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CONSTANTIA, the widow of Licinius, was the half-sister of
Constantine . She was intimately acquainted with a certain priest who
had imbibed the doctrines of Arius. He did not openly acknowledge his
unsoundness; but, in the frequent conversations which he had with
her, he did not refrain from declaring that Arius had been unjustly
calumniated. After the death of her impious husband, the renowned
Constantine did everything in his power to solace her, and strove to
prevent her from experiencing the saddest trials of widowhood. He
attended her also in her last illness , and rendered her every proper
attention. She then presented the priest whom I mentioned to the
emperor, and entreated him to receive him under his protection.
Constantine acceded to her request, and soon after fulfilled his
promise. But though the priest was permitted the utmost freedom of
speech, and was most honourably treated, he did not venture to reveal
his corrupt principles, for he observed the firmness with which the
emperor adhered to the truth. When Constantine was on the point of
being translated to an eternal kingdom, he drew up a will, in which he
directed that his temporal dominions should be divided among his sons.
None of them was with him when he was dying, so he entrusted the will
to this priest alone, and desired him to give it to Constantius,
who, being at a shorter distance from the spot than his brothers, was
expected to arrive the first. These directions the priest executed,
and thus by putting the will into his hands, became known to
Constantius, who accepted him as an intimate friend, and commanded
him to visit him frequently. Perceiving the weakness of Constantius,
whose mind was like reeds driven to and fro by the wind, he became
emboldened to declare war against the doctrines of the gospel. He
loudly deplored the stormy state of the churches, and asserted it to be
due to those who had introduced the unscriptural word "consubstantial"
into the confession of faith, and that all the disputes among the
clergy and the laity had been occasioned by it. He calumniated
Athanasius and all who coincided in his opinions, and formed designs
for their destruction, being used as their fellow-worker by Eusebius
, Theognis, and Theodorus, bishop of Perinthus.
The last named, whose see is generally known by the name of
Heraclea, was a man of great erudition, and had written an exposition
of the Holy Scriptures .
These bishops resided near the emperor, and frequently visited him;
they assured him that the return of Athanasius from banishment had
occasioned many evils, and had excited a tempest which had shaken not
only Egypt, but also Palestine, Phoenicia, and the adjacent
countries .
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