Thessalonica Claudian de laud. Seren The Empress Flaccilla his wife whom he tenderly loved Thermantia and Serena his Nieces whom he had adopted since the death of Honorius his brother were lately arrived there Some of his friends were observed every day to come thither particularly those who had been assistant to him in the time of his disgrace He had invited them Aurel. Victor Theod. to come from Spain into the East to the end he might reward them and raise them to employments His gratitude encreased with his power and as soon as he was Emperour he remembred all the services he had received when he was but a private man and forgot nothing but the injuries which he had suffered The Joy he conceived at the sight of persons who were so dear to him was soon disturbed for scarce was he come to Thessalonica but he fell dangerously ill He immediately disposed himself Socrat. l. 5. c. 6. Sozom. l. 4. c. 7. to receive Baptism and to dye like a Christian As he had a great affection for the Orthodox Faith of the Trinity and was afraid of giving in this occasion any advantage to the Hereticks before he sent for Ascole Bishop of that City he informed himself of his Manners and the Faith which he professed He learnt that he was a Prelate of a consummated Vertue that he had been educated from his Infancy in the Monasteries of Achaia that upon the reputation of his Sanctity Ambros Ep. 28. 22. the people of Macedon had taken him from his Solitude to make him their Arch-bishop that they had ordained him very young without having regard to the rules of Age that he had always been inviolably fix'd to the doctrine of the Church that St. Basil had honoured him with his friendship and that Pope Damasus had a particular An. 379 esteem for him Theodosius was very glad to fall into the hands of so holy a man He ordered him to be called and having been farther satisfied by himself that he professed the Apostolick Faith confirmed by the Council of Nice he demanded of him with respect the Sacrament of Regeneration He immediately received it with an exemplary piety and esteemed himself more glorious in becoming August de Civit. Dei a member of the Church than in being Master of a part of the World Then he thought himself obliged to re-establish Religion through tâ—e whole Empire and God blessing his intentions restored him in a few days to a perfect health He conversed several times with Ascole upon the means of executing his design He instructed himself in the chief points of the doctrines in contest of the difference of the new Sects of the Faith of the Bishops and the state of the principal Churches of the Eastern Empire X. After having thus examined all things he thought it prudent to bring Men over gradually and to begin with Laws which should make them know his Will and fear his Justice Then he published an Edict dated at Thessalonica whereby he ordered the People of his obedience to follow that Faith which the Church had received of the Apostles and which was taught by Pope Damasus and Peter of Alexandria a Prelate of an Apostoâ—ical Sanctity and enjoined them to confess and acknowledge one Divinity in the Trinity of the Persons of the Father Son and Holy Ghost pursuant to the Doctrine of the Gospel and the ancient Tradition of the Church He declares afterwards that only those who should profess this Faith were to be taken for Catholicks and that those who should reject it were to be treated as infamous and sensless Hereticks who besides the Punishents they deserved from the Divine Justice were likewise to expect from him Chastisements suitable to the enormity of their Crime XI He addressed this Edict to the People of Constantinople to the end that it might be forthwith performed in this Imperial City which was as iâ— it were the Theatre of Heresie and from thencâ— might pass with the more expedition into the otheâ— Cities of the Empire It was about this time that Maximus came to cast himself at the feet of Theodosius entreating him to maintain him in the See of Constantinople which he had lately usurped Maximus was of Alexandria by profession a Cyniâ— Philosopher of a moderate knowledge an irregular life and profound dissimulation His Parents had brought him up in the Christian Religion wherein he was notwithstanding but slightly instructed He had spent part of his Youth in running from City to City to acquire Wealth or Reputation and had been every where cried down where he endeavoured to fix himself and altho he was expertat disguising himself he could not avoid being surprized in actions which occasioned his banishment to the Desart of Oasis where hâ— remained four years entire At last seeing himsel without honor and without recovery spur'd on bâ— his ambition and his misery he went to Constantinâ—ple with the rash design of usurping that See He declared presently that he was of a Family illustrious by its Nobility and still more by itâ— Piety that his Father was dead for the defence of the Faith that his Sisters were the example of Christian Virgins in Alexandria He boasted that he had himself suffered a tedious exile for