,,arius ,,the ,,libyan ,a ,,romance ,,of ,,the ,,primitive ,,church ,,by ,,nathan ,,chapman ,,kouns ,,new ,,york ,,and ,,london ,d4 ,,appleton ,,and ,,company #aiad ,,copyright ,,by ,d4 ,,appleton ,,and ,,company #ahhc4 ,printed in the ,united ,states of ,america ,,contents4 ,,book ,i4 ,,chapter ,i4 ,locus in ,quo ,,ii4 ,to ,us a ,child is ,born3 to ,us a ,son is ,given ,,iii4 ,how ,men lived in the ,kingdom of ,heaven ,,iv4 ,fine ,training for a ,christian ,man ,v4 ,a ,pagan ,hermit1 ,old and ,gray ,,vi4 ,flotson of the ,middle ,sea ,,vii4 ,theckla finds ,one ,god and heareth of ,another ,,viii4 ,who is ,hapi8 ,,ix4 ,the ,democracy of ,faith ,x4 ,faith and ,philosophy ,,xi4 ,for the ,work's ,sake ,,xii4 ,the ,one ,thing ,needful ,,xiii4 ,the ,net ,result of ,law ,,xiv4 ,the ,blind ,receive their ,sight ,,xv4 ,love and ,parting ,,xvi4 ,before the ,temple of ,serapis ,,xvii4 ,crucified unto the ,world ,,book ,,ii4 ,i4 ,his ,most ,catholic ,majesty ,,ii4 ,a ,naval ,question ,,iii4 ,the ,politics of ,religion ,,iv4 ,the ,prophecy of ,gaius ,v4 ,a ,born ,ecclesiastic ,,vi4 ,the ,one ,great ,battle of ,christendom6 ,,vii4 ,the ,subversion of the ,primitive ,church ,,viii4 ,the ,abdication of ,constantine ,,ix4 ,i have no ,superior but ,christ ,x4 ,the ,communion of the ,saints ,,xi4 ,one ,jot that passed from the ,law ,,xii4 ,an ,imperial ,repentance ,,xiii4 ,well done1 ,good and ,faithful ,servant ,,arius ,,the ,,libyan4 ,,book ,i4 ,,chapter ,i4 ,,locus ,,in ,,quo4 ,a long time ago1 ,etearchus1 ,king of ,axus1 in ,crete1 married a second wife 7as many better men have also done71 and she persuaded him to get rid of ,phronime1 the pretty daughter of his former spouse4 ,thereupon ,etearchus agreed with a merchant of ,thera that he would take ,phronime away in his ship and let her down into the sea4 ,the merchant1 true to the letter of his bargain1 did let her down into the sea1 but true also to that natural tenderness toward a pretty woman which inspires the breast of every man who is fit for anything in this world1 he quickly drew her up again by a rope which he had fastened around her lissome waist for that purpose1 and conveyed her safely enough to ,thera4 ,there ,phronime met another man1 ,polymnestus by name1 a descendant of the ancient ,minyae1 who also had a keen eye for feminine beauty1 and him she married4 ,by this ,polymnestus our ,phronime gave birth to a man-child1 who grew up to be a terrible stammerer1 and was therefore called ,battus4 ,and afterward1 when ,grinus1 the ,theran king1 made a pilgrimage to the oracle of ,delphi to see whether the oracle would tell him some remedy for a fearful drought which then afflicted all the land of ,thera1 ,battus the ,stammerer went along with him to see whether the same sacred oracle would tell him some remedy by which to cure himself of stuttering4 ,to both of these suppliants the oracle made the same answer1 and this answer was as follows3 ,,found ,a ,,city ,,in ,,libya6 ,but they did not know where ,libya was1 and were1 therefore1 very low-spirited about finding any cure for the drought and for the stammering2 until it chanced that upon their homeward voyage they fell in with an ancient fisherman1 ,corobius by name1 who had once been driven by storms upon the ,african coast1 and he undertook to pilot them to ,libya4 ,and afterward1 it was about #fcj ,b4,c41 ,battus the ,stutterer went with a colony to ,libya1 and founded there the city of ,cyrene1 almost ten miles from the ,mediterranean1 nearly two thousand feet above the level of the sea1 with the grand ,barcan mountains rising between it and the great desert of the same name4 ,from this colony afterward sprang 7,pentapolis1 the ,grecian five-cities7 ,cyrene1 ,bernice1 ,arsinoe1 ,barca1 and ,apollonia4 ,thus far testifieth ,herodotus1 the father of history1 who1 if not always entirely trustworthy1 is certainly no greater liar than the rest of the tribe4 ,battus became king of all ,cyrenaica1 and his descendants1 by the name of ,battidae1 did rule that land1 and maintain the prosperity of ,cyrene through eight generations1 until the ,ptolemies of ,egypt conquered the country1 and under their patronage ,apollonia1 the seaport1 became the chief city4 ,it would be a great error to suppose that because ,cyrene was on the northern coast of ,africa1 and near the vast and arid ,barcan ,desert1 it was therefore an unpleasant seat4 ,on the contrary1 it may well be doubted whether a more delightful locality can be found on earth4 ,all ,pentapolis is remarkably healthful and pleasant1 especially ,cyrene and its vicinity4 ,the lofty mountain-range slopes gently away to the very sands of earth's middle sea1 the waters of which temper the heat of the climate1 while the high mountains lying farther inland ward off the hot blasts of the desert4 ,in ,cyrene1 and between the city and the sea1 a luxuriant soil produces almost every fruit1 flower1 and grain known to both tropical and temperate latitudes4 ,the grand fountain of ,apollo1 which the ,arabs of our age call ',ain ,sahat1 gushed up in the very midst of it4 ,the mean temperature is #he deg4 ,fahr41 and the variations thereof are gradual and insignificant4 ,in the year #bf ,b4,c41 ,apion1 the last lineal descendant of the ,egyptian ,ptolemies1 bequeathed the city to the ,romans4 ,cyrene1 so happily situated1 became noted1 not only for its prosperity and salubriousness1 but for the intellectual life and activity of its inhabitants4 ,it long possessed a famous medical school2 it gave to fame ,callimachus1 the poet2 ,carneades1 the founder of the new academy at ,athens2 ,aristippus1 the disciple of ,socrates2 ,eratosthenes1 the ,polyhistor2 and ,synesius1 one of the most elegant of ancient ,christian writers4 ,not far from beautiful and prosperous ,cyrene1 on one of those gentle declivities which were washed by the waters of the ,mediterranean1 there was1 in ,a4,d4 #bfe1 a comfortable stone farm-house1 pleasantly located in the midst of a considerable tract of cultivated lands4 ,the farm faced a small bay and the limitless sea northwardly2 southwardly the high range of the ,barcan mountains rolled grandly away1 their nearer slopes inclosing the farm between the highlands and the bay1 and imparting to the beautiful place a most attractive sense of quiet and seclusion from the busy world4 ,the house was one story high1 containing seven rooms1 and the ground plan of it was exactly the outline of a cross1 there being four rooms and a portico in the length thereof1 and three in its greatest width4 ,at this house1 in the last-named year1 was born a man-child1 whose fate it was to become one of the grandest1 purest1 least understood1 and most systematically misrepresented characters in human history--,arius the ,libyan1 the ,heretic--whose fortunes1 good and evil1 whose experiences1 heterodox or orthodox1 shall be followed in these pages with genuine love and admiration1 with profoundest pity also1 and yet with a sincere desire to deal justly with his grand and beautiful memory1 seeking to nothing extenuate nor set down aught in malice4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,,to ,,us ,a ,,child ,,is ,,born3 ,,to ,,us ,a ,,son ,,is ,,given4 ,the family resident at the ,libyan farm-house consisted of only the swarthy ,egyptian ,ammonius2 his young wife ,arete1 who1 although an ,egyptian1 had somehow acquired a purely ,greek name1 a fact which indicated vast influence that the great ,grecian city of ,alexandria had long exerted over ,egypt2 and an old female domestic that had belonged to ,arete's mother during even her girlhood1 and was called ,thopt1 the abbreviation of some ancient ,coptic name1 the letters of which still served to point out the fact that in her infancy she had been dedicated to the service of some one of the gods of the ,nile4 ,the tropical sun was just rising along the ,libyan coasts1 when old ,thopt came into the apartment in which sat ,ammonius awaiting news of his wife1 bearing in her arms a creature that was swaddled up in such innumerable bandages that it looked like a new and diminutive mummy1 and1 presenting this pygmy to the father1 the old woman said3 ,it is a man-child1 and a fine one6 ,but he hath a forehead like a ram4 ,and ,ammonius carefully but awkwardly took the parcel into his own hands1 and looked upon it with curious emotion1 whereupon the manikin began to cry so suddenly and vigorously that ,ammonius would have let it drop upon the floor if old ,thopt had not seized it just as the lapse began4 ,how fareth the little man's mother8 said he1 and may ,i not go in to see her immediately8 ,she rallieth from her trial wonderfully1 answered old ,thopt1 and even now inquireth after thee4 ,and the great1 rough1 swarthy man went into his wife's room1 and1 bending over her1 he kissed her with exceeding tenderness3 ,may the ,lord help thee1 mother1 he said1 for thou art mother now1 and doubly dear to me6 ,bless thee1 husband6 said ,arete2 and remember that thou hast promised me that1 if the babe should prove to be a boy1 thou wouldst have him educated for the ministry of ,christ4 ,may the ,lord raise him up for his own glory6 ,amen6 replied ,ammonius1 fervently4 ,i did so promise thee1 ,arete1 and will so do if the ,lord will4 ,already our pleasant farm is so famous for its excellent cattle1 that whereas ,i did call the house ,baucalis because1 when the wind bloweth from the east1 the water runneth through the narrow entrance into the little bay1 with a murmur like the gurgling of wine from a bottle1 the neighbors call the place ,boucalis because they say that no land in all ,cyrenaica produceth more or better cattle4 ,so1 little mother1 thou need not fear but that with the cattle and with shipments of corn to ,alexandria1 whence the merchants transport it unto ,puteoli and ,rome far across the sea1 we shall be able to give thy boy all proper training to become a presbyter1 or even a bishop1 if he liveth and showeth a godly disposition4 ,and thou wilt never let the love of gain1 nor of worldly honors1 grow upon thee until thou shalt repent thee of this purpose1 and so determine that it would be better for the boy to betake himself to business affairs and acquire wealth rather than to serve ,god wholly8 ,nay1 verily1 cried ,ammonius2 for the matter lieth nearer to my heart than even thou knowest1 ,arete4 ,for what reason1 then1 good husband8 ,i have often told thee1 little mother1 that ,i was a boy in a temple on the ,nile1 dedicated to ,amun1 or ,ammon1 as mine idolatrous name doth signify1 and that at an early age ,i fled therefrom and betook myself to the river and to the sea1 and did prosper so that ,i got first an interest in a ship1 and afterward the sole ownership thereof1 and made many long and prosperous voyages4 ,i have told thee1 also1 in all details1 how1 on a voyage from ,alexandria unto ,italy1 the storm drove us upon a rocky island where our destruction seemed imminent1 until1 while we all were momently expecting death1 a quiet and almost unnoticed passenger1 who had come from ,antioch unto ,alexandria and was journeying with us to ,puteoli1 did pray for us to ,jesus ,christ1 and stilled the storm1 and so saved the ship and all our lives4 ,i have often told thee how this good ,bishop of ,antioch did lead me into the knowledge and love of ,christ1 and how ,i sold my ship and cargo1 and gave one half of my property to the ,church1 that other ,egyptians might be converted1 and with the other moiety bought this farm1 having known the pleasant coasts of ,cyrenaica for many years2 and then returned to ,alexandria to bring thee hither that we might as stewards of the ,lord manage this estate together4 ,but ,i did not tell thee that when the bishop asked me whether ,i experienced any vocation for the preaching of the word1 and ,i did tell the holy man that neither natural gifts nor education fitted me for that sacred calling1 ,i did then vow to the ,lord that if any son were given unto me ,i would teach him as far as ,i might be able to do in the love and learning of the gospel1 and would send him unto ,antioch to be more thoroughly instructed4 ,so thou seest1 dear little mother1 that not only thine and mine own inclinations1 but also mine obligation given unto ,god1 bindeth me to bestow upon the boy all the teaching ,i can give unto him1 and to afford to him every reasonable opportunity for greater learning4 ,and ,i pray that he may escape the physical infirmity which1 even more than the lack of learning1 hath kept me from the public ministry of the word6 ,it is a strange and perplexing thing1 laughed ,arete1 and yet amusing4 ,for all the ,christians of our region rely upon thy strong good sense and modest learning in every private matter1 whether of business or of religion2 yet it seemeth so pitiful that1 if thou standest upon thy feet to speak to any assembly1 thou dost straightway begin to jerk and wriggle like a serpent1 and to hiss and stammer so that thou canst not talk intelligibly1 although thou hast more brains and learning than many who are eloquent4 ,i long thought it to be my duty to try to overcome these physical defects1 but1 if at any time my heart is deeply moved1 ,i can not talk1 and it is useless to try it any more4 ,we shall strive both by teaching and by prayer to train the boy better4 ,dost thou not remember1 ,ammonius1 that evening in our boat upon the dear old ,nile1 what a distressful time thou didst endure in thine attempt to ask me to become thy wife8 ,and the little woman laughed and laughed until her eyes were full of happy tears4 ,yea1 answered ,ammonius1 nor indeed do ,i think that ,i did ever ask thee at all4 ,i did1 after many efforts1 get thee to say what words thou wouldst have a man use who loved thee and wanted thee to be his wife1 and all ,i could do was to cry out1 ',i say that to thee1 ,arete--,i say all that and more6' and in mine embarrassment verily ,i could utter nothing else6 ,but1 laughed the little woman1 afterward ,i did make thee say the words over and over again1 albeit ,i might almost as soon have trained a parrot to repeat them4 ,but ,i trust thou hast never regretted the trouble thou didst take in teaching me how to court thee1 said ,ammonius4 ,nay1 verily1 she answered1 but ,i think it was the most amusing courtship that hath ever happened4 ,and1 while husband and wife pleasantly conversed1 old ,thopt brought the child back to his mother1 and announced that ,christian women from other farms along the coast had come to offer their congratulations and any assistance that might be needed4 ,it was singular to observe that while the adjacent country1 from ,apollonia to ,cyrene1 and all around1 was settled by ,egyptians1 ,greeks1 ,jews1 and ,romans1 and while some women and girls of all of these nationalities1 during the next few days1 made visits of sympathy to the family at ,baucalis1 none came except those who were known to each other to be ,christians1 no matter what their nationality might be4 ,practically the faith of ,jesus had broken down all ethnic1 social1 and political barriers among those who professed it2 and the only class distinction which was recognized at all was between those who were ,christians and those who were not4 ,the persecution1 which had begun seven years before under the ,emperor ,valerian1 had raged in ,libya as fiercely as in any portion of the ,roman ,empire1 and1 although intermittent in its character1 there had quite recently been cruelties enough1 extending in some instances to martyrdom1 chiefly at the instigation of ,jewish and pagan priests1 to render it necessary for the ,christians to conduct their religious rites and social intercourse with a certain degree of secrecy1 and to preserve their ancient means of instantaneous recognition in constant use1 so that1 when a ,christian might meet any one who was not familiarly known to him1 an almost imperceptible sign served as a challenge by which he was instantly enabled to tell1 without an inquiry or a spoken word1 whether the stranger might be a ,christian or not4 ,of course1 if any one came who failed to recognize the sign1 another movement1 almost as imperceptible1 served to warn all ,christians present that there was one near them who did not profess their faith2 so that there was little danger in their usual intercourse with each other or with their pagan neighbors4 ,on the eighth day after the birth of the boy1 a few ,christians assembled at the farm1 and the services of a presbyter of ,cyrene were procured4 ,they first engaged in singing and in prayer1 and then a portion of the gospel was read and the communion administered1 after which the child was baptized4 ,preparatory to this ceremony there was quite a discussion among them as to the name by which the boy should be baptized1 the young mother being desirous to call him by the name of some of the holy men who had suffered martyrdom for ,jesus1 or had otherwise become especially dear and honored throughout the ,christian communities4 ,to this the fatal objection was urged that such a selection of a name might arouse evil-minded neighbors to the fact that there were ,christians among them1 and so render the family unnecessarily and perhaps dangerously obnoxious to the malice of any who might ever harbor ill-will against them4 ,ammonius insisted upon calling the boy after the name of a ,roman who had been his partner in the old sea-faring days1 and whom he had highly esteemed1 although he might be still a pagan so far as ,ammonius knew2 and so the child was finally christened ,arius4 ,it is almost the ,greek name of the god of war whom the heathen worship1 said the presbyter4 ,he shall be a warrior1 answered ,ammonius--a soldier of ,christ2 and the military designation is not inappropriate4 ,it is almost the name for a ram6 said another4 ,i desire him to become the leader of a flock1 said ,ammonius1 and the name is well enough4 ,it is almost the name of one of the signs of the zodiac1 said another4 ,i pray that the boy's thoughts and hopes may be fixed upon celestial things1 said ,ammonius1 and the name is well enough4 ,it almost signifies that he shall be most lean and spare1 said yet another4 ,i would not desire him to look like a glutton or a drunkard1 said ,ammonius1 and surely the name is well enough4 ,it may signify 'entreated' or 'supplicated1' or 'execrated1' or 'accursed1' said the presbyter1 and is certainly a strange name4 ,i would ever have him sought after by the good and hated by the evil1 answered ,ammonius1 and ,i will not change the name4 ,let him be called ,arius4 ,besides1 he added1 what is in a name8 ,mine own idolatrous name signifieth 'dedicated to ,am-un1' yet ,i hope ye take me to be a ,christian4 ,i call the farm ,baucalis1 from the murmur of the waters on the garden shore1 but ye call it ,boucalis1 because it breedeth good cattle4 ,arius6--what doth it matter whether it meaneth this or that8 ,i know it for the name of an honorable man and faithful friend1 and1 if the boy become what ,i hope to see him1 he shall make both the name ,baucalis and ,arius loved and honored by the faithful everywhere4 ,if he turneth out ill1 a prouder name might be disgraced by him2 therefore let him be called ,arius4 ,and so the babe was christened4 ,i perceive1 said the presbyter1 after the religious services were ended and all of them partook of suitable refreshments and engaged in conversation1 that thou hast fixed thy heart upon having this child devoted unto the service of our ,lord4 ,it seemeth strange to me that1 having such a pious desire for him1 thou that art learned and intelligent hast never thyself sought to preach the gospel of our ,lord6 ,i might truly have rejoiced so to do1 answered ,ammonius1 but that the python's influence prevented me4 ,the python6 exclaimed the presbyter2 why1 brother1 what can the serpent have to do with thee8 ,this1 replied ,ammonius4 ,some time before ,i came into the world1 at ,alexandria1 to which great city strangers resort from the four quarters of the world even as unto imperial ,rome1 there came certain priests out of ,india to witness the ceremonies of a great festival in honor of a new ,apis1 and in their train certain jugglers who wrought various wonders1 and carried with them immense pythons which they had charmed and rendered harmless4 ,while my mother stood on the propylon of our house1 watching the vast procession1 one of the pythons1 that had its tail entwined round the neck and body of an ,indian passing below1 suddenly sprang up out of its coil erect1 and brandished its hideous head before my mother's face1 so that she fainted thereat with terror4 ,when ,i came into the world she was horrified at being able to trace out in the conformation of my head and face the similitude of the cobra2 and with many prayers and offerings she had me early dedicated to ,ammon1 thinking that perchance the idol might remove the peculiarity of my features which made me loathsome in her sight by continually recalling the fearful image of the python4 ,as ,i grew older1 this conformation largely faded out1 but all my life1 whenever my feelings or passions are aroused1 involuntary action of the muscles runneth from the feet upward1 and maketh me to writhe like a serpent1 and throweth a sibilant sharpness into my voice1 so that anything like public speaking is well-nigh impossible to me2 and ,i am compelled to master all emotions and to preserve a perfect serenity of mind1 in order to avoid this serpentine appearance which is distressful to some and fearful unto others1 and am compelled to speak in the slow1 methodical manner thou hearest4 ,but for this affliction1 ,i would gladly have entered into the public service of the ,master4 ,god grant that my boy inherit not this strange malady6 ,pray thou for him4 ,yea1 most gladly and earnestly will ,i1 said the presbyter4 ,but repine thou not1 my brother2 for1 although thou preachest not publicly1 thy godly walk and conversation are a living sermon1 which all who know thee must ponder with delight and edification4 ,and afterward the presbyter departed1 and all who had attended the service went each one his own way1 with sincerest benedictions upon the little family of ,baucalis1 and warmest sympathy with the earnest desire of the parents that their babe might live and grow up to be a minister of ,christ4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,,how ,,men ,,lived ,,in ,,the ,,kingdom ,,of ,,heaven4 ,soon the ripple of excitement caused by the arrival of the young ,arius at the ,baucalis farm passed away1 and the life of the dwellers there resumed its wonted quiet4 ,ammonius1 generally bareheaded and naked from the waist up and from the knees down1 as the custom of the country was1 his olive skin glistening with healthful perspiration1 pursued the various labors of the farm1 and his wife attended to the fruits and vegetables nigh the house2 and old ,thopt prepared their food1 and did the washing which their simple style of living rendered necessary2 and both women devoted the hours not otherwise employed to the manufacture of woolen1 cotton1 and linen goods for domestic uses4 ,neither ,jewish1 ,greek1 nor ,roman women generally adopted the luxurious manners and elegance of dress and ornament common to noble or opulent ,egyptians2 and those ,egyptians who dwelt in the agricultural portions of ,cyrenaica1 especially those who were ,christians1 followed the simpler manners of the same classes among their neighbors4 ,at the ,baucalis farm everything about the house was scrupulously clean and neat1 manifestly designed for comfort and convenience1 nothing for ostentation4 ,in the business of the place1 out-doors and in-doors1 there was never seen any of that driving spirit which indicates a thirst for accumulation1 but all duties were prosecuted as if reasonable diligence were esteemed to be both a duty and a pleasure4 ,at the end of a year's labor ,ammonius would have felt no concern at all if he had found that he had not gained a single coin beyond the sum requisite to pay taxes1 but he would have experienced a humiliating sense of shame and unworthiness if the occupant of so fine a farm had failed to have enough and to spare for every call of charity1 for every reasonable claim upon his hospitality1 or for liberal contribution to every work in which the ,church was interested4 ,corn1 wheat1 and barley1 variously prepared for table use1 a large variety of fruits both preserved and fresh1 and many kinds of vegetables1 formed their chief food4 ,fish of choice kinds1 and in great abundance1 was in common use1 and domestic fowls were raised by all4 ,the consumption of flesh was not an everyday thing with these simple and healthful people4 ,twice1 or1 at most1 thrice a week neighbors would club together and kill and part among themselves a kid or sheep4 ,beef was little used among them1 and was raised for market chiefly4 ,swine's flesh they never used1 and they wondered at the ,roman appetite for coarse1 strong meat dishes4 ,the light1 pleasant wine made everywhere along the coast was in general use among them all4 ,the every-day dress of both sexes was cotton cloth1 a short kilt reaching from the shoulder to the knee1 and over this1 when not actively at work1 a loose gown covering the person from neck to ankle1 and confined at the waist with a girdle or sash of bright-colored cloth4 ,they had garments of finest wool and linen for extraordinary occasions4 ,in this region the ,christian communities were not formally organized upon the communistic basis of the primitive ,church1 because all of them were in a nearly equally prosperous condition1 and there were none among them who were poor in the sense of requiring assistance4 ,the few that were in any way incapacitated for earning a livelihood were related by ties of blood to one or more families1 able and always willing to afford them every needful comfort and assistance4 ,but no ,christian family was ever known to refuse anything for which a needy person asked1 in money1 clothing1 food1 or whatever they possessed2 and in this respect it made little difference what might be the religion or nationality of the applicant4 ,to refuse to give to one that asked would have seemed to any of these ,christians to be a wicked1 almost sacrilegious1 violation of the very words of ,jesus3 ,give to him that asketh1 and from him that would borrow of thee1 turn not thou away4 ,they regarded all property of ,christians as in the ownership of the ,church1 and themselves only as stewards intrusted with the management of this or that portion thereof4 ,hence every call of presbyter or bishop for assistance to less fortunate communities1 and every individual application for aid1 was gladly and promptly responded to2 and they regarded it as part of their profession of faith to find some healthful occupation for every one that was able and willing to do anything for the common good4 ,in the cities of ,cyrenaica were many ,christians engaged in multiform avocations1 but even there the ,christian communities were so temperate and diligent that few among them wanted anything2 and the union of the faithful furnished such a perfect safeguard against the ills of life that they were not only able to care for those of their own number who might be overtaken by any calamity1 but were always able and willing to afford assistance to foreign communities less fortunately situated1 when requested so to do4 ,in short1 all and far more than modern poor-laws1 ,masonic1 ,odd-,fellows'1 and other eleemosynary associations1 marine1 life1 and fire companies1 have been enabled to do toward the amelioration of the condition of the unfortunate1 was far more perfectly accomplished by these ,christian communities1 that recognized as a matter of faith the principle of all human charity which extends beyond mere alms-giving1 that the average prosperity of the community should extend to each individual thereof when overtaken by any misfortune--a redeeming principle which ,jesus and his apostles taught in its most perfect