TheCatholicsofConstantinoplewereanimatedwithjoyfulconfidencebythebaptismandedictofTheodosius；andtheyimpatientlywaitedtheeffectsofhisgraciouspromise。Theirhopeswerespeedilyaccomplished；andtheemperor，assoonashehadfinishedtheoperationsofthecampaign，madehispublicentryintothecapitalattheheadofavictoriousarmy。Thenextdayafterhisarrival，hesummonedDamophilustohispresence，andofferedthatArianprelatethehardalternativeofsubscribingtheNicenecreed，orofinstantlyresigning，totheorthodoxbelievers，theuseandpossessionoftheepiscopalpalace，thecathedralofSt。Sophia，andallthechurchesofConstantinople。ThezealofDamophilus，whichinaCatholicsaintwouldhavebeenjustlyapplauded，embraced，withouthesitation，alifeofpovertyandexile，^37andhisremovalwasimmediatelyfollowedbythepurificationoftheImperialcity。
TheAriansmightcomplain，withsomeappearanceofjustice，thataninconsiderablecongregationofsectariesshouldusurpthehundredchurches，whichtheywereinsufficienttofill；whilstthefargreaterpartofthepeoplewascruellyexcludedfromeveryplaceofreligiousworship。Theodosiuswasstillinexorable；butastheangelswhoprotectedtheCatholiccausewereonlyvisibletotheeyesoffaith，heprudentlyreenforcedthoseheavenlylegionswiththemoreeffectualaidoftemporalandcarnalweapons；andthechurchofSt。SophiawasoccupiedbyalargebodyoftheImperialguards。IfthemindofGregorywassusceptibleofpride，hemusthavefeltaverylivelysatisfaction，whentheemperorconductedhimthroughthestreetsinsolemntriumph；and，withhisownhand，respectfullyplacedhimonthearchiepiscopalthroneofConstantinople。Butthesaintwhohadnotsubduedtheimperfectionsofhumanvirtuewasdeeplyaffectedbythemortifyingconsideration，thathisentranceintothefoldwasthatofawolf，ratherthanofashepherd；thattheglitteringarmswhichsurroundedhisperson，werenecessaryforhissafety；andthathealonewastheobjectoftheimprecationsofagreatparty，whom，asmenandcitizens，itwasimpossibleforhimtodespise。Hebeheldtheinnumerablemultitudeofeithersex，andofeveryage，whocrowdedthestreets，thewindows，andtheroofsofthehouses；heheardthetumultuousvoiceofrage，grief，astonishment，anddespair；andGregoryfairlyconfesses，thatonthememorabledayofhisinstallation，thecapitaloftheEastworetheappearanceofacitytakenbystorm，andinthehandsofaBarbarianconqueror。
^38Aboutsixweeksafterwards，Theodosiusdeclaredhisresolutionofexpellingfromallthechurchesofhisdominionsthebishopsandtheirclergywhoshouldobstinatelyrefusetobelieve，oratleasttoprofess，thedoctrineofthecouncilofNice。Hislieutenant，Sapor，wasarmedwiththeamplepowersofagenerallaw，aspecialcommission，andamilitaryforce；^39
andthisecclesiasticalrevolutionwasconductedwithsomuchdiscretionandvigor，thatthereligionoftheemperorwasestablished，withouttumultorbloodshed，inalltheprovincesoftheEast。ThewritingsoftheArians，iftheyhadbeenpermittedtoexist，^40wouldperhapscontainthelamentablestoryofthepersecution，whichafflictedthechurchunderthereignoftheimpiousTheodosius；andthesufferingsoftheirholyconfessorsmightclaimthepityofthedisinterestedreader。Yetthereisreasontoimagine，thattheviolenceofzealandrevengewas，insomemeasure，eludedbythewantofresistance；andthat，intheiradversity，theAriansdisplayedmuchlessfirmnessthanhadbeenexertedbytheorthodoxpartyunderthereignsofConstantiusandValens。Themoralcharacterandconductofthehostilesectsappeartohavebeengovernedbythesamecommonprinciplesofnatureandreligion:butaverymaterialcircumstancemaybediscovered，whichtendedtodistinguishthedegreesoftheirtheologicalfaith。