Jesus Christ making that the glory of Religion which had been the punishment of his crimes The Fable of these pretended Martyrs supported by so many premeditated circumstances and some appearances of an affected piety got him the esteem and friendship of all the Catholics in Constantinople Altho he was dressed after the Cynic mode which Habit was not becoming a Christian this outside was even excused him so much were they possessed of the bottom of his Merit and Vertue Anno 380. Gregory of Nazianzum had at that time the care of the Church of Constantinople He had been sent thither about a year before by the Council of Anâ—ioch according to some or else had been invited by â—he People and the Bishops of Thrace he seems to Greg. Naz. Carm. de vita sua observe himself He immediately exercised by commission the pastoral Functions in that Church where he revived the almost extinguisht Faith â—oyning the example of his Life to the force of his Eloquence and re-uniting by his cares the remains of a fold which the late tempests had dispersed But the number of Catholics being in a little time â—otably encreased they chose him for their Pastor Peter Patriarch of Alexandria confirmed this Election by his Letters and his Vote and sent him â—he Marks of his Dignity Notwithstanding that Gregory had refused to accept this Dignity alledgâ—g that he could not be chosen but by a Council â—ey did not cease to look upon him as their Archâ—ishop He himself being touched at the testimonies f their Affection redoubled their Zeal and forot nothing that he thought capable to establish â—e Faith and fervency of Religion The Heretics An. 380 being unable to resist his reasons
whole Eastern Church bewailed his loss Theodosius who loved him as his Father and honored him as if he had held the Empire of him would have his Funeral made in resemblance Greg. Naz. Orat. in fun Mel. of a Triumph He assisted therein himself and gave publick Testimonies of his affliction and his Piety The Body of this holy man was deposited in the Church of the Apostles where the Psalms were sung by several Quires in divers Languages and where the People running in multitudes carried an infinite number of Wax-tapers and Flamboys and brought back as a precious Treasure some Linnen which had touched his Face The most eloquent Prelate of the Assembly made Funeral Harangues in his Honor and represented Philost l. 5 c. 4. the Vertues he had practised and the Persecutions he had suffered for the Faith After they had finished all the duty of Piety Theodosius ordered those precious Relicks to be conveyed to Antioch to be conducted through the most public Sozom. l. 7. c. 10. ways and to be received in all the Cities altho it was not the Custom of the Romans All Constantinople went out of the Gates and never did the number of the Inhabitants appear greater There was running from all parts upon the Road to accompany this body in singing Psalms till they had brought him to Antioch and placed him near the Shrine of St. Babylas the Martyr one oâ— the most celebrated Archbishops of that City L. In the mean time Theodosius answered to the Council and to confirm what had been there Idem l. 7. c. 9. decreed he published an Edict by which he ordained that the Faith of Nice should be generally received and approved of in the whole extent of his Empire and that all the Churches should be restored into the hands of the Catholicks who confessed one God in three Persons equal in Honour and Power To avoid the professions of an Equivocal Faith he declared that those alone should be esteemed Catholicks who should be united in Communion with certain Prelates whom he specifyed in each Province and whose vertue he was acquainted with either by the correspondence he held with them or by tâ—e Reputation which they had long enjoyed of governing their Churches with Piety LI. There was some reason to hope that this Council supported by the Authority of the Prince would have great effects in reference to Religion and that the Schism of Antioch which divided the East from the West would have been determined by the death of Meletius who was the innocent cause thereof but some Factious persons obstinately persisting in giving him a Successor a disorder broke out and the Eastern People themselves were disunited and grew hot upon this occasion This difference had begun under the Empire of Constantine the great who upon calumnies invented by the Arians had chased from Antioch Eustathius Chrystost Hom. in St. Eust Patriarch of that City and a great defender of the Divinity of Jesus Christ The Arians being possessed of his See and having put in his place five or six Bishops of their Sect successively the Catholicks were oppressed Some of them submitted to violence others continued firm in the Faith under the conduct of Paulinus and called themselves Eustatians Meletius enjoying since the Patriarchship by the Credit of the Arians who took him to be of their Communion and having forthwith openly declared against them he saw himself upon a sudden abandoned of both Parties The Hereticks who had been chiefly