and effective form as the communion of saints1 the partnership or fellowship of the holy 7,greek3 koinonia ton hagion72 community of property and rights among all who believe2 a principle which good men have been vainly seeking to restore in some form ever since the subversion of ,christianity1 in the fourth century1 by the agency of numberless nugatory statutes and associations2 a divine truth which in its ,christless forms of communism1 socialism1 and ,nihilism1 now threatens the very existence of law and order throughout ,christendom2 a system perhaps impossible to any government which recognizes the legality of private-property rights1 and is therefore committed to ,mammon-worship4 ,but these ,christians had learned a higher truth than any known to human laws3 they were the owners of nothing2 they were only stewards of their ,lord's goods2 the wealth which they accumulated and held for the common good was to them true riches2 the wealth which any individual held for himself and his own private aggrandizement was the mammon of unrighteousness4 ,hence no ,christian could be in want while the community was prosperous2 no community could suffer while any other communities accessible to them by land or sea had anything to spare2 and the faith of ,christ made the general prosperity of all ,christians insure the individual prosperity of each one2 so that there were no rich and no poor among them4 ,plato's dreams of a perfect community 7,republic7 admitted human slavery--,jesus ,christ taught the freedom1 equality1 and fraternity of all men3 ,sir ,thomas ,more's ,utopia abolished marriage1 and proposed to hold women in common--,jesus ,christ elevated marriage into a sacrament2 denied man's right to hold woman at all2 proclaimed freedom and equality for her also1 repudiating the universal idea that she was a chattel1 and teaching that she is a soul endowed with the same rights1 duties1 and responsibilities as are inherent in the soul of man4 ,modern reformers propose to divide out all property1 and limit individual acquisitions thereof2 but ,jesus proposed to divide out nothing1 and to limit nothing2 but1 that all things should be accumulated1 owned1 and used in common1 as every one hath need1 just as air1 and sunlight1 and the boundless sea are common4 ,the word catholic 7,greek3 kata holos7 was unknown to ,jesus and the ,new ,testament2 the word common 7,greek3 koiyos7 was the key to all of his teachings1 social1 spiritual1 and political4 ,the only relation which these ,christians sustained to the government of ,cyrenaica1 or to that of ,rome1 was to pay the taxes demanded of them2 and they had no concern as to who might be emperor or proconsul1 except so far as these rulers might be disposed to persecute the ,christians1 or otherwise4 ,they paid taxes1 to avoid giving offense1 even as ,jesus himself had paid tribute1 although born under ,roman rule1 and not a stranger1 and not liable to pay tribute2 but they never acknowledged the ,roman authority in any other way4 ,it would have been an ineffaceable stigma on the character of a ,christian to summon another ,christian before a civil magistrate for any cause2 they would not go to law before the heathen4 ,if any differences arose between any1 they left it to some of the brethren to consider the matter and adjust it2 and they considered themselves bound to abide by the settlement reached1 by bonds of faith and love stronger than human statutes can be made4 ,if any became careless of right and duty1 or actively wicked1 his nearest friends remonstrated with him1 and1 if he refused to abandon his sinful course1 the presbyters reproved him2 and1 if this proved ineffectual in working out the needed reformation1 they brought the offender before the ,church1 and either succeeded in drawing him back into the right way1 or1 if he proved incorrigible1 they simply refused henceforth to fellowship with him1 and held him as a publican and a sinner4 ,they never had recourse to any temporal penalties to enforce the law of ,christian brotherhood2 knowing that no one who refused to be controlled without the use of force was a ,christian1 they publicly disowned him1 and that was the end of it4 ,for they had been taught from the beginning that the essential difference between the kingdom of heaven and every other kingdom established upon earth consisted in the fact that human governments recognize private property-rights in estates1 rank1 offices1 prerogatives1 and seek to enforce these legal1 fictitious rights by temporal penalties1 contrary to reason and justice2 while ,jesus denounced all such private rights as ,mammon-worship1 and all statutes enacted to enforce them as lies of the ,scribes and ,pharisees2 and never fixed1 and never authorized his apostles to fix1 any temporal penalties whatever4 ,they understood perfectly well that the necessary and inevitable result of all law-and-order systems is to produce a ruling class at the top of every political fabric to whom all of its benefits inure1 an oppressed or enslaved people at the bottom upon whose weary shoulders rest all of the burdens and the waste of life1 and between these extremes ecclesiasticisms and an army 7always on the side of the ruling classes and against the multitudes7 seeking to adjust their mutual legal rights and duties by the agency of bayonets and prayer--a system of laws creating fictitious rights1 creating legal offenses by the disregard of these pretended rights1 and denouncing legal penalties4 ,but they knew that ,jesus died as much for the children of ,barabbas as for the offspring of ,herod2 and that every statute1 custom1 or superstition which attempts to make one of the babies better than the others is a fraud on our common humanity and a violation of the law of ,christ4 ,for the kingdom of heaven was organized upon the basis of community of rights and property among all who believe1 thereby removing all inducements to commit such crimes as treason1 larceny1 and fraud1 which exist only by force of the statutes creating and punishing them2 for civilization itself is the parent of all crime except murder or lust1 which might sometimes occur from the mere ebullition of brutal passion and instinct in low and base natures4 ,hence those ,christians1 who called nothing they possessed their own1 regarding themselves as only stewards of the ,lord's goods1 held by them for the common good of all believers1 had no use for the ,roman government or any other1 and cared nothing for it except so far as taxes and persecutions1 imposed or omitted1 might affect the temporal welfare of individuals and of the communities of which they were members4 ,they were citizens of a kingdom in but not of the world1 desiring to be at peace with all worldly kingdoms4 ,they knew that ,jesus proclaimed a good news or gospel for the poor1 the very foundation-stone of which is the absolute equality1 liberty1 and fraternity of man2 and they learned from the same divine ,teacher that kings1 lords1 nobles1 all personal and class distinctions among men1 are the mere creation of legal fiction1 sustained by unjust force1 like slavery and piracy1 and do not exist in the nature of things or by the will of ,god2 and that these laws are everywhere only the utterances of selfishness crystallized into the form of statutes1 customs1 or decrees1 government over the people being nothing more nor less than an organized expression of faith in the ancient lie that private property 7in estates1 rank1 or prerogatives7 is the one thing sacred in human life1 and that laws and penalties are necessary to maintain it2 which faith is the idolatry of ,mammon1 the only paganism that ,jesus denounced by name1 and declared to be utterly antagonistic to the worship of ,god4 ,they understood1 therefore1 that in place of attempting 7as all human legislators have ever done7 to provide a more perfect law-and-order system for the protection of private rights1 our ,lord designed to abolish all private property1 and with it all the unjust laws and penalties by which the worship of ,mammon is maintained4 ,hence1 in place of teaching to men a better slave-code than the world had known before1 ,jesus taught freedom for all men4 ,in place of teaching a more effective art of war1 he proclaimed the gospel of peace1 love1 justice4 ,in place of ordaining only more wise and just regulations for governing the intercourse of men with their female chattels1 he elevated monogamic marriage into a holy sacrament1 and applied to man and wife alike the same divine law of personal rights1 duties1 and responsibilities4 ,in place of teaching better laws for the government of men by other men as erring1 sinful1 and selfish as themselves1 he taught that all such laws and government are unnecessary to any people who believe that there is something more sacred1 higher1 and holier than private rights1 and are willing by faith to renounce all human1 statutory advantages in order to acquire divine truth4 ,so in beautiful ,cyrenaica1 while ,greek and ,roman1 ,egyptian and ,jew1 concerned themselves about politics1 and struggled for offices1 and toiled beyond measure for useless gain1 the ,christian communities pursued the calm and even tenor of their way1 meeting on every ,sabbath for religious services and instruction2 closing each week-day's labor with a pleasant formula of