[Footnote99:TheirregularordinationofAthanasiuswasslightlymentionedinthecouncilswhichwereheldagainsthim。SeePhilostorg。l。ii。c。11，andGodefroy，p。71；butitcanscarcelybesupposedthattheassemblyofthebishopsofEgyptwouldsolemnlyattestapublicfalsehood。Athanas。tom。i。p。
726。]
[Footnote100:SeethehistoryoftheFathersoftheDesert，publishedbyRosweide；andTillemont，Mem。Eccles。tom。vii。，inthelivesofAntony，Pachomius，&c。Athanasiushimself，whodidnotdisdaintocomposethelifeofhisfriendAntony，hascarefullyobservedhowoftentheholymonkdeploredandprophesiedthemischiefsoftheArianheresyAthanas。tom。ii。p。
492，498，&c。]
Inhisyouth，theprimateofEgyptresistedthegreatConstantine，whohadrepeatedlysignifiedhiswill，thatAriusshouldberestoredtotheCatholiccommunion。^101Theemperorrespected，andmightforgive，thisinflexibleresolution；andthefactionwhoconsideredAthanasiusastheirmostformidableenemy，wasconstrainedtodissembletheirhatred，andsilentlytoprepareanindirectanddistantassault。Theyscatteredrumorsandsuspicions，representedthearchbishopasaproudandoppressivetyrant，andboldlyaccusedhimofviolatingthetreatywhichhadbeenratifiedintheNicenecouncil，withtheschismaticfollowersofMeletius。^102Athanasiushadopenlydisapprovedthatignominiouspeace，andtheemperorwasdisposedtobelievethathehadabusedhisecclesiasticalandcivilpower，toprosecutethoseodioussectaries:thathehadsacrilegiouslybrokenachaliceinoneoftheirchurchesofMareotis；thathehadwhippedorimprisonedsixoftheirbishops；andthatArsenius，aseventhbishopofthesameparty，hadbeenmurdered，oratleastmutilated，bythecruelhandoftheprimate。^103
Thesecharges，whichaffectedhishonorandhislife，werereferredbyConstantinetohisbrotherDalmatiusthecensor，whoresidedatAntioch；thesynodsofCaesareaandTyreweresuccessivelyconvened；andthebishopsoftheEastwereinstructedtojudgethecauseofAthanasius，beforetheyproceededtoconsecratethenewchurchoftheResurrectionatJerusalem。Theprimatemightbeconsciousofhisinnocence；buthewassensiblethatthesameimplacablespiritwhichhaddictatedtheaccusation，woulddirecttheproceeding，andpronouncethesentence。Heprudentlydeclinedthetribunalofhisenemies；despisedthesummonsofthesynodofCaesarea；and，afteralongandartfuldelay，submittedtotheperemptorycommandsoftheemperor，whothreatenedtopunishhiscriminaldisobedienceifherefusedtoappearinthecouncilofTyre。^104
BeforeAthanasius，attheheadoffiftyEgyptianprelates，sailedfromAlexandria，hehadwiselysecuredtheallianceoftheMeletians；andArseniushimself，hisimaginaryvictim，andhissecretfriend，wasprivatelyconcealedinhistrain。ThesynodofTyrewasconductedbyEusebiusofCaesarea，withmorepassion，andwithlessart，thanhislearningandexperiencemightpromise；hisnumerousfactionrepeatedthenamesofhomicideandtyrant；andtheirclamorswereencouragedbytheseemingpatienceofAthanasius，whoexpectedthedecisivemomenttoproduceArseniusaliveandunhurtinthemidstoftheassembly。Thenatureoftheotherchargesdidnotadmitofsuchclearandsatisfactoryreplies；yetthearchbishopwasabletoprove，thatinthevillage，wherehewasaccusedofbreakingaconsecratedchalice，neitherchurchnoraltarnorchalicecouldreallyexist。
TheArians，whohadsecretlydeterminedtheguiltandcondemnationoftheirenemy，attempted，however，todisguisetheirinjusticebytheimitationofjudicialforms:thesynodappointedanepiscopalcommissionofsixdelegatestocollectevidenceonthespot；andthismeasurewhichwasvigorouslyopposedbytheEgyptianbishops，openednewscenesofviolenceandperjury。^105AfterthereturnofthedeputiesfromAlexandria，themajorityofthecouncilpronouncedthefinalsentenceofdegradationandexileagainsttheprimateofEgypt。
