and the houses wherein they should be caught confiscated XXVI There was need of an Authority like his to repress a Sect so rebellious so extensive and so imperious But notwithstanding all his vigor he still retained much goodness He terrified the Sozom l. 7. c. 12. Hereticks without ordaining any Punishments for them He kept them in obedience without exacting forced Conversions and leaving to God the affecting their hearts by his grace he contented himself to humble them by the little esteem he made of them or to attract them by the favors which he shewed to all those who returned to his communion and never came to threatnings till he had practised all the ways of sweetness This candid Behavior oftentimes disturbed the Catholicks who by an inconsiderate zeal were always for extirpating their Enemies It gave occasion for a wise Remonstrance which was made to him by Amphilochus Bishop of Iconium Theodosius had resolved as we have said to abolish the multitude of Religions and in order to gain the heads of Parties or at least not to frighten them he had several Conferences with them and invited them by very pressing Considerations to hearken to a reunion The Conducts he had with them and the Civilities which he shewed them gave a disturbance to several holy Bishops who did not pierce into his designs They were afraid of his being surprized by those artificial Men who knew how to disguise their malice and did not want Intrigues and Cabals in Court They were also afflicted at his refusal to renew his Edicts against the Arians XXVII As they found themselves obliged to go in a Body to wait upon this Prince in order to the performing of their Duties to him and to his Son Arcadius lately created Emperor Amphilochus a Prelate venerable for his Age the purity of his Faith and the knowledge of the holy Scriptures otherwise very simple and unpolished followed the rest to the Palace As soon as he came into the Hall of Audience and appeared before Theodosius Sozom. l. 7 c. â— Theod. l. 5. c. 16. Niceph. l. 12. c. 9. he made him his Compliment with a very profound respect and approaching afterwards to Arcadius who was seated by his side God preserve thee my Son said he to him smiling faintly and stroaking him upon the head All the Company blushed and the Emperor touched at this despising Behaviour and those injurious Caresses which he made to his Son made a sign to the Guards to take away the indiscreet old Man Then the holy Bishop turning himself said to him in a free and serious manner You are offended Sir when your Son is not as much honoured as your self Don't you imagine that the heavenly Father is as tenderly sensible of the injury which is done to him by those who refuse to adore his Son and who blaspheme against him The Emperor admired this rustical wisdom which was of more account than all the prudence of the children of this world He asked pardon of this Prelate and after he had returned him thanks for his instruction he gave him an assurance that he would make the best use thereof XXVIII Whilst the Hereticks deplored their ruine in the East the Pagans under the conduct of Symmachus the Senator endeavoured to raise themselves at Rome The Conjunctures were favourable Maximus amused them in this design and Valentinian was afraid of incensing Maximus They wanted nothing but an opportunity to demand the re-establishment of their Religion it was not long before they found one There hapned this year a great scarcity of Provisions throughout all Italy as well by reason of the Winds and Droughts as the little foresight of the Magistrates Rome found itself reduced to all the extremities of Famine Bread was sold there at an excessive Rate and was only to be had by measure the People were constrained to live D. Ambros Eâ— 31. l. 5. Symmach l. 2. ep 7. D. Ambros Offic. l. 2. â— 7. upon Acorns and Roots necessity encreased every day They were obliged to discharge this great City of part of its Inhabitants and chased away the poorer sort as if it had been lawful to add Exile to Poverty and to consider those as Strangers who were in the greatest want of Relief XXIX Symmachus at that time held the first Rank in the Senate His Quality his Eloquence his Employments and the reputation of his Probity rendred him very considerable to the Emperors But whether it was out of a strong prepossession for the worship of false Gods or out of a vain desire to support a decaying Religion and to govern in the Party he became not only troublesom in occasions but also unfaithful to his Masters He honoured them more or less according as they spared or oppressed the Idols All the Edicts against the Pagans appeared to him Sacriledges and all the publick Calamities passed in his mind for vengeances of incensed Heaven This Man always ready for new Intrigues of Complaint or to present Petitions for the service of his Gods supposing that the Famine and the other misfortunes of the Empire were divine Punishments made up an eloquent Request which he sent to the Emperor Valentinian He entreated him in the quality of Prefect of the City and in the Name of all the Senate to re-establish the Religion of Rome to have regard to custom and to the antiquity of a reasonable belief to leave to this People accustomed to their liberty the use of their Consciences at least to re-establish the Symmach relat ad Imp. Altar of Victory that Goddess who had never forsook the Romans in their military Expeditions to retain the name of her if he did not fear her power and to be willing at least to dissemble after the example of some of his Predecessors what he had resolved not to permit He introduced Rom all bathed in tears who redemanded of her Emperors that Worship wherein she had grown old under which she had subdued all the World He remonstrated as he went along that it was too late to correct her That if he was unwilling to acknowledge her Gods he should leave them at least in repose That it was credible that all breathing the same Air and being covered with the same Heaven they adored in the bottom the same thing That there were divers Philosophies and that it was of no importance by what method they obtained the truth provided they arrived there He added That it was strange that magnificent Princes should reform what covetous Princes had established That the Royal Treasury instead of being filled with the Spoils of the Enemy was enlarged by the retrenched Pensions of the Priests and Vestals who made Vows for the Prosperity of the Empire That the Famine and other publick Misfortunes proceeded neither from the influences of the Stars nor the rigor of Winters nor the droughts of Summers but from the wrath of God who took away Necessaries from all those People who deprived their Ministers
Those who had protected him were blamed and those whom he Sozom. l. 4. c. 9. had ordained were degraded and judged unworthy of holding any rank amongst the Clergy Gregory of Nazianzum had been chosen by the Suffrages of the People and the Authority of the Emperor he was without a See that of Constantinople was vacant He had been charged with the care of this Church and went under the Title of it Thus this Election 〈◊〉 have passed for legitimate But Gregory who lived without Ambition would attempt nothing contrary to Greg. Naz. Orat. 27. Disciplines did not think himself engaged to a charge which he had not accepted He alledged that a Prelate without a Title could not take possession of a vacant Church unless authorized by a Council and that the irregular conduct which had been held in reference to him gave occasion for ambitious Ptelates to seize upon the vacant Sees for the People to establish them in a tumultuous manner and for Metropolitans to dispossess them out of humane considerations XLV It was not hard to determine upon two Subjects whereof one was for being maintained in a Dignity which he deserved not and the other demanded nothing but a renunciation notwithstanding his right and worthiness of it The Emperor who was acquainted with the great qualities of Gregory desired him for his Bishop Meletius who had a tender affection for him was come particularly to instal him All the Fathers agreed upon it and Gregory was the only person that scrupled to consent to his Election He cast himself at the feet of Theodosius to entreat him to divert the blow but this Prince represented to him That it was just to give the conduct of this Church to him who had formed it with so much diligence That the love of Peace and Solitude ought not to dispense him from labor since he was called to it That this approbation of the Council was a visible Testimony of the Will of God That being Bishop of this Imperial City he might contribute to the re-establishment of Faith in the whole Empire And that finding himself placed in the midst of the East and West he might become as it were a Mediator and perhaps unite together those two halfs of the world which were unhappily divided upon the Subject of the Church of Antioch Meletius represented to him the same things in the name of all the Assembly and obliged him by his reasons and his counsels to undergo the Yoke which was imposed upon him and to sacrifice his repose to the Interests and Necessities of the Church Thus all conspired to do Violence to his Modesty He was placed upon the Episcopal Throne where the People and the Clergy had carried him some time before and where he would not since take his place Nothing Greg. Naz Carm. de vita sua was wanting to the Solemnity of this Action Meletius performed the Ceremony the Emperor assisted there all the People run in crowds to see it and several Prelates amongst whom was Gregory of Nyssa made very eloquent discourses upon that subject XLVI After they had thus regulated the affairs of that Church they came to treat about the points of Faith As the greatest part of the new Heresies had been condemned in the Council of Nice the Decrees thereupon were ordered Ruffin to be read and were confirmed Then was produced the confession of Faith which Pope Damasus had formerly sent to Antioch and by his example they condemned the Error of Apollinarius who destroyed the truth of the Mystery of the Incarnation After which they proceeded against the Macedonians who denied the Divinity of the Holy Ghost and refused of late to communicate with the Catholicks For this effect as the Creed of Nice had annexed to that of the Apostles by way of explication what had been defined concerning the Divinity of the word so the Creed of Constantinople added to that of Nice What regarded the Person of the Holy Ghost the Lord and Giver of Life who was to be equally adored and gloriâ—â—â— with the Father and the Son XLVII From the Doctrine of Faith they pasâ—ed to the Rules of Discipline The enterprize of seven Bishops of Egypt who were come to ordain Maximus at Constantinople gave occasion for â—he renewing of that Canon that the ordination of â—he Bishops of each Province should be performed by those of the same Province or by those of