evening prayer2 training up their sons and daughters to despise all the false statutory and customary distinctions and vanities of worldly life after which the ,gentiles seek2 teaching them to seek knowledge1 especially the knowledge peculiar to their faith2 to love all men1 especially the brethren2 and to regard this earthly life as but the threshold of a higher1 holier1 and more perfect state of being that lay only a few brief1 fleeting years away from every one of them4 ,and so1 while the sun arose and set2 while the harvests were grown and garnered2 while the pure and fadeless sea lapsed along the fertile garden of the ,baucalis farm1 and new lives came upon the stage of human action1 and older ones were gathered into the rest appointed for all the living1 peace and plenty1 charity and love1 purity and truth1 blessed the dwellers at the stone cottage by the sea-side4 ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,,fine ,,training ,,for ,a ,,christian ,,man6 ,the boy ,arius increased in stature1 and learned1 even before he had learned the alphabet1 to think that he knew and loved the ,lord4 ,for from the time that he could talk1 daily1 after the little family had completed their healthful tasks1 they spent an hour in repeating to him1 and in teaching him to repeat after them1 some simple passage out of the ,new ,testament1 so that the child had memorized a whole gospel before he had learned to read the written text1 and become familiar with the general course of the ,old ,testament ,scriptures1 particularly with the salient and beautiful narratives wherewith the sacred word abounds4 ,after he grew older his father taught him both to speak and write the ,latin and ,hebrew equivalent of every word in the ,greek text2 so that ,arius acquired the three languages together4 ,the father watched with intense and painful anxiety to ascertain whether the singular affliction which his mother's terror of the python had entailed upon himself had been transmitted to his son1 and rejoiced to see that1 while some unmistakable traces thereof appeared in the boy's voice and manner1 they were so slight as not only not to be unpleasantly obtrusive1 but were even attractive1 as perhaps every marked peculiarity1 which is of a graceful character1 is attractive in a man4 ,at twelve years of age1 ,arius was an unusually tall and slender lad1 peculiar in the shape of his bold1 shaggy head1 peculiar in the length and litheness of his shapely neck1 peculiar in the mesmeric luminosity of his dark and tender eyes1 and in the singular but incisive sweetness of his voice4 ,he spoke1 wrote1 and read ,greek and ,latin with fluency1 and was well informed in the ,hebrew tongue2 and yet he was scarcely conscious of the fact that under his father's wise and careful training he had been a student almost from his infancy1 so steadily1 easily1 and gradually1 had he progressed in the acquisition of knowledge4 ,the ,new ,testament written on parchments in the uncial text2 the ,pastor of ,hermas1 which1 in those days1 was thought to be of almost apostolical authority2 and copies of some of the letters of ,polycarp1 ,irenaeus1 and ,clement1 were almost the only books which ,ammonius owned1 as the cost of a library in those days was enormous4 ,from these they would read a few verses at a time1 and translate them into ,latin as they went along4 ,a presbyter at ,cyrene loaned them the ,old ,testament1 from which the boy copied and memorized such parts as his father directed him to learn1 as having the directest bearing upon the life and doctrine of ,jesus4 ,the boy did his full share of labor in all the working of the farm1 and took the bath daily in the little bay on which it fronted 7as in fact all the family were accustomed to do71 and at night father1 mother1 and son1 read and translated from the ,scriptures2 and occasionally the boy was made to stand up and repeat by rote the ,apostles' ,creed1 the ,paternoster1 the ,prayer of ,agur1 the son of ,jakeh1 ,paul's beautiful hymn in praise of ,agape1 or some other favorite passage1 sometimes in one language and sometimes in another4 ,in these little recitations1 as often as the boy's feelings were enlisted1 there came a peculiar and fascinating sibilation into his voice2 his hand1 chiefly the right hand1 would move and wave with a strange1 easy1 vibrant motion1 almost as if it involuntarily strove to accentuate the syllables of the sonorous text2 his head would dart up and lean slightly forward from the long and shapely neck1 like the crest of some splendid cobra1 peering forward toward the hearer1 and his dark eyes dilated with a strange mesmeric light2 and altogether the lad had a very peculiar and impressive appearance4 ,but these slight hereditary traces of the python's influence were never unpleasantly obtrusive1 and the father did not think it to be necessary to impose upon the son that life-long self-restraint and self-consciousness which1 in his own case1 had been requisite to guard himself against serpentine manifestations of emotion4 ,but his own long and careful effort and study in this respect qualified him to impart to the boy a marvelously distinct and peculiar accentuation1 which made every word he uttered as clear and perfect as a pearl--as distinct and resonant as trumpet-notes4 ,but while ,ammonius was thus cautious and diligent in training his son to acquire critical exactness in his knowledge of the philology and history of the sacred text1 he was not the less anxious to imbue his mind with the very spirit that distills upon the faithful heart out of the words of uncorrupted truth4 ,this he strove to do by continually spurring the boy's intelligence to seek for the real significance of our ,lord's life and teachings1 the differences between his philosophy and ethics and those of other renowned moralists and teachers2 the essential differences between the kingdom which ,jesus established in the world and all worldly kingdoms2 the great fact1 indeed1 that ,jesus taught not only the purest ethics in a few sweeping principles which cover the whole range of human life and experience1 but taught also social and political truth essential to the establishment and maintenance of human rights and liberty4 ,yet the man's instructions were not dogmatic2 they belonged to no sect or system of religion or of philosophy2 they consisted chiefly in exciting in the mind of the youth an honest desire to know the truth1 and of questions and suggestions designed to aid him in discovering it for himself4 ,the manner of instruction generally pursued by ,ammonius may be gathered from one or two of their evening exercises1 like the following4 ,the boy read this passage3 ,now when ,john had heard in the prison the works of ,christ1 he sent two of his disciples1 and said unto him1 ,art thou he that should come1 or do we look for another8 ,jesus answered and said unto them1 ,go and show ,john again those things which ye do hear and see3 the blind receive their sight1 and the lame walk1 the lepers are cleansed1 and the deaf hear1 the dead are raised up1 and the poor have the gospel preached unto them4 ,and blessed is he whosoever shall not be offended in me4 ,then said ,ammonius1 ,what lesson dost thou understand to be taught in this place1 ,arius8 ,obviously it teacheth1 answered the boy1 that ,john desired to know of ,jesus whether he might be 'he that should come1' that is1 ,christ4 ,in place of answering the question directly1 he pointed them to the miracles which they saw him even then performing1 as if he knew that these wonderful works would be sufficient to satisfy ,john of his divinity4 ,this and other passages seem also to show that miracles are the only proper evidence that can be offered that ,jesus is the ,christ4 ,all that is on the surface1 answered ,ammonius1 and is well enough4 ,but canst thou see nothing deeper in the words8 ,is there nothing strange in the answer of ,jesus that provoketh inquiry1 or needeth comment8 ,read the passage again1 ,arius1 and see what else thou canst find in it4 ,then the lad reread the passage very carefully1 and he said3 ,the blind receive sight3 a miracle2 the lame walk3 a second miracle2 the lepers are cleansed3 a third miracle2 the deaf hear3 a fourth miracle2 the dead are raised up3 a fifth and greater miracle4 ,it seemeth strange to me that our ,lord should add1 as if it were a greater miracle than all the others1 and the crowning proof of his ,messiahship1 the fact that the poor have the gospel preached unto them4 ,is it a fact1 father1 that before the coming of ,jesus the gospel had never been preached unto the poor8 ,was the ,jewish scripture only for the rich8 ,ammonius smiled1 but answered3 ,the rolls of the law1 the ,jewish scriptures1 were read on the ,sabbath-day in every synagogue1 and both the rich and the poor were required to be present and hear it4 ,perhaps the gospel of which ,jesus speaks was not in the ,jewish scriptures1 or else was only taught in laws and prophecies which the ,jews had not correctly interpreted4 ,but it could not have been our gospel1 said ,arius1 for no part of the ,new ,testament was then written4 ,i wonder what this gospel was2 and why it was good news to the poor rather than to the rich2 and why our ,lord said that whoever should not take offense at the gospel was blessed4 ,why should any one take