^136Athanasiusstillrejectedthepiousimportunityofthemonksandpresbyters，whowereattachedtohisperson；andnoblyrefusedtodeserthisepiscopalstation，tillhehaddismissedinsafetythelastofthecongregation。Thedarknessandtumultofthenightfavoredtheretreatofthearchbishop；andthoughhewasoppressedbythewavesofanagitatedmultitude，thoughhewasthrowntotheground，andleftwithoutsenseormotion，hestillrecoveredhisundauntedcourage，andeludedtheeagersearchofthesoldiers，whowereinstructedbytheirArianguides，thattheheadofAthanasiuswouldbethemostacceptablepresenttotheemperor。FromthatmomenttheprimateofEgyptdisappearedfromtheeyesofhisenemies，andremainedabovesixyearsconcealedinimpenetrableobscurity。^137
　　[Footnote136:Theseminutecircumstancesarecurious，astheyareliterallytranscribedfromtheprotest，whichwaspubliclypresentedthreedaysafterwardsbytheCatholicsofAlexandria。
　　SeeAthanas。tom。l。n。867]
　　[Footnote137:TheJansenistshaveoftencomparedAthanasiusandArnauld，andhaveexpatiatedwithpleasureonthefaithandzeal，themeritandexile，ofthosecelebrateddoctors。ThisconcealedparallelisverydexterouslymanagedbytheAbbedelaBleterie，ViedeJovien，tom。i。p。130。]
　　ThedespoticpowerofhisimplacableenemyfilledthewholeextentoftheRomanworld；andtheexasperatedmonarchhadendeavored，byaverypressingepistletotheChristianprincesofEthiopia，toexcludeAthanasiusfromthemostremoteandsequesteredregionsoftheearth。Counts，praefects，tribunes，wholearmies，weresuccessivelyemployedtopursueabishopandafugitive；thevigilanceofthecivilandmilitarypowerswasexcitedbytheImperialedicts；liberalrewardswerepromisedtothemanwhoshouldproduceAthanasius，eitheraliveordead；andthemostseverepenaltiesweredenouncedagainstthosewhoshoulddaretoprotectthepublicenemy。^138ButthedesertsofThebaiswerenowpeopledbyaraceofwild，yetsubmissivefanatics，whopreferredthecommandsoftheirabbottothelawsoftheirsovereign。ThenumerousdisciplesofAntonyandPachonnusreceivedthefugitiveprimateastheirfather，admiredthepatienceandhumilitywithwhichheconformedtotheirstrictestinstitutions，collectedeverywordwhichdroppedfromhislipsasthegenuineeffusionsofinspiredwisdom；andpersuadedthemselvesthattheirprayers，theirfasts，andtheirvigils，werelessmeritoriousthanthezealwhichtheyexpressed，andthedangerswhichtheybraved，inthedefenceoftruthandinnocence。
　　^139ThemonasteriesofEgyptwereseatedinlonelyanddesolateplaces，onthesummitofmountains，orintheislandsoftheNile；andthesacredhornortrumpetofTabennewasthewell—knownsignalwhichassembledseveralthousandrobustanddeterminedmonks，who，forthemostpart，hadbeenthepeasantsoftheadjacentcountry。Whentheirdarkretreatswereinvadedbyamilitaryforce，whichitwasimpossibletoresist，theysilentlystretchedouttheirneckstotheexecutioner；andsupportedtheirnationalcharacter，thattorturescouldneverwrestfromanEgyptiantheconfessionofasecretwhichhewasresolvednottodisclose。^140ThearchbishopofAlexandria，forwhosesafetytheyeagerlydevotedtheirlives，waslostamongauniformandwell—disciplinedmultitude；andonthenearerapproachofdanger，hewasswiftlyremoved，bytheirofficioushands，fromoneplaceofconcealmenttoanother，tillhereachedtheformidabledeserts，whichthegloomyandcreduloustemperofsuperstitionhadpeopledwithdaemonsandsavagemonsters。TheretirementofAthanasius，whichendedonlywiththelifeofConstantius，wasspent，forthemostpart，inthesocietyofthemonks，whofaithfullyservedhimasguards，assecretaries，andasmessengers；buttheimportanceofmaintainingamoreintimateconnectionwiththeCatholicpartytemptedhim，wheneverthediligenceofthepursuitwasabated，toemergefromthedesert，tointroducehimselfintoAlexandria，andtotrusthispersontothediscretionofhisfriendsandadherents。