instrumental in his being chosen were mad at his â—ange the Catholicks praised his zeal but aproved not of his Election As he had notwithstanding besides an eminent Piety a great Sweetness and an admirable Talent to make himself beloved he attracted in a little time much people to his communion Some of them disengaged themselves from Paulinus to come to him Several that had groaned for 30 years Theod. l. 5. c. 227. under the Arian Tyranny run so much the more willingly to him as he had been under the same weakness with them and that he received them with much condescension and Charity The persecution which he suffered a few days after did but augment the veneration which was had for him and the flock which he had begun to assemble encreased and formed it self during his banishment Altho' the Catholicks of this City were all united in doctrine they were separated in communion and assembled in two different places the one in a Church which the Arians had left Paulinus by reason of the respect they had to his Age and for the consideration that he was contrary to Meletius the others in â— Church of the Suburbs which they called the Palee or the antient Church This Schism scandalized all the East Lucifer Bishop of Cagliari in Sardinia returning out of exile from Thebais passed through Antioch and undertook to accommodate this difference but having found the Eustathians resolved not to communicate with a Bishop established by the Heretics and besides being but too much inclined of his own hard and inflexible nature to pardon nothing in matter of Religion he ordained Paulinus by his own private Authority He thought that the party of Meletius which seemed more disposed for Peace would easily be reunited to the Eustathians when they should observe a Bishop at their head who deserved to be so and who never had any correspondence with the enemies of the Church But he was deceived for the Friends of Meletius being offended at the injury that was offered to him and that they had not condescended to consult them protested that they would have none but him for their Pastâ—r and that he could not be deposed by a single Bishop out of his Jurisdiction and without being heard They sollicited him to come in haste and obliged themselves to him more strictly than before As soon as this Prelate was come from Armenia where he had been a long time in Exile they endeavoured to make him sit in the same Throne with Paulinus and even pretended that the greatest number being for him he made as it were the Socr. l. 5. c. 5. Ruffin Body of the Church and that it was for other Communions who were but Members and parts thereof to reunite themselves to it As for him as he desired nothing but Peace he was contented to re-enter into his Church of the Suburbs He went to visit Paulinus and prayed him to consent that they might keep in common the Sheep which the Master of the Flock had confided with them Theod. l. 5. â— 3. and that they might all be assembled in one Fold He proposed in order to take away all subject of division That the Holy Gospel might be put upon the Episcopal Seat that they might sit one on the one side and tother on the other side of it and that he who survived his Collegue should remain sole and peaceablâ— Possessor Paulinus refused the Condition and would have no society with a Man
deâ—ire of conquest or the shame of being overcome carried the wisest to dangerous extremities and that by this method Charity was almost always injured and Truth never brought to light XX. After which he proposed a compendious way to terminate those differences without entring into long disputes of Learning It was to take for the Judges of the presenâ— controversies the antient Doctors of the Church who had explained the Miâ—teries of the Christian Religion adding that if the Hereticks insisted upon the testimonies of the antient Fathers it was easie to convict them and if they refused to submit thereto they would render themselves odious to the People Nâ—â—tariâ—s made good use of this advice and came forthwith to confer with the Emperor about it This Prince found that it was the most concise and easy expedient to succeed in his design and rejoycing that he was disentangled from all those fruitless subtilties which he did not understand and that he could reduce to one single point so easy to prove all the questions which divided the Church he managed the affair with abundance of Prudence One day when the Bishops were assembled he entred into the Synod spoke to them with much Sweetness and Gravity and after having exhorted them to Peace and a research after Truth he questioned them concerning thâ—ir opinions of the holy Doctors who had treated of the Faith and Doctrine of Jesus Christ before the last Hereâ—â—es they answered without Haesitation that they acknowledged them for their Masters and had a profound Veneration for them Then Theodosius Either condemn those said he to them whom you just now praised or confess what they have written concerning the Divinity of Jesus Christ XXI He spoke these words in so firm and absolute a tone that the