the Concil Nice Can. 4 5 6. Neighborhood who should be called for that purâ—ose and because it happened in the time of the Persecution that some Prelats had passed into foreign Provinces for the affairs of the Church which might cause a disturbance they regulated the jurisdiction of every Metropolitan and attributed the dicision of the affairs of Provinces to Provincial Councils To honor the Imperial City and to please the Emperor it was declared that the Bishop of Constantinople should hold the rank and prerogatives of honor next to that of Rome because Constantinople was the new or second Rome At length they decided many things concerning the juridical form of accusations against Sozom. l. 7. c. 9. Bishops and they endeavoured to re-establish order in the Church XLVIII The Fathers of the Council after having thus decreed the points of Faith and Discipline which they had esteemed necessary reduced them into Articles and presented them to Theodosius They wrote to him at the same time a synodal Letter by which they immediately gave thanks to God for having placed him upon thâ— Throne in order to the settling the peace of thâ— Church and the establishment of Religion They shewed him afterwards that having been assembled by his Orders they had with one accord prescribed certain Ecclesiastical Rules whether to condemn Heresies or to correct the abuses of the time and entreated him to confirm by his Authority what they had done and to join hi suffrage to theirs in sealing with his Imperiaâ— Seal the dicision of the Council They endeâ— with Prayers and wished that his Reign might be founded upon Peace and Justice that he might endure a long Series of Generations an that at length he might determine by the joys â—f a Celestial Kingdom ... The Council was wise in its behavior thus for besides the necessity of the Emperors consent to make its Ordinances observed it had a mind to extract from him a Letter of confirmation as a publick engagement of his Faith to the end he might thereby be kept more firm to the right party and might deprive the Hereticks of all hopes of being able to seduce him XLIX Albeit the Bishops who composed this Assembly were very different as to their manners and inclinations they had agreed to all the points proposed and all went to end in a peaceable manner when an unexpected accident produced disorder and division It was the death of Meletius one of the two Bishops of Antioch who had been chief and as it were the Soul of the Council The
there had been a great deal of blood spilt this Prince was willing to abstain some time Num. c. 31. Basil ad Amphiloch c. 13. Can. Pâ—enit 11. from the reception of the Eucharist judging himself unworthy according to the Genius of the Law of Moses and some Penitential Canons to partake of these mysteries of Peace till such time as he had purified his heart and hands and had effaced by his repentance those gross impressions which even lawful angers and revenges give to the greatest Souls He departed from Aquileia with these inclinations and came to Milan in order to a more quiet application to his conscience under the direction of St. Ambrose who was gone a day before him and to receive there more commodiously his Sons Arcadius and Honorius whom he had sent for from Constantinople Scarce was he arrived there but he found himself weaker and more indisposed Socrat. Sozom. than he was before Yet he did not relax any thing of his usual cares assisting at all his Councils hearing himself the complaints of the People signing the acts of grace which he had afforded his Enemies labouring to re-establish that order which Eugenius had disturbed throughout the West and believing himself obliged to act after this manner to the utmost extremity and to sacrifice still the small remains of life to the good and repose of his Empire LXXI The young Emperors found him in this condition when they arrived at Milan and Paulin. in vit Ambr. the joy of seeing their Father again was soon moderated by the affliction which they had to see him assaulted by a moral Dropsy Theodosius would receive them in the Church where he had caused himself to be conveyed in order to partake of the Sacrament which a nicety of conscience and a profound respect had made him defer the reception of till then There he embraced them tenderly and after having returned thanks to God for the comfort which he gave him by reviewing these two Princes he took them by the hand and presented them to St. Ambrose conjuring him before the Altars to take the conduct of their consciences to maintain in their minds those Principles of Religion and Equity which he had endeavoured Ambr. in fun Theod. to inspire him with and to be as a Father to them after his death An. 395 LXXII At his coming out of the Church he was obliged to take his Bed and the Fever being encreased he applied himself to give his last Orders Zoz l. 4. to the Affairs of the Church the Empire and his Family He assembled in his Chamber the Deputies of the Senate and the Lords of his Court who were yet Pagans and remonstrated to them That he retained in dying but the single regret of seeing them still Idolaters That he wondred how such wise and understanding Men should not apprehend their Error or should rather chuse to follow Custom than Truth That the defeat of Eugenius was a convincing proof of the vanity of their Oracles and the impotency Oros l. 7. c. 36. of their Gods That these Gods had been Men of impure and irregular Lives and that it was unreasonable to adore them since their Power was not to be feared nor their Actions worthy of imitation That they should permit themselves to be influenced by the force of Truth by the example of the first Magistrates of the Empire and also by the last affections of their dying Emperor who for some time interrupted the thoughts of his Salvation to put them in mind of theirs That indeed his great desire had been to extirpate during his Reign all false Religions and to make all his Subjects faithful Servants of Jesus Christ That God had not esteemed him worthy of this Favor but that he hoped his Children would be more successful than he and would compleat what he had begun LXXIII After having dismissed the Senators he made his last Will wherein he ordered That Ambros in fun Theod. the People should be discharged of the augmentations of Tribute which the necessity of past Affairs had occasioned the imposing desiring that his Subjects might enjoy the advantage of that Victory to which they had contributed by their Prayers or their Labours and recommending to his Successors the easing of the Provinces without enlarging their Treasury with the substance of the Poor and Claudian in Cons Honor. scattering it away in vain and superfluous Expences This Order after his death was punctually executed He joined to this Act of Goodness an Act of Generosity and Mercy He had granted a general Pardon to all the Rebels who were returned to their Obedience He meant that they should be re-established in their Estates and Dignities and should resume in the Court the same Rank which they held therein before their Rebellion But as he had not time to execute all his intentions he was afraid lest after his death the new Emperors by the evil counsel of their Friends should stop the course of those Reconciliations which remain'd to come He confirmed then by a Law which he caused to be inserted in his Will the Amnesty which he had already published establishing his Ambr. in fun Theod. hopes in the mercy of God upon that he himself shewed his Enemies He enjoined his Children religiously to observe this Order and left them Examples and Commands deserving of a Christian Emperor LXXIV He divided the Empire between those two Princes giving the East to Arcadius and to Honorius the West He recommended to them above all things a Piety towards God and a zeal for Religion He made them recollect what he had often said to them That they should distinguish themselves from their Subjects more by Wisdom and Virtue Ambros in fun Theod. than by Greatness and Authority That it was a great piece of Indiscretion to pretend to give Laws to the whole World if one is ignorant how to prescribe them to himself That one did not deserve to command Men if one had not learnt to obey God That they ought to found the felicity of their Reigns not upon the prudence of their Councels nor upon the force of their Arms but upon their fidelity to God and the care which they should take of his Church That this was the original of Victories of Peace and of all the Prosperity of Sovereigns Then turning himself towards St. Ambrose who was present These said he are the Truths which you have learnt me and which I my self have experienced 't is your part to make them pass in my Family and to instruct according to your custom these young Emperors whom I leave to you The holy Archbishop made answer to him That he would be mindful of their Salvation and hoped that God would give to the Children that tractable heart and easie temper which he had given to the Father LXXV After that Theodosius declared Stilicon Tutor of his Son Honorius and Lieutenant General of the Armies of the two Empires
THE LIFE OF THE EMPEROUR Theodosius the Great Written originally in French by the famous Abbot Flechier now Bishop of Nimes of the French Academy for the Use of the Dauphin Englished by Mr. FRANCIS MANNING Est quoddam tentare Ovid. Decemb. 15. 