Hisvariousadventuresmighthavefurnishedthesubjectofaveryentertainingromance。Hewasoncesecretedinadrycistern，whichhehadscarcelyleftbeforehewasbetrayedbythetreacheryofafemaleslave；^141andhewasonceconcealedinastillmoreextraordinaryasylum，thehouseofavirgin，onlytwentyyearsofage，andwhowascelebratedinthewholecityforherexquisitebeauty。Atthehourofmidnight，assherelatedthestorymanyyearsafterwards，shewassurprisedbytheappearanceofthearchbishopinalooseundress，who，advancingwithhastysteps，conjuredhertoaffordhimtheprotectionwhichhehadbeendirectedbyacelestialvisiontoseekunderherhospitableroof。Thepiousmaidacceptedandpreservedthesacredpledgewhichwasintrustedtoherprudenceandcourage。
　　Withoutimpartingthesecrettoanyone，sheinstantlyconductedAthanasiusintohermostsecretchamber，andwatchedoverhissafetywiththetendernessofafriendandtheassiduityofaservant。Aslongasthedangercontinued，sheregularlysuppliedhimwithbooksandprovisions，washedhisfeet，managedhiscorrespondence，anddexterouslyconcealedfromtheeyeofsuspicionthisfamiliarandsolitaryintercoursebetweenasaintwhosecharacterrequiredthemostunblemishedchastity，andafemalewhosecharmsmightexcitethemostdangerousemotions。
　　^142Duringthesixyearsofpersecutionandexile，Athanasiusrepeatedhisvisitstohisfairandfaithfulcompanion；andtheformaldeclaration，thathesawthecouncilsofRiminiandSeleucia，^143forcesustobelievethathewassecretlypresentatthetimeandplaceoftheirconvocation。Theadvantageofpersonallynegotiatingwithhisfriends，andofobservingandimprovingthedivisionsofhisenemies，mightjustify，inaprudentstatesman，soboldanddangerousanenterprise:andAlexandriawasconnectedbytradeandnavigationwitheveryseaportoftheMediterranean。FromthedepthofhisinaccessibleretreattheintrepidprimatewagedanincessantandoffensivewaragainsttheprotectoroftheArians；andhisseasonablewritings，whichwerediligentlycirculatedandeagerlyperused，contributedtouniteandanimatetheorthodoxparty。Inhispublicapologies，whichheaddressedtotheemperorhimself，hesometimesaffectedthepraiseofmoderation；whilstatthesametime，insecretandvehementinvectives，heexposedConstantiusasaweakandwickedprince，theexecutionerofhisfamily，thetyrantoftherepublic，andtheAntichristofthechurch。Intheheightofhisprosperity，thevictoriousmonarch，whohadchastisedtherashnessofGallus，andsuppressedtherevoltofSylvanus，whohadtakenthediademfromtheheadofVetranio，andvanquishedinthefieldthelegionsofMagnentius，receivedfromaninvisiblehandawound，whichhecouldneitherhealnorrevenge；andthesonofConstantinewasthefirstoftheChristianprinceswhoexperiencedthestrengthofthoseprinciples，which，inthecauseofreligion，couldresistthemostviolentexertions^144ofthecivilpower。
　　[Footnote*:TheseprinceswerecalledAeizanasandSaiazanas。
　　AthanasiuscallsthemthekingsofAxum。Inthesuperscriptionofhisletter，Constantiusgivesthemnotitle。Mr。Salt，duringhisfirstjourneyinEthiopia，in1806，discovered，intheruinsofAxum，alongandveryinterestinginscriptionrelatingtotheseprinces。ItwaserectedtocommemoratethevictoryofAeizanasovertheBougaitae，St。MartinconsidersthemtheBlemmyes，whosetruenameisBedjahorBodjah。AeizanasisstyledkingoftheAxumites，theHomerites，ofRaeidan，oftheEthiopians，oftheSabsuites，ofSilea，ofTiamo，oftheBougaites。andofKaei。ItappearsthatatthistimethekingoftheEthiopiansruledovertheHomerites，theinhabitantsofYemen。HewasnotyetaChristian，ashecallshimselfsonoftheinvincibleMars。AnotherbrotherbesidesSaiazanas，namedAdephas，ismentioned，thoughAeizanasseemstohavebeensoleking。SeeSt。Martin，noteonLeBeau，ii。151。Salt'sTravels。