Bothparties，intheschools，aswellasinthetemples，acknowledgedandworshippedthedivinemajestyofChrist；and，aswearealwayspronetoimputeourownsentimentsandpassionstotheDeity，itwouldbedeemedmoreprudentandrespectfultoexaggerate，thantocircumscribe，theadorableperfectionsoftheSonofGod。ThediscipleofAthanasiusexultedintheproudconfidence，thathehadentitledhimselftothedivinefavor；whilethefollowerofAriusmusthavebeentormentedbythesecretapprehension，thathewasguilty，perhaps，ofanunpardonableoffence，bythescantypraise，andparsimonioushonors，whichhebestowedontheJudgeoftheWorld。TheopinionsofArianismmightsatisfyacoldandspeculativemind:butthedoctrineoftheNicenecreed，mostpowerfullyrecommendedbythemeritsoffaithanddevotion，wasmuchbetteradaptedtobecomepopularandsuccessfulinabelievingage。
[Footnote37:Socratesl。v。c。7andSozomenl。vii。c。5
relatetheevangelicalwordsandactionsofDamophiluswithoutawordofapprobation。Heconsidered，saysSocrates，thatitisdifficulttoresistthepowerful，butitwaseasy，andwouldhavebeenprofitable，tosubmit。]
[Footnote38:SeeGregoryNazianzen，tom。ii。deVitasua，p。21，22。Forthesakeofposterity，thebishopofConstantinoplerecordsastupendousprodigy。InthemonthofNovember，itwasacloudymorning，butthesunbrokeforthwhentheprocessionenteredthechurch。]
[Footnote39:Ofthethreeecclesiasticalhistorians，Theodoretalonel。v。c。2hasmentionedthisimportantcommissionofSapor，whichTillemontHist。desEmpereurs，tom。v。p。728
judiciouslyremovesfromthereignofGratiantothatofTheodosius。]
[Footnote40:IdonotreckonPhilostorgius，thoughhementionsl。ix。c。19theexplosionofDamophilus。TheEunomianhistorianhasbeencarefullystrainedthroughanorthodoxsieve。]
Thehope，thattruthandwisdomwouldbefoundintheassembliesoftheorthodoxclergy，inducedtheemperortoconvene，atConstantinople，asynodofonehundredandfiftybishops，whoproceeded，withoutmuchdifficultyordelay，tocompletethetheologicalsystemwhichhadbeenestablishedinthecouncilofNice。ThevehementdisputesofthefourthcenturyhadbeenchieflyemployedonthenatureoftheSonofGod；andthevariousopinionswhichwereembraced，concerningtheSecond，wereextendedandtransferred，byanaturalanalogy，totheThirdpersonoftheTrinity。^41Yetitwasfound，oritwasthought，necessary，bythevictoriousadversariesofArianism，toexplaintheambiguouslanguageofsomerespectabledoctors；toconfirmthefaithoftheCatholics；andtocondemnanunpopularandinconsistentsectofMacedonians；whofreelyadmittedthattheSonwasconsubstantialtotheFather，whiletheywerefearfulofseemingtoacknowledgetheexistenceofThreeGods。AfinalandunanimoussentencewaspronouncedtoratifytheequalDeityoftheHolyGhost:themysteriousdoctrinehasbeenreceivedbyallthenations，andallthechurchesoftheChristianworld；andtheirgratefulreverencehasassignedtothebishopsofTheodosiusthesecondrankamongthegeneralcouncils。^42Theirknowledgeofreligioustruthmayhavebeenpreservedbytradition，oritmayhavebeencommunicatedbyinspiration；butthesoberevidenceofhistorywillnotallowmuchweighttothepersonalauthorityoftheFathersofConstantinople。Inanagewhentheecclesiasticshadscandalouslydegeneratedfromthemodelofapostolicpurity，themostworthlessandcorruptwerealwaysthemosteagertofrequent，anddisturb，theepiscopalassemblies。Theconflictandfermentationofsomanyoppositeinterestsandtempersinflamedthepassionsofthebishops:andtheirrulingpassionswere，theloveofgold，andtheloveofdispute。