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"CONSTANTINUS AUGUSTUS, the great and the
victorious, to Eusebius.
"I am well aware, and am thoroughly convinced, my beloved brother,
that as the servants of our Saviour Christ have been suffering up to
the present time from nefarious machinations and tyrannical
persecutions, the fabrics of all the churches must have either fallen
into utter ruin from neglect, or, through apprehension of the
impending iniquity, have been reduced below their proper dignity. But
now that freedom is restored, and that dragon , through the providence
of God, and by our instrumentality, thrust out from the government of
the Empire, I think that the divine power has become known to all,
and that those who hitherto, from fear or from incredulity or from
depravity, have lived in error, will now, upon becoming acquainted
with Him who truly is, be led into the true and correct manner of
life. Exert yourself, therefore, diligently in the reparation of the
churches under your own jurisdiction, and admonish the principal
bishops, priests, and deacons of other places to engage zealously in
the same work; in order that all the churches which still exist may be
repaired or enlarged, and that new ones may be built wherever they are
required. You, and others through your intervention, can apply to
magistrates and to provincial governments , for all that may be
necessary for this purpose; for they have received written injunctions
to render zealous obedience to whatever your holiness may command. May
God preserve you, beloved brother."
Thus the emperor wrote to the bishops in each province respecting the
building of churches. From his letter to Eusebius of Palestine, it
is easily learnt what measures he adopted to obtain copies of the Holy
Bible .
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