WHIT pected. The bishop replied, "that the supporting the conAbp. Cant. Stitution of the Church was much to be preferred to the living at Rome." The emperor, finding him thus immovable, banished him into Thrace.

GIFT,

Ibid.

In this discourse between Constantius and Liberius, there is something very remarkable of another kind. The emperor begins with him thus: "Since you are a Christian and a bishop of our capital, we thought fit to send for you, and require you to break off all religious correspondence with that wretch Athanasius." When Liberius refused to resign himself to Constantius's pleasure, Epictetus, a court bishop, interposed: "Sir," says he to Constantius, "Liberius's incompliance does not proceed so much from a regard for the Nicene faith, or the authority of the Church, but because he has a mind to brag to the Roman senate, that he has foiled the emperor." Upon this the emperor falls hard upon Liberius: "What a small part of Christendom," says he, "do you make, that you should stand single in defence of an ill man, and disturb the peace of the Roman empire, and indeed of all the world beside?" To this Liberius replies, "Supposing I stand by myself in this matter, the cause is never the worse for want of company." For formerly there were only three that denied obedience to the king's command. Now if the modern doctrine of the papal supremacy had been received in this age, there is reason to believe that such lessening questions would not have been put by the emperor, neither would Liberius have answered in so passive, unpretending a manner. For had the court of Rome's claim for universal pastorship been then acknow ledged; had the bishop of Rome been looked on as Christ's vicar; had his power been reckoned paramount to all the bishops of Christendom, Constantius would have saluted him in terms of greater regard, not sunk him to a common bishop; nor told him how slender a part he made with respect to the rest of his order. And, if the emperor should have thus far forgotten the pre-eminence of the bishop of Rome, it may fairly be supposed Liberius would have put him in mind of it. Liberius was a plain dealer, and a man of resolution, as appears by his manner before the emperor: it is very unlikely, therefore, he would be silent when his

BETH.

privileges were thus overlooked, and the honour of his see ELIZAthus plainly attacked. And, on the other side, it seems no less evident, that could Constantius have deposed Athanasius by his imperial authority, he never would have solicited the Catholic bishops with so much earnestness.

καταμίσ

The emperor, however, it may be, thinking himself concerned in honour not to yield, sent for the five famous bishops above-mentioned, and commanded them to sign the sentence at Tyre against Athanasius, and communicate with the Arians. The bishops, strangely surprised at this order, told his majesty this was not agreeable to the proceedings of the Church. To this the emperor returned, "his pleasure was ecclesiastical constitution; that the bishops of Syria paid this deference to his commands, and therefore," says he, "either submit or be banished." This arbitrary manner was extremely new to the bishops; however, they were not Mnde yat all overset with the emperor's purple, but delivered them- yeu Tiju selves with a decent freedom. They put him in mind of the dex Th day of judgment, desired him not to maim the ecclesiastical Tijs KXauthority, nor drive the regale too far into the Church. 77. The emperor, being provoked with this remonstrance, would Paulinus, Dionysius, not suffer them to go on. In short, his passion was so far &c. unswer raised, that he drew his sword, and ordered them to be sent off. But afterwards, recollecting himself, he remanded some stantius. of them back, in hopes of shaking their constancy; but the event did not answer: for the holy bishops, as Athanasius expresses it, "shook off the dust of their feet," disregarded Athanas. the emperor's threatening, and went cheerfully into banish- Vit. Agent.

ment.

Ρωμαϊκὴν

σίας διατα

to the em

peror Con

ad Solit.

p. 831.

The famous Hosius, bishop of Corduba, who presided at the council of Nice, adhered to Athanasius, and lay cross to the Arians' designs. This bishop had so great a reputation, that, unless they could bring him over, they despaired of carrying their point. The emperor therefore sent for him, and tried him every way, but to no purpose; at last he was treated very ruggedly, and before this, the emperor imagining such usage might make him relent, pressed him to comply in a letter. Hosius continued firm, and returned the Part of emperor an extraordinary answer. He complains secular Hosius's persons engaged too far in managing the impeachment Constantius.

letter to

WHIT- against Athanasius. To speak in his own person: "I enGIFT, Abp. Cant. treat your majesty that you would forbear your methods of violence, and neither write letters, nor send your secular judges to take cognizance of these matters. When was ever any thing of this kind done by your brother emperor Constans? When was any bishop banished in his reign? Or did he ever appear upon the bench to try causes relating to the Church and clergy? Or did any of his court-officers ever menace people to sign a sentence against any Churchman? I entreat your majesty would wave these proceedings. Remember you are a mortal man, stand in awe of the last judgment, and keep yourself unblemished against that day : do not interpose in ecclesiastical affairs, nor lay your commands upon us in things of this kind, but rather learn from us how these things are to be managed: God has entrusted you with the government of the empire, and us bishops with that of the Church. If any person should seize your administration, or surprise your prerogative, he would be guilty of breaking the divine ordinance; so be pleased to consider, the bishops have their proper jurisdiction; have a care, therefore, your drawing the business to your own cognizance, which belongs to ecclesiastics, does not make you deeply answerable. It is written, Render unto Cæsar the things which are Cæsar's, and unto God the things which are God's.' As civil government is no part of our claim, so neither does burning incense belong to your majesty. My regard for your salvation makes me write to you in this manner."

