WEBVTT 00:19.160 --> 00:25.160 CHURCH HISTORY by EUSEBIUS OF CAESAREA Translated by Arthur Cushman McGiffert 00:25.680 --> 00:31.140 Book 10, Part 2, Chapter 4, Paragraph 36 through Chapter 5. 00:32.640 --> 00:37.400 This our new and excellent Zerubbabel, having heard the word which announced 00:37.400 --> 00:42.240 beforehand that she who had been made a desert on account of God should enjoy 00:42.240 --> 00:46.820 these things, after the bitter captivity and the abomination of desolation, 00:47.280 --> 00:51.340 did not overlook the dead body, but first of all with prayers and 00:51.340 --> 00:55.780 supplications propitiated the Father with the common consent of all of you, 00:56.340 --> 01:01.260 and invoking the only one that giveth life to the dead as his ally and fellow worker, 01:01.780 --> 01:06.640 raised her that was fallen, after purifying and freeing her from her ills. 01:07.340 --> 01:12.200 And he clothed her not with the ancient garment, but with such an one as he had 01:12.200 --> 01:17.540 again learned from the sacred oracles, which say clearly, and the latter glory of 01:17.540 --> 01:19.660 this house shall be greater than the former. 01:21.400 --> 01:26.540 Thus, enclosing a much larger space, he fortified the outer court with a wall 01:26.540 --> 01:31.600 surrounding the whole, which should serve as a most secure bulwark for the entire 01:31.600 --> 01:32.060 edifice. 01:33.140 --> 01:37.940 And he raised and spread out a great and lofty vestibule toward the rays of the 01:37.940 --> 01:42.720 rising sun, and furnished those standing far without the sacred enclosure a full 01:42.720 --> 01:47.560 view of those within, almost turning the eyes of those who were strangers to the 01:47.560 --> 01:52.600 faith to the entrances, so that no one could pass by without being impressed by 01:52.600 --> 01:57.420 the memory of the former desolation and of the present incredible transformation. 01:58.120 --> 02:02.780 His hope was that such an one being impressed by this might be attracted and 02:02.780 --> 02:05.160 be induced to enter by the very sight. 02:06.120 --> 02:10.520 But when one comes within the gates, he does not permit him to enter the 02:10.520 --> 02:15.780 sanctuary immediately, with impure and unwashed feet, but leaving as large a 02:15.780 --> 02:20.820 space as possible between the temple and the outer entrance, he has surrounded and 02:20.820 --> 02:26.140 adorned it with four transverse cloisters, making a quadrangular space with pillars 02:26.140 --> 02:31.160 rising on every side, which he has joined with latticework screens of wood, 02:31.600 --> 02:35.760 rising to a suitable height, and he has left an open space in the middle, 02:36.180 --> 02:40.540 so that the sky can be seen and the free air bright in the rays of the sun. 02:41.640 --> 02:46.300 Here he has placed symbols of sacred purifications, setting up fountains 02:46.300 --> 02:50.400 opposite the temple which furnish an abundance of water, wherewith those who 02:50.400 --> 02:53.120 come within the sanctuary may purify themselves. 02:53.800 --> 02:58.320 This is the first halting place of those who enter, and it furnishes at the same 02:58.320 --> 03:03.020 time a beautiful and splendid scene to everyone, and to those who still need 03:03.020 --> 03:05.440 elementary instruction, a fitting station. 03:06.580 --> 03:10.740 But passing by this spectacle, he has made open entrances to the temple 03:10.740 --> 03:15.040 with many other vestibules within, placing three doors on one side, 03:15.440 --> 03:17.480 likewise facing the rays of the sun. 03:18.100 --> 03:22.700 The one in the middle, adorned with plates of bronze, iron-bound and beautifully 03:22.700 --> 03:27.600 embossed, he has made much higher and broader than the others, as if he were 03:27.600 --> 03:29.980 making them guards for it as for a queen. 03:31.100 --> 03:35.720 In the same way, arranging the number of vestibules for the corridors on each side 03:35.720 --> 03:40.400 of the whole temple, he has made above them various openings into the building, 03:40.860 --> 03:45.520 for the purpose of admitting more light, adorning them with very fine wood carving. 03:46.180 --> 03:50.320 But the royal house he has furnished with more beautiful and splendid materials, 03:50.800 --> 03:53.740 using unstinted liberality in his disbursements. 03:54.480 --> 03:59.620 It seems to me superfluous to describe here in detail the length and breadth of 03:59.620 --> 04:03.480 the building, its splendor and its majesty-surpassing description, 04:04.020 --> 04:08.220 and the brilliant appearance of the work, its lofty pinnacles reaching to the 04:08.220 --> 04:13.440 heavens, and the costly cedars of Lebanon above them, which the divine oracle has 04:13.440 --> 04:17.520 not omitted to mention, saying, The trees of the Lord shall rejoice, 04:17.740 --> 04:20.280 and the cedars of Lebanon which he hath planted. 