ManyofthesameprelateswhonowapplaudedtheorthodoxpietyofTheodosius，hadrepeatedlychanged，withprudentflexibility，theircreedsandopinions；andinthevariousrevolutionsofthechurchandstate，thereligionoftheirsovereignwastheruleoftheirobsequiousfaith。Whentheemperorsuspendedhisprevailinginfluence，theturbulentsynodwasblindlyimpelledbytheabsurdorselfishmotivesofpride，hatred，orresentment。ThedeathofMeletius，whichhappenedatthecouncilofConstantinople，presentedthemostfavorableopportunityofterminatingtheschismofAntioch，bysufferinghisagedrival，Paulinus，peaceablytoendhisdaysintheepiscopalchair。ThefaithandvirtuesofPaulinuswereunblemished。ButhiscausewassupportedbytheWesternchurches；andthebishopsofthesynodresolvedtoperpetuatethemischiefsofdiscord，bythehastyordinationofaperjuredcandidate，^43ratherthantobetraytheimagineddignityoftheEast，whichhadbeenillustratedbythebirthanddeathoftheSonofGod。Suchunjustanddisorderlyproceedingsforcedthegravestmembersoftheassemblytodissentandtosecede；andtheclamorousmajoritywhichremainedmastersofthefieldofbattle，couldbecomparedonlytowaspsormagpies，toaflightofcranes，ortoaflockofgeese。^44
[Footnote41:LeClerchasgivenacuriousextractBibliothequeUniverselle，tom。xviii。p。91—105ofthetheologicalsermonswhichGregoryNazianzenpronouncedatConstantinopleagainsttheArians，Eunomians，Macedonians，&c。HetellstheMacedonians，whodeifiedtheFatherandtheSonwithouttheHolyGhost，thattheymightaswellbestyledTritheistsasDitheists。GregoryhimselfwasalmostaTritheist；andhismonarchyofheavenresemblesawell—regulatedaristocracy。]
[Footnote42:ThefirstgeneralcouncilofConstantinoplenowtriumphsintheVatican；butthepopeshadlonghesitated，andtheirhesitationperplexes，andalmoststaggers，thehumbleTillemont，Mem。Eccles。tom。ix。p。499，500。]
[Footnote43:BeforethedeathofMeletius，sixoreightofhismostpopularecclesiastics，amongwhomwasFlavian，hadabjured，forthesakeofpeace，thebishopricofAntioch，Sozomen，l。
vii。c。3，11。Socrates，l。v。c。v。Tillemontthinksithisdutytodisbelievethestory；butheownsthattherearemanycircumstancesinthelifeofFlavianwhichseeminconsistentwiththepraisesofChrysostom，andthecharacterofasaint，Mem。
Eccles。tom。x。p。541。]
[Footnote44:ConsultGregoryNazianzen，deVitasua，tom。ii。p。
25—28。Hisgeneralandparticularopinionoftheclergyandtheirassembliesmaybeseeninverseandprose，tom。i。Orat。
i。p。33。Epist。lv。p。814，tom。ii。Carmenx。p。81。SuchpassagesarefaintlymarkedbyTillemont，andfairlyproducedbyLeClerc。]
Asuspicionmaypossiblyarise，thatsounfavorableapictureofecclesiasticalsynodshasbeendrawnbythepartialhandofsomeobstinateheretic，orsomemaliciousinfidel。Butthenameofthesincerehistorianwhohasconveyedthisinstructivelessontotheknowledgeofposterity，mustsilencetheimpotentmurmursofsuperstitionandbigotry。Hewasoneofthemostpiousandeloquentbishopsoftheage；asaint，andadoctorofthechurch；thescourgeofArianism，andthepillaroftheorthodoxfaith；adistinguishedmemberofthecouncilofConstantinople，inwhich，afterthedeathofMeletius，heexercisedthefunctionsofpresident；inaword—GregoryNazianzenhimself。Theharshandungeneroustreatmentwhichheexperienced，^45insteadofderogatingfromthetruthofhisevidence，affordsanadditionalproofofthespiritwhichactuatedthedeliberationsofthesynod。TheirunanimoussuffragehadconfirmedthepretensionswhichthebishopofConstantinoplederivedfromthechoiceofthepeople，andtheapprobationoftheemperor。ButGregorysoonbecamethevictimofmaliceandenvy。ThebishopsoftheEast，hisstrenuousadherents，provokedbyhismoderationintheaffairsofAntioch，abandonedhim，withoutsupport，totheadversefactionoftheEgyptians；whodisputedthevalidityofhiselection，andrigorouslyassertedtheobsoletecanon，thatprohibitedthelicentiouspracticeofepiscopaltranslations。