Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series • VOLUME 1
Eusebius — Church History, Constantine & Oration
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Chapter LVIII.--How he destroyed the Temple of Venus at Heliopolis, and built the First Church in that City.
Chapter LVIII.--How he destroyed the Temple of Venus at Heliopolis, and built the First Church in that City. Such actions as I have described may well be reckoned among the emperor's noblest achievements, as also the wise arrangements which he made respecting each particular province. We may instance the Phoenician city Heliopo…
862 wordsSECTION 362Chapter LX.--Constantine's Letter to the Antiochians, directing them not to withdraw Eusebius from Cæsarea, but to seek some one else.
Chapter LX.--Constantine's Letter to the Antiochians, directing them not to withdraw Eusebius from Cæsarea, but to seek some one else. "Victor Constantinus, Maximus Augustus, to the people of Antioch. "How pleasing to the wise and intelligent portion of mankind is the concord which exists among you! And I myself, brethren, am …
1,290 wordsSECTION 363Chapter LXI.--The Emperor's Letter to Eusebius praising him for refusing the Bishopric of Antioch.
Chapter LXI.--The Emperor's Letter to Eusebius praising him for refusing the Bishopric of Antioch. The Emperor's Letter to me on my refusing the Bishopric of Antioch. "Victor Constantinus, Maximus Augustus, to Eusebius. "I have most carefully perused your letter, and perceive that you have strictly conformed to the rule enjoi…
766 wordsSECTION 364Chapter LXIII.--How he displayed his Zeal for the Extirpation of Heresies.
Chapter LXIII.--How he displayed his Zeal for the Extirpation of Heresies. Such were the exhortations to do all things to the honor of the divine religion which the emperor addressed to the rulers of the churches. Having by these means banished dissension, and reduced the Church of God to a state of uniform harmony, he next pro…
1,035 wordsSECTION 365Chapter LXVI.--How on the Discovery of Prohibited Books among the Heretics, Many of them return to the Catholic Church.
Chapter LXVI.--How on the Discovery of Prohibited Books among the Heretics, Many of them return to the Catholic Church. Thus were the lurking-places of the heretics broken up by the emperor's command, and the savage beasts they harbored (I mean the chief authors of their impious doctrines) driven to flight. Of those whom they h…
761 wordsSECTION 366Chapter III.--Equalization of the More Oppressive Taxes.
Chapter III.--Equalization of the More Oppressive Taxes. And whereas some persons found fault with the surveys of land which had been made under former emperors, and complained that their property was unduly burdened; acting in this case also on the principles of justice, he sent commissioners to equalize the tribute, and to se…
907 wordsSECTION 367Chapter VIII.--That he wrote also to the King of Persia, [3314] who had sent him an Embassy, on Behalf of the Christians in his Realm.
Chapter VIII.--That he wrote also to the King of Persia, [3314] who had sent him an Embassy, on Behalf of the Christians in his Realm. The king of the Persians also having testified a desire to form an alliance with Constantine, by sending an embassy and presents as assurances of peace and friendship, the emperor, in negotiatin…
782 wordsSECTION 368Chapter XII.--He declares that, having witnessed the Fall of the Persecutors, he now rejoices at the Peace enjoyed by the Christians.
Chapter XII.--He declares that, having witnessed the Fall of the Persecutors, he now rejoices at the Peace enjoyed by the Christians. "And it is surely a happy circumstance that the punishment of such persons as I have described should have been publicly manifested in our own times. For I myself have witnessed the end of those …
719 wordsSECTION 369Chapter XVIII.--He enjoins the General Observance of the Lord's Day, and the Day of Preparation.
Chapter XVIII.--He enjoins the General Observance of the Lord's Day, and the Day of Preparation. He ordained, too, that one day should be regarded as a special occasion for prayer: I mean that which is truly the first and chief of all, the day of our Lord and Saviour. The entire care of his household was entrusted to deacons an…
760 wordsSECTION 370Chapter XXII.--Of his Zeal in Prayer, and the Honor he paid to the Feast of Easter.
Chapter XXII.--Of his Zeal in Prayer, and the Honor he paid to the Feast of Easter. The emperor himself, as a sharer in the holy mysteries of our religion, would seclude himself daily at a stated hour in the innermost chambers of his palace; and there in solitary converse with his God, would kneel in humble supplication, and en…
791 wordsSECTION 371Chapter XXVI.--Amendment of the Law in Force respecting Childless Persons, and of the Law of Wills.