Thedecree，expressedinthefiercestlanguageofmaliceandrevenge，wascommunicatedtotheemperorandtheCatholicchurch；
andthebishopsimmediatelyresumedamildanddevoutaspect，suchasbecametheirholypilgrimagetotheSepulchreofChrist。
^106
[Footnote101:AtfirstConstantinethreatenedinspeaking，butrequestedinwriting。Hislettersgraduallyassumedamenacingtone；bywhileherequiredthattheentranceofthechurchshouldbeopentoall，heavoidedtheodiousnameofArius。Athanasius，likeaskilfulpolitician，hasaccuratelymarkedthesedistinctions，tom。i。p。788。whichallowedhimsomescopeforexcuseanddelay]
[Footnote102:TheMeletiansinEgypt，liketheDonatistsinAfrica，wereproducedbyanepiscopalquarrelwhicharosefromthepersecution。Ihavenotleisuretopursuetheobscurecontroversy，whichseemstohavebeenmisrepresentedbythepartialityofAthanasiusandtheignoranceofEpiphanius。SeeMosheim'sGeneralHistoryoftheChurch，vol。i。p。201。]
[Footnote103:ThetreatmentofthesixbishopsisspecifiedbySozomen，l。ii。c。25；butAthanasiushimself，socopiousonthesubjectofArseniusandthechalice，leavesthisgraveaccusationwithoutareply。
Note:Thisgravecharge，ifmade，anditrestsentirelyontheauthorityofSozomen，seemstohavebeensilentlydroppedbythepartiesthemselves:itisneveralludedtointhesubsequentinvestigations。FromSozomenhimself，whogivestheunfavorablereportofthecommissionofinquirysenttoEgyptconcerningthecup。itdoesnotappearthattheynoticedthisaccusationofpersonalviolence。—M]
[Footnote104:Athanas，tom。i。p。788。Socrates，l。i。c。28。
Sozomen，l。ii。c25。Theemperor，inhisEpistleofConvocation，Euseb。inVit。Constant。l。iv。c。42，seemstoprejudgesomemembersoftheclergyanditwasmorethanprobablethatthesynodwouldapplythosereproachestoAthanasius。]
[Footnote105:See，inparticular，thesecondApologyofAthanasius，tom。i。p。763—808，andhisEpistlestotheMonks，p。808—866。Theyarejustifiedbyoriginalandauthenticdocuments；buttheywouldinspiremoreconfidenceifheappearedlessinnocent，andhisenemieslessabsurd。]
[Footnote106:EusebiusinVit。Constantin。l。iv。c。41—47。]
ChapterXXI:PersecutionOfHeresy，StateOfTheChurch。
PartV。
Buttheinjusticeoftheseecclesiasticaljudgeshadnotbeencountenancedbythesubmission，orevenbythepresence，ofAthanasius。Heresolvedtomakeaboldanddangerousexperiment，whetherthethronewasinaccessibletothevoiceoftruth；andbeforethefinalsentencecouldbepronouncedatTyre，theintrepidprimatethrewhimselfintoabarkwhichwasreadytohoistsailfortheImperialcity。Therequestofaformalaudiencemighthavebeenopposedoreluded；butAthanasiusconcealedhisarrival，watchedthemomentofConstantine'sreturnfromanadjacentvilla，andboldlyencounteredhisangrysovereignashepassedonhorsebackthroughtheprincipalstreetofConstantinople。Sostrangeanapparitionexcitedhissurpriseandindignation；andtheguardswereorderedtoremovetheimportunatesuitor；buthisresentmentwassubduedbyinvoluntaryrespect；andthehaughtyspiritoftheemperorwasawedbythecourageandeloquenceofabishop，whoimploredhisjusticeandawakenedhisconscience。^107ConstantinelistenedtothecomplaintsofAthanasiuswithimpartialandevengraciousattention；themembersofthesynodofTyreweresummonedtojustifytheirproceedings；andtheartsoftheEusebianfactionwouldhavebeenconfounded，iftheyhadnotaggravatedtheguiltoftheprimate，bythedexteroussuppositionofanunpardonableoffence；acriminaldesigntointerceptanddetainthecorn—fleetofAlexandria，whichsuppliedthesubsistenceofthenewcapital。