Thepride，orthehumility，ofGregorypromptedhimtodeclineacontestwhichmighthavebeenimputedtoambitionandavarice；andhepubliclyoffered，notwithoutsomemixtureofindignation，torenouncethegovernmentofachurchwhichhadbeenrestored，andalmostcreated，byhislabors。Hisresignationwasacceptedbythesynod，andbytheemperor，withmorereadinessthanheseemstohaveexpected。Atthetimewhenhemighthavehopedtoenjoythefruitsofhisvictory，hisepiscopalthronewasfilledbythesenatorNectarius；andthenewarchbishop，accidentallyrecommendedbyhiseasytemperandvenerableaspect，wasobligedtodelaytheceremonyofhisconsecration，tillhehadpreviouslydespatchedtheritesofhisbaptism。^46Afterthisremarkableexperienceoftheingratitudeofprincesandprelates，GregoryretiredoncemoretohisobscuresolitudeofCappadocia；whereheemployedtheremainderofhislife，abouteightyears，intheexercisesofpoetryanddevotion。ThetitleofSainthasbeenaddedtohisname:butthetendernessofhisheart，^47andtheeleganceofhisgenius，reflectamorepleasinglustreonthememoryofGregoryNazianzen。
[Footnote45:SeeGregory，tom。ii。deVitasua，p。28—31。Thefourteenth，twenty—seventh，andthirty—secondOrationswerepronouncedintheseveralstagesofthisbusiness。Theperorationofthelast，tom。i。p。528，inwhichhetakesasolemnleaveofmenandangels，thecityandtheemperor，theEastandtheWest，&c。，ispathetic，andalmostsublime。]
[Footnote46:ThewhimsicalordinationofNectariusisattestedbySozomen，l。vii。c。8；butTillemontobserves，Mem。Eccles。
tom。ix。p。719，Aprestout，cenarredeSozomeneestsihonteux，pourtousceuxqu'ilymele，etsurtoutpourTheodose，qu'ilvautmieuxtravailleraledetruire，qu'alesoutenir；anadmirablecanonofcriticism!]
[Footnote47:Icanonlybeunderstoodtomean，thatsuchwashisnaturaltemperwhenitwasnothardened，orinflamed，byreligiouszeal。Fromhisretirement，heexhortsNectariustoprosecutethehereticsofConstantinople。]
ItwasnotenoughthatTheodosiushadsuppressedtheinsolentreignofArianism，orthathehadabundantlyrevengedtheinjurieswhichtheCatholicssustainedfromthezealofConstantiusandValens。Theorthodoxemperorconsideredeveryhereticasarebelagainstthesupremepowersofheavenandofearth；andeachofthosepowersmightexercisetheirpeculiarjurisdictionoverthesoulandbodyoftheguilty。ThedecreesofthecouncilofConstantinoplehadascertainedthetruestandardofthefaith；andtheecclesiastics，whogovernedtheconscienceofTheodosius，suggestedthemosteffectualmethodsofpersecution。Inthespaceoffifteenyears，hepromulgatedatleastfifteensevereedictsagainsttheheretics；^48moreespeciallyagainstthosewhorejectedthedoctrineoftheTrinity；andtodeprivethemofeveryhopeofescape，hesternlyenacted，thatifanylawsorrescriptsshouldbeallegedintheirfavor，thejudgesshouldconsiderthemastheillegalproductionseitheroffraudorforgery。Thepenalstatutesweredirectedagainsttheministers，theassemblies，andthepersonsoftheheretics；andthepassionsofthelegislatorwereexpressedinthelanguageofdeclamationandinvective。I。Thehereticalteachers，whousurpedthesacredtitlesofBishops，orPresbyters，werenotonlyexcludedfromtheprivilegesandemolumentssoliberallygrantedtotheorthodoxclergy，buttheywereexposedtotheheavypenaltiesofexileandconfiscation，iftheypresumedtopreachthedoctrine，ortopractisetherites，oftheiraccursedsects。