Contents
- Title Page
- Preface
- General Prolegomena: Constantine the Great.
- Life.
- Early Years
- The First Five Years of Reign
- State of Affairs in 311
- Second Five Years
- Third Five Years
- Fourth Five Years
- Fifth Five Years
- Sixth Five Years
- Last Years
- Character
- Introduction
- Inherited Characteristics
- Physical Characteristics
- Mental Characteristics
- Moral Characteristics
- Religious Characteristics
- General Characterization
- Summary
- Writings.
- Introduction (i)
- Oratorical Writings
- Letters and Edicts
- Laws
- Various
- The Mythical Constantine.
- Introduction (i, 2)
- Constantine and His Mother Helena
- Constantine the Son of a British Princess
- Constantine's Leprosy; Healing and Baptism by Silvester
- Donation of Constantine
- Dream Concerning the Founding of Constantinople
- Voyage of Helena
- The Finding of the Cross
- Sources and Literature.
- Introduction (i, 3)
- Sources
- Literature
- Special Prolegomena.
- The Life of Constantine
- Oration of Constantine
- Oration of Eusebius
- Title Page (iv)
- The Life of Constantine.
- Book I
- Preface.--Of the Death of Constantine
- The Preface Continued
- How God Honors Pious Princes, but Destroys Tyrants
- That God Honored Constantine
- That He Reigned Above Thirty Years, and Lived Above Sixty
- That He Was the Servant of God, and the Conqueror of Nations
- Comparison With Cyrus, King of the Persians, and With Alexander of Macedon
- That He Conquered Nearly the Whole World
- That He Was the Son of a Pious Emperor, and Bequeathed the Power to Royal Sons
- Of the Need for This History, and its Value for Edification
- That His Present Object is to Record Only the Pious Actions of Constantine
- That Like Moses, He Was Reared in the Palaces of Kings
- Of Constantius His Father, Who Refused to Imitate Diocletian, Maximian, and…
- How Constantius His Father, Being Reproached With Poverty by Diocletian, Filled…
- Of the Persecution Raised by His Colleagues
- How Constantius, Feigning Idolatry, Expelled Those Who Consented to Offer…
- Of His Christian Manner of Life
- That After the Abdication of Diocletian and Maximian, Constantius Became Chief…
- Of His Son Constantine, Who in His Youth Accompanied Diocletian Into Palestine
- Flight of Constantine to His Father Because of the Plots of Diocletian
- Death of Constantius, Who Leaves His Son Constantine Emperor
- How, After the Burial of Constantius, Constantine Was Proclaimed Augustus by…
- A Brief Notice of the Destruction of the Tyrants
- It Was by the Will of God That Constantine Became Possessed of the Empire
- Victories of Constantine Over the Barbarians and the Britons
- How He Resolved to Deliver Rome From Maxentius
- That After Reflecting on the Downfall of Those Who Had Worshiped Idols, He Made…
- How, While He Was Praying, God Sent Him a Vision of a Cross of Light in the…
- How the Christ of God Appeared to Him in His Sleep, and Commanded Him to Use in…
- The Making of the Standard of the Cross
- A Description of the Standard of the Cross, Which the Romans Now Call the…
- How Constantine Received Instruction, and Read the Sacred Scriptures
- Of the Adulterous Conduct of Maxentius at Rome
- How the Wife of a Prefect Slew Herself for Chastity's Sake
- Massacre of the Roman People by Maxentius
- Magic Arts of Maxentius Against Constantine; and Famine at Rome
- Defeat of Maxentius's Armies in Italy
- Death of Maxentius on the Bridge of the Tiber
- Constantine's Entry Into Rome
- Of the Statue of Constantine Holding a Cross, and its Inscription
- Rejoicings Throughout the Provinces; and Constantine's Acts of Grace
- The Honors Conferred Upon Bishops, and the Building of Churches
- Constantine's Liberality to the Poor
- How He Was Present at the Synods of Bishops
- His Forbearance With Unreasonable Men
- Victories Over the Barbarians
- Death of Maximin, Who Had Attempted a Conspiracy, and of Others Whom…
- Celebration of Constantine's Decennalia
- How Licinius Oppressed the East
- How Licinius Attempted a Conspiracy Against Constantine
- Intrigues of Licinius Against the Bishops, and His Prohibition of Synods
- Banishment of the Christians, and Confiscation of Their Property
- Edict That Women Should Not Meet With the Men in the Churches