offense at it8 ,why did they crucify him for proclaiming it8 ,why did the chief priests and rulers of the people so bitterly hate the gospel8 ,if thou wilt follow up these questions and learn the true answers thereto1 said ,ammonius1 thou wilt get hold of a fine1 large truth6 ,wilt thou aid me therein8 ,yea1 so far as ,i am able to do so2 and to that end ,i ask thee if thou canst tell what reason is repeatedly given in the gospels why the ,pharisees 'were offended' at our ,lord's teachings2 why they 'derided' him2 in a word1 why they hated him and his gospel8 ,yea6 ,the reason that is always given for their hatred of ,jesus is that they were 'covetous'8 ,dost thou think that the fact that they were rich and covetous could account for their rejection of their own scriptures1 which showed them the ,messiah plainly1 and in which they all believed1 unless the gospel which ,jesus taught in some way antagonized their legal right to their property8 ,nay1 verily1 said the boy4 ,the gospel must have interfered with their property1 or the fact that they were 'covetous' would not be given as the reason for their hatred of ,jesus4 ,then let us examine what this gospel was that was 'good news to the poor4' ,dost thou remember any other place in which the same words occur8 ,yea1 answered ,arius4 ,it is written in ,luke3 ',and he came to ,nazareth1 where he had been brought up3 and1 as his custom was1 he went into the synagogue on the ,sabbath-day1 and stood up for to read4 ,and there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet ,esaias4 ,and when he had opened the book1 he found the place where it is written1 ,the spirit of the ,lord is upon me1 because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor3 he hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted2 to preach deliverance to the captives2 and recovering of sight to the blind2 to set at liberty them that are bruised2 to preach the acceptable year of the ,lord4 ,and he closed the book1 and gave it again to the minister1 and sat down4 ,and the eyes of all of them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him4 ,and he began to say unto them1 ,this day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears4' ,now canst thou find the place in ,isaiah referred to in the text8 ,yea1 replied ,arius2 it readeth as follows3 ',the spirit of the ,lord ,god is upon me2 because he hath anointed me to preach good tidings4' ,stop1 said ,ammonius2 thou seest that the 'gospel' is the same thing which the prophet calleth 'good tidings8' ,yea1 answered the lad1 but whence cometh this expression of 'the acceptable year of the ,lord1' and what signifieth it8 ,it cometh from the statute of the year of jubilee1 set forth at large in the book of ,leviticus4 ,when thou shalt examine this statute fully1 thou shalt find that it is emphatically a law against private property1 providing that debts expire every seventh year1 and that all ,israel was prohibited from seeking to make gain every seventh year1 and from saving what they had already made4 ,thou wilt see that it was a statute restoring all real estate every fiftieth year to the original possessors thereof1 and providing for the release of all prisoners1 the manumission of all slaves1 the cessation of all oppressions--a year of joy to all that were poor and afflicted4 ,thou wilt see that ,isaiah1 and other prophets also1 foretold that this great and acceptable year of jubilee was simply a type of the condition1 social and political1 which should be established permanently in the kingdom of heaven3 and that our ,lord declared that this prophecy was fulfilled in himself4 ,thou wilt find1 if thou shalt grasp this one truth in its fullness1 that the gospel which was good news to the poor was simply the fulfillment of the prophecies concerning ,christ--the permanent establishment of 'the acceptable year'2 and that the ,pharisees1 who were rich and 'covetous1' hated the gospel because it required all who believe to hold all rights and property in common for the good of all2 and they preferred their own selfish aggrandizement to the common good of all2 and thou wilt see that the chief priests and rulers of the people conspired together to crucify ,jesus1 not because they ever doubted his divinity and ,messiahship1 but because they worshiped ,mammon more than ,god4 ,for the same reason1 ,rome1 that welcomed every heathen superstition under heaven1 and built a ,pantheon for all the gods1 persecuted the ,christians from the very beginning1 because the gospel of our ,lord is eternally opposed to ,mammon-worship1 war1 slavery1 polygamy1 and the princes and powers of the earth--a kingdom in which ,christ only is king1 and all men are brethren4 ,and it must have been hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven1 said ,arius1 only because he had to consecrate all earthly possessions to the common ,church1 and abdicate all human titles and prerogatives4 ,yea1 said ,ammonius1 that was the property-law laid down by ,jesus2 and it was verily easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to comply with the law4 ,but thou shouldst trace this truth through all the laws of the ,jews1 through all the prophecies and through all the parables of ,christ2 and thou wilt then understand how the law was a schoolmaster leading men to ,jesus4 ,thou wilt understand how it is that in the ,church all are free1 equal1 and fraternal1 while in all other kingdoms there are kings1 princes1 lords2 masters1 and slaves2 the rich and the poor2 and universal selfishness1 pride1 ambition1 usury1 extortion1 licentiousness1 oppression1 and wrong2 and thou wilt more and more love and worship our blessed ,lord for establishing the only system upon which true liberty and true religion ever will be possible for the masses of mankind4 ,then the bright1 patient1 hopeful student resolved that he would never cease to read and to ponder upon the fullness of the gospel until he had thoroughly explored all the possible bearings of the divine1 social1 political1 and spiritual system of our ,lord upon human life1 and its relations to all other kingdoms organized on earth4 ,the lad had learned more than the meaning of an isolated text2 he had found a broad principle that rests at the very basis of all profitable reading and interpretation of the sacred word4 ,and in this sort of school he learned the wisdom of the primitive ,church4 ,,chapter ,v4 ,a ,,pagan ,,hermit1 ,,old ,,and ,,gray4 ,at the age of sixteen1 the lad ,arius was very thoroughly informed in knowledge of the kingdom of heaven as that knowledge had been taught in the ,church from the very days of ,jesus and the twelve4 ,in those days the only written authorities relied upon by ,christians were the four gospels and the ,acts of the ,apostles4 ,the letters of ,paul1 especially those written against ,judaism1 the epistles of ,peter1 of ,john1 of ,jude1 of ,hermas1 ,irenaeus1 ,polycarp1 and others1 were held in high esteem as the deliberate utterances of wise and pious men2 but even the humblest ,christian never hesitated to quote the gospels and the ,acts against any of them with whose opinions he was dissatisfied4 ,the wilderness of creeds and dogmas which in later times grew up out of these epistles was entirely unknown to primitive ,christianity2 yet the perusal of them was advantageous to the young man in many ways4 ,the journeys of ,paul aroused in his active mind a keen desire to know more of the world1 and of the religion1 manners1 and customs of other nations2 and the knowledge that ,ammonius had acquired of different lands and peoples1 both by his sea-faring observations and by such reading and conversation as circumstances had rendered possible to him1 seemed to have been absorbed by his son in the long years of constant and affectionate intercourse between them2 and this was no small stock of information1 for the ,mediterranean was then in every sense the middle sea1 the highway of the world2 and it was impossible for a shrewd1 intelligent ship-owner and sailor like ,ammonius to navigate its waters for years without being brought into personal contact with men out of every nation under heaven4 ,in the same way the lad had almost unconsciously acquired an intimate knowledge of the fauna and flora of ,cyrenaica1 and in fact of ,northern ,libya1 and could name almost every plant1 animal1 bird1 and insect in the vicinity of ,baucalis2 so that even at this early age he had laid the foundations of future acquisitions in every department of knowledge that was in any way accessible unto him1 and had acquired a sturdy habit of independent thought and examination about everything that came within the range of his observation4 ,on ,sabbath evenings 7the word ,sunday was then unknown to the ,christian world7 he loved to wander along the sea-shore1 or through the wooded mountains that everywhere around ,baucalis rose up from the water's edge and rolled away like gigantic and immovable billows high and higher southwardly toward the great ,barcan plateau4 ,on one bright afternoon he had wandered farther westward than ever before1 going far beyond the limits of the land appurtenant to the farm4 ,he was weary with climbing over the endless hills1 and reclined to rest upon a projecting rock beneath an ample shade of forest-trees1 and gazed away over the calm and brilliant