^108TheemperorwassatisfiedthatthepeaceofEgyptwouldbesecuredbytheabsenceofapopularleader；butherefusedtofillthevacancyofthearchiepiscopalthrone；andthesentence，which，afterlonghesitation，hepronounced，wasthatofajealousostracism，ratherthanofanignominiousexile。IntheremoteprovinceofGaul，butinthehospitablecourtofTreves，Athanasiuspassedabouttwentyeightmonths。Thedeathoftheemperorchangedthefaceofpublicaffairsand，amidstthegeneralindulgenceofayoungreign，theprimatewasrestoredtohiscountrybyanhonorableedictoftheyoungerConstantine，whoexpressedadeepsenseoftheinnocenceandmeritofhisvenerableguest。^109
[Footnote107:Athanas。tom。i。p。804。InachurchdedicatedtoSt。Athanasiusthissituationwouldaffordabettersubjectforapicture，thanmostofthestoriesofmiraclesandmartyrdoms。]
[Footnote108:Athanas。tom。i。p。729。EunapiushasrelatedinVit。Sophist。p。36，37，edit。CommelinastrangeexampleofthecrueltyandcredulityofConstantineonasimilaroccasion。TheeloquentSopater，aSyrianphilosopher，enjoyedhisfriendship，andprovokedtheresentmentofAblavius，hisPraetorianpraefect。
Thecorn—fleetwasdetainedforwantofasouthwind；thepeopleofConstantinoplewerediscontented；andSopaterwasbeheaded，onachargethathehadboundthewindsbythepowerofmagic。
Suidasadds，thatConstantinewishedtoprove，bythisexecution，thathehadabsolutelyrenouncedthesuperstitionoftheGentiles。]
[Footnote109:InhisreturnhesawConstantiustwice，atViminiacum，andatCaesareainCappadocia，Athanas。tom。i。p。
676。TillemontsupposesthatConstantineintroducedhimtothemeetingofthethreeroyalbrothersinPannonia，MemoiresEccles。tom。viii。p。69。]
ThedeathofthatprinceexposedAthanasiustoasecondpersecution；andthefeebleConstantius，thesovereignoftheEast，soonbecamethesecretaccompliceoftheEusebians。NinetybishopsofthatsectorfactionassembledatAntioch，underthespeciouspretenceofdedicatingthecathedral。Theycomposedanambiguouscreed，whichisfaintlytingedwiththecolorsofSemi—Arianism，andtwenty—fivecanons，whichstillregulatethedisciplineoftheorthodoxGreeks。^110Itwasdecided，withsomeappearanceofequity，thatabishop，deprivedbyasynod，shouldnotresumehisepiscopalfunctionstillhehadbeenabsolvedbythejudgmentofanequalsynod；thelawwasimmediatelyappliedtothecaseofAthanasius；thecouncilofAntiochpronounced，orratherconfirmed，hisdegradation:astranger，namedGregory，wasseatedonhisthrone；andPhilagrius，^111thepraefectofEgypt，wasinstructedtosupportthenewprimatewiththecivilandmilitarypowersoftheprovince。OppressedbytheconspiracyoftheAsiaticprelates，AthanasiuswithdrewfromAlexandria，andpassedthreeyears^112asanexileandasuppliantontheholythresholdoftheVatican。^113BytheassiduousstudyoftheLatinlanguage，hesoonqualifiedhimselftonegotiatewiththewesternclergy；hisdecentflatteryswayedanddirectedthehaughtyJulius；theRomanpontiffwaspersuadedtoconsiderhisappealasthepeculiarinterestoftheApostolicsee:andhisinnocencewasunanimouslydeclaredinacounciloffiftybishopsofItaly。Attheendofthreeyears，theprimatewassummonedtothecourtofMilanbytheemperorConstans，who，intheindulgenceofunlawfulpleasures，stillprofessedalivelyregardfortheorthodoxfaith。Thecauseoftruthandjusticewaspromotedbytheinfluenceofgold，^114andtheministersofConstansadvisedtheirsovereigntorequiretheconvocationofanecclesiasticalassembly，whichmightactastherepresentativesoftheCatholicchurch。