04:21.720 --> 04:26.120 Why need I now describe the skillful architectural arrangement and the 04:26.120 --> 04:30.340 surpassing beauty of each part, when the testimony of the eye renders 04:30.340 --> 04:32.500 instruction through the ear superfluous? 04:33.060 --> 04:38.340 For when he had thus completed the temple, he provided it with lofty thrones in honor 04:38.340 --> 04:43.380 of those who preside, and in addition with seats arranged in proper order throughout 04:43.380 --> 04:47.720 the whole building, and finally placed in the middle the Holy of Holies, 04:47.960 --> 04:51.840 the altar, and that it might be inaccessible to the multitude, 04:52.440 --> 04:57.020 enclosed it with wooden latticework, accurately wrought with artistic carving, 04:57.460 --> 04:59.740 presenting a wonderful sight to the beholders. 05:00.800 --> 05:06.240 And not even the pavement was neglected by him, for this too he adorned with 05:06.240 --> 05:08.300 beautiful marble of every variety. 05:08.940 --> 05:13.840 Then finally he passed on to the parts without the temple, providing spacious 05:13.840 --> 05:18.260 exedrae and buildings on each side, which were joined to the basilica, 05:18.520 --> 05:22.100 and communicated with the entrances to the interior of the structure. 05:22.780 --> 05:27.500 These were erected by our most peaceful Solomon, the maker of the temple of God, 05:27.940 --> 05:32.020 for those who still needed purification and sprinkling by water and the Holy 05:32.020 --> 05:38.220 Spirit, so that the prophecy quoted above is no longer a word merely, but a fact, 05:38.460 --> 05:43.320 for now it has also come to pass that in truth the latter glory of this house is 05:43.320 --> 05:44.380 greater than the former. 05:45.540 --> 05:50.280 For it was necessary and fitting that as her shepherd and lord had once tasted 05:50.280 --> 05:55.620 death for her, and after his suffering had changed that vile body which he assumed in 05:55.620 --> 06:00.160 her behalf into a splendid and glorious body, leaving the very flesh which had 06:00.160 --> 06:04.340 been delivered from corruption to incorruption, she too should enjoy the 06:04.340 --> 06:05.940 dispensations of the Savior. 06:06.560 --> 06:10.580 For having received from him the promise of much greater things than these, 06:11.000 --> 06:15.540 she desires to share uninterruptedly throughout eternity with the choir of the 06:15.540 --> 06:20.520 angels of light, in the far greater glory of regeneration, in the resurrection of an 06:20.520 --> 06:25.580 incorruptible body, in the palace of God beyond the heavens, with Christ Jesus 06:25.580 --> 06:28.540 himself, the universal benefactor and Savior. 06:29.520 --> 06:34.900 But for the present, she that was formerly widowed and desolate is clothed by the 06:34.900 --> 06:39.220 grace of God with these flowers, and is become truly like a lily, 06:39.580 --> 06:44.180 as the prophecy says, and having received the bridal garment and the crown of 06:44.180 --> 06:49.460 beauty, she is taught by Isaiah to dance, and to present her thank-offerings unto 06:49.460 --> 06:51.540 God the King in reverent words. 06:53.080 --> 06:58.620 Let us hear her saying, My soul shall rejoice in the Lord, for he hath clothed 06:58.620 --> 07:01.960 me with a garment of salvation and with a robe of gladness. 07:02.180 --> 07:07.540 He hath bedecked me like a bridegroom with a garland, and he hath adorned me like a 07:07.540 --> 07:12.180 bride with jewels, and like the earth which bringeth forth her bud, and like a 07:12.180 --> 07:16.840 garden which causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth, thus the Lord 07:16.840 --> 07:21.560 God hath caused righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations. 07:23.300 --> 07:28.360 In these words she exalts, and in similar words the heavenly bridegroom, 07:28.500 --> 07:31.240 the word Jesus Christ himself, answers her. 07:31.680 --> 07:36.760 Hear the Lord saying, Fear not because thou hast been put to shame, neither be 07:36.760 --> 07:41.260 thou confounded because thou hast been rebuked, for thou shalt forget the former 07:41.260 --> 07:45.480 shame, and the reproach of thy widowhood shalt thou remember no more. 07:46.080 --> 07:51.200 Not as a woman deserted and faint-hearted hath the Lord called thee, nor as a woman 07:51.200 --> 07:53.720 hated from her youth, saith thy God. 07:54.160 --> 07:59.000 For a small moment have I forsaken thee, but with great mercy will I have mercy 07:59.000 --> 07:59.760 upon thee. 08:00.120 --> 08:05.320 In a little wrath I hid my face from thee, but with everlasting mercy will I have 08:05.320 --> 08:09.100 mercy upon thee, saith the Lord that hath redeemed thee. 08:10.700 --> 08:15.280 Awake, awake, thou who hast drunk at the hand of the Lord the cup of his fury! 08:15.660 --> 08:20.320 For thou hast drunk the cup of ruin, the vessel