expanse of the peaceful ,mediterranean4 ,but not long had he rested there when his quick ear caught the sound of slow and measured footfalls as some unseen person paced slowly back and forth upon a diminutive plateau that stretched still farther westwardly along the mountain-side4 ,the intervening foliage hid the person from sight1 and1 the lad's curiosity being aroused by the presence of a stranger in a spot so secluded1 he quietly went forward1 and a few steps brought him to the place where this little stretch of level ground had been carefully denuded of trees and seemed to be cultivated as a garden4 ,then he saw a tall1 gray-haired1 venerable-looking man1 with downcast eyes1 and slow1 deliberate step1 coming in his direction along a narrow walk that led directly through the cultivated land4 ,almost at the same instant the aged man perceived him also1 but quietly pursued his way1 and1 when he had come near1 ,arius respectfully bowed and saluted him4 ,the ancient returned his salutation1 and added words which the boy did not understand1 but the lad said1 in the ,greek tongue1 then in common use throughout ,cyrenaica3 ,i think thou speakest the language of ,egypt1 which ,i do not comprehend4 ,if thou wilt speak in ,latin or in ,greek1 ,i can understand thy wishes or thine orders4 ,the old man gazed at him in astonishment1 but answered in the ,greek tongue3 ,surely thou art an ,egyptian6--and in the course of a long life ,i have never met with a son of ,egypt that could not speak his mother-tongue if he could speak at all6 ,yea1 sir1 answered ,arius1 ,i am altogether a son of ,egypt1 although born on an adjacent farm1 but my parents would never use that language1 and1 while they carefully instructed me in ,greek and in ,latin and in ,hebrew1 and in the ,aramean tongue of the ,israelites now in use1 they would never permit me to learn an ,egyptian word4 ,strange enough6 said the ancient4 ,dost thou know any reason why thy parents thus forbade thee to acquire the primitive and wonderful old speech of the land of ,kem8 ,yea1 sir1 answered ,arius4 ,i have heard my father say that in his childhood he was placed in a temple and dedicated to ,ammon1 and that when he grew older he liked neither the temple nor the god1 and fled away to follow another course of life2 and ,i think that he believed the language of the ,nile region to possess some peculiar power over every son of ,egypt1 and that to preserve me from that influence1 whatever it may be1 he desired of me that ,i would never seek to learn that speech--at least not for many years to come4 ,and thy father was wise1 cried the ancient2 for1 if ever the powers of darkness gave any gift to man1 it surely was the strange language of the dwellers by the ,nile4 ,centuries before there were any such peoples as ,greeks and ,romans1 centuries before the ,israelites became a nation1 so long ago that the universe seems growing old since then1 and the earth itself hath nodded out of the line on which the mighty pyramid was built up to point to the polar star1 even then1 boy1 the language of ,egypt was a perfect instrument of thought1 adapted with superhuman cunning to the purposes of idolatry1 with rhythms and intonations in the utterance of it1 that prick the sensuality of human nature like a goad1 and deaden conscience with some mysterious1 witch-like power which the intelligence can no more resist than the charmed bird can escape the python's fascination1 and no more explain than it can explain why the iron touched by the magic stone pointeth for evermore unto the north4 ,it is the natural language of sensualism and idolatry1 and ought to be blotted out of human speech4 ,i tell thee1 lad1 thy father was wise to forbid thee from seeking to acquire that fearful tongue6 ,but thou art thyself an ,egyptian1 said ,arius1 and ,i suppose thou hast long used the wonderful language which thou dost condemn4 ,yea1 answered the ancient1 but the speech ,i use is the hieratic form1 invented by the priests for the very purpose of keeping their souls free from the polluting power of the popular forms of speech1 to which a pure thought or expression is well-nigh impossible4 ,but didst thou come hither to seek me out1 asked the ancient1 or was thy coming accidental8 ,what is thy name8 ,of what religion art thou8 ,why hast thou come to me8 ,the old man spoke hurriedly and apparently with much anxiety1 and the boy could not conjecture the cause of his manifest excitement1 but after a moment's reflection upon the bitter and strange denunciation of man's ancient speech1 and the subsequent things spoken by his companion1 he replied in singularly musical and persuasive tones1 the mesmeric light burning in his eyes1 the bold1 peculiar head erect and slightly bending forward toward him whom he addressed3 ,my name1 sir1 is ,arius2 my coming hither is purely accidental1 as ,i supposed this mountain-side to be entirely uninhabited2 my religion is that of our ,lord and ,saviour ,jesus ,christ6 ,thou art a ,christian1 said the ancient1 in tones of great astonishment2 so young too1 but clear1 bold1 and settled in the new faith1 as thy voice and manner undoubtedly proclaim4 ,i am much pleased with thee1 boy4 ,come thou with me1 where ,i dwell alone1 for ,i desire to speak with thee more fully4 ,wilt thou not come1 ,arius6 ,willingly1 sir1 if the distance be not too great1 replied the lad4 ,it is very nigh1 said the ancient2 and then he turned and followed the path west for1 perhaps1 fifty yards1 and then the path led southwardly for about the same distance1 and stopped at an abrupt and densely wooded elevation in the side of the mountain4 ,arius saw that a rough but substantial stone wall formed the outside of a room that was for the most part composed of a cavity under the rock2 and having passed through a door1 on each side of which was a long1 narrow window admitting light into the apartment1 the ancient said3 ,here is my dwelling1 ,arius2 come thou within4 ,the room was nearly twenty feet square3 the floor was smoothly covered with dry1 white sand1 procured perhaps by pulverizing sand-rocks taken from the mountain2 there was a wooden table in the middle of the apartment1 above which a huge oil-lamp was suspended1 and a smaller table upon one side1 upon which rested a complete service of beautifully fashioned earthen plates1 cups1 pitchers1 dishes1 and similar articles4 ,there were several large and comfortable chairs made of huge reeds curiously interwoven1 and a couch constructed of the same material1 and covered deep but smoothly with lamb-skins1 dressed with the wool on4 ,everything about the place indicated a rather coarse but genuine comfort1 even to the presence of several beautiful goats that came with their kids to the door and gazed in at the old man with confidence and affection1 as if he were a familiar and trustworthy friend4 ,be thou seated1 my son1 said the ancient1 and1 if thou wilt eat1 ,i have here goat's milk1 bread1 and dried fish and fruits in abundance4 ,i am not an hungered1 answered the lad1 but partake of the bread and milk to honor thy hospitality1 which he did1 and found both excellent4 ,thy very palatable bread1 he said1 is the same with that made at my home by ,thopt1 and is1 she saith1 the same that priests at ,memphis always preferred to eat4 ,even so1 replied the ancient1 and at ,memphis for many years1 indeed1 ,i did eat thereof1 and learned there the manner of the preparation of it4 ,and1 when the lad had finished his slight repast1 the old man said3 ,thou art a ,christian1 boy2 in what1 then1 dost thou believe8 ,tell me briefly1 what dost thou believe8 ,then the lad stood up as he had been accustomed to do at home3 the fine but peculiar head involuntarily erected itself upon his long and shapely neck1 and drooped a little forward1 a strange1 scintillant light gleamed in his sweet1 dark eyes2 his elevated and extended right hand waved gently from side to side like the baton of a music-master1 and his musical1 penetrating voice rang out clearly and incisively as he said3 ,i believe in ,god1 the ,father ,almighty1 and in ,jesus ,christ1 his only-begotten ,son1 our ,lord1 who was conceived of the ,holy ,ghost1 born of the ,virgin ,mary1 crucified under ,pontius ,pilate1 dead1 and buried2 the third day he rose from the dead1 and ascended into heaven1 and sitteth on the right hand of ,god the ,father ,almighty1 whence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead4 ,i believe in the ,holy ,ghost1 in the holy common ,church1 in the forgiveness of sin1 in the resurrection of the dead1 and in the life everlasting4 ,amen6 ,so thou believest6 said the ancient4 ,but why dost thou say 'only-begotten' son8 ,are not all men the sons of ,god1 even as the ,greek poet saith1 ',for we also are his offspring8' ,yea6 answered ,arius1 all men are his sons by creation1 and some of them by adoption--,jesus alone by generation2 he was 'begotten1' not made4 ,true6 true6 said the ancient2 so teach the gospels1 which ,i have here with me4 ,so thou believest6 ,when didst thou learn this faith1 thou whole ,egyptian2 and dost thou never doubt it8 ,i know not when ,i learned it1 answered ,arius2 ,i was learning it from my mother when ,i lay helplessly upon her breast2 ,i was learning it from my father when he dandled me upon his knees2 every day and hour of my life ,i