　　DeSacy，noteinAnnalesdesVoyages，xii。p。53。—M。]
　　[Footnote138:HincjamtotoorbeprofugusAthanasius，neculluscitutusadlatendumsupereratlocus。Tribuni，Praefecti，Comites，exercitusquoqueadpervestigandumcummoventuredictisImperialibus；praemiadelatoribusproponuntur，siquiseumvivum，siidminus，caputcerteAthacasiidetulisset。Rufin。l。
　　i。c。16。]
　　[Footnote139:Gregor。Nazianzen。tom。i。Orat。xxi。p。384，385。SeeTillemontMem。Eccles。tom。vii。p。176—410，820—830。]
　　[Footnote140:Etnullatormentorumvisinveneri，adhucpotuit，quaeobduratoilliustractuslatroniinvitoelicerepotuit，utnomenpropriumdicatAmmian。xxii。16，andValesiusadlocum。]
　　[Footnote141:Rufin。l。i。c。18。Sozomen，l。iv。c。10。Thisandthefollowingstorywillberenderedimpossible，ifwesupposethatAthanasiusalwaysinhabitedtheasylumwhichheaccidentallyoroccasionallyhadused。]
　　[Footnote142:Paladius，Hist。Lausiac。c。136，inVit。Patrum，p。776，theoriginalauthorofthisanecdote，hadconversedwiththedamsel，whoinheroldagestillrememberedwithpleasuresopiousandhonorableaconnection。IcannotindulgethedelicacyofBaronius，Valesius，Tillemont，&c。，whoalmostrejectastorysounworthy，astheydeemit，ofthegravityofecclesiasticalhistory。]
　　[Footnote143:Athanas。tom。i。p。869。IagreewithTillemont，tom。iii。p。1197，thathisexpressionsimplyapersonal，thoughperhapssecretvisittothesynods。]
　　[Footnote144:TheepistleofAthanasiustothemonksisfilledwithreproaches，whichthepublicmustfeeltobetrue，vol。i。
　　p。834，856；and，incomplimenttohisreaders，hehasintroducedthecomparisonsofPharaoh，Ahab，Belshazzar，&c。TheboldnessofHilarywasattendedwithlessdanger，ifhepublishedhisinvectiveinGaulaftertherevoltofJulian；butLucifersenthislibelstoConstantius，andalmostchallengedtherewardofmartyrdom。SeeTillemont，tom。vii。p。905。]
　　ThepersecutionofAthanasius，andofsomanyrespectablebishops，whosufferedforthetruthoftheiropinions，oratleastfortheintegrityoftheirconscience，wasajustsubjectofindignationanddiscontenttoallChristians，exceptthosewhowereblindlydevotedtotheArianfaction。Thepeopleregrettedthelossoftheirfaithfulpastors，whosebanishmentwasusuallyfollowedbytheintrusionofastranger^145intotheepiscopalchair；andloudlycomplained，thattherightofelectionwasviolated，andthattheywerecondemnedtoobeyamercenaryusurper，whosepersonwasunknown，andwhoseprinciplesweresuspected。TheCatholicsmightprovetotheworld，thattheywerenotinvolvedintheguiltandheresyoftheirecclesiasticalgovernor，bypubliclytestifyingtheirdissent，orbytotallyseparatingthemselvesfromhiscommunion。ThefirstofthesemethodswasinventedatAntioch，andpractisedwithsuchsuccess，thatitwassoondiffusedovertheChristianworld。Thedoxologyorsacredhymn，whichcelebratesthegloryoftheTrinity，issusceptibleofverynice，butmaterial，inflections；andthesubstanceofanorthodox，oranheretical，creed，maybeexpressedbythedifferenceofadisjunctive，oracopulative，particle。Alternateresponses，andamoreregularpsalmody，^146
　　wereintroducedintothepublicservicebyFlavianusandDiodorus，twodevoutandactivelaymen，whowereattachedtotheNicenefaith。Undertheirconductaswarmofmonksissuedfromtheadjacentdesert，bandsofwell—disciplinedsingerswerestationedinthecathedralofAntioch，theGlorytotheFather，AndtheSon，AndtheHolyGhost，^147wastriumphantlychantedbyafullchorusofvoices；andtheCatholicsinsulted，bythepurityoftheirdoctrine，theArianprelate，whohadusurpedthethroneofthevenerableEustathius。