Afineoftenpoundsofgoldabovefourhundredpoundssterlingwasimposedoneverypersonwhoshoulddaretoconfer，orreceive，orpromote，anhereticalordination:anditwasreasonablyexpected，thatiftheraceofpastorscouldbeextinguished，theirhelplessflockswouldbecompelled，byignoranceandhunger，toreturnwithinthepaleoftheCatholicchurch。II。Therigorousprohibitionofconventicleswascarefullyextendedtoeverypossiblecircumstance，inwhichthehereticscouldassemblewiththeintentionofworshippingGodandChristaccordingtothedictatesoftheirconscience。Theirreligiousmeetings，whetherpublicorsecret，bydayorbynight，incitiesorinthecountry，wereequallyproscribedbytheedictsofTheodosius；andthebuilding，orground，whichhadbeenusedforthatillegalpurpose，wasforfeitedtotheImperialdomain。III。Itwassupposed，thattheerrorofthehereticscouldproceedonlyfromtheobstinatetemperoftheirminds；andthatsuchatemperwasafitobjectofcensureandpunishment。Theanathemasofthechurchwerefortifiedbyasortofcivilexcommunication；whichseparatedthemfromtheirfellow—citizens，byapeculiarbrandofinfamy；
andthisdeclarationofthesuprememagistratetendedtojustify，oratleasttoexcuse，theinsultsofafanaticpopulace。Thesectariesweregraduallydisqualifiedfromthepossessionofhonorableorlucrativeemployments；andTheodosiuswassatisfiedwithhisownjustice，whenhedecreed，that，astheEunomiansdistinguishedthenatureoftheSonfromthatoftheFather，theyshouldbeincapableofmakingtheirwillsorofreceivinganyadvantagefromtestamentarydonations。TheguiltoftheManichaeanheresywasesteemedofsuchmagnitude，thatitcouldbeexpiatedonlybythedeathoftheoffender；andthesamecapitalpunishmentwasinflictedontheAudians，orQuartodecimans，^49whoshoulddaretoperpetratetheatrociouscrimeofcelebratingonanimproperdaythefestivalofEaster。
EveryRomanmightexercisetherightofpublicaccusation；buttheofficeofInquisitorsoftheFaith，anamesodeservedlyabhorred，wasfirstinstitutedunderthereignofTheodosius。
Yetweareassured，thattheexecutionofhispenaledictswasseldomenforced；andthatthepiousemperorappearedlessdesiroustopunish，thantoreclaim，orterrify，hisrefractorysubjects。^50
[Footnote48:SeetheTheodosianCode，l。xvi。tit。v。leg。6—
23，withGodefroy'scommentaryoneachlaw，andhisgeneralsummary，orParatitlon，tomvi。p。104—110。]
[Footnote49:TheyalwayskepttheirEaster，liketheJewishPassover，onthefourteenthdayofthefirstmoonafterthevernalequinox；andthuspertinaciouslyopposedtheRomanChurchandNicenesynod，whichhadfixedEastertoaSunday。Bingham'sAntiquities，l。xx。c。5，vol。ii。p。309，fol。edit。]
[Footnote50:Sozomen，l。vii。c。12。]
ThetheoryofpersecutionwasestablishedbyTheodosius，whosejusticeandpietyhavebeenapplaudedbythesaints:butthepracticeofit，inthefullestextent，wasreservedforhisrivalandcolleague，Maximus，thefirst，amongtheChristianprinces，whoshedthebloodofhisChristiansubjectsonaccountoftheirreligiousopinions。ThecauseofthePriscillianists，^51arecentsectofheretics，whodisturbedtheprovincesofSpain，wastransferred，byappeal，fromthesynodofBordeauxtotheImperialconsistoryofTreves；andbythesentenceofthePraetorianpraefect，sevenpersonsweretortured，condemned，andexecuted。ThefirstofthesewasPriscillian^52himself，bishopofAvila，inSpain；whoadornedtheadvantagesofbirthandfortune，bytheaccomplishmentsofeloquenceandlearning。Twopresbyters，andtwodeacons，accompaniedtheirbelovedmasterinhisdeath，whichtheyesteemedasagloriousmartyrdom；andthenumberofreligiousvictimswascompletedbytheexecutionofLatronian，apoet，whorivalledthefameoftheancients；andofEuchrocia，anoblematronofBordeaux，thewidowoftheoratorDelphidius。^54TwobishopswhohadembracedthesentimentsofPriscillian，werecondemnedtoadistantanddrearyexile；^55