have learned it more and more2 and then1 involuntarily rising upon his tiptoes1 like a python standing upon its tail1 with his head erect and bending slightly forward1 and sparkling eyes agleam1 he exclaimed1 and ,i was never such an idiot as to doubt it at all4 ,then1 as if modestly conscious of some impropriety in such demonstrative utterances in the presence of one so aged and venerable1 he sank lower upon his chair with an ingenuous blush4 ,o glorious certitude of youth and hope6 said the ancient1 mournfully4 ,o bold1 triumphant faith1 fitting its possessor for happy and jubilant exertion in the accomplishment of all life's aims and purposes6 ,thou wast 'never such an idiot as to doubt it6' ,but ,i1 that have seen nigh fourscore years of misery1 do doubt it much and painfully4 ,i that have mastered all the arts1 science1 and religion of ancient ,egypt--a land that was wrinkled with age centuries before the era of old ,moses2 ,i that know both all that the priests of ,kem ever taught the people1 and also the higher and more recondite forms of ignorance in which the priests themselves believed--,i verily know nothing6 ,i can scarcely believe in anything save universal spiritual darkness1 for which no day-spring cometh1 and universal wretchedness1 for which there is no cure4 ,o wretched man that ,i am1 who shall deliver me from this body of death8 ,the bloodless hands were clasped upon the ancient's aching breast1 the noble gray head was bowed with hopeless sorrow1 the weary eyes seemed dim with long and bitter anguish4 ,arius gazed upon him with astonishment and sympathy4 ,then the grand gifts of every born minister of ,christ1 the missionary's yearning to instruct1 the physician's longing for the power to heal and to strengthen1 moved in the boy's heart1 and once more he sprang to his feet1 and with extended hand that quivered with emotion like the python's tongue1 and tearful1 scintillant eyes1 and head bent forward from the long1 lithe neck1 and a strange thrill in his vibrant musical voice1 he cried3 ,who shall deliver thee8 ,surely ,jesus ,christ1 our ,lord6 ,he saveth even unto the uttermost all that come unto ,god by him4 ,believe and live6 ,so6 so6 said the ancient1 in tones of hopeless weariness4 ,believe and live6 ,believe and live6 ',he that believeth on me shall never die6 ,he that believeth on me1 though he were dead1 yet shall he live again4' ,o new1 strange faith1 hidden through all the dynasties like the ,nile's undiscoverable source1 yet ever hinted at in the few high1 arid1 half-intangible truths in which the priests of ,ra believed6 ,what if it be true8 ,what if the spiritual dualism of the first cause1 which the priests gradually elaborated into the splendid pageantry and elegant mysticism of ,hesiri-,hes1 and the offspring ,horus1 has at last become an actual truth by the incarnation of the spiritual ,son of the one ,god that is necessarily a spiritual hermaphrodite8 ,through the long centuries the priests secretly sneered at the polytheisms which they taught to the people1 and they did believe in one ,god that was utterly unknown to the masses of mankind1 for whom they had neither name nor symbol2 and they conceived him to be a dual entity1 containing in himself the fullness of double spiritual sexhood2 and they stood in awe of some grand revelation which they supposed would some time be made to mankind when this one1 almighty1 hermaphrodite spirit should 'beget' with one side of his spiritual nature and 'conceive' with the other1 and incarnate its son in flesh1 and save man by assuming human nature4 ,this they saw foreshadowed in ,hesiri-,hes2 this was the mystery which the priests perceived in every ,apis1 the emblem of one 'hidden' like the fountains of the ,nile2 for in the hieratic language ,hapi1 which is 'hidden1' signifies both the sacred river and the sacred bull2 for this they prepared the mummy that a body might be ready for the returning soul when 'the hidden' should be revealed2 this1 the sacred scarabaei dimly intimated1 and this was the secret mystery that lurked beneath the veil of ,hes that 'no mortal hand hath lifted4' ,some such glorious revelation must have flitted past ,greek ,plato's vision1 when he longed for a clearer statement of the will of ,god to men1 and prophesied the coming man4 ,this was the grand thought of ,moses1 the monotheist1 when in the same breath he denounced all forms of polytheism1 and yet designated the one ,god whom he worshiped by a name which is the plural number of a ,hebrew noun2 and1 as if he had forgotten the presence of ,arius altogether1 who sat listening to this strange monologue with silent wonder1 the ancient continued the unconscious utterance of his fervid meditations3 ,so hath it been throughout the world with every ancientest form of all original myths2 for while ,assyria and the ,medo-,persians and other comparatively modern nations1 and afterward the ,greeks and ,romans1 borrowed only the lower1 vulgar forms which the ,egyptians had fashioned for popular use1 in ,china ,chang and ,eng symbolized the original conception of one dual ,god that afterward degenerated into anthropomorphism2 and in ,india ,indra and ,agni1 a primitive conception that antedates ,brahma1 ,siva1 and ,vishnu1 by countless centuries1 and is the burden of the ancientest and uncorrupted ,rig-,veda1 bears unequivocal testimony to the same primitive conception2 and the ,buddhas taught that they were1 perhaps believed themselves to be1 earthly manifestations of the spiritual self-conception of one dual ,god3 for polytheism was never the original form of any primitive nation's faith1 and every people that began with paganism borrowed from some older nation in which the original faith had already been degraded4 ,strange6 most strange6 ,oh1 if it could be proved6 ,if it could only be proved that ,jesus of ,nazareth is1 in very truth1 the incarnation of that which was to be 'begotten' and 'conceived' of the one dual ,god1 and born of a woman into the world1 how grandly would the fact vindicate the primitive utterances of all human faith1 and translate its vague but splendid dreams into a glorious reality6 ,it must be true6 ,surely it must be true6 ,for among ,egyptians1 ,chinese1 ,indians1 and ,jews1 this original faith preceded all idolatries6 ,then1 buried in profoundest meditation1 the old man ceased to speak4 ,but after a time he roused himself1 and looking upon the astonished youth he said3 ,and thou believest all this6 thou hast 'never been such an idiot as to doubt it6' ,happy art thou1 boy1 if thou shalt preserve unfalteringly and unquestioningly thy serene and all-reliant faith4 ,but the lad's sturdy independence of thought asserted itself1 and he answered3 ,nay1 sir6 ,i have professed faith in none of the things of which thou speakest4 ,i believe in one ,god and in ,jesus ,christ1 his only-begotten ,son1 and in the ,holy ,ghost4 ,i believe not in ,hesiri-,hes1 nor in ,chang and ,eng1 nor in ,indra and ,agni1 nor in any gods which ,moses denounced as falsest idols4 ,nor in ,jupiter1 nor ,venus1 nor ,mars1 nor in any of the gods that came into fashion with the heathen long since ,moses died4 ,the ancient smiled approvingly1 and replied3 ,thou art altogether in the right1 my son4 ,many of the gods in which the nations believe were born long after the records kept by the ,egyptian priests began2 but all were born of the myths which ,egyptian1 ,chinese1 and ,indian priests wove about the grand1 primitive conception of one dual ,god4 ,the idolaters of other lands received in various forms the mythologies which the priests wove about the most ancient1 simple faith1 which was primarily the same for all1 only the children of ,abraham refused to add anything to the original conception1 clinging obstinately to the primitive monotheistic idea2 and yet ,moses designates the one ,god by his name of ,adonai1 the plural number of a ,hebrew noun2 and when the one ,god speaks of himself he uses the words 'we1' 'our1' and 'us'3 ,let us make man in our own image and likeness4 ,thou seest that it would be contrary to reason that the original utterance of every faith should be the affirmation of ,god that was one1 and yet more than one1 unless the divine being is spiritually hermaphrodite1 having a double spiritual sexhood4 ,thou seest that1 if this were not so1 ,moses could not have used the plural number to designate one ,god4 ,thou seest that1 if it were not so1 the only act possible to ,god would have been creation1 not generation2 and thy faith in 'the only-begotten ,son' must have been false2 and the very ancientest forms of faith would have been demonstrated to be merely impossible falsehood--impossible1 because there can not be a falsehood which does not originate in and grow out of a truth2 for falsehood is a perversion or misconception of the truth2 for falsehood is not that which hath no existence1 but is the wrong statement or conception of that which doth exist4 ,if it were not so1 my son1 thy faith in ,god the ,father1 ,son1 and ,holy ,ghost1 would be merest polytheism1 for three are not one1 nor is one three2 but the three may be one divine nature and family4 ,for the one ,god was always conceived of by the primary faiths as a dual being1 possessed of both elements of spiritual sexhood perfectly2 and 'begotten' is a proper thing to say of