Chapter XXVI.--Amendment of the Law in Force respecting Childless Persons, and of the Law of Wills. So numerous, indeed, were the benefits of this kind conferred by the emperor on every province, as to afford ample materials to any who might desire to record them. Among these may be instanced those laws which he entirely remode…
811 wordsSECTION 372Chapter XXVIII.--His Gifts to the Churches, and Bounties to Virgins and to the Poor.
Chapter XXVIII.--His Gifts to the Churches, and Bounties to Virgins and to the Poor. His liberality, however, was most especially exercised on behalf of the churches of God. In some cases he granted lands, in others he issued supplies of food for the support of the poor, of orphan children, and widows; besides which, he evinced…
767 wordsSECTION 373Chapter XXXI.--That he was derided because of his Excessive Clemency.
Chapter XXXI.--That he was derided because of his Excessive Clemency. Meantime, since there was no fear of capital punishment to deter from the commission of crime, for the emperor himself was uniformly inclined to clemency, and none of the provincial governors visited offenses with their proper penalties, this state of things …
807 wordsSECTION 374Chapter XXXVI.--Constantine's Letter to Eusebius on the Preparation of Copies of the Holy Scriptures.
Chapter XXXVI.--Constantine's Letter to Eusebius on the Preparation of Copies of the Holy Scriptures. "Victor Constantinus, Maximus Augustus, to Eusebius. "It happens, through the favoring providence of God our Saviour, that great numbers have united themselves to the most holy church in the city which is called by my name. It…
753 wordsSECTION 375Chapter XXXIX.--That a Place in Phoenicia also was made a City, and in Other Cities Idolatry was abolished, and Churches built.
Chapter XXXIX.--That a Place in Phoenicia also was made a City, and in Other Cities Idolatry was abolished, and Churches built. A similar change was effected in several other cities; for instance, in that town of Phoenicia which received its name from that of the emperor, and the inhabitants of which committed their innumerable…
1,204 wordsSECTION 376Chapter XLIII.--Bishops from all the Provinces attended the Dedication of the Church at Jerusalem.
Chapter XLIII.--Bishops from all the Provinces attended the Dedication of the Church at Jerusalem. No sooner had these injunctions been carried into effect, than another emissary arrived with despatches from the emperor, and an urgent admonition to the Council to hasten their journey to Jerusalem without delay. [3340] According…
789 wordsSECTION 377Chapter XLVI.--That Eusebius afterwards delivered his Description of the Church of the Saviour, and a Tricennial Oration before Constantine himself.
Chapter XLVI.--That Eusebius afterwards delivered his Description of the Church of the Saviour, and a Tricennial Oration before Constantine himself. The structure of the church of our Saviour, the form of his sacred cave, the splendor of the work itself, and the numberless offerings in gold, and silver, and precious stones, I h…
957 wordsSECTION 378Chapter LII.--That after they had reached Man's Estate he was their Guide in Piety.
Chapter LII.--That after they had reached Man's Estate he was their Guide in Piety. As long as the Cæsars were of tender years, they were aided by suitable advisers in the management of public affairs; but on their arrival at the age of manhood their father's instructions alone sufficed. When present he proposed to them his own…
732 wordsSECTION 379Chapter LV.--Constantine employed himself in Composition of Various Kinds to the Close of his Life.
Chapter LV.--Constantine employed himself in Composition of Various Kinds to the Close of his Life. These offenders, however, were soon over-taken by divine chastisement. To return to our emperor. He had so thoroughly trained his mind in the art of reasoning that he continued to the last to compose discourses on various subject…
787 wordsSECTION 380Chapter LIX.--Farther Description of the same Church.
Chapter LIX.--Farther Description of the same Church. Such was the magnificence with which the emperor was pleased to beautify this church. The building was surrounded by an open area of great extent, the four sides of which were terminated by porticos which enclosed the area and the church itself. Adjoining these porticos were…
806 wordsSECTION 381Chapter LXII.--Constantine's Appeal to the Bishops, requesting them to confer upon him the Rite of Baptism.