1692. Imprimatur Edmund Bohun LONDON Printed by F. L. for F. Saunders at the Blue Anchor in the New Exchange And T. Bennet and J. Knapton at the Half-moon and Crown in St. Paul 's Church-yard 1693. TO THE Deservedly Honoured Charles Duncomb Esq SIR I Am bold to present you with the Life of the Great Theodosius whom Pagans Authors have extolled above the Princes his Predecessors and whom the Fathers of the Church have proposed for an Example to Christian Princes who ought to pursue his Steps This History Sir includes great Events and one may collect from hence Instructions of singular Importance You will observe herein on one side Barbarians repulsed to their ancient bounds Rebels brought overby Swetness or reduc'd to obedience by Force Tyrants rewarded for their Cruelty and Perfidiousness and the Empire thrice established by the Valor of Theodosius On the other side Heresy pulled down Idolatry confounded the Abuses of the Age reformed and the Church after an Oppression of several Reigns restored to its former Liberty by the Edicts of this wise and pious Emperor You will observe here Sir the Spirit and Character of a Prince who tempers his Power by his Goodness who never separates the Interests of Religion from those of the State who knows how to give Laws to Men and to submit himself to those of God who triumphs over his Enemies as much by Vertue of his Faith and Prayers as of his Courage and his Arms and who unites in his Person Valor and Piety the Grandeur of the Age and a Christian Moderation I doubt not Sir but you will admire the different Vertues that he practised in the different Conditions of his Life He served Emperors as soon as his Age would permit him to bear Arms. Scarce had he served any time in the Armies but he was found capable of commanding them The Reputation which he gained in great Employments procured him the Envy and Disgrace of even those who ought to have protected him but he supported his adverse Fortune without Weakness as he enjoyed his Prosperity without Pride He came to the Empire at a time when there was not only a Necessity to govern it but to re-establish it and his first cares extended to the making his Subjects happy He was a lover of Peace and feared less to suffer an injustice than to commit one He put an end to several Wars through his Valor and undertook not one through Ambition He was always more inclined to pardon than to punish and having once abandoned himself to his Anger he expiated by a public Pennance the Fault which he had committed rather by the Perswasion of his Mnisters than by a Depravation of Mind This long Retinue of glittering Actions might induce you to believe Sir that I send you the Panegyric of this Emperor and not his History but you will see that I don't aggravate his Vertues nor yet dissemble his Faults and that without exceeding those bounds which are preseribed me I expose the actions which are advanced as real truths founded upon the Testimony of ancient Authors and not as Idea's of Perfection that are only imaginary It were to be wished that the manner of Writing were answerable to the Dignity of the Subject But I hope Sir that you will excuse what is wanting in the one and that you will approve of the choice which is made of the other As for me I pretend to nothing but the Glory of having brought in the execution of my Design all the Care and Exactness I am capable of Happy if my Labors shall become acceptable to You whose extraordinary Merits have engaged me to take the Liberty of presenting you with this piece which may serve to divert you sometimes after the Fatigues of weightier Business It is sufficiently known Sir that your endowments are excellent that your thoughts are equally strong and sublime that you have not less of Delicacy than Penetration and Vivacity and that your Answers are as just and agreeable as ready and decisive All these advantages of Mind that shine in you in a peculiar manner are supported by a noble Air a greatness of Soul and a Thousand Vertues which distinguish you so advantagiously in your Country These eminent Qualities don't render you inaccessible to those who are inferior to you and far from discouraging my approach to you they have suggested to me the Design of giving you this Testimony of that profound Respect with which I am SIR Your most Humble and most Obedient Servant F. M. Tuddington Jan. 1st 1693. The CONTENTS of the First BOOK I. PReface II. The Birth and Education of Theodosius III. Changes in the Empire IV. Election of Valentinian V. Valens associated to the Empire VI. State of the Empire VII State of Religion VIII England is ravaged by the Barbarians IX Theodosius the Father is sent thither takes his Son with him defeats the Enemy X. Theodosius the Son signalizes himself in this War XI Theodosius the Father discovers a Conspiracy XII Revolt of Firmus in Africa XIII Theodosius the Father is sent into Africa with his Son against the Rebels XIV He treats with Firmus XV. He defeats the Rebels in two Battels XVI He makes a Treaty with Firmus XVII He re establisheth the City of Caesarea XVIII He punishes the Deserters XIX He finds himself engaged in the Mountains XX. He happily escapes the danger he was in XXI Theodosius the Son is sent to Court XXII Valentinian associates his Son Gratian to the Empire XXIII Expedition of Valentinian against the Germans Theodosius the Son has Orders to follow him XXIV Irruption of the Quades and the Subject XXV Theodosius the Son is made Governor of Maesia XXVI Theodosius the Father pursues Firmus XXVII He declares War against the Isaflians XXVIII Battel against Igmazen King of the Isaflians XXIX Igmazen sues to Theodosius for Peace XXX Imprisonment of Firmus his Death End of the African Wars XXXI Theodosius makes Peace with the Isaflians XXXII Valentinian's Expedition against the Quades XXXIII Embassy of the Quades Death of Valentinian XXXIV Divers reasonings upon the death of Valentinian XXXV The part that Valentinian had in the Election of St. Ambrose XXXVI Valentinian the younger is made Emperor XXXVII The cause of the disgrace of the two Theodosius's XXXVIII Enterprizes against the Emperor Valens XXXIX Magical Consultation XL. The Answer XLI Theodorus is seized and condemned to dye XLII Persecution of Philosophers and others XLIII Valens orders the destruction of several persons whose names begin by Theod. XLIV Subjects of Jealousy against Theodosius the Father He is condemned to dye XLV Exile of Theodosius the Son XLVI 〈◊〉 of Theodosius into Spain XLVII Original Progress Division and Religion of the Goths XLVIII
all Illyrium and left those of the East to his Brother They came together as far as Naisse where they shared the Armies and the chief Commanders and at last parted at Sirmium the one for Milan the other to return to Constantinople VIII Valentinian immediately applied himself to examine the condition of those Provinces that lay most exposed to the Insults of Barbarians He passed into Gaul and fought the Germans who had made an Incursion therein with a great Army After their defeat he departed from Amiens to go to Treves There he was in hopes to enjoy in peace the advantage of his late Victory when he received advice from several places that all England was ransack'd and wasted by the Enemy that the French and Saxons had made a descent therein on that side nearest Gaul that the Picts and Scots made a destruction to the very heart of the Country that they had killed the Governor and surprized the General of the Army and that if things were not suddenly remedied the Empire would infallibly lose one of its fairest Provinces IX This News astonished the Emperor and occasioned to him great disturbances He commanded Theodosius the Father of him whose History we write to pass into that Island with Troops that were advanced that way judging him alone capable of restoring to a better state an Affair which appeared desperate Theodosius departed in haste and took his Son with him that he might learn the Trade of War He rende vouz d at Bologne the Army that was destined for him and crossing the Sea with an assurance which seemed to foretel the Event he advanced towards London and searched for the Enemies to give them Battel He routed several of their Parties which he found rambling through the Country He took away their Men their Cattel and all the rest of the Booty which they drag'd along and made a Declaration in all places round about that every one should come to see and repossess his own reserving but a little part of the Booty for those Soldiers who were most fatigued His chiefest care was still to ease the People and his first Instructions to his Son were Examples of Humanity and Justice necessary Vertues but rarely known to Men of War After these first Successes he entred London and encouraged the City who already acknowledged him for her Deliverer As he had to do with Enemies who dispersed themselves and rallied at all moments to surprize him he resolved to baffle them at their own game and to weaken them by little Skirmishes being unable to engage them to a Fight Whereupon he took the Field possessed himself of advantageous Posts divided his Army into several Bodies and falling without delay upon one or t'other of these Barbarians who had their separate Interests and who came rather with a design to pillage than to fight he defeated them entirely and established security in City and Country In all these Encounters he made appear as much of Valor as Discretion Ammian lib. 28. and 't is reported of him that he never commanded his Soldiers to an Attempt but he first gave himself for an Example X. Theodosius shewed himself a worthy Son of this renowned Captain and afforded in these first occasions marks of his future greatness Maximus by birth an English man who took a pride in boasting of his Descent from the Race of Constantine served at the same time in the same Army These two young Men who were one day to dispute between them the Empire of the World came to know one another and signalized themselves by Emulation in this Expedition They were almost of the same age their spirits their courage were alike and both enjoyed the same great passion to exalt themselves by way of Arms but they were different as to manners Theodosius was free courteous and generous Maximus deceitful morose and jealous of the desert and reputation of another The one was brave by vertue the other so by fierceness the one pretended to no more than the glory of serving Emperors the other would gladly have consented to usurp their place XI Scarce was this War concluded but a Conspiracy was found of no less danger The Heads of which were arrested and condemned to death But it was not judged convenient to put them to the question lest there should be too many Accomplices to punish or their despair should revive those Troubles which were but just appeased After which Theodosius returned to the Court of Valentinian and presented to him his Son who had been the Companion of his Labours It was there that this young Lord made himself known to Prince Gratian who altho' a very Child was already much inclined to favour Vertue and Desert XII The Joy which was entertained for the happy Success of the English Affairs was soon disturbed by the News which was received of an Insurrection of a part of Africk Firmus one of the chief Lords of the Country was Captain of the Rebellion He was accus'd for having caused the Assassination of one of his Brothers The Roman Governor of the Province had attempted to destroy him he supported himself by his Friends and Reputation They wrote to the Court the one his Accusations and Complaints the other his Justifications Valentinian was of a humor severe enough but there were some convenient moments when he suffered himself to be easily wrought upon In the greatest necessities of Affairs he had been careful to ease the People but not so vigilant upon those that governed them and altho' he was of his own temper inexorable for the slenderest Faults yet he would not so much as hear Complaints relating to his Officers whether it was that he thought to hurt his own Authority by lessening theirs even when they abused it or else that according to his Politicks it was necessary to treat the People with an extream Rigor XIII This was the occasion of the Revolt of Firmus He had Advice that they had suppressed his Letters at Court that those of his Enemy were lookt upon that the Ministers were won and the Prince prepossessed As he saw himself upon the point of being overwhelmed he had recourse to Arms. He raised the People that were even impatient at the Violences and Rapines of their Governor took on himself the Crown and was proclaimed King He took the Field forthwith consumed all that made resistance surprized the City of Caesarea which he abandoned to his Troops lest Fire and Sword should be omitted and â—ngross'd his Army with a great number of Moors who came in multitudes to fight under his Banner Theodosius had Orders to depart with his Son in haste in order to oppose the Rebels He embarked with the Troops that were designed him and descended upon the Coast of Africk There having met the Governor of the Province he learnt of him the posture of Affairs and after having softly reproached him for the Disturbances he had caused he sent him to give Orders for the security of
