodosius marches against Marcellin and wins a second Battle XCVII Death of Maximus and Andragatius XCVIII Moderation and Clemency of Theodosius XCIX False Reports dispersed by the Arians C. Sedition of the Arians CI. Ordinance of Theodosius against an Eastern Bishop CII Remonstrance of St. Ambrose to the Emperor Theodosius CIII St. Ambrose publickly reprehends the Emperor in a Sermon CIV Theodosius repeals the Ordinance CV Description of the Altar of Victory CVI. The several States of this Altar under the Emperors CVII The Deputies of the Senate petition the Emperor for this Altar Theodosius denies it CVIII Theodosius goes to Rome to receive the Honor of Triumph CIX The Regulation which Theodosius made in Rome CX Symmachus pronounces a Panegyric in Honor of Theodosius He is in disgrace and recalled a little while after CXI Divers Regulations CXII News of the Ruine of the Alexandrian Temples CXIII Conversion of several Pagans The use which 〈◊〉 made of the Golden Idols CXIV Departure of Theodosius Death of the Empress Justine THE HISTORY OF THEODOSIVS the Great BOOK III. I. THeodosius reigned peaceably in the East His people lived in quiet and abundance and his Adversaries were become his Friends Whilst the whole World revered his greatness or were afraid of his power he applied himself to regulate his Dominion and to re-establish in its purity that Religion which his Predecessors had oppressed and he regarded the Peace which he enjoyed as a Reward for that he gave the Church II. The Empire of the Weft had been no less successful if the weakness or negligence of the Emperors had not afforded occasions for revolts and Civil Wars The young Valentinian who had Ambros Orat. in for his division Italy Africk and Illyrium was not yet of a capable Age to govern and the Empress his Mother abused his name and his Authority fun Valen. She was an Arian and thought it a good piece of service to her Son to render him so too The cares of her Regency extended no further than to the obtaining of a Bishop of her own Party or to the depriving the Catholicks of a Church She distributed her favours to those who obliged her with a compliance to her passions and she could not imagine that the State could have other Enemies than those who opposed her error All things were to be feared under an infant Emperor in whom were imprinted ill apprehensions of things and under a Heretic Empress who was more sedulous for the advancement of her Sect than sor the peace and security of the Empire Ammian l. 31. III. Gratian who reigned on this side the Alps was in the