- That Those Who Refuse to Sacrifice Are to Be Dismissed From Military Service…
- The Lawless Conduct and Covetousness of Licinius
- At Length He Undertakes to Raise a Persecution
- That Maximian, Brought Low by a Fistulous Ulcer With Worms, Issued an Edict in…
- That Maximin, Who Had Persecuted the Christians, Was Compelled to Fly, and…
- That Maximin, Blinded by Disease, Issued an Edict in Favor of the Christians
- Book II
- Secret Persecution by Licinius, Who Causes Some Bishops to Be Put to Death at…
- Demolition of Churches, and Butchery of the Bishops
- How Constantine Was Stirred in Behalf of the Christians Thus in Danger of…
- That Constantine Prepared Himself for the War by Prayer: Licinius by the…
- What Licinius, While Sacrificing in a Grove, Said Concerning Idols, and…
- An Apparition Seen in the Cities Subject to Licinius, as of Constantine's…
- That Victory Everywhere Followed the Presence of the Standard of the Cross in…
- That Fifty Men Were Selected to Carry the Cross
- That One of the Cross-Bearers, Who Fled From His Post, Was Slain: While…
- Various Battles, and Constantine's Victories
- Flight, and Magic Arts of Licinius
- How Constantine, After Praying in His Tabernacle, Obtained the Victory
- His Humane Treatment of Prisoners
- A Farther Mention of His Prayers in the Tabernacle
- Treacherous Friendship, and Idolatrous Practices of Licinius
- How Licinius Counseled His Soldiers Not to Attack the Standard of the Cross
- Constantine's Victory
- Death of Licinius, and Celebration of the Event
- Rejoicings and Festivities
- Constantine's Enactments in Favor of the Confessors
- His Laws Concerning Martyrs, and Concerning Ecclesiastical Property
- How He Won the Favor of the People
- That He Declared God to Be the Author of His Prosperity: and Concerning His…
- Law of Constantine Respecting Piety Towards God, and the Christian Religion
- An Illustration From Ancient Times
- Of Persecuted and Persecutors
- How the Persecution Became the Occasion of Calamities to the Aggressors
- That God Chose Constantine to Be the Minister of Blessing
- Constantine's Expressions of Piety Towards God; and Praise of the Confessors
- A Law Granting Release From Exile, From Service in the Courts, and From the…
- Release Likewise Granted to Exiles in the Islands
- And to Those Ignominiously Employed in the Mines and Public Works
- Concerning Those Confessors Engaged in Military Service
- The Liberation of Free Persons Condemned to Labor in the Women's Apartments, or…
- Of the Inheritance of the Property of Martyrs and Confessors, Also of Those Who…
- The Church is Declared Heir of Those Who Leave No Kindred; and the Free Gifts…
- Lands, Gardens, or Houses, but Not Actual Produce From Them, Are to Be Given…
- In What Manner Requests Should Be Made for These
- The Treasury Must Restore Lands, Gardens, and Houses to the Churches
- The Tombs of Martyrs and the Cemeteries to Be Transferred to the Possession of…
- Those Who Have Purchased Property Belonging to the Church, or Received it as a…
- An Earnest Exhortation to Worship God
- How the Enactments of Constantine Were Carried Into Effect
- That He Promoted Christians to Offices of Government, and Forbade Gentiles in…
- Statutes Which Forbade Sacrifice, and Enjoined the Building of Churches
- Constantine's Letter to Eusebius and Other Bishops, Respecting the Building of…
- That He Wrote a Letter in Condemnation of Idolatry
- Constantine's Edict to the People of the Provinces Concerning the Error of…
- Concerning Constantine's Pious Father, and the Persecutors Diocletian and…
- That the Persecution Originated on Account of the Oracle of Apollo, Who, it Was…
- That Constantine, When a Youth, Heard From Him Who Wrote the Persecution Edict…
- The Manifold Forms of Torture and Punishment Practiced Against the Christians
- That the Barbarians Kindly Received the Christians
- What Vengeance Overtook Those Who on Account of the Oracle Raised the…
- Constantine Gives Glory to God, Makes Grateful Acknowledgment of the Sign of…
- He Prays That All May Be Christians, but Compels None
- He Gives Glory to God, Who Has Given Light by His Son to Those Who Were in Error
- He Glorifies Him Again for His Government of the Universe
- He Gives Glory to God, as the Constant Teacher of Good
