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THE emperor Constantius, having become acquainted with the plots
formed against the bishops, wrote to the great Athanasius once, and
twice, aye and thrice, exhorting him to return from the West . I
shall here insert the second letter, because it is the shortest of the
three.
Constantius Augustus the Conqueror to Athanasius.
"Although I have already apprised you by previous letters, that you
can, without fear of molestation, return to our court, in order that
you may, according to my ardent desire, be reinstated in your own
bishopric, yet I now again despatch another letter to your gravity to
exhort you to take immediately, without fear or suspicion, a public
vehicle and return to us, in order that you may receive all that you
desire."
When Athanasius returned, Constantius received him with kindness,
and bade him go back to the Church of Alexandria . But there were
some attached to the court, infected with the errors of Arianism, who
maintained that Athanasius ought to cede one church to those who were
unwilling to hold communion with him. On this being mentioned to the
emperor, and by the emperor to Athanasius, he remarked, that the
imperial command appeared to be just; but that he also wished to make a
request. The emperor readily promising to grant him whatever he might
ask, he said that those in Antioch who objected to hold communion with
the party now in possession of the churches wanted temples to pray in,
and that it was only fair that one House of God also be assigned to
them. This request was deemed just and reasonable by the emperor; but
the leaders of the Arian faction resisted its being carried into
execution, maintaining that neither party ought to have the churches
assigned to them. Constantius on this was struck with high admiration
for Athanasius, and sent him back to Alexandria . Gregorius was
dead, having met his end at the hands of the Alexandrians themselves
. The people kept high holiday in honour of their pastor; feasting
marked their joy at seeing him again, and praise was given to God
.Not long after Constans departed this life .
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