most willingly agreed to it and gave Orders that he should be forthwith baptized and consecrated 8 days after It is reported that this Prince would himself assist at his Consecration and that at the end of the Ceremony lifting up his Eyes and Hands to Heaven he cried out transported with Joy I render thanks to thee O God in that thou hast confirmed my choice by thine in Theod. l. 4. c. 7. commiting our Souls to him to whom I had appointed the Government of this Province The holy Arch-Bishop applied himself entirely to the study of the Sacred Scriptures and the establishment of Faith and Discipline within his Diocess Having observed the commission of some abuses by the Magistrates under the Emperor's Authority he went to find him in his Palace and remonstrated to him the zeal he ought to have for the Service of God and the observation of Justice This Prince replied to him wisely that he received his advice in good part that he knew him him of a long time for an upright Man and incapable of dissimulation or flattery that in accepting of him for his Bishop he had well foreseen that he chose to himself a Judge incorruptible in his life that he had not ceased to confirm his Election judging that one could not give too much Authority to a good Man that he might use then his ordinary liberty that he might reprove by a holy severity the irregularities of the Court and that he should not fear to advertise even him of his mistakes and to apply those remedies which he should judge convenient according to his Prudence and the Maxims of the Law of God The holy Arch-bishop supported by the Emperors power laboured to exterminate the Errors which his Predecessor Auxentius had sowed in the Imperial City all the Church expected much from this protection but this Prince died a little while after as we have already said His body was carried to Constantinople and laid in the Sepulchre of the great Constantine with the usual Solemnities XXXVI Gratian the eldest Son of Valentinian and of Severa his first Wife had been associated to the Empire about seven years before and was then at Treves where his Father had lest him The young Valentinian Son of the second bed between eight and nine years old was coming forward with the Empress Justine his Mother and as he was not far from the Army the chief Officers conspired together to create him Emperor Cerealis his Uncle managed all the Intreigue with Dexterity and presently obtained Merobades who commanded the Infantry They cut off the bridges and guarded all the passages which led to the Quarters of the Gauls Troops that were mutinous and disaffected All that were suspected to them had orders to march before they understood any thing of the Emperors death They took care to remove in particular the Count Sebastian a firm and peaceable man but too much beloved of the Soldiers in such an occasion After having thus disposed all things Cerealis went to seek his Nephew and made him to be declared Augustus six days after his Fathers death They that were concerned in this Election wrote to Gratian that the Enemies having retaken courage since the death of his Father the Army wanted the presence of an Emperor and that they had been constrained to elect the Prince Valentinian before stirring spirits could have time to take other measures that they begg'd his Majesty Zoz l. â— to excuse them iâ— they had not staid for his consent and to pardon them a fault which they had not committed but for the good of the State and the interest of his Family Gratian being offended at their proceedings was upon the point of being severe with some but he was appeased almost at the same time and confirming the Election of this young Prince he not only accepted of him for a Collegue but would also be to him instead of a Father He contented himself with the Provinces which are on this side the Alps and left him Italy Africk and Illyrium to govern XXXVII The death of Theodosius the Father and the disgrace of his Son arrived in this time by the jealousy of the Ministers of the Empire and the Intrigues of the Emperor Valens who could not endure those whom he thought worthy to succeed him This hatred was founded upon Predictions and Horoscopes which he thought inevitable and yet would endeavour to avoid them He was a Prince who had many defects and whose good qualities were extinguished by the bad Sometimes he took Resolutions good enough but he often wanted the force or capacity to execute them He stopt the Ambition and Insolence of the Grandees but it was almost always in their oppression He might have enjoyed the glory of being a good Friend if he had known how to chuse his friendships He did not charge the Provinces with Taxes but he ruined the best houses of the Empire and would regain upon the confiscations of particulars what he lost in lessening the publick Imposts As soon as any one was accused before him to be rich 't was sufficient to prove him guilty and without putting himself to the trouble of discerning truth from falshood he never ceased to punish when it would prove to his advantage He was always ready to give long Audiences to Flatterers and was tired when they began to justify themselves which gave occasion for Oppressions and Calumnies XXXVIII There had been divers Attempts made against him since his Reign which made him fearful and suspitious Some corrupted Courtiers made their advantage by this infirmity of the Emperor and persuaded him at every turn that he incurr'd some great danger some to get themselves esteemed and to render themselves necessary others to get rid of their Enemies without punishment by accusing them of disaffection to the Prince All the Intrigues of Court rowled upon none but false Reports and imaginary Attempts Matters were come to that point that it was a Crime to explicate a Prediction or to speak of the Successor of Valens this easiness to believe and fear all things was the occasion of the loss of several great Men and particularly that of old Theodosius Pallaâ—ius a Man of an inferior birth and much given to Magick having been arrested as an Accomplice of some Lords at Court who were accused for robbing the Exchequer was put into the hands of Modestus Praefectus Praetorio He was Ammiâ—n lib. 29. examined and would discover nothing He was put to the Rack which he soon endured with constancy enough but when he found himself still pressed with Torments he cryed out that he had things to tell of more importance than those he was examined for and which had relation to the person of the Prince He was permitted to recover his breath and as he was encouraged to speak he declared that there had been lately held a secret Cabal wherein by Witchcrafts and detestable Presages they had learnt the Destiny of the Emperor and
to ruine him and being unable to exclaim against his Life which was very innocent and exemplary he attempted to assail his Doctrine altho it was exceeding pure and wholesom He accused him as of a Crime for sustaining That Jesuâ— Christ was equal to his Father eternal and immutable as well as he and had but one Essence After having reproached him with this Truth as a Heresy he proposed himself his own Heresy as a Truth and began to publish That the Son of God was but a Creature That the word had been made out of nothing that his nature was mutable and changeable that he was the Son of God but by Adoption and that if he was called God it was not to be understood that he was so by Nature but only by Participation As he was learned in the Scriptures and above all a dexterous Logician he collected from the sacred books all that might favor his Opinions and wrapt up the question in so many difficulties and gave to his Error so much probability that several went over to his Party The Patriarch endeavoured to bring him over by his admonitions his reasons and his threatnings but finding that these ways of sweetness and exhortation served but to encourage him the more and give him more opportunity to divulge his impiety he excommunicated him in a Council â— an Hundred Bishops whom he had assembled fâ— that purpofe out of Aegypt and Libya This blow astonished him but not pulled him down He retired to Palestine from whence he wrote to the Emperor he went himself to find him and in a little time got some Protectors and a great number of Disciples who fixed themselves to him some through the sole love of Novelty others through that false Compassion for a man oppressed many were gained by his perswasions and caresses Constantine being informed that the Bishops and People began to separate and that Synods were assembled of both Parties was afraid of the consequence of this division He wrote from Nicomedia which was at that time the usual residence of the Eastern Emperors a common letter to St. Alexander and Arrius to exhort them to reunite themselves and to agree upon a matter which appeared of little importance for the Faith and which would disturb the peace of the Church Osius Bishop of Cordova in Spain who was by chance near the Emperor had orders to go into Aegypt to endeavour for an accommodation and acquitted himself of his Commission with much fidelity but with little success To reduce this obstinate Sect and determine the point of Doctrine in dispute it was necessary to come to an Universal Council that should establish truth and condemn the error by a decisive Judgment Nice one of the chief Cities of Bithinia was chosen for the place of this Assembly the Bishops from all parts of the World were invited thither they arrived there at the appointed time to the number of threehundred and eighteen Constantine himself was there to be a Witness and as Mediator of the Peace and reunion of the Church Arrius and his Partisans were called They were heard convicted and condemned The Divinity of Jesus Christ was acknowledged and to take from the Arians all pretence of disguising their error under ambiguous terms they were obliged to make use of the word Consubstantial in their Professions of Faith and to sign the consubstantiality of the word This expression since this time was as a certain mark which distinguished Catholics from those who were not so or were but not sincerely and the Fathers of the Council inserted it in their