- An Admonition at the Close of the Edict, That No One Should Trouble His Neighbor
- How Controversies Originated at Alexandria Through Matters Relating to Arius
- Concerning the Same Arius, and the Melitians
- How Constantine Sent a Messenger and a Letter Concerning Peace
- Constantine's Letter to Alexander the Bishop, and Arius the Presbyter
- His Continual Anxiety for Peace
- That He Also Adjusted the Controversies Which Had Arisen in Africa
- That Religion Began in the East
- Being Grieved by the Dissension, He Counsels Peace
- Origin of the Controversy Between Alexander and Arius, and That These Questions…
- An Exhortation to Unanimity
- There Should Be No Contention in Matters Which Are in Themselves of Little…
- The Excess of His Pious Concern Caused Him to Shed Tears; and His Intended…
- The Controversy Continues Without Abatement, Even After the Receipt of This…
- Book III
- A Comparison of Constantine's Piety With the Wickedness of the Persecutors
- Farther Remarks on Constantine's Piety, and His Open Testimony to the Sign of…
- Of His Picture Surmounted by a Cross and Having Beneath it a Dragon
- A Farther Notice of the Controversies Raised in Egypt by Arius
- Of the Disagreement Respecting the Celebration of Easter
- How He Ordered a Council to Be Held at Nicæa
- Of the General Council, at Which Bishops From All Nations Were Present
- That the Assembly Was Composed, as in the Acts of the Apostles, of Individuals…
- Of the Virtue and Age of the Two Hundred and Fifty Bishops
- Council in the Palace. Constantine, Entering, Took His Seat in the Assembly
- Silence of the Council, After Some Words by the Bishop Eusebius
- Constantine's Address to the Council Concerning Peace
- How He Led the Dissentient Bishops to Harmony of Sentiment
- Unanimous Declaration of the Council Concerning Faith, and the Celebration of…
- How Constantine Entertained the Bishops on the Occasion of His Vicennalia
- Presents to the Bishops, and Letters to the People Generally
- Constantine's Letter to the Churches Respecting the Council at Nicæa
- He Speaks of Their Unanimity Respecting the Feast of Easter, and Against the…
- Exhortation to Follow the Example of the Greater Part of the World
- Exhortation to Obey the Decrees of the Council
- Recommendation to the Bishops, on Their Departure, to Preserve Harmony
- How He Dismissed Some, and Wrote Letters to Others; Also His Presents
- How He Wrote to the Egyptians, Exhorting Them to Peace
- How He Wrote Frequent Letters of a Religious Character to the Bishops and People
- How He Ordered the Erection of a Church at Jerusalem, in the Holy Place of Our…
- That the Holy Sepulchre Had Been Covered With Rubbish and With Idols by the…
- How Constantine Commanded the Materials of the Idol Temple, and the Soil…
- Discovery of the Most Holy Sepulchre
- How He Wrote Concerning the Erection of a Church, Both to the Governors of the…
- Constantine's Letter to Macarius Respecting the Building of the Church of Our…
- That the Building Should Surpass All the Churches in the World in the Beauty of…
- That He Instructed the Governors Concerning the Beautifying of the Roof; Also…
- How the Church of Our Saviour, the New Jerusalem Prophesied of in Scripture…
- Description of the Structure of the Holy Sepulchre
- Description of the Atrium and Porticos
- Description of the Walls, Roof, Decoration, and Gilding of the Body of the…
- Description of the Double Porticos on Either Side, and of the Three Eastern…
- Description of the Hemisphere, the Twelve Columns, and Their Bowls
- Description of the Inner Court, the Arcades and Porches
- Of the Number of His Offerings
- Of the Erection of Churches in Bethlehem, and on the Mount of Olives
- That the Empress Helena, Constantine's Mother, Having Visited This Locality for…
- A Farther Notice of the Churches at Bethlehem
- Of Helena's Generosity and Beneficent Acts
- Helena's Pious Conduct in the Churches
- How She Made Her Will, and Died at the Age of Eighty Years
- How Constantine Buried His Mother, and How He Honored Her During Her Life
- How He Built Churches in Honor of Martyrs, and Abolished Idolatry at…
- Representation of the Cross in the Palace, and of Daniel at the Public Fountains
- That He Erected Churches in Nicomedia, and in Other Cities