most obstinate remained without reply confounded that they had betrayed themselves by acknowledging the Authority of the Ancients The Emperor who saw them in disorder urged them to make choice of one or t'other party but as error is never at union with it self there was a division amongst them The Demi-Arians who thought to be able to explain the Fathers in their favor consented to a perseverance in the Doctrine of Antiquity the rest who could not save themselves but by dispute demanded to come to a discussion of the points contested They grew warm insensibly one against another as far as to upbraid each other with their opinions either as contrary to the Testimony of the ancient Church or as unwarrantable in Reason XXII The Emperor taking the advantage of the disturbance they were in declared to them that he would himself take care to unite them and commanding every Sect to give him its Profession of Faith in writing he went out of the Assembly The most qualified amongst them were charged with the preparation of these Forms which they concerted all together with an extream exactness weighing all the words and syllables and seeking all the softest methods to reconcile the Emperor to them without doing prejudice at the â—ame time to their opinions Theodosius having sent for them a few days after they came to the Palace Demophilus who had been chased from the See of Constantinople declared by writing that the Son of God was but a creature that he was not begotten of his Father but had been created out of nothing Eunomius Native of Cappadocia a man of a busie and seditious Spirit who had been Bishop of Cyzicum and whom even those of his own party could not endure brought his Profession of Faith as impious as the other but conceived in terms more magnificent and respectful in reference to Jesus Christ Eleusius Chief of the Macedonians presented his at the same time wherein he enlarged himself upon the Gâ—eatness and Dignity of the Son of God but rejecting the term of consubstantial and still adding some Blasphemies against the Holy Ghost He was a wavering man and of little solidity who had â—epented twice of his error and relapsed into it as often and at last died in Schism The Patriarch Nectarius and Agelas a Novatian Bishop gave also their Confession of Faith in which they defended â—he Doctrine of the Nicean Council and mainâ—ained the consubstantiality of the word XXIII The Emperor took these Forms with â—uch civility and retired into his Closet He Socrat. ◠〈◊〉 c. 10. â—erused them and after having made his Prayer â— draw the blessings of Heaven upon the Action e was going to do he re-entred into the Hall â—here were the Arian Bishops There tearing in â—eir presence their Confessions of Faith and preâ—rving none but that of the Catholicks he declaâ—d to them That he was resolved to suffer no other eligion in the whole extent of his Dominions than that â—ich acknowledged the Son of God to be Consubstantial to his Father That it was time for them to reunite and to receive the wholsom Doctrine of the ancient Church That he would use all his Authority for the glory of God from whom he held it and that regarding them as his Adversaries who should be those of Jesus Christ he should know well how to make himsâ—lf obeyed in a Point wherein was concerned the safety and repose of his Subjects After which he dismissed them without staying for their Answer XXIV The Majesty of the Prince their division their surprize the approaching ruine of their Sects the shame of having so ill defended their Causes caused trouble and confusion in their minds They withdrew from Court and soon observing themselves to be abandoned of the greatest part of their Followers they at length assembled together the remainders of their Parties and were reduced to tell them for all their comfort That the number of the Elect was small that the truth was usually persecuted upon earth and that their Faith would be so much the more agreeable to God as Men had more Authority to oppress it which they had not been careful to declare when they oppressed the Church themselves by force and violence Cod. Theod. l. 11. 12. de Haeret. XXV To accomplish the destruction of these Heresies the Emperor immediately sent out an Ordinance whereby he prohibited Hereticks to assemble together to instruct the People either in City or Countrey to be possessed of any building that should have any manner of likeness to a Church in a word to say or do any thing in private or publick that was contrary to the Catholic Religion permitting all the good Men of his Empire to unite themselves in order to the chasing from civil society all those who should dare to contradict this Ordinance He likewise enjoined all Officers and Magistrates to oblige the Arians to confine themselves within their Cities and Provinces lest by a too free communication with the People they should disperse abroad their venomous Principles And to be assured of the execution of his Edicts he ordered the Magistrates of those Cities wherein the Arians should hold any Congregation to be most severely punished