Thesamezealwhichinspiredtheirsongspromptedthemorescrupulousmembersoftheorthodoxpartytoformseparateassemblies，whichweregovernedbythepresbyters，tillthedeathoftheirexiledbishopallowedtheelectionandconsecrationofanewepiscopalpastor。^148Therevolutionsofthecourtmultipliedthenumberofpretenders；andthesamecitywasoftendisputed，underthereignofConstantius，bytwo，orthree，orevenfour，bishops，whoexercisedtheirspiritualjurisdictionovertheirrespectivefollowers，andalternatelylostandregainedthetemporalpossessionsofthechurch。TheabuseofChristianityintroducedintotheRomangovernmentnewcausesoftyrannyandsedition；thebandsofcivilsocietyweretornasunderbythefuryofreligiousfactions；andtheobscurecitizen，whomightcalmlyhavesurveyedtheelevationandfallofsuccessiveemperors，imaginedandexperienced，thathisownlifeandfortunewereconnectedwiththeinterestsofapopularecclesiastic。Theexampleofthetwocapitals，RomeandConstantinople，mayservetorepresentthestateoftheempire，andthetemperofmankind，underthereignofthesonsofConstantine。
　　[Footnote145:Athanasiustom。i。p。811complainsingeneralofthispractice，whichheafterwardsexemplifiesp。861inthepretendedelectionofFaelix。ThreeeunuchsrepresentedtheRomanpeople，andthreeprelates，whofollowedthecourt，assumedthefunctionsofthebishopsoftheSuburbicarianprovinces。]
　　[Footnote146:ThomassinDisciplinedel'Eglise，tom。i。l。ii。
　　c。72，73，p。966—984hascollectedmanycuriousfactsconcerningtheoriginandprogressofchurchsinging，bothintheEastandWest。
　　Note:Ariusappearstohavebeenthefirstwhoavailedhimselfofthismeansofimpressinghisdoctrinesonthepopularear:hecomposedsongsforsailors，millers，andtravellers，andsetthemtocommonairs；"beguilingtheignorant，bythesweetnessofhismusic，intotheimpietyofhisdoctrines。"
　　Philostorgius，ii。2。AriansingersusedtoparadethestreetsofConstantinoplebynight，tillChrysostomarrayedagainstthemabandoforthodoxchoristers。Sozomen，viii。8。—M。]
　　[Footnote147:Philostorgius，l。iii。c。13。Godefroyhasexaminedthissubjectwithsingularaccuracy，p。147，&c。Therewerethreeheterodoxforms:"TotheFatherbytheSon，andintheHolyGhost。""TotheFather，andtheSonintheHolyGhost；"and"TotheFatherintheSonandtheHolyGhost。"]
　　[Footnote148:AftertheexileofEustathius，underthereignofConstantine，therigidpartyoftheorthodoxformedaseparationwhichafterwardsdegeneratedintoaschism，andlastedaboutfourscoreyears。SeeTillemont，Mem。Eccles。tom。vii。p。35—54，1137—1158，tom。viii。p。537—632，1314—1332。Inmanychurches，theAriansandHomoousians，whohadrenouncedeachother'scommunion，continuedforsometimetojoininprayer。
　　Philostorgius，l。iii。c。14。]
　　I。TheRomanpontiff，aslongashemaintainedhisstationandhisprinciples，wasguardedbythewarmattachmentofagreatpeople；andcouldrejectwithscorntheprayers，themenaces，andtheoblationsofanhereticalprince。WhentheeunuchshadsecretlypronouncedtheexileofLiberius，thewell—groundedapprehensionofatumultengagedthemtousetheutmostprecautionsintheexecutionofthesentence。Thecapitalwasinvestedoneveryside，andthepraefectwascommandedtoseizethepersonofthebishop，eitherbystratagemorbyopenforce。
　　Theorderwasobeyed，andLiberius，withthegreatestdifficulty，atthehourofmidnight，wasswiftlyconveyedbeyondthereachoftheRomanpeople，beforetheirconsternationwasturnedintorage。AssoonastheywereinformedofhisbanishmentintoThrace，ageneralassemblywasconvened，andtheclergyofRomeboundthemselves，byapublicandsolemnoath，nevertodeserttheirbishop，nevertoacknowledgetheusurperFaelix；who，bytheinfluenceoftheeunuchs，hadbeenirregularlychosenandconsecratedwithinthewallsofaprofanepalace。Attheendoftwoyears，theirpiousobstinacysubsistedentireandunshaken；