Ninety—fourbishopsoftheWest，seventy—sixbishopsoftheEast，encounteredeachotheratSardica，onthevergeofthetwoempires，butinthedominionsoftheprotectorofAthanasius。Theirdebatessoondegeneratedintohostilealtercations；theAsiatics，apprehensivefortheirpersonalsafety，retiredtoPhilippopolisinThrace；andtherivalsynodsreciprocallyhurledtheirspiritualthundersagainsttheirenemies，whomtheypiouslycondemnedastheenemiesofthetrueGod。Theirdecreeswerepublishedandratifiedintheirrespectiveprovinces:andAthanasius，whointheWestwasreveredasasaint，wasexposedasacriminaltotheabhorrenceoftheEast。^115ThecouncilofSardicarevealsthefirstsymptomsofdiscordandschismbetweentheGreekandLatinchurcheswhichwereseparatedbytheaccidentaldifferenceoffaith，andthepermanentdistinctionoflanguage。
[Footnote110:SeeBeveridge，Pandect。tom。i。p。429—452，andtom。ii。Annotation。p。182。Tillemont，Mem。Eccles。tom。vi。p。
310—324。St。HilaryofPoitiershasmentionedthissynodofAntiochwithtoomuchfavorandrespect。Hereckonsninety—sevenbishops。]
[Footnote111:Thismagistrate，soodioustoAthanasius，ispraisedbyGregoryNazianzen，tom。i。Orat。xxi。p。390，391。
SaepeprementeDeofertDeusalteropem。
Forthecreditofhumannature，Iamalwayspleasedtodiscoversomegoodqualitiesinthosemenwhompartyhasrepresentedastyrantsandmonsters。]
[Footnote112:ThechronologicaldifficultieswhichperplextheresidenceofAthanasiusatRome，arestrenuouslyagitatedbyValesiusObservatadCalcem，tom。ii。Hist。Eccles。l。i。c。
1—5andTillemont，Men:Eccles。tom。viii。p。674，&c。IhavefollowedthesimplehypothesisofValesius，whoallowsonlyonejourney，aftertheintrusionGregory。]
[Footnote113:IcannotforbeartranscribingajudiciousobservationofWetstein，Prolegomen。N。S。p。19:SitamenHistoriamEcclesiasticamvelimusconsulere，patebitjamindeaseculoquarto，cum，ortiscontroversiis，ecclesiaeGraeciaedoctoresinduaspartesscinderentur，ingenio，eloquentia，numero，tantumnonaequales，eampartemquaevincerecupiebatRomamconfugisse，majestatemquepontificiscomitercoluisse，eoquepactooppressisperpontificemetepiscoposLatinosadversariispraevaluisse，atqueorthodoxiaminconciliisstabilivisse。EamobcausamAthanasius，nonsinecomitatu，Romanpetiit，pluresqueannosibihaesit。]
[Footnote114:Philostorgius，l。iii。c。12。Ifanycorruptionwasusedtopromotetheinterestofreligion，anadvocateofAthanasiusmightjustifyorexcusethisquestionableconduct，bytheexampleofCatoandSidney；theformerofwhomissaidtohavegiven，andthelattertohavereceived，abribeinthecauseofliberty。]
[Footnote115:ThecanonwhichallowsappealstotheRomanpontiffs，hasalmostraisedthecouncilofSardicatothedignityofageneralcouncil；anditsactshavebeenignorantlyorartfullyconfoundedwiththoseoftheNicenesynod。SeeTillemont，tom。vii。p。689，andGeddos'sTracts，vol。ii。p。
419—460。]
DuringhissecondexileintheWest，AthanasiuswasfrequentlyadmittedtotheImperialpresence；atCapua，Lodi，Milan，Verona，Padua，Aquileia，andTreves。Thebishopofthedioceseusuallyassistedattheseinterviews；themasteroftheofficesstoodbeforetheveilorcurtainofthesacredapartment；