Chapter LXII.--Constantine's Appeal to the Bishops, requesting them to confer upon him the Rite of Baptism. "The time is arrived which I have long hoped for, with an earnest desire and prayer that I might obtain the salvation of God. The hour is come in which I too may have the blessing of that seal which confers immortality; t…
735 wordsSECTION 382Chapter LXIV.--Constantine's Death at Noon on the Feast of Pentecost.
Chapter LXIV.--Constantine's Death at Noon on the Feast of Pentecost. All these events occurred during a most important festival, I mean the august and holy solemnity of Pentecost, which is distinguished by a period of seven weeks, and sealed with that one day on which the holy Scriptures attest, the ascension of our common Sav…
705 wordsSECTION 383Chapter LXVIII.--Resolution of the Army to confer thence-forward the Title of Augustus on his Sons.
Chapter LXVIII.--Resolution of the Army to confer thence-forward the Title of Augustus on his Sons. Meanwhile the tribunes selected from the troops under their command those officers whose fidelity and zeal had long been known to the emperor, and dispatched them to the Cæsars with intelligence of the late event. This service th…
819 wordsSECTION 384Chapter LXXII.--Of the Phoenix.
Chapter LXXII.--Of the Phoenix. We cannot compare him with that bird of Egypt, the only one, as they say, of its kind, which dies, self-sacrificed, in the midst of aromatic perfumes, and, rising from its own ashes with new life, soars aloft in the same form which it had before. Rather did he resemble his Saviour, who, as the so…
1,116 wordsSECTION 385Chapter II.--An Appeal to the Church and to his Hearers to pardon and correct the Errors of His Speech.
Chapter II.--An Appeal to the Church and to his Hearers to pardon and correct the Errors of His Speech. Hear then, thou master [3370] of the ship, possessor of virgin purity, and thou Church, the cherisher of tender and inexperienced age, guardian of truth and gentleness, through whose perennial fountain the stream [3371] of sa…
1,273 wordsSECTION 386Chapter IV.--On the Error of Idolatrous Worship.
Chapter IV.--On the Error of Idolatrous Worship. Whatever has had a beginning, has also an end. Now that which is a beginning in respect of time, is called a generation: and whatever is by generation is subject to corruption, and its beauty [3383] is impaired by the lapse of time. How, then, can they whose origin is from corrup…
2,271 wordsSECTION 387Chapter VII.--In regard to Things above our Comprehension, we should glorify the Creator's Wisdom, and attribute their Causes to him alone, and not to Chance.
[3393] sophrosune, temperance, vs. akolasia, intemperance, below; soundness of mind vs. insanity (cf. use in Acts xxvi. 25, and of verb in Mark v. 15; Luke viii. 35; also use in Plato, Rep. 332, &c.); self-control vs. unbridled desire. This same contrast of sophrosune and akolasia is found in Aristotle, Eth. 2, vii. 3; 7, vii. I…
914 wordsSECTION 388Chapter IX.--Of the Philosophers, who fell into Mistaken Notions, and Some of them into Danger, by their Desire of Universal Knowledge.--Also of the Doctrines of Plato.
Chapter IX.--Of the Philosophers, who fell into Mistaken Notions, and Some of them into Danger, by their Desire of Universal Knowledge.--Also of the Doctrines of Plato. We ought, therefore, to aim at objects which are within our power, and exceed not the capacities of our nature. For the persuasive influence of argument has a t…
991 wordsSECTION 389Chapter X.--Of those who reject the Doctrines of Philosophers, as well as those of Scripture: and that we ought to believe the Poets in All Things, or disbelieve them in All.
Chapter X.--Of those who reject the Doctrines of Philosophers, as well as those of Scripture: and that we ought to believe the Poets in All Things, or disbelieve them in All. There are, however, some persons so infatuated, that when they meet with such sentiments as these, they are neither converted or alarmed: nay, they even t…
754 wordsSECTION 390Chapter XI.--On the Coming of our Lord in the Flesh; its Nature and Cause. [3415]
Chapter XI.--On the Coming of our Lord in the Flesh; its Nature and Cause. [3415] Whoever, then, has pursued a course unworthy of a life of virtue, and is conscious of having lived an irregular and disorderly life, let him repent, and turn with enlightened spiritual vision to God; and let him abandon his past career of wickedne…
2,279 wordsSECTION 391[3421] Valesius expresses a preference for the reading kathodou (advent) here instead of katholou (universal), but the latter is the reading
[3421] Valesius expresses a preference for the reading kathodou (advent) here instead of katholou (universal), but the latter is the reading of Heinichen, and undoubtedly correct. Bag. has followed Valesius. [3422] "New mode" is a paraphrase supported by only one ms. The real meaning of nothen is well expressed by Chr., "aliena…
1,615 wordsSECTION 392Chapter XIV.--That Created Nature differs infinitely from Uncreated Being; to which Man makes the Nearest Approach by a Life of Virtue.