　　andwhenConstantiusvisitedRome，hewasassailedbytheimportunatesolicitationsofapeople，whohadpreserved，asthelastremnantoftheirancientfreedom，therightoftreatingtheirsovereignwithfamiliarinsolence。Thewivesofmanyofthesenatorsandmosthonorablecitizens，afterpressingtheirhusbandstointercedeinfavorofLiberius，wereadvisedtoundertakeacommission，whichintheirhandswouldbelessdangerous，andmightprovemoresuccessful。Theemperorreceivedwithpolitenessthesefemaledeputies，whosewealthanddignityweredisplayedinthemagnificenceoftheirdressandornaments:
　　headmiredtheirinflexibleresolutionoffollowingtheirbelovedpastortothemostdistantregionsoftheearth；andconsentedthatthetwobishops，LiberiusandFaelix，shouldgoverninpeacetheirrespectivecongregations。Buttheideasoftolerationweresorepugnanttothepractice，andeventothesentiments，ofthosetimes，thatwhentheanswerofConstantiuswaspubliclyreadintheCircusofRome，soreasonableaprojectofaccommodationwasrejectedwithcontemptandridicule。Theeagervehemencewhichanimatedthespectatorsinthedecisivemomentofahorse—race，wasnowdirectedtowardsadifferentobject；andtheCircusresoundedwiththeshoutofthousands，whorepeatedlyexclaimed，"OneGod，OneChrist，OneBishop!"ThezealoftheRomanpeopleinthecauseofLiberiuswasnotconfinedtowordsalone；andthedangerousandbloodyseditionwhichtheyexcitedsoonafterthedepartureofConstantiusdeterminedthatprincetoacceptthesubmissionoftheexiledprelate，andtorestorehimtotheundivideddominionofthecapital。Aftersomeineffectualresistance，hisrivalwasexpelledfromthecitybythepermissionoftheemperorandthepoweroftheoppositefaction；
　　theadherentsofFaelixwereinhumanlymurderedinthestreets，inthepublicplaces，inthebaths，andeveninthechurches；andthefaceofRome，uponthereturnofaChristianbishop，renewedthehorridimageofthemassacresofMarius，andtheproscriptionsofSylla。^149
　　[Footnote149:See，onthisecclesiasticalrevolutionofRome，Ammianus，xv。7Athanas。tom。i。p。834，861。Sozomen，l。iv。c。
　　15。Theodoret，l。iic。17。Sulp。Sever。Hist。Sacra，l。ii。p。
　　413。Hieronym。Chron。Marcellin。etFaustin。Libell。p。3，4。
　　Tillemont，Mem。Eccles。tom。vi。p。]
　　II。NotwithstandingtherapidincreaseofChristiansunderthereignoftheFlavianfamily，Rome，Alexandria，andtheothergreatcitiesoftheempire，stillcontainedastrongandpowerfulfactionofInfidels，whoenviedtheprosperity，andwhoridiculed，evenintheirtheatres，thetheologicaldisputesofthechurch。Constantinoplealoneenjoyedtheadvantageofbeingbornandeducatedinthebosomofthefaith。ThecapitaloftheEasthadneverbeenpollutedbytheworshipofidols；andthewholebodyofthepeoplehaddeeplyimbibedtheopinions，thevirtues，andthepassions，whichdistinguishedtheChristiansofthatagefromtherestofmankind。AfterthedeathofAlexander，theepiscopalthronewasdisputedbyPaulandMacedonius。Bytheirzealandabilitiestheybothdeservedtheeminentstationtowhichtheyaspired；andifthemoralcharacterofMacedoniuswaslessexceptionable，hiscompetitorhadtheadvantageofapriorelectionandamoreorthodoxdoctrine。HisfirmattachmenttotheNicenecreed，whichhasgivenPaulaplaceinthecalendaramongsaintsandmartyrs，exposedhimtotheresentmentoftheArians。Inthespaceoffourteenyearshewasfivetimesdrivenfromhisthrone；towhichhewasmorefrequentlyrestoredbytheviolenceofthepeople，thanbythepermissionoftheprince；andthepowerofMacedoniuscouldbesecuredonlybythedeathofhisrival。TheunfortunatePaulwasdraggedinchainsfromthesandydesertsofMesopotamiatothemostdesolateplacesofMountTaurus，^150confinedinadarkandnarrowdungeon，leftsixdayswithoutfood，andatlengthstrangled，bytheorderofPhilip，oneoftheprincipalministersoftheemperorConstantius。^151