- That He Ordered a Church to Be Built at Mambre
- Constantine's Letter to Eusebius Concerning Mambre
- That the Saviour Appeared in This Place to Abraham
- Destruction of Idol Temples and Images Everywhere
- Overthrow of an Idol Temple, and Abolition of Licentious Practices, at Aphaca…
- Destruction of the Temple of Æsculapius at Ægæ
- How the Gentiles Abandoned Idol Worship, and Turned to the Knowledge of God
- How He Destroyed the Temple of Venus at Heliopolis, and Built the First Church…
- Of the Disturbance at Antioch by Eustathius
- Constantine's Letter to the Antiochians, Directing Them Not to Withdraw…
- The Emperor's Letter to Eusebius Praising Him for Refusing the Bishopric of…
- Constantine's Letter to the Council, Depreciating the Removal of Eusebius From…
- How He Displayed His Zeal for the Extirpation of Heresies
- Constantine's Edict Against the Heretics
- The Heretics Are Deprived of Their Meeting Places
- How on the Discovery of Prohibited Books Among the Heretics, Many of Them…
- Book IV
- How He Honored Many by Presents and Promotions
- Remission of a Fourth Part of the Taxes
- Equalization of the More Oppressive Taxes
- His Liberality, From His Private Resources, to the Losers in Suits of a…
- Conquest of the Scythians Defeated Through the Sign of Our Saviour
- Conquest of the Sarmatians, Consequent on the Rebellion of Their Slaves
- Ambassadors From Different Barbarous Nations Receive Presents From the Emperor
- That He Wrote Also to the King of Persia, Who Had Sent Him an Embassy, on…
- Letter of Constantine Augustus to Sapor, King of the Persians, Containing a…
- The Writer Denounces Idols, and Glorifies God
- Against the Tyrants and Persecutors; and on the Captivity of Valerian
- He Declares That, Having Witnessed the Fall of the Persecutors, He Now Rejoices…
- He Bespeaks His Affectionate Interest for the Christians in His Country
- How the Zealous Prayers of Constantine Procured Peace to the Christians
- He Causes Himself to Be Represented on His Coins, and in His Portraits, in the…
- He Forbids by Law the Placing His Likeness in Idol Temples
- Of His Prayers in the Palace, and His Reading the Holy Scriptures
- He Enjoins the General Observance of the Lord's Day, and the Day of Preparation
- That He Directed Even His Pagan Soldiers to Pray on the Lord's Day
- The Form of Prayer Given by Constantine to His Soldiers
- He Orders the Sign of the Saviour's Cross to Be Engraven on His Soldiers'…
- Of His Zeal in Prayer, and the Honor He Paid to the Feast of Easter
- How He Forbade Idolatrous Worship, but Honored Martyrs and the Church Festivals
- That He Described Himself to Be a Bishop, in Charge of Affairs External to the…
- Prohibition of Sacrifices, of Mystic Rites, Combats of Gladiators, Also the…
- Amendment of the Law in Force Respecting Childless Persons, and of the Law of…
- Among Other Enactments, He Decrees That No Christian Shall Slave to a Jew, and…
- His Gifts to the Churches, and Bounties to Virgins and to the Poor
- Of Constantine's Discourses and Declamations
- That He Marked Out Before a Covetous Man the Measure of a Grave, and So Put Him…
- That He Was Derided Because of His Excessive Clemency
- Of Constantine's Oration Which He Wrote to the Assembly of the Saints
- How He Listened Standing to Eusebius' Declamation in Honor of Our Saviour's…
- That He Wrote to Eusebius Respecting Easter, and Respecting Copies of the Holy…
- Constantine's Letter to Eusebius, in Praise of His Discourse Concerning Easter
- Constantine's Letter to Eusebius on the Preparation of Copies of the Holy…
- How the Copies Were Provided
- How the Market-Town of Gaza Was Made a City for its Profession of Christianity…
- That a Place in Phœnicia Also Was Made a City, and in Other Cities Idolatry Was…
- That Having Conferred the Dignity of Cæsars on His Three Sons at the Three…
- That in the Meantime He Ordered a Council to Be Convened at Tyre, Because of…
- Constantine's Letter to the Council at Tyre
- Bishops From All the Provinces Attended the Dedication of the Church at…
- Of Their Reception by the Notary Marianus; the Distribution of Money to the…
- Various Discourses by the Assembled Bishops; Also by Eusebius, the Writer of…
