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his court. In consequence of this invitation, therefore he set out for Egypt, and coming to Antioch by the way, he was very honourably entertained by Constantius, who gave him letters to the several governors of the respective provinces through which he was to pass, containing commands to them to conduct him sately to his diocese. On his arrival at Alexandria he was welcomed with great demonstrations of joy by persons of all ranks, sexes, and ages, each one striving to outdo the other, in expressing their thankfulness to heaven for his safe return to him again. For sometime the church of Alexandria enjoyed a profound peace. But on the death of the emperor Constans, who was treacherously slain by Mezentius the tyrant, it quickly appeared, that all the cour tesy which had been shewn by Constantius' to Athanasius. was feigned only, for soon after the death of the above prince, he joined again with his Arian associates in seeking his destruction, first ordering him to be deposed from his bishopric, and then that he should be put to death wherever he should be found; and that he might effectually put his designs in execution, he sent to Alexandria a commander of the army, named Syrianus, for that very purpose. This man, at his first coming to that place, behaved himself very peaceably; but being informed that the people were met together one evening, with Athanasius among them, in order to perform their devotions, he ordered a party of his soldiers to compass the church, while himself with the rest, broke in among the congregation. A dreadful slaughter ensued, but the Divine Providence interposed for the preservation of the bishop, who was, by some of his clergy, forced out of the assembly, and carried in the tumult quite through the guards. Having thus escaped this snare, he retired into the wilderness, where he secreted himself among a society of devout ascetics during all the rest of Constantius's reign. While he continued here, he spent his time in the exercise of piety and devotion; and though he was very eagerly sought after by his enemies, and sometimes in imminent danger of being discovered, yet it pleased God to render the search fruitless, and to keep him in safety till they gave over their pursuit.

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Immediately after his retirement the Arians, under the conduct of George, their new bishop, let loose their fury on the catholics in a most dreadful manner, scourging, imprisoning, and murdering numbers of those whose mis

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fortune it was to fall into their hands. Having seized upon a subdeacon, named Eutychus, a man of an excellent character, they whipped him till he was quite senseless, and then attempted to carry him to the mines, but death interposed and put an end to his misery; and some persons adventuring to intercede in his behalf, they were ordered to be first scourged, and afterwards cast into prison for so doing. Many had their houses broke open and rifled, while others, to avoid the diabolical fury of these heretical monsters, left their all, and either fled into the desart, or else committed themselves to the mercy of the sea.

In the year 361, Constantius departed this life, and was succeeded by Julian, whereupon Athanasius returned to Alexandria again, where he met with a most joyful reception, the streets were crouded with people from all the neighbouring parts, who were divided in classes, in the same manner as was usually practised at a time of a public triumph, and such was the magnificence with which the solemnity was conducted, that it became a proverb in after times: "The great Athanasius was not brought into Alexandria with more splendour."

Athanasius being thus restored again to his people, he began immediately to rectify the irregularities which, during his long absence, had crept in among them; and this was performed with so much prudence and gentleness, that even his very enemies could not but applaud his conduct. He was congratulated on his return by letters, from the most eminent persons in the Christian world, several of whom came to visit him in person; but after he had continued at home a short time, a fresh conspiracy was formed against him, in which both the Aris aus and heathens joined together. During the time of his abode at Alexandria he had converted a number of Gentiles to the Christian faith, and among the rest several honourable: Greek ladies. At this so much umbrage was taken, that a complaint was exhibited against him to Julian the emperor, who was informed, moreover, at the same time, that if he was suffered to proceed in the manner in which he went on, there would not be a Pagan left in all his diocese. Julian being highly exasperated at the intelligence, wrote to Ecdicius, the governor of Alexandria, to the following effect: " Although you wrote nothing else, you ought to have informed us concerning Athanasius, the enemy of the gods; with re

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spect to whom, I call the great Serapis to witness, that if he is not banished from Egypt before the first of December: next, the regiments under your command. .shall be fined an hundred pounds of gold. It is no small trouble to me, that, by his means all the gods should be set at nought. Of all your services none would be more acceptable to me, than to hear that he is driven out of all Egypt." Athanasius, finding the storm arising, prepared for his departure; telling his friends, however, in a kind of prophetic manner," that this was but a little cloud, which would soon blow over." Having taken a boat, he sailed down the Nile towards Thebais. Which he had had no sooner done, than an officer came to Alexandria, in order to apprehend him; but hearing that he was gone, he departed in pursuit of him with all the expedi tion imaginable. This, Athanasius and his friends being informed of, he was persuaded by them to go on shore, and retire to the desart; but instead of so doing, he commanded the steersman to turn the boat, and sail back again towards Alexandria, saying, "Let us rather go and meet this executioner, that he may know that the God who is for us, is greater than he who is against us." This proved the means of his safety for the officer and his company meeting the boat, and not thinking that he would attempt to sail that way, he only inquired: "Whether they had seen Athanasius?" and being answered: "that he was not far off," they continued their pursuit; while he, in the mean time, returned safely to Alexandria, where he continued private all the rest of Julian's reign.