of my wrath, and hast drained 08:20.320 --> 08:25.540 it, and there was none to console thee of all thy sons whom thou didst bring forth, 08:25.840 --> 08:28.080 and there was none to take thee by the hand. 08:28.700 --> 08:33.620 Behold, I have taken out of thine hand the cup of ruin, the vessel of my fury, 08:33.840 --> 08:38.520 and thou shalt no longer drink it, and I will put it into the hands of them 08:38.520 --> 08:41.580 that have treated thee unjustly and have humbled thee. 08:42.760 --> 08:47.640 Awake, awake, put on thy strength, put on thy glory, shake off the dust and 08:47.640 --> 08:53.440 arise, sit thee down, loose the bands of thy neck, lift up thine eyes round about, 08:53.580 --> 08:58.120 and behold thy children gathered together, behold they are gathered together and are 08:58.120 --> 08:58.860 come to thee. 08:59.300 --> 09:03.740 As I live, saith the Lord, thou shalt clothe thee with them all as with an 09:03.740 --> 09:08.040 ornament, and gird thyself with them as with the ornaments of a bride. 09:08.520 --> 09:13.060 For thy waste and corrupted and ruined places shall now be too narrow by reason 09:13.060 --> 09:17.920 of those that inhabit thee, and they that swallow thee up shall be far from thee. 09:19.340 --> 09:24.700 For thy sons whom thou hast lost shall say in thine ears, The place is too narrow for 09:24.700 --> 09:26.980 me, give place to me that I may dwell. 09:27.480 --> 09:31.260 Then shalt thou say in thine heart, Who hath begotten me these? 09:31.440 --> 09:33.280 I am childless and a widow. 09:33.600 --> 09:35.720 And who hath brought up these for me? 09:36.020 --> 09:39.180 I was left alone, and these, where were they for me? 09:40.240 --> 09:44.240 These are the things which Isaiah foretold, and which were anciently 09:44.240 --> 09:48.720 recorded concerning us in sacred books, and it was necessary that we should 09:48.720 --> 09:51.620 sometime learn their truthfulness by their fulfillment. 09:52.920 --> 09:57.840 For when the bridegroom, the Word, addressed such language to his own bride, 09:58.060 --> 10:02.520 the sacred and holy church, this bridesman, when she was desolate and lying 10:02.520 --> 10:07.840 like a corpse, bereft of hope in the eyes of men, in accordance with the united 10:07.840 --> 10:13.040 prayers of all of you, as was proper, stretched out your hands and aroused and 10:13.040 --> 10:17.600 raised her up at the command of God, the universal King, and at the 10:17.600 --> 10:21.700 manifestation of the power of Jesus Christ, and having raised her, 10:21.820 --> 10:25.640 he established her as he had learned from the description given in the sacred 10:25.640 --> 10:26.240 oracles. 10:27.080 --> 10:32.520 This is, indeed, a very great wonder, passing all admiration, especially to 10:32.520 --> 10:36.680 those who attend only to the outward appearance, but more wonderful than 10:36.680 --> 10:40.840 wonders are the archetypes and their mental prototypes and divine models, 10:41.340 --> 10:45.780 I mean the reproductions of the inspired and rational building in our souls. 10:47.120 --> 10:53.000 This the divine Son Himself created after His own image, imparting to it everywhere 10:53.000 --> 10:58.660 and in all respects the likeness of God, an incorruptible nature, incorporeal, 10:58.820 --> 11:03.980 rational, free from all earthly matter, a being endowed with its own intelligence, 11:04.460 --> 11:09.820 and when He had once called her forth from non-existence into existence, He made her 11:09.820 --> 11:14.280 a holy spouse, an all-sacred temple for Himself and for the Father. 11:14.680 --> 11:18.680 This also He clearly declares and confesses in the following words, 11:19.060 --> 11:23.320 I will dwell in them and will walk in them, and I will be their God, 11:23.480 --> 11:24.840 and they shall be My people. 11:26.000 --> 11:31.340 Such is the perfect and purified soul, so made from the beginning as to bear the 11:31.340 --> 11:33.120 image of the celestial Word. 11:34.140 --> 11:39.120 But when by the envy and zeal of the malignant demon she became, of her own 11:39.120 --> 11:45.680 voluntary choice, sensual and a lover of evil, the deity left her, and as if bereft 11:45.680 --> 11:50.560 of a protector, she became an easy prey and readily accessible to those who had 11:50.560 --> 11:55.340 long envied her, and being assailed by the batteries and machines of her invisible 11:55.340 --> 12:01.360 enemies and spiritual foes, she suffered a terrible fall, so that not one stone of 12:01.360 --> 12:06.280 virtue remained upon another in her, but she lay completely dead upon the 12:06.280 --> 12:10.380 ground, entirely divested of her natural ideas of God. 12:11.280 --> 12:17.340 But as she, who had been made in the image of God, thus lay prostrate, it was not 12:17.340 --> 12:22.000 that wild boar from the forest which we see that despoiled her, but a certain 12:22.000 --> 12:26.460 destroying demon and spiritual wild beasts who deceived her with their passions, 12:26.920 --> 12:31.700 as with the fiery darts of their own wickedness, and burned the truly divine 12:31.700 --> 12:37.080 sanctuary of God with fire, and profaned to the ground the tabernacle of His name, 12:37.660 --> 12:42.840 then burying the miserable one with heaps of earth, they destroyed every hope of 12:42.840 --> 12:43.600 deliverance. 