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CONSTANTIUS, as has been narrated, departed this life
groaning and grieving that he had been turned away from the faith of his
father. Julian heard the news of his end as he was crossing from
Europe into Asia and assumed the sovereignty with delight at having
now no rival.
In his earlier days, while yet a lad, Julian had, as well as
Gallus his brother, imbibed pure and pious teaching.
In his youth and earlier manhood he continued to take in the same
doctrine. Constantius, dreading lest his kinsfolk should aspire to
imperial power, slew them; and Julian, through fear of his cousin,
was enrolled in the order of Readers, and used to read aloud the
sacred books to the people in the assemblies of the church.
He also built a martyr's shrine; but the martyrs, when they beheld
his apostasy, refused to accept the offering; for in consequence of
the foundations being, like their founder's mind, unstable, the
edifice fell down before it was consecrated. Such were the boyhood and
youth of Julian. At the period, however, when Constantius was
setting out for the West, drawn thither by the war against
Magnentius, he made Gallus, who was gifted with piety which he
retained to the end, Caesar of the East. Now Julian flung away the
apprehensions which had previously stood him in good stead, and, moved
by unrighteous confidence, set his heart on seizing the sceptre of
empire. Accordingly, on his way through Greece, he sought out seers
and soothsayers, with a desire of learning if he should get what his
soul longed for. He met with a man who promised to predict these
things, conducted him into one of the idol temples, introduced him
within the shrine, and called upon the demons of deceit. On their
appearing in their wonted aspect terror compelled Julian to make the
sign of the cross upon his brow. They no sooner saw the sign of the
Lord's victory than they were reminded of their own rout, and
forthwith Bed away. On the magician becoming acquainted with the
cause of their flight he blamed him; but Julian confessed his terror,
and said that he wondered at the power of the cross, for that the
demons could not endure to see its sign and ran away. "Think not
anything of the sort, good sir;" said the magician, "they were not
afraid as you make out, but they went away because they abominated what
you did." So he tricked the wretched man, initiated him in the
mysteries, and filled him with their abominations.
So lust of empire stripped the wretch of all true religion.
Nevertheless after attaining the supreme power he concealed his impiety
for a considerable time; for he was specially apprehensive about the
troops who had been instructed in the principles of true religion,
first by the illustrious Constantine who freed them from their former
error and trained them in the ways of truth, and afterwards by his
sons, who confirmed the instruction given by their father. For if
Constantius, led astray by those under whose influence he lived, did
not admit the term omoousion, at all events he
sincerely accepted the meaning underlying it, for God the Word he
styled true Son, begotten of his Father before the ages, and those
who dared to call Him a creature he openly renounced, absolutely
prohibiting the worship of idols.
I will relate also another of his noble deeds, as satisfactory proof
of his zeal for divine things. In his campaign against Magnentius he
once mustered the whole of his army, and counselled them to take part
all together in the divine mysteries, "for," said he, "the end of
life is always uncertain, and that not least in war, when innumerable
missiles are hurled from either side, and swords and battle axes and
other weapons are assailing men, whereby a violent death is brought
about. Wherefore it behoves each than to wear that precious robe which
most of all we need in yonder life hereafter: if there be one here who
would not now put on this garb let him depart hence and go home. I
shall not brook to fight with men in my army who have no part nor lot in
our holy rites."
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