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WE have now seen what events transpired in the churches during the
reign of Constantine. On his death the doctrine which had been set
forth at Nicaea, was subjected to renewed examination. Although this
doctrine was not universally approved, no one, during the life of
Constantine, had dared to reject it openly. At his death, however,
many renounced this opinion, especially those who had previously been
suspected of treachery. Of all these Eusebius and Theognis, bishops
of the province of Bithynia, did everything in their power to give
predominance to the tenets of Arius. They believed that this object
would be easily accomplished, if the return of Athanasius from exile
could be prevented, and by giving the government of the Egyptian
churches to a bishop of like opinion with them. They found an
efficient coadjutor in the presbyter who had obtained from Constantine
the recall of Arius. He was held in high esteem by the emperor
Constantius, on account of the service he had rendered in delivering
to him the testament of his father; since he was trusted, he boldly
seized the opportunities, until he became an intimate of the emperor's
wife, and of the powerful eunuchs of the women's sleeping apartments.
At this period Eusebius was appointed to superintend the concerns of
the royal household, and being zealously attached to Arianism, he
induced the empress and many of the persons belonging to the court to
adopt the same sentiments. Hence disputations concerning doctrines
again became prevalent, both in private and in public, and revilings
and animosities were renewed. This state of things was in accordance
with the views of Theognis and his partisans.
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