Creed Arius and the Bishops who protected him after many difficulties feigned to submit themselves to the decisions of the Council and to avoid the troubles they were threatned with publicly abjured their Heresy But they abandoned not their enterprize and expected a favorable Season to disperse again abroad the poison which they had been forced to shut up in their hearts In the mean time they drew to their Party those who might assist them with their Credit or their Favour They made their submission to be thought sincere by the Emperor in order to the more easy abusing of his goodness and whilst they revered in appearance the Faith of Nice they sought to ruine by calumnys and false imputations those who were defenders of it At length by the applications of Eusebius Bishops of Nicomedia who was become the chief of their Party by the credit of the Princess Constantia the Emperors Sister and by reiterated protestations of fidelity and obedience they came to be considered as Orthodox Arius himself being brought as it were in triumph by his Friends to be received in the Communion of the Church at Constantinople if he had not suddenly departed an unquiet and criminal Life by a terrible and shameful Death Altho these Heretics were for the most part passionate and seditious Spirits yet they durst not rise and disturb openly the peace of the Church as long as Constantine the Great ruled the Empire for although he had sometimes a little too much easiness yet he had much zeal for Religion and as it was not impossible to surprize him so it was dangerous if he perceived himself to be so Thus they were obliged to be cautious of this Prince who might be ignorant of the truth but who was not able to suffer an injustice But when they saw themselves fortified by the Authority of Constantius his Son and Successor they kept no longer any bounds They not only published their false Doctrine but they oppressed even those who had the courage to oppose them Their insolence extended as far as to chase the most holy Prelates from the first Sees of the East to proscribe even the Patriarchs and to take away the liberty of Athan. ad Sol. p. 831. Votes in Councils where the Emperor came in person to be an Accuser of the Saints and said aloud that his Will ought to stand for a Rule and Decision in the Church The Reign of Valens was not less favourable to them They exercised in his name their usual Violences They obtained Letters of him to the Governours of Provinces to persecute the Catholics They went even to the farthest part of the desarts of Thebais to chase from thence those solitary persons who led a life perfectly Celestial The persecution was bloody and under a Christian Prince there were almost as many Martyrs as under Infidel Tyrants Such were the beginningâ— and progress of this Heresy IX Albeit it was not only difficult but likewise dangerous in a new Reign to assault a powerful Sect that had been of a long time accustomed to rule Notwithstanding Theodosius considering that the first duty of Soveraigns is to make him reign by whom they reign and suspecting but with reason the fidelity of those who had revolted against the Church formed a design to bring them over with sweetness or to repress them with Authority He went to publish his sirst Edicts at
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
not fly from an honest Society and was troublesom to no body Damasus proposed him as a wise man who lived in the Court without being corrupted and who would give not only good instructions to the Prince but also good Examples to the Courtiers XVI The Emperor received Arsenius as a Treasure sent from Heaven itself and prayed him to be careful of the Education of Arcadius to look upon him as his own Son to take over him all the Authority of a Father and to make of him by his instructions a wise and pious Emperor He recommended to this Young Prince Docility Obedience and Respect and repeated to him several times these words Remember my Son that you will Apud Metaphrast 8 Maii. Sur 19. Julii be more obliged to your Tutor than to my self You have from me your Birth and an Empire you will learn of him Wisdom and the Fear of God and from henceforth he will more justly claim the Title of Father than I. He was wanting in nothing that might conduce to authorize the Master and render the Pupil more respectful for happening one day to enter into the Chamber of the Prince in order to assist at his Lecture and having found him seated and Arsenius standing before him he complained of both Arsenius would excuse himself upon the honor he thought himself obliged to â—ender to an Emperor and upon the Respect which the Purple wherewith he was invested imprinted in him But Theodosius without hearkening to his excuses commanded him to sit down and his Son to stand and be uncovered during Lecture and to take away all subject of Decorum he ordered the Prince to lay aside all the marks of his Dignity when he went to his Study adding that he should hold him unworthy of the Empire if he did not know how to render to every one his due and with his Learning did not observe Acknowledgment and Piety XVII Arseniâ—s applied himself not only to teach his Pupil good Literature but also to educate him in the Faith and in the Exercise of Christian Vertues He studied his inclinations and maintained them or redressed them as they were good or bad This young Prince was of a lively open-hearted Temper of an easy and agreeaâ—le Humor his Sentiments all noble and generous and had a Soul naturally inclined to Religion and Justice But he was averse to Labor inconstant in his Friendships ready and susceptible of all â—orts of Impreâ—â—ions and more disposed to credit those who flattered him in his defects than those who endeavored to reclaim him Arseniuâ— foreseeing the faâ—al consequences that might proceed to an Emperor from these vicious Habits after having attempted in vain to reform them by address resolved to repress them by a discreet severity He reproved him several times he complained to the Emperor his Father of his ungovernable Temper he joyned at length chastisement to his complaints and reprimands Arcadius took the correction for an injury and had a mind to rid himself of his Tutor He communicated his design to one of his Ofâ—icers in whom he reposed much confidence and commanded him to deliver him from a troublesome man whâ— misused him This Officer promised him to execute his Orders for fear he should charge some body else with them and went secretly to advertize Arsenius that he might provide for his own security XVIII Altho Arsenius saw well that it was nothing but a Childish passion which might have no consequence yet making Reflections upon the unhappiness of Princes who love almost as soon as they are born those who delude them and esteem those for Enemies who correct them he seriously considered about leaving an Employment wherein he hazarded his Life if he persisted in his constancy and his Safety if he took a soft and remiss conduct Heaven determined him almost at the same time to a profession more quiet and more holy For as he asked God in the fervency of his Prayer what method he should take to save himself it is reported that he Ruffin l. 3. heard a Voice which answered to him Arsenius avoid men 't is the means to secure thee A few days after he went out of Constantinople disguised and took Sanctuary in the Deserts of Egypt where he passed above Fifty years among the Solitaries of Scete without holding any correspondence with the world living only upon Roots scarce affording some few moments of sleep to the infirmity of Nature employing days and nights in Prayer and Lamentation in his Cell and fixing himself with an entire application of mind to his Salvation till he arrived at the Age of Fourscore and fifteen years The Emperor received with a very sensible displeasure the news of Arsenius's retirement without knowing the occasion of it He made him to be searched for through the whole extent of the Empire but God had a mind to conceal him from the world after he had drawn him from thence in order to make of him a perfect model of a penitent and solitary Life Arcadius did not know the loss he had sustained but the People felt the effects of it when confirmed in his Passions governed by his Women and his Eunuchs preferring and destroying his Favorites himself he gave occasion for those Revolutions which began to ruine the Roman Empire without recovery XIX Theodosius after he had established his Son applied himself to regulate the Affairs of the Church which were no less considerable to him than those of his Family To satisfy his Zeal and to leave no cause of Division in the East when he should be in a condition to march against Maximus he attempted on a sudden to confound all the Heresies and to reunite all minds in the same Belief In order to which he summoned to Constantinople the Heads of the different Sects to give an account of their Faith and their motives of separation from the Catholicks They all repaired Socrat. l. 5. 6. 10. Sozom. l. 7. â— 12. thither some to endeavor a re-establishment in those Bishopricks which they had formerly usurped the rest to sustain their opinions in a regular dispute The Emperor discovered his design to the Archbishop of Constantiuople and consulted him upon those measures he should esteem most proper for the Reunion of Religions This Prelate who had grown old at Court without any acquaintance with the holy Scriptures or Ecclesiastical Rules and moreover very little instructed in the state of the Questions and Controversies of the time found himself in an extream perplexity He was afraid of Disputes and Conferâ—â—ces and knowing his own small Capacity he had recourse to Agelas Bishop of the Novatians This Prelate sent him back to Sisinnus who was as yet but a Reader in their Church and did not cease to be very intelligent in all kind of Learning well versed in the reading of Church Authors This man advised him to obstruct disputes and contests in the Synod saying that they provoked mens minds instead of perswading them that the