andtheuniformmoderationoftheprimatemightbeattestedbytheserespectablewitnesses，towhoseevidencehesolemnlyappeals。^116Prudencewouldundoubtedlysuggestthemildandrespectfultonethatbecameasubjectandabishop。InthesefamiliarconferenceswiththesovereignoftheWest，AthanasiusmightlamenttheerrorofConstantius，butheboldlyarraignedtheguiltofhiseunuchsandhisArianprelates；deploredthedistressanddangeroftheCatholicchurch；andexcitedConstanstoemulatethezealandgloryofhisfather。TheemperordeclaredhisresolutionofemployingthetroopsandtreasuresofEuropeintheorthodoxcause；andsignified，byaconciseandperemptoryepistletohisbrotherConstantius，thatunlessheconsentedtotheimmediaterestorationofAthanasius，hehimself，withafleetandarmy，wouldseatthearchbishoponthethroneofAlexandria。^117Butthisreligiouswar，sohorribletonature，waspreventedbythetimelycomplianceofConstantius；andtheemperoroftheEastcondescendedtosolicitareconciliationwithasubjectwhomhehadinjured。Athanasiuswaitedwithdecentpride，tillhehadreceivedthreesuccessiveepistlesfullofthestrongestassurancesoftheprotection，thefavor，andtheesteemofhissovereign；whoinvitedhimtoresumehisepiscopalseat，andwhoaddedthehumiliatingprecautionofengaginghisprincipalministerstoattestthesincerityofhisintentions。
Theyweremanifestedinastillmorepublicmanner，bythestrictorderswhichweredespatchedintoEgypttorecalltheadherentsofAthanasius，torestoretheirprivileges，toproclaimtheirinnocence，andtoerasefromthepublicregisterstheillegalproceedingswhichhadbeenobtainedduringtheprevalenceoftheEusebianfaction。Aftereverysatisfactionandsecurityhadbeengiven，whichjusticeorevendelicacycouldrequire，theprimateproceeded，byslowjourneys，throughtheprovincesofThrace，Asia，andSyria；andhisprogresswasmarkedbytheabjecthomageoftheOrientalbishops，whoexcitedhiscontemptwithoutdeceivinghispenetration。^118AtAntiochhesawtheemperorConstantius；sustained，withmodestfirmness，theembracesandprotestationsofhismaster，andeludedtheproposalofallowingtheAriansasinglechurchatAlexandria，byclaiming，intheothercitiesoftheempire，asimilartolerationforhisownparty；areplywhichmighthaveappearedjustandmoderateinthemouthofanindependentprince。Theentranceofthearchbishopintohiscapitalwasatriumphalprocession；absenceandpersecutionhadendearedhimtotheAlexandrians；hisauthority，whichheexercisedwithrigor，wasmorefirmlyestablished；andhisfamewasdiffusedfromAethiopiatoBritain，overthewholeextentoftheChristianworld。^119
[Footnote116:AsAthanasiusdispersedsecretinvectivesagainstConstantius，seetheEpistletotheMonks，atthesametimethatheassuredhimofhisprofoundrespect，wemightdistrusttheprofessionsofthearchbishop。Tom。i。p。677。]
[Footnote117:NotwithstandingthediscreetsilenceofAthanasius，andthemanifestforgeryofaletterinsertedbySocrates，thesemenacesareprovedbytheunquestionableevidenceofLuciferofCagliari，andevenofConstantiushimself。SeeTillemont，tom。viii。p。693]
[Footnote118:IhavealwaysentertainedsomedoubtsconcerningtheretractionofUrsaciusandValens，Athanas。tom。i。p。776。
TheirepistlestoJulius，bishopofRome，andtoAthanasiushimself，areofsodifferentacastfromeachother，thattheycannotbothbegenuine。Theonespeaksthelanguageofcriminalswhoconfesstheirguiltandinfamy；theotherofenemies，whosolicitonequaltermsanhonorablereconciliation。
Note:IcannotquitecomprehendthegroundofGibbon'sdoubts。Athanasiusdistinctlyassertsthefactoftheirretractation。Athan。Op。i。p。124，edit。Benedict。TheepistlesareapparentlytranslationsfromtheLatin，if，infact，morethanthesubstanceoftheepistles。ThattoAthanasiusisbrief，almostabrupt。TheirretractationislikewisementionedintheaddressoftheorthodoxbishopsofRiminitoConstantius。
Athan。deSynodis，Opt。i。p723—M。]
[Footnote119:ThecircumstancesofhissecondreturnmaybecollectedfromAthanasiushimself，tom。i。p。769，and822，843。
Socrates，l。ii。c。18，Sozomen，l。iii。c。19。Theodoret，l。ii。
c。11，12。Philostorgius，l。iii。c。12。]