12:44.700 --> 12:50.240 But that divinely bright and saving word, her protector, after she had suffered the 12:50.240 --> 12:55.380 merited punishment for her sins, again restored her, securing the favor of 12:55.380 --> 12:56.700 the all-merciful Father. 12:57.740 --> 13:03.100 Having won over first the souls of the highest rulers, he purified, through the 13:03.100 --> 13:07.940 agency of those most divinely favored princes, the whole earth from all the 13:07.940 --> 13:12.800 impious destroyers, and from the terrible and God-hating tyrants themselves. 13:13.580 --> 13:18.620 Then bringing out into the light those who were his friends, who had long before been 13:18.620 --> 13:24.100 consecrated to him for life, but in the midst, as it were, of a storm of evils, 13:24.420 --> 13:28.840 had been concealed under his shelter, he honored them worthily with the great 13:28.840 --> 13:29.960 gifts of the Spirit. 13:30.800 --> 13:35.680 And again by means of them he cleared out and cleaned with spades and mattocks, 13:36.020 --> 13:40.980 the admonitory words of doctrine, the souls which a little while before had 13:40.980 --> 13:45.520 been covered with filth and burdened with every kind of matter and rubbish of 13:45.520 --> 13:46.820 impious ordinances. 13:48.300 --> 13:53.420 And when he had made the ground of all your minds clean and clear, he finally 13:53.420 --> 13:58.760 committed it to this all-wise and God-beloved ruler, who, being endowed with 13:58.760 --> 14:03.940 judgment and prudence, as well as with other gifts, and being able to examine and 14:03.940 --> 14:08.420 discriminate accurately the minds of those committed to his charge, from the first 14:08.420 --> 14:12.760 day, so to speak, down to the present, has not ceased to build. 14:13.820 --> 14:19.240 Now he has supplied the brilliant gold, again the refined and unalloyed silver, 14:19.720 --> 14:25.260 and the precious and costly stones in all of you, so that again is fulfilled for you 14:25.260 --> 14:31.220 in facts a sacred and mystic prophecy, which says, Behold, I make thy stone a 14:31.220 --> 14:36.120 carbuncle, and thy foundations of sapphire, and thy battlements of jasper, 14:36.300 --> 14:40.060 and thy gates of crystals, and thy wall of chosen stones. 14:40.460 --> 14:45.180 And all thy sons shall be taught of God, and thy children shall enjoy complete 14:45.180 --> 14:48.500 peace, and in righteousness shalt thou be built. 14:49.880 --> 14:54.220 Building therefore in righteousness, he divided the whole people according to 14:54.220 --> 14:54.980 their strength. 14:55.500 --> 15:00.500 With some he fortified only the outer enclosure, walling it up with unfeigned 15:00.500 --> 15:00.960 faith. 15:01.360 --> 15:05.380 Such were the great mass of the people who were incapable of bearing a greater 15:05.380 --> 15:05.900 structure. 15:06.920 --> 15:11.480 Others he permitted to enter the building, commanding them to stand at the door and 15:11.480 --> 15:13.700 act as guides for those who should come in. 15:14.140 --> 15:17.860 These may be not unfitly compared to the vestibules of the temple. 15:18.480 --> 15:22.480 Others he supported by the first pillars which are placed without about the 15:22.480 --> 15:27.100 quadrangular hall, initiating them into the first elements of the letter of the 15:27.100 --> 15:27.880 four Gospels. 15:28.620 --> 15:32.640 Still others he joined together about the basilica on both sides. 15:33.120 --> 15:37.680 These are the catechumens who are still advancing and progressing, and are not far 15:37.680 --> 15:41.700 separated from the inmost view of divine things granted to the faithful. 15:42.780 --> 15:47.000 Taking from among these the pure souls that have been cleansed like gold by 15:47.000 --> 15:51.920 divine washing, he then supports them by pillars, much better than those without, 15:52.440 --> 15:56.880 made from the inner and mystic teachings of the scripture, and illumines them by 15:56.880 --> 15:57.320 windows. 15:58.920 --> 16:02.740 Adorning the whole temple with great vestibule of the glory of the one 16:02.740 --> 16:08.060 universal King and only God, and placing on either side of the authority of the 16:08.060 --> 16:13.560 Father Christ and the Holy Spirit as second lights, he exhibits abundantly and 16:13.560 --> 16:18.300 gloriously throughout the entire building the clearness and splendor of the truth of 16:18.300 --> 16:20.000 the rest in all its details. 