hands of the Conqueror Theodosius did not abuse his Victory He seemed more concerned at the misfortune of this Tyrant than incensed at his Crimes He reproached him with his perfidiousness in a behaviour that argued more of compassion than of anger and reflecting upon the justice of God's decisions and the inconstancy of humane greatness he was going to crown his victory by an act of Christian Generosity in pardoning his Prisoner But as he turned his head to conceal that emotion of Pity which appeared upon his face the Soldiers snatcht him from his mercy and having drawn him out of his Tent made him to be bèheaded in sight of the whole Army Andragatius being advised a little while after of this news and despairing of Theodosius's pardon for the murderer of Gratian chose rather to throw himself headlong into the Sea than to fall into his hands XCVIII A Success so happy and so expeditions which regained the Empire of the West and secured that of the East to Theodosius and his Children was published through the whole World But the goodness and moderation of the Conqueror made his triumph more illustrious than the obtaining of two battels and the absolute destruction of the Tyrant For he contented himself with the death of two or three persons unworthy of pardon Oroâ— l. â— c. 35. and received all the rest of the party not as a Conqueror but a Father There was neither confiscating of goods nor losing of employments nor spilling of blood Every one had the liberty of returning to his house and under a Prince of so much humanity no body was sensible of having been overcome He even allowed great Pensions to the Wife of Maximus whose Daughters Ambros Ep. 29. ad Theod. Aug. l. 5. de civ Dei c. 25. he caus'd to be educated with abundance of care and forgot nothing that might comfort them for their misfortune or entertain them according to their condition He would have granted the same favor to Victor their Brother if against his intention Arbogastes to assure himself of Gaul and to take away from thence all subject of Rebellion had not put him to death That which was most great and heroic in this expedition was not the subduing the whole Empire of the West it was the restoring of it As soon as he was Master thereof he re established in it the young Valentinian adding new Provinces to those which had been usurped and reserving to himself for a compensation of his Labors nothing but the Glory of a disinteressed Protection XCIX The fame of this Victory astonished the Arians of Constantinople who had not expected it nor even wished for it Touched at the rigorous Decrees which had been declared against them they maliciously dispersed false reports in the City and determined this war according to their desires even before it was begun They assured that Theodosius had lost the â—attle that he had much ado to escape and thâ—â— he fled before Socrat. l. 5. c. 13. Sozom l. 7. c. 14. Maximus They rendred this plausible falshood by the circumstances which they added even so far as to compute the number of the wounded and dead on both sides One would have said that they had been the Spectators of what was not yet come to pass Those very men that had at first spread abroad these false reports gathered them up afterwards as reallâ— true being perswaded by new particulars which were related to them and believed the loss of the Emperor to be infallible because they desired it As there are always uneasy Spirits who by a natural levity or for particular Interests are weary of the present Government so many People noised abroad this news that no body questioned it or durst contradict it C. The Arians made use of this occasion to revenge themselves for the deprivation of their Churches They went out of their houses like so many Furies with Torches in their hands and carrying every where tumult and disorder they went to burn the Palace of the Patriarch Nectarius They had proceeded to greater excesses but the news of Theodosius's Victory being arrived at the same time the fear of Punishment stopt the course of this Sedition which the hopes of impunity had excited These Hereticks went to cast themselves at the feet of Arcadius and entreated him with so much importunity to intercede for them with his Father that being affected with their Prayers with the repentance they shewed of their crime and the assurancs they gave of being more submissive and moderate for the future he engaged himself to ask for their pardon Theodosius who desired nothing so much as to accustom his Son to Clemency and to encourage him to make such Petitions to him immediately granted his Request After some residence which the Emperor made at Aquileia to refresh himself after the fatigues of war and to give necessary orders for the security and peace of the Empire he passed to Milan where he published an Edict by which he annulled Leg. 7. d infirmand his quae sub Tyran all the Ordinances of Maximus requiring that the memory thereof might be entirely abolished It was about this time that some Bishops complained of the judgment he had given and stir'd up against him the Zeal of St. Ambrose CI. It was the custom of the Eastern Churches to honor every year the memory of the holy Martyrs to assemble together upon the day of theiâ— Festivals and to make Processions in singing Psalms and Hymns The first day of August some Paulin. in vit Ambr. Solitaries who were met together to celebrate the Feast of the holy Maccabees went in procession through the Country followed by some devout persons of their Neighborhood They passed through a Village named Callicin where the Jews had a Synagogue and the Valentinian Hereticks a Temple Whether this singing of Psalms was troublesome to them or they took this ceremony for an Insult upon their Religions they all went out fell upon the Christians and hindred them from passing further after having abused them The noise of this violence was soon dispersed the Solitaries made complaints the people were moved thereat and the Bishop transported with zeal excited so well both the one and t'other to revenge the injury that was done to God and his Martyrs that they went to burn the Synagogue of the Jews and the Temple of the Hereticks The Emperour having been informed of the business by the Count of the East ordered the Temple and the Synagogue to be rebuilt at the expence of the Bishop and those who had burnt them to be punished CII The Oriental Bishops found the Decree too rough advised St. Ambrose of it and conjured him to employ all his credit towards the repealing thereof This holy Archbishop was then at Aquileia to assist at the election of a Successor to Valerian Bishop of that City who was lately deceased Being unable then to go and find Theodosius he wrote a Letter to him full of
so strongly fixed in his mind that at his return to Constantinople being in the Cathedral Church upon a great Holyday he went out of the Quiâ—e after he had made his Offering And when the Patriarch Nectarius sent to desire him to re-enter and to resume the place that was designed for his Majesty Alas said he sighing I have been a long time finding out the distinction between a Bishop and an Emperor I am encompassed with People that flatter me I have found bâ—t one Man that has set me in the right way and has told me the truth and I know but one true Bishop in the Theodor. world which is Ambrose From this time the Emperor kept without the Balister a little above the People but below the Priests such influence had the correction of a zealous and unblameable Prelate upon a Prince who had some care of his salvation All the Church was edified by the docility and faith of this Emperor The holy Fathers in their Writings have consecrated the memory Aug. de â—iv 〈◊〉 l. 5. c. 26. of his Piety and by this example they have admonished all Sovereigns to regulate their Authority by Justice and not by their Passions to distinguish good from evil councils and to be Ambros in fun Theod. Paul c. more ashamed of the sins they commit than of the penance they ought to do for them XIII Theodosius after having submitted himselâ— to the Laws of the Church employed his Authority to make them observed and repressed the insolence of Jovinian and his Disciples whoâ— the Council of Milan had condemned Jovinian had been a Religious in a Monastery of the Suburbs of Milan which St. Ambrose entertained by his cares in an exact regularity This giddy-headeâ— and sensual man was soon weary of leading an austere and penitent life He forsook it and drew after him certain infirm Spirits which he had infected with a contagious doctrine He had some design to re-enter into this holy Society but iâ— was judged that his repentance was not sincere and that his conversation would be dangerous insomuch that they refused to receive him Hâ— was so netled at this denial that he taught publickly That fasting and other exercises of penitence Hieronym contra Jov. â— 2. were of no importance That Virginity had no advantage over Marriage That they who are baptized can't be dejected by temptations That there was but one reward for all the happy and several other Maxims which tended to the remisness of manners and the decay of discipline Besides the badness of his cause it was ill sustained August de Harâ—s c. 82. because he had neither politeness nor eloquence in his Writings but as it flattered the sensual inclinations of men it was easie to perswade Thus by debasing the glory of Virginity he seduced several Roman Virgins and by virtue of declaiming against Celibacy he disposed good men to dissolution Some holy and learned persons wrote against his doctrine and his life which was very conformable to his opinions and even reproached him Ambr. de Virgin Hiero. l. 2. con Jov. August de bono conjug with his delicacies his luxury and his incontinence very smartly The Pope Siricius aâ—ter having condemned this Arch-Heretick sent his Legats to Milan to call a Synod there and to extinguish these new errors in the very place where they were brought forth This Synod which began to assemble when the news of the affair of Thessalonica arrived had judged Jovinian and his Companions conformably to the Sentence of Rome there remained nothing further to do but to execute it Theedosius took it upon himself and by a Rescript dated at Verona the second day of September he chased from Rome those irregular men who still retained the name and habit of their first Profession and banished them into remote Leg. 1. de anach cod Theod. desarts where they must have lived in a forced continence if the Magistrates had been more exact in executing the order which they had received XIV The zeal of this Prince did not terminate here for having learnt that this Heresie had introduced strange disorders in Rome he set out very severe Ordinances against several sorts of impurities and very expresly commanded the Lieutenant of the City to put a stop to this corruption Aurel. vict in Theod. Ambr. ep 66. by Punishments proportioned to the Crimes in order to restore amongst the Romans that decency of manners to which Constantine the Great had formerly begun to reduce them It was about this time that he prohibited under very severe penalties the marriage of Cousin-germans renewing the ancient Edicts which an unbridled Liberty had made absolutely void He still established several Laws which related to the quiet of the State and the government of the Church The Regulation which he made upon the subject of Deaconesses deserves to be related here with all its circumstances as well because the occasion he had to do it at that time made a mighty noiâ—e as because Princes may draw from thence some instruction for their conduct XV. The Church of Rome has always exacted from Penetints an open or particular Confession of their Sins as a necessary Humiliation and an evident mark of grief and repentance Ministers appointed for the direction