Chapter XIV.--That Created Nature differs infinitely from Uncreated Being; to which Man makes the Nearest Approach by a Life of Virtue. Surely it must be the very height of folly to compare created with eternal things, which latter have neither beginning nor end, while the former, having been originated and called into being, a…
1,382 wordsSECTION 393Chapter XVI.--The Coming of Christ was predicted by the Prophets; and was ordained to be the Overthrow of Idols and Idolatrous Cities.
Chapter XVI.--The Coming of Christ was predicted by the Prophets; and was ordained to be the Overthrow of Idols and Idolatrous Cities. Long since had his passion, as well as his advent in the flesh, been predicted by the prophets. The time, too, of his incarnation had been foretold, and the manner in which the fruits of iniquit…
1,482 wordsSECTION 394Chapter XVIII.--Of the Erythræan Sibyl, who pointed in a Prophetic Acrostic at our Lord and his Passion. The Acrostic is "Jesus Christ, Son of God, Saviour, Cross."
Chapter XVIII.--Of the Erythræan Sibyl, who pointed in a Prophetic Acrostic at our Lord and his Passion. The Acrostic is "Jesus Christ, Son of God, Saviour, Cross." My desire, however, is to derive even from foreign sources a testimony to the Divine nature of Christ. For on such testimony it is evident that even those who blasp…
2,274 wordsSECTION 395Then indeed could the Saviour bid his followers be of good cheer, and, remembering his adorable and glorious resurrection, expect the like f
Then indeed could the Saviour bid his followers be of good cheer, and, remembering his adorable and glorious resurrection, expect the like for themselves. Truly, then, the poisonous race may be said to be extinct. Death himself is extinct, and the truth of the resurrection sealed. Again, the Assyrian race is gone, which first le…
1,010 wordsSECTION 396Chapter XXI.--That these Things cannot have been spoken of a Mere Man: and that Unbelievers, owing to their Ignorance of Religion, know not even the Origin of their own Existence.
Chapter XXI.--That these Things cannot have been spoken of a Mere Man: and that Unbelievers, owing to their Ignorance of Religion, know not even the Origin of their own Existence. It may be some will foolishly suppose that these words were spoken of the birth of a mere ordinary mortal. But if this were all, what reason could th…
1,097 wordsSECTION 397Chapter XXIII.--Of Christian Conduct. That God is pleased with those who lead a Life of Virtue: and that we must expect a Judgment and Future Retribution.
Chapter XXIII.--Of Christian Conduct. That God is pleased with those who lead a Life of Virtue: and that we must expect a Judgment and Future Retribution. Compare our religion with your own. Is there not with us genuine concord, and unwearied love of others? If we reprove a fault, is not our object to admonish, not to destroy; …
2,251 wordsSECTION 398Chapter I.--The Oration.
[3494] The conventional heading has been retained. Literally it is "Tricennial oration of Eusebius, addressed to the Emperor Constantine. Prologue to the praises addressed to Constantine." The translation of this oration shows, even more than that of the Life or Constantine's Oration, a sympathy on the part of the translator wit…
1,360 wordsSECTION 399Chapter II.
Chapter II. 1. This only begotten Word of God reigns, from ages which had no beginning, to infinite and endless ages, the partner of his Father's kingdom. And [our emperor] ever beloved by him, who derives the source of imperial authority from above, and is strong in the power of his sacred title, [3504] has controlled the empi…
780 wordsSECTION 400Chapter III.
Chapter III. 1. And gladly does he accept and welcome this sacrifice, and commend the presenter of so august and noble an offering, by protracting his reign to a lengthened period of years, giving larger proofs of his beneficence in proportion to the emperor's holy services to himself. Accordingly he permits him to celebrate ea…
989 wordsSource & rights
Historical text source: Christian Classics Ethereal Library. The downloaded text itself records Public Domain.