16:20.800 --> 16:25.480 And having selected from every quarter the living and moving and well-prepared stones 16:25.480 --> 16:30.100 of the souls, he constructs out of them all the great and royal house, 16:30.620 --> 16:35.520 splendid and full of light both within and without, for not only soul and 16:35.520 --> 16:40.660 understanding, but their body also is made glorious by the blooming ornament of 16:40.660 --> 16:41.940 purity and modesty. 16:43.040 --> 16:48.360 And in this temple there are also thrones, and a great number of seats and benches, 16:48.720 --> 16:53.480 in all those souls in which sit the Holy Spirit's gifts, such as were anciently 16:53.480 --> 16:58.960 seen by the sacred apostles and those who were with them, when there appeared unto 16:58.960 --> 17:04.440 them tongues parting asunder, like as of fire, and sat upon each one of them. 17:05.360 --> 17:10.920 But in the leader of all it is reasonable to suppose that Christ himself dwells in 17:10.920 --> 17:16.700 his fullness, and in those that occupy the second rank after him, in proportion as 17:16.700 --> 17:20.560 each is able to contain the power of Christ and of the Holy Spirit. 17:20.960 --> 17:25.200 And the souls of some of these, namely, who are committed to each of them 17:25.200 --> 17:28.700 for instruction and care, may be seats for angels. 17:29.720 --> 17:35.600 But the great and august and unique altar, what else could this be than the pure holy 17:35.600 --> 17:38.600 of holies of the soul of the common priest of all? 17:39.140 --> 17:43.500 Standing at the right of it, Jesus himself, the great high priest of the 17:43.500 --> 17:48.920 universe, the only begotten of God, receives with bright eye and extended hand 17:48.920 --> 17:53.560 the sweet incense from all, and the bloodless and immaterial sacrifices 17:53.560 --> 17:58.300 offered in their prayers, and bears them to the heavenly Father and God of the 17:58.300 --> 17:58.640 universe. 17:59.400 --> 18:03.760 And he himself first worships him, and alone gives to the Father the 18:03.760 --> 18:08.800 reverence which is his due, beseeching him also to continue always kind and 18:08.800 --> 18:10.420 propitious to us all. 18:11.580 --> 18:15.940 Such is the great temple which the great creator of the universe, the Word, 18:16.240 --> 18:21.420 has built throughout the entire world, making it an intellectual image upon earth 18:21.420 --> 18:25.700 of those things which lie above the vault of heaven, so that throughout the whole 18:25.700 --> 18:31.000 creation, including rational beings on earth, his Father might be honored and 18:31.000 --> 18:31.440 adored. 18:32.400 --> 18:36.720 But the region above the heavens, with the models of earthly things which 18:36.720 --> 18:41.760 are there, and the so-called Jerusalem above, and the heavenly mount of Zion, 18:42.080 --> 18:47.620 and the supramundane city of the living God, in which innumerable choirs of angels 18:47.620 --> 18:51.280 and the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven, 18:51.680 --> 18:55.760 praise their maker and the supreme ruler of the universe with hymns of praise 18:55.760 --> 19:01.040 unutterable and incomprehensible to us, who that is mortal is able worthily to 19:01.040 --> 19:02.020 celebrate this? 19:02.440 --> 19:07.500 For I hath not seen nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of men 19:07.500 --> 19:10.980 those things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 19:12.080 --> 19:17.320 Since we, men, children, and women, small and great, are already in part 19:17.320 --> 19:22.860 partakers of these things, let us not cease altogether, with one spirit and one 19:22.860 --> 19:28.600 soul, to confess and praise the author of such great benefits to us, who forgiveth 19:28.600 --> 19:33.640 all our iniquities, who healeth all our diseases, who redeemeth our life from 19:33.640 --> 19:39.380 destruction, who crowneth us with mercy and compassion, who satisfieth our desires 19:39.380 --> 19:40.480 with good things. 19:41.080 --> 19:46.540 For he hath not dealt with us according to our sins, nor rewarded us according to our 19:46.540 --> 19:47.100 iniquities. 19:47.580 --> 19:53.240 For as far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our iniquities from 19:53.240 --> 19:53.660 us. 19:54.200 --> 19:59.740 Like as a father pitieth his own children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. 20:00.780 --> 20:05.620 Rekindling these thoughts in our memories, both now and during all time to come, 20:05.960 --> 20:11.180 and contemplating in our mind night and day, in every hour and with every breath, 20:11.500 --> 20:16.540 so to speak, the author and ruler of the present festival, and of this bright and 20:16.540 --> 20:21.700 most splendid day, let us love and adore him with every power of the soul. 20:21.700 --> 20:27.300 And now rising, let us beseech him with loud voice to shelter and preserve us to 20:27.300 --> 20:33.000 the end in his fold, granting his unbroken and unshaken peace forever, in Christ 20:33.000 --> 20:38.200 Jesus our Savior, through whom be the glory unto him forever and ever. 20:38.700 --> 20:39.040 Amen. 20:40.700 --> 20:42.100 Chapter 5. 