of consciences heard the accusations which every one offered against himself and ordained penalties and satisfactions proportioned to the Sins which were exposed to them The Bishop alone held this Tribunal of Penance as long as Christians lived in the â—ervour and purity of the Rules of the Gospel But Sozom. l. 7. c. 16. their number being encreased and discipline being slackned as soon as the Persecutions had ceased Sins became so frequent and the Bishops found themselves charged with so many cares that it was necessary to establish in every Church a Penetentiary Priest This received the Confessions of Penitents prescribed them the time and manner Socrat. l. 5. c. 19. of satisfaction and after having tried them according to their necessities by practices of Penance he presented them to the Bishop to be reconciled XVI This Office that had been long since established at Constantinople was suppressed by the Patriarch Sozom. ib. Nectarius upon the occasion of a disorder happened in his Church A young Widow of Quality who in all probability through a devotion of but little substance had raised herself to the degree of Deaconess made a confession of all her past life to a Penitentiary who imposed on her as an expiation of her faults extraordinary Fasts and Prayers As she was obliged to be a long time at Church in order to acquit her self of the satisfactions which had been prescribed her She had an opportunity of seeing and conversing often with a young Deacon in whom she had reposed too much confidence These entertainments very serious at the beginning degenerated on both sides into no very decent familiarities and this spiritual correspondence became at
length a criminal passion This Widow being pressed at last with a remorse of Conscience went to declare â—er Sin and imprudently named him who had â—educed her The Penitentiary had a mind to examine the â—ruth of the fact The Patriarch was advised of â—t the Deacon was deposed The care which was taken to conceal the subject of this deposition made every one more curious to inform himself of it They presently discovered the crime which some persons had already suspected the noise was dispersed throughout the City The People casting the fault of one Ecclesiastick upon the whole Clergy were upon the point of making an insurrection The Patriarch Nectarius in order to put a stop to this commotion and to take away for the future all occasion of such like scandals suppressed the Office of Penitentiary in his Church by the advice of one of his Priests named Eudemon Whether he did abolish this Charge or only interrupted for a time the practice of publick Penance he made a considerable breach in â—iscipline XVII Be it as it will Theodosius being concerned at the disorder which had happened at Constantinople and willing to take from the Pagans all occasion of crying down the manners of the Church set forth an Ordinance whereby he regulated the Age and Testaments of Deaconesses They were Ladies of a remarkable piety who employed themselves in all that regarded the ease instruction or discipline of persons of their Sex They distributed the charities of the faithful Clem. l. 3. 8. Const Epip Haeres 79. Bona rer Litur c. 25. Paul Epist â—d Rom. 16. taught the Principles of Faith and the ceremonies of Baptism took upon them all the cares that were agreeable to modesty and decency in immersions unctions burials and altho their employment was not an order in the Hierarchy yet it was an ancient and considerable Ministry There were two sorts of abuses crept in amongst them Some in their youth through an impatient desire to distinguish themselves by their devotion cut off their hair and introduced themselves into the Church from hence proceeded oftentimes scandal always danger Others by an indiscreet liberality were spurr'd on to give their possessions to the Churches and Hospitals and often ruined their families to satisfie the avariece of the Clergy Theodosius to redress these abuses ordained that no Widow should be received into the rank of Deaconess who was not sixty years old pursuant to the Precept of St. Paul and prohibited those who were received to give away under Leg. 27. de Episc Cod. Theod. pretences of Religion their Gold Silver and Jewels leaving them the entire disposition of the revenues of their lands but not permitting them to scatter them away or to alienate their grounds to the prejudice of their Children or Relations nor to leave them by Will to the Clergy to the Poor or to the Churches The first part of his Ordinance was generally approved of but it was remonstrated to him That it was not just to obstruct the good intentions of dying Widows and to stop one of the chief Springs of Charity That it was to encroach upon the Liberty of the Church and even the Priviledges of the Poor to exclude them from the Patrimonies and Alms of the Faithful and that Religion was already but too much weakned and Charity grown too cold without confining them still by Laws injurious to both The Emperor who was never ashamed to recant when it was evidenced to him that he was under a mistake received this Remonstrance so well that two months after he published at Verona a revocation of this Law He commanded it to be taken out of all Registers to the end that no Pleader might alledge it and no Magistrate make use thereof in Judgments XVIII Whilst he was thus taken up at Milan he received the News of the death of the Empress Galla his second Wife who had remained at Constantinople He was very sensibly concerned at the loss of this Princess whom he had passionately loved and whom he had enjoyed but a little time amongst the troubles of War and the cares of the re-establishment of the Empire He had withdrawn her from the Errors wherein the Empress Justine had engaged heâ—â—in her Infancy and had made her partake not â—nly of his Throne but also of his Piety She â—yed in the flower of her Age and left but one Daughter named Placidia who was afterwards so famous for her Beauty for her Wit for the extraordinary Adventures which hapned to her and the Testimonies she gave of her Faith and of her Zeal for Religion Her Obsequies were very magnificent Arcadius a little while after caused a Pillar to be erected in the great place of Constantinople near the Church whereon he ordered to be fixed the Statue of Theodosius in silver with Inscriptions and Representations of his last Victories with an intention that this work might be an eternal Monument both of the glory of the Father and the piety of the Son XIX At last Theodosius resolved upon returning into the East and upon going to enjoy himself amongst his own People the satisfactions of that Peace which he had established through the whole Empire He had passed near three years in Italy and had employed them in setting those Provinces in order and instructing the young Valentinian whom he loved as his own Son Observing the credit that Symmachus enjoyed in the Senate he had honoured him with the dignity of Consul and had forgot nothing which might oblige that factious Man who gave motion to Affairs and was at the head of a Party He had made at the same time very severe Edicts against the Adoration of false Gods shewing by this conduct that he did no injury to the merit of those persons whose Religion he condemned After that he departed leaving the Western Empire in peace and the Emperor well instructed in the Art of reigning XX. He had already made part of his Army march in order to chastise as they passed some Barbarians who were got together to disturb the repose of the People They had been drawn into the An. 391 Marshes of Macedonia by some of those Deserters of whom we have spoken who were retired there and had preserved themselves from the punishment which their Treason had merited It was at first rather a Troop of Robbers than a regulated Militia but the number of them being encreased by the defeat of Maximus's Army they Zoz l. 4. observed some order and made an irruption into Thessaly and Macedon Their licentiousness augmented by the little resistance which they found and in a little time they ravaged the whole Country As soon as they had learnt that the Emperor was returning with his Army they retired into Forests that were encompassed with Lakes and came out no more in a Body they contented themselves to make incursions during night and bid themselves with their Booty as soon as day appeared One would have said that they were
and recommended to him likewise his two Children He thought himself obliged to testify this confidence to a Man who had very faithfully served him in the most important Affairs of his Reign and who had the honour to marry the Princess Serena his Neece Stilicon was a great Soldier and an excellent Statesman wise in the counsel bold in the execution expert in managing the minds of People fit to discover happy moments and to Claudian make use of them whether in Treaties or Battels dexterous in finding out the Interests of the Grandees of the Empire and piercing into the designs of Foreign Nations beloved of the Troops capable of supporting the burden of Affairs of forming a young Emperor in the exercises of Peace and War and diverting troubles by his Wisdom or putting a stop to them by his Courage and his Valor These great Qualities rendred him worthy of the choice which Theodosius had made of him till being engaged by the jealousies of Ruffin and his own ambition â—lushed with his credit and the success of several Battels reducing all publick Affairs to his own private designs and interests rekindling himself the Wars which he had extinguished and recalling those Enemies which he had chased away in order to make use of them upon occasion he was weary of being nothing but the Tutor the Father-in-law the Favorite and even the Master of the Emperor and attempted to put the Empire in his own Family LXXVI Since the Emperor's arrival at Milan this City had disposed itself to prepare a stately Triumph for him and to celebrate by all kind of Rejoycings a Victory which had made him absolute Master of the two Empires His indisposition had retarded the publick Sports which made the chief part of this Festival But at length after having setled his Affairs he found himself much eased and whether he was unwilling that the City should make in vain so considerable an Expence or whether he had a design to comfor the People by shewing himself once more in publick he gave notice to the Magistrates that he would be at the Circus on the morrow to receive the honour which they intended for him He Sozâ—m l. 7. c. ult made himself to be carried there in the morning and assisted some time at a course of Horses after which he retired more filled with the apprehensions of Death than the Idea's of his Triumph LXXVII Scarce was he arrived at the Palace but he found himself worse than before He commanded his Son Honorius to go and hold his place in the Circus As for him he passed the rest of the day in conversing with St. Ambrose about the