- That Eusebius Afterwards Delivered His Description of the Church of the…
- That the Council at Nicæa Was Held in the Twentieth, the Dedication of the…
- That Constantine Was Displeased With One Who Praised Him Excessively
- Marriage of His Son Constantius Cæsar
- Embassy and Presents From the Indians
- That Constantine Divided the Empire Between His Three Sons, Whom He Had…
- That After They Had Reached Man's Estate He Was Their Guide in Piety
- Having Reigned About Thirty-Two Years, and Lived Above Sixty, He Still Had a…
- Of Those Who Abused His Extreme Benevolence for Avarice and Hypocrisy
- Constantine Employed Himself in Composition of Various Kinds to the Close of…
- How He Took Bishops With Him on an Expedition Against the Persians, and Took…
- How He Received an Embassy From the Persians and Kept the Night Vigil With…
- Concerning the Building of a Church in Honor of the Apostles at Constantinople
- Farther Description of the Same Church
- He Also Erected His Own Sepulchral Monument in This Church
- His Sickness at Helenopolis, and Prayers Respecting His Baptism
- Constantine's Appeal to the Bishops, Requesting Them to Confer Upon Him the…
- How After His Baptism He Rendered Thanks to God
- Constantine's Death at Noon on the Feast of Pentecost
- Lamentations of the Soldiery and Their Officers
- Removal of the Body From Nicomedia to the Palace at Constantinople
- He Received the Same Honors From the Counts and Other Officers as Before His…
- Resolution of the Army to Confer Thence-forward the Title of Augustus on His…
- Mourning for Constantine at Rome; and the Honor Paid Him There Through…
- His Burial by His Son Constantius at Constantinople
- Sacred Service in the Church of the Apostles on the Occasion of Constantine's…
- Of the Phœnix
- How Constantine is Represented on Coins in the Act of Ascending to Heaven
- The God Whom He Had Honored Deservedly Honored Him in Return
- He Surpassed All Preceding Emperors in Devotion to God
- The Oration of Constantine.
- Preliminary Remarks on the Feast of Easter: and How the Word of God, Having…
- An Appeal to the Church and to His Hearers to Pardon and Correct the Errors of…
- That God is the Father of the Word, and the Creator of All Things; and That…
- On the Error of Idolatrous Worship
- That Christ, the Son of God, Created All Things, and Has Appointed to Every…
- The Falsity of the General Opinion Respecting Fate is Proved by the…
- In Regard to Things Above Our Comprehension, We Should Glorify the Creator's…
- That God Bestows an Abundant Supply of Whatever is Suited to the Wants of Man…
- Of the Philosophers, Who Fell Into Mistaken Notions, and Some of Them Into…
- Of Those Who Reject the Doctrines of Philosophers, as Well as Those of…
- On the Coming of Our Lord in the Flesh; its Nature and Cause
- Of Those Who Are Ignorant of This Mystery; and That Their Ignorance is…
- That There is a Necessary Difference Between Created Things. That the…
- That Created Nature Differs Infinitely From Uncreated Being; to Which Man Makes…
- Of the Saviour's Doctrines and Miracles; and the Benefits He Confers on Those…
- The Coming of Christ Was Predicted by the Prophets; and Was Ordained to Be the…
- Of the Wisdom of Moses, Which Was an Object of Imitation to the Wise Among…
- Of the Erythræan Sibyl, Who Pointed in a Prophetic Acrostic at Our Lord and His…
- That This Prophecy Respecting Our Saviour Was Not the Fiction of Any Member of…
- A Farther Quotation From Virgilius Maro Respecting Christ, With its…
- That These Things Cannot Have Been Spoken of a Mere Man: and That Unbelievers…
- The Emperor Thankfully Ascribes His Victories and All Other Blessings to…
- Of Christian Conduct. That God is Pleased With Those Who Lead a Life of Virtue…
- Of Decius, Valerian, and Aurelian, Who Experienced a Miserable End in…
- Of Diocletian, Who Ignobly Abdicated the Imperial Throne, and Was Terrified by…
- The Emperor Ascribes His Personal Piety to God; and Shows That We Are Bound to…
- The Oration of Eusebius.
- Prologue to the Oration
- The Oration
- Chapter II
- Chapter III
- Chapter IV
- Chapter V
- Chapter VI
- Chapter VII
- Chapter VIII
- Chapter IX
- Chapter X
- Chapter XI
- Chapter XII
- Chapter XIII
- Chapter XIV
- Chapter XV
- Chapter XVI
- Chapter XVII
- Chapter XVIII