20:42.560 --> 20:49.640 Copies of Imperial Laws Let us finally subjoin the translations from the Roman 20:49.640 --> 20:53.680 tongue of the imperial decrees of Constantine and Licinius. 20:54.860 --> 21:01.720 Copy of Imperial Decrees Translated from the Roman Tongue Perceiving long ago that 21:01.720 --> 21:06.500 religious liberty ought not to be denied, but that it ought to be granted to the 21:06.500 --> 21:11.340 judgment and desire of each individual to perform his religious duties according to 21:11.340 --> 21:17.000 his own choice, we had given orders that every man, Christians as well as others, 21:17.400 --> 21:20.240 should preserve the faith of his own sect and religion. 21:21.200 --> 21:26.900 But since in that rescript, in which such liberty was granted them, many and various 21:26.900 --> 21:31.960 conditions seemed clearly added, some of them it may be, after a little 21:31.960 --> 21:33.820 retired from such observance. 21:34.760 --> 21:41.000 When I, Constantine Augustus, and I, Licinius Augustus, came under favorable 21:41.000 --> 21:45.900 auspices to Milan, and took under consideration everything which pertained 21:45.900 --> 21:50.300 to the common wheel and prosperity, we resolved among other things, 21:50.440 --> 21:55.580 or rather first of all, to make such decrees as seemed in many respects for the 21:55.580 --> 22:01.020 benefit of every one, namely, such as should preserve reverence and piety toward 22:01.020 --> 22:01.660 the Deity. 22:02.020 --> 22:07.080 We resolved, that is, to grant both to the Christians and to all men freedom to 22:07.080 --> 22:12.320 follow the religion which they choose, that whatever heavenly divinity exists may 22:12.320 --> 22:16.300 be propitious to us and to all that live under our government. 22:17.420 --> 22:21.820 We have, therefore, determined, with sound and upright purpose, 22:22.160 --> 22:26.800 that liberty is to be denied to no one to choose and to follow the religious 22:26.800 --> 22:31.180 observances of the Christians, but that to each one freedom is to be 22:31.180 --> 22:35.680 given to devote his mind to that religion which he may think adapted to himself, 22:36.280 --> 22:41.180 in order that the Deity may exhibit to us in all things his accustomed care and 22:41.180 --> 22:41.540 favor. 22:42.580 --> 22:46.840 It was fitting that we should write that this is our pleasure, that those 22:46.840 --> 22:50.960 conditions being entirely left out which were contained in our former letter 22:50.960 --> 22:55.680 concerning the Christians, which was sent to your devotedness, everything that 22:55.680 --> 23:01.100 seemed very severe and foreign to our mildness may be annulled, and that now 23:01.100 --> 23:05.500 everyone who has the same desire to observe the religion of the Christians may 23:05.500 --> 23:07.300 do so without molestation. 23:08.440 --> 23:13.760 We have resolved to communicate this most fully to thy care, in order that thou 23:13.760 --> 23:18.140 mayest know that we have granted to these same Christians freedom and full liberty 23:18.140 --> 23:20.020 to observe their own religion. 23:21.040 --> 23:26.500 Since this has been granted freely by us to them, thy devotedness perceives that 23:26.500 --> 23:30.560 liberty is granted to others also who may wish to follow their own religious 23:30.560 --> 23:35.400 observances, it being clearly in accordance with the tranquility of our 23:35.400 --> 23:39.140 times, that each one should have the liberty of choosing and worshipping 23:39.140 --> 23:40.920 whatever Deity he pleases. 23:41.700 --> 23:46.420 This has been done by us in order that we might not seem in any way to discriminate 23:46.420 --> 23:48.400 against any rank or religion. 23:50.240 --> 23:55.060 And we decree still further in regard to the Christians that their places, 23:55.520 --> 24:00.020 in which they were formerly accustomed to assemble, and concerning which in the 24:00.020 --> 24:05.020 former letter sent to thy devotedness a different command was given, if it appear 24:05.020 --> 24:09.200 that any have bought them either from our treasury or from any other person, 24:09.640 --> 24:14.380 shall be restored to the said Christians, without demanding money or any other 24:14.380 --> 24:17.240 equivalent, with no delay or hesitation. 24:18.440 --> 24:23.920 If any happen to have received the said places as a gift, they shall restore them 24:23.920 --> 24:28.940 as quickly as possible to these same Christians, with the understanding that if 24:28.940 --> 24:33.300 those who have bought these places, or those who have received them as a gift, 24:33.680 --> 24:37.920 demand anything from our bounty, they may go to the judge of the district, 24:38.260 --> 24:41.240 that provision may be made for them by our clemency. 