See Records,

num. 91.

Solit. Vit.

p. 839.

6

This testimony of Hosius is very remarkable; and, that Athanas. ad the reader may see his sense is fairly translated, I shall Ag. Epist. transcribe the original into the records. This testimony, considering the person, is of no small weight. Now what character Hosius had in the Church of that age, may be collected from the report of the Arian bishops, his enemies, who we may imagine would not exceed truth in his commendation. These men, in their address to Constantius, acquaint him, that unless Hosius was brought into their interest, all 613. that either themselves or his majesty had done already, would signify nothing. "It is true," say they, "the bishop of Rome, and several other bishops, are banished; we have

BETH. Hosius's

carried terror and severity through a great part of Christen- ELIZAdom; but all your majesty has done for the cause will turn to no account, so long as Hosius remains upon his see; character. while this bishop continues possessed, all the rest of his exiled order are in effect at home, and unreduced for his persuasiveness, and the strength of his character, is sufficient to draw all the party down upon us. This man governs synods, and whatever he writes is every where heard and regarded. He drew the Nicene Creed, and proclaimed the Arians heretics all the world over. If this bishop therefore is suffered to live in his diocese, the banishing the others is wholly insignificant. Your way, therefore, sir, is to direct your prosecution principally against him, and do not let any Vit. Agen. regards of his age give check to your justice."

By this address of the Arians, it is plain they reckoned Hosius a bishop of a greater figure, and one that swayed the interest of the Church more than Liberius himself. But if the pope had been looked on as the sovereign pastor, he would not only have been an overbalance to Hosius, but have outweighed the whole episcopal college. And if this had been the doctrine of those times, the Arians in all likelihood would never have solicited the emperor in this manner, nor laid the stress of the cause, as it were, upon Hosius's authority.

Id. ad Solit.

p. 837.

monstrance

To return. The celebrated Athanasius himself remon- Athanastrates strongly against Constantius's proceedings, with sius's rerespect to himself. He complains the emperor made use of against the proceedings one Epictetus, and three other unworthy court bishops, to set of Constanup Felix against Liberius; and that they consecrated this tius. intruder in the palace, but that the people stood off from them, and refused to own their communion. And now, speaking of the emperor Constantius, he delivers himself in this manner. "In what (says he) has this prince come short of Antichrist? Or which way can Antichrist go further at his appearing? Will he not find precedents from this court to plain his way, and carry on his imposture ? For this prince invades the right of the consistory, makes his palace the court for ecclesiastical causes, and is both prosecutor and judge himself; and when he finds the indictment flag, and the evidence at a stand, his majesty sets

VOL. VII.

H

iri de marge, mi muris manager. And thus those who we must feace are overborne by force." He was pany is assei with passion in Athanasius's cause; for when the bisivos. Paulinus. Lucifer, Dyonysius, and Eusebins, zock the freedom to produce the retractation of Ursaeius and Wiens's testimony against Athanasius, the emperor refused to give any redit to the record of their confession; but rising up in ecurs, declared himself an evidence against Athanasius. Upen this the bishops told him, his majesty could not be a legal evidence, unless the person impeached was brought into ecurt, and allowed to make his defence; that since it was not a matter of property, or civil justice, the emperor's testimony eculd not be taken upon content; that since a bishop was to be tried, Constantius would be obliged to wave his imperial character, to submit to the customary forms, and manage upon a level with the criminal. The emperor, as Athanasius goes on, taking this discourse for an excess of Eberty, banished the four bishops; and now being more incensed against Athanasius, he published a severe proclamation, ordered the Arians his diocese, and gave them leave to manage at discretion. "These proceedings," saith Athanasius, are frightful excesses, and lively representations of Antichrist. For who can see the emperor leading the pretended bishops, and presiding upon the ecclesiastical bench, without saying, the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet,' has received its accomplishment? For since this prince, who wears the character of a Christian, presses into the holy place, and standing there, harasses the Churches, overbears the canons, and makes them give way to his secular authority,—since things are thus managed, who can say the Christians enjoy any peace under this reign? Who can deny but that they 2 Thess. 2. are rather in a state of persecution, and such a persecution as never was heard of, nor it may be never will be, till it is raised by that son of perdition?"

3.

See Records, num. 92.

Notwithstanding the great plainness of this remonstrance, we do not find Athanasius censured by any of the ancients upon this score. St. Basil, St. Gregory Nazianzen, and many others of the fathers, give him an extraordinary character. And, which is somewhat more remarkable, Constantine junior,