On the death of Julian, who was slain in the battle with the Persians, a person, named Jovian, was advanced to the empire. This gentleman was tribune of the soldiers, and in the foregoing reign had been, in intention at least, a kind of sufferer for the Christian cause: for the emperor having published an edict, importing, that all those who would not renounce Christianity and embrace Paganism, should be divested of their military employments, he immediately threw down his belt as a token of resigning his commission; but the situation of affairs not permitting Julian to part with him at that juncture, he was continued in his employment At his entrance on the government, he publicly declared himself a Christian; and immediately commanded that the exiled

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bishops should be forthwith restored to their several sees : after which he wrote letters to Athanasius (who was esteemed the principal defender of the orthodox faith at that time) desiring him to send him an exact account what the true Christian belief really was. Athanasius being glad of this opportunity, directly convened a synod of neighbouring bishops, who drew up a letter to the following purport, which he, together with some others, was ordered to present to the emperor in the name of the assembly."

"To the most religious Prince Jovian.

"A mind actuated with an earnest desire after the knowledge of divine things, is highly becoming a religious prince for so shall your heart truly be in the hand of God. Forasmuch, therefore, as your piety desires to learn from us the faith of the Catholic church; we, after rendering for this our thanks to God, have resolved to Jay before your devout mind, the faith which was published by the fathers at Nice; which, some have rejected, and thereupon endeavoured, by a thousand artifices, to undermine us, because we went not along with the Arian sect, who have introduced schisms and heresies into the church. But the true and holy faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, is manifest unto all, being read in the holy scriptures: in which faith holy men have suffered martyrdom, and are now at rest in the Lord. But a certain person, named Arius, having corrupted this faith, by asserting, that the Son of God was a creature, and made out of notiring; our said Nicene fathers being assembled together, condemned the Arian heresy, and consigned to writing a confession of their faith; which being every where published, extinguished the heresy aforesaid; and this faith is every where known and preached throughout all the churches in all the world, namely, by those of Spain, Britain, Gaul, Italy, Campania, Dalmatia, Dacia, Mysia, Macedonia, and all Achaia; by those of Africa, Sardinia, Cyprus, Crete, Pamphylia, Lycia, Isauria, Egypt, Lybia, Pontus, and Galatia, and in short, by all the churches in the east, a few only excepted, who embraced the sentiments of Arius. The opinions of all the churches above-mentioned we are able to produce, having their letters by us. Now, that your piety may know what the faith published by the 318 fathers at Nice really was, we have sent you their confession, which is as follows?

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We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of all things, visible and invisible: and in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the only begotten, begotten of the Father, that is, of the substance of the Father: God of God, light of light, true God of true God, begotten, not made, substantial with the Father, by whom all things were made, things in heaven and things on earth who for us men, and for our salvation, came down and was incarnate, and became man, suffered and rose again the third day, and ascended into the heavens, and will come to judge the quick and dead and in the Holy Ghost. And the catholic and apostolic church does anathematize those persons who say, that there was a time when He, the Son of God, was not: that he was not before he was born; that he was made of nothing, or of another substance or being; or that he is created, or changeable, or convertible.

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"In this faith, Sir, we ought to continue, as being divine and apostolical; nor may any man alter it by plausible pretences, or sophistical reasoning, as the Arians have done; who affirm, that the Son of God was made. out of nothing, But the council condemned that heresy, and affirmed him to be consubstantial with the Father, which is the property of a true genuine son, begotten of a true natural father. Nor did they separate the Holy Ghost, from the Father and the Son, but rather glorified him together with them; there being but one Godhead in the Holy Trinity."

The emperor having perused this epistle, Athanasius was honourably dismissed by him, with great commendations of his wisdom and virtue, his integrity and piety.

After Jovian had governed the empire for the space of eight months, he departed this life, and was succeeded by Valentinian, who made his brother Valens his partner in the government. This Valens being an Arian, and the eastern provinces falling to his share, he issued out orders, that all the orthodox bishops in those parts, who had been banished by Constantius, and restored by Jovian, should be driven again from their respective churches. In consequence of this order, Athanasius was obliged to retire once more; but after about four months absence, on the intercession of his own people, he was allowed by the emperor to return again, and with them he continued the remainder of his life; for being full of years, and broken with labours and hardships, he departed this life

Vol. VIII. Churchm. Mag. June 1805. 3 G about

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