24:41.800 --> 24:46.220 All these things are to be granted to the society of Christians by your care 24:46.220 --> 24:48.760 immediately and without any delay. 24:49.800 --> 24:54.260 And since the said Christians are known to have possessed not only those places in 24:54.260 --> 24:59.160 which they were accustomed to assemble, but also other places, belonging not to 24:59.160 --> 25:04.820 individuals among them, but to the society as a whole, that is, to the society of 25:04.820 --> 25:09.720 Christians, you will command that all these, in virtue of the law which we have 25:09.720 --> 25:15.080 above stated, be restored, without any hesitation, to these same Christians, 25:15.600 --> 25:19.700 that is, to their society and congregation, the above-mentioned 25:19.700 --> 25:24.280 provision being of course observed, that those who restore them without price, 25:24.460 --> 25:29.040 as we have before said, may expect indemnification from our bounty. 25:30.020 --> 25:34.700 In all these things, for the behoof of the aforesaid society of Christians, 25:35.240 --> 25:39.660 you are to use the utmost diligence, to the end that our command may be 25:39.660 --> 25:45.660 speedily fulfilled, and that in this also, by our clemency, provision may be made for 25:45.660 --> 25:47.580 the common and public tranquility. 25:48.860 --> 25:54.180 For by this means, as we have said before, the divine favor toward us which we have 25:54.180 --> 25:58.880 already experienced in many matters, will continue sure through all time. 26:00.140 --> 26:04.260 And that the terms of this our gracious ordinance may be known to all, 26:04.540 --> 26:08.640 it is expected that this which we have written will be published everywhere by 26:08.640 --> 26:13.680 you and brought to the knowledge of all, in order that this gracious ordinance of 26:13.680 --> 26:16.200 ours may remain unknown to no one. 26:17.740 --> 26:23.340 Copy of another imperial decree which they issued, indicating that the grant was made 26:23.340 --> 26:25.160 to the Catholic Church alone. 26:26.140 --> 26:31.180 Greeting to thee, our most esteemed Annulinus, it is the custom of our 26:31.180 --> 26:36.020 benevolence, most esteemed Annulinus, to will that those things which belong of 26:36.020 --> 26:41.100 right to another should not only be left unmolested, but should also be restored. 26:42.960 --> 26:48.140 Wherefore it is our will that when thou receivest this letter, if any such things 26:48.140 --> 26:52.680 belong to the Catholic Church of the Christians, in any city or other place, 26:52.820 --> 26:57.720 but are now held by citizens or by any others, thou shalt cause them to be 26:57.720 --> 26:59.980 restored immediately to the said churches. 27:00.660 --> 27:05.020 For we have already determined that those things which these same churches formerly 27:05.020 --> 27:07.220 possessed shall be restored to them. 27:09.360 --> 27:14.080 Since therefore thy devotedness perceives that this command of ours is most 27:14.080 --> 27:19.860 explicit, do thou make haste to restore to them as quickly as possible everything 27:19.860 --> 27:24.920 which formerly belonged to the said churches, whether gardens or buildings or 27:24.920 --> 27:29.760 whatever they may be, that we may learn that thou hast obeyed this decree of ours 27:29.760 --> 27:30.580 most carefully. 27:31.280 --> 27:34.820 Farewell, our most esteemed and beloved Annulinus. 27:36.440 --> 27:41.840 Copy of an epistle in which the Emperor commands that a synod of bishops be held 27:41.840 --> 27:45.660 at Rome in behalf of the unity and concord of the churches. 27:47.880 --> 27:52.380 Constantine Augustus to Miltiades, Bishop of Rome, and to Marcus. 27:52.860 --> 27:57.540 Since many such communications have been sent to me by Annulinus, the most 27:57.540 --> 28:02.480 illustrious proconsul of Africa, in which it is said that Caecilianus, 28:02.600 --> 28:06.820 Bishop of the City of Carthage, has been accused by some of his colleagues 28:06.820 --> 28:12.260 in Africa in many matters, and since it seems to me a very serious thing that in 28:12.260 --> 28:17.100 those provinces which divine providence has freely entrusted to my devotedness, 28:17.640 --> 28:22.160 and in which there is a great population, the multitude are found following the 28:22.160 --> 28:27.760 baser course and dividing, as it were, into two parties, and the bishops are at 28:27.760 --> 28:33.220 variance, it has seemed good to me that Caecilianus himself, with ten of the 28:33.220 --> 28:37.640 bishops that appear to accuse him, and with ten others whom he may consider 28:37.640 --> 28:43.020 necessary for his defense, should sail to Rome, that there, in the presence of 28:43.020 --> 28:48.600 yourselves and of Reticius and Maternus and Marinus, your colleagues, whom I have 28:48.600 --> 28:53.240 commanded to hasten to Rome for this purpose, he may be heard, as you may 28:53.240 --> 28:56.460 understand to be in accordance with the most holy law. 28:57.660 --> 29:01.940 But, in order that you may be enabled to have most perfect knowledge of all these 29:01.940 --> 29:06.820 things, I have subjoined to my letter copies of the documents sent to me by 29:06.820 --> 29:10.500 Annulinus, and have sent them to your above-mentioned colleagues. 