vanity of humane Grandeurs and giving his Son Arcadius those counsels which he thought to be most important for his Conduct and for that of his Empire The same night his distemper being considerably encreased he was sensible of the diminution Prosper Marcellin Socrat. l. 5. c. 25. of his strength and some hours after he quietly departed this life upon the 17th day of January in the year 395 being the 16th of his Empire and the 50th of his Age. This death was lamented by all the People of the Empire and even the most barbarous Nations Zoz l. 5. Arcadius returned immediately to Constantinople in order to prevent those Confusions which might happen upon such Revolutions Ruffin being at that time Praefectus Pratorio accompanied him thither vexed with envy and jealousy against Stilicon whom they had raised above him and revolving already in his mind the design of abusing the weakness of his Master of destroying all that was an obstacle to his power of embroiling the Empires and Emperors by his secret Intelligences with the Huns the Goths and the Alains and to tender himself Soveraign or at least independant both on his Masters and his Enemies LXXVIII Honorius remained near the Body of his Father to render him the last devoirs of Christian Piety He assisted at the stately Funeral which was made for him at Milan sorty days after his death St. Ambrose preached his Funeral Sermon wherein he represented to his Auditors That they had lost an Emperor but that God haâ—ing withdrawn him into his eternal Mansions one might say Ambros in fun Theod. that he had only changed his Empire That his Piety was still alive That he had by the constancy of his Faith abolished all the Superstitions of the Gentiles That having no more to give his Sons whom he had made Emperors his only prospect in dying was to leave his Subjects in peace and abundance by remitting the injuries which they had done him or the Taxes which had been imposed upon them That his last Appointments â—ad been Rules of Charity and Mercy and that they were rather Laws than Articles of a Will Then he declares That he will ever preserve in his heart all the tenderness which he had conceived for this Prince who in his Wars had always trusted to the â—ssistance of Heaven and had never presumed upon his own Forces who had more esteemed those who reproved him than those who flattered him and who when almost at extremity was more in pain for the state wherein he left the Church than that wherein his Family would be after his death He could not hinder himself particularly from commending his Clemency That it is a great and extraordinary happiness said he to find a Prince piâ—us and faithful who being carried by his power to revenge himself upon his Enemies is retained by his goodness Theodosius of august memory thought to have received a Favor when he was entreated to pardon an Offence which had been committed against him The more Passion he had discovered the more he was inclined to grant the Pardon which was demanded of him The heat of his displeasure was a prejudication that he would pardon Instead of fearing their anger in other Princes contrariwise they wished it in him We have seen Men convicted by him of their Crime terrified and repulsed by the Reproaches which he made them obtain their pardon of a sudden He was for conquering and not punishing He made himself Arbitrator of Equity and not Judge of Rigor He never refused to pardon those who acknowledged their fault As for those who hid something from him which they retained in the bottom of their Conscience he told them that he left the decision thereof to God This expression of his was of more terror to them than the punishment because they saw this Emperor so moderate and easy that he chose rather to win Men to his service by Religion than fear At last the holy Archbishop directs himself to the young Emperor who was attentive to him and who melted into tears He commends him for his Affection and his Piety and the sensible Concern he was under for being unable to conduct himself the Body of his Father to Constantinople He comforts him by representing to him the Honours which would be rendred to the
memory of this Prince in all the Cities of the Empire and after having given him a lively Idea of the glory which the great Theodosius enjoyed he encourages him to imitate his Virtues and to make an advantage of his Example LXXIX The Body of this Emperor was conveyed the same year to Constantinople and whether in Italy which he had delivered from Tyrants or in the East which he had governed with abundance of wisdom and goodness he had Honours performed to him which rather resembled Triuâ—phs than Funeral Solemnities Arcadius his eldest Son received him upon the 8th of November and caused him to be laid with a magnificence worthy of so great an Emperor into the Sepulchre of Constantine LXXX The Ecclesiastical Authors and the Pagans themselves agree that he was a most accomplished August Ambros Socrat. Sozom. Themist Symmach Aurel. Victor c. Prince Those who had consulted Histories or seen the Pictures of the ancient Emperors found that he resembled Trajan from whom he drew his Original He was like him of a tall Stature had a handsom Head his Aspect great and noble the turn and features of his Face were regular and all his Body well proportioned As for the qualities of the Soul he possessed all the perfections of that Emperor and had none of his defects He was like him gracious just magnificent merciful and always ready to assist the unfortunate He communicated himself to his Courtiers and was only distinguished from them by the Purple wherewith he was invested His Civility for the Grandees of his Court and his Esteem for Persons of Merit and Virtue obtained him the friendship of both He loved free and sincere Minds and admired all those who excelled in Letters or in the noble Arts provided he observed in them neither Affectation nor Malice All who deserved to partake of his Bounties felt the effects thereof He made great Presents and made them with greatness He took pleasure in divulging to the least Offices which he had received from private Men in his first Fortune and spared nothing to testify his Acknowledgment to them Ambition did not make him attempt to conquer the Provinces of his Neighbors but he knew how to punish them who usurped his own or those of his Collegues Thus did he procure himself no Enemies during his Reign but he vanquished those who became so He was well enough versed in Learning and made use thereof out affectation The reading of Historys was not useless to him and he applied himself to form his manners upon the Vertues of great Princes who had preceded him He detested often in publick the pride the cruelty the ambition and tyranny of Cinna Marius Sylla and their followers in order to impose upon himself a happy necessity of pursuing a conduct opposed to that which he condemned above all he was a declared Enemy of Traytors and ungrateful men One may tax him with being carried fometimes to Passion but it must be a great occasion besides that he was soon appeased His access was agreeable and easy and what is extraordinary amongst Great Men his Prosperities and his Victories instead of puffing him up or corrupting him did but render him the more gentle and obliging He took care to furnish those Provinces which the war had ruined with Provisions in abundance and he restored out of his own mony considerable Sums which the Tyrants had extorted from private men In War he always marched at the head of his Armies exposing himself to danger and sharing all fatigues with the meanest Soldiers He was chast and by severe Laws he abolished those customs that were contrary to decency and modesty Altho he was of a constitution nice enough yet he maintained his health by a moderate exercise and diet It was nevertheless one of his satisfactions to entertain his Friends at Table and to improve Friendship by all kind of decent rejoycings In these particular Feasts where he consulted rather neatness and politeness than luxury and profusion he enjoyed the pleasures of society and revealed himself with a reasonable familiarity which afforded confidence without lessening the respect which was owing to him His principal diversions were conversation and walking when he had a mind to recreate himself after the cares of business Never did Prince live so well in his Family He honoured his Uncle as his Father After the death of his Brother he was as careful of his Children as of his own He advanced to Employ ments those who stuck to his Service and served as a Father to all his Relations Thus after he had regulated in the day the affairs of the Empire and given Laws to the whole World he shut himself up with joy in his Family where by his cares his affections and his goodness he made appear to his own People that he was as good a Friend as good a Relation as good a Master as good a Husband and as good a Father as he was a Wise and Powerful Emperor This is the Character which is left us of the Great Theodosius by Pagan Authors who were his Contemporaries altho prejudiced against him for the interests of their Religion The Philosopher Themist Orat. 5. Symm l. 2. Ep. 3. Themistius and Symmachus himself that great Defender of Paganism acknowledge sincerely that the Vertues of this Prince exceed all the Praises which have been conferred upon him There is none but the Historian Zozimus who by premeditated falshoods seeks to discredit those Christian Emperors who have destroyed the worship of Idols He disguises the truth according to his Caprice and his Passion and endeavours to make vices of all the Vertues of this Emperor He calls his liberalities profusions his moderation laziness his friendly barquets dissolutions and that agreeable and sweet life he led in peace a soft and voluptuous one He is notwithstanding obliged by force of truth to confess that in time of war there Zoz l. 4. was an extraordinary change of manners in him that he forgot on a sudden his amusements and his pleasures to take the cares and vertues that were necessary to the safety of the Empire and that of an infirm and sensual Emperor there was formed a valiant and laborious Prince by a kind of prodigy Not but that Theodosius had his failings His transports of anger his easiness to believe those in whom he reposed some confidence and his engagement in favour of those whom he had chosen for his principal friends are stains that would a little obscure the life of this Emperor if they were not confounded in an infinite number of glittering actions or effaced by a severe repentance The Holy Fathers who knew him best could not be tired with commending his Piety St. Ambrose and St. Austin have left Encomiums of him in several places of theâ—r writings and St. Paulin being retired to Nole made an Eloquent and Learned Hierom. Ep. 13. Apology in favour of this Prince which St. Jerome calls an excellent Panegyrick whose loss cannot be sufficiently Lamented FINIS