29:11.500 --> 29:15.620 When your firmness has read these, you will consider in what way the 29:15.620 --> 29:19.740 above-mentioned case may be most accurately investigated and justly 29:19.740 --> 29:20.280 decided. 29:20.940 --> 29:25.620 For it does not escape your diligence that I have such reverence for the legitimate 29:25.620 --> 29:31.000 Catholic Church that I do not wish you to leave schism or division in any place. 29:31.880 --> 29:37.420 May the divinity of the great God preserve you, most honored sirs, for many years. 29:40.000 --> 29:45.540 Copy of an Epistle in which the Emperor commands another synod to be held for the 29:45.540 --> 29:48.460 purpose of removing all dissensions among the bishops. 29:50.280 --> 29:53.860 Constantine Augustus to Crestus, Bishop of Syracuse. 29:54.160 --> 29:59.800 When some began wickedly and perversely to disagree among themselves in regard to the 29:59.800 --> 30:04.600 holy worship and celestial power and Catholic doctrine, wishing to put an end 30:04.600 --> 30:09.400 to such disputes among them, I formerly gave command that certain bishops should 30:09.400 --> 30:14.120 be sent from Gaul, and that the opposing parties, who were contending persistently 30:14.120 --> 30:18.020 and incessantly with each other, should be summoned from Africa, 30:18.540 --> 30:23.200 that in their presence and in the presence of the Bishop of Rome, the matter which 30:23.200 --> 30:27.440 appeared to be causing the disturbance might be examined and decided with all 30:27.440 --> 30:27.900 care. 30:28.840 --> 30:34.160 But since, as it happens, some, forgetful both of their own salvation and 30:34.160 --> 30:38.340 of the reverence due to the most holy religion, do not even yet bring 30:38.340 --> 30:43.680 hostilities to an end, and are unwilling to conform to the judgment already passed, 30:44.300 --> 30:48.300 and assert that those who expressed their opinions and decisions were few, 30:48.760 --> 30:52.380 or that they had been too hasty and precipitate in giving judgment, 30:52.920 --> 30:56.900 before all the things which ought to have been accurately investigated had been 30:56.900 --> 31:01.740 examined, on account of all this it has happened that those very ones who ought to 31:01.740 --> 31:06.120 hold brotherly and harmonious relations toward each other, are shamefully, 31:06.300 --> 31:11.760 or rather abominably, divided among themselves, and give occasion for ridicule 31:11.760 --> 31:15.360 to those men whose souls are aliens to this most holy religion. 31:16.420 --> 31:21.540 Wherefore it has seemed necessary to me to provide that this dissension, which ought 31:21.540 --> 31:25.820 to have ceased after the judgment had been already given by their own voluntary 31:25.820 --> 31:30.980 agreement, should now, if possible, be brought to an end by the presence of 31:30.980 --> 31:31.280 many. 31:32.920 --> 31:37.280 Since, therefore, we have commanded a number of bishops from a great many 31:37.280 --> 31:41.860 different places to assemble in the city of Arles, before the calends of August, 31:42.260 --> 31:46.680 we have thought proper to write to thee also that thou shouldst secure from the 31:46.680 --> 31:52.740 most illustrious Latronianus, corrector of Sicily, a public vehicle, and that thou 31:52.740 --> 31:57.180 shouldst take with thee two others of the second rank, whom thou thyself shalt 31:57.180 --> 32:01.940 choose, together with three servants who may serve you on the way, and betake 32:01.940 --> 32:06.860 thyself to the above-mentioned place before the appointed day, that by thy 32:06.860 --> 32:11.560 firmness, and by the wise unanimity and harmony of the others present, 32:11.880 --> 32:16.200 this dispute, which has disgracefully continued until the present time, 32:16.600 --> 32:21.200 in consequence of certain shameful strifes, after all has been heard which 32:21.200 --> 32:26.200 those have to say who are now at variance with one another, and whom we have 32:26.200 --> 32:30.480 likewise commanded to be present, may be settled in accordance with the 32:30.480 --> 32:35.900 proper faith, and that brotherly harmony, though it be but gradually, may be 32:35.900 --> 32:36.420 restored. 32:37.580 --> 32:41.380 May the Almighty God preserve thee in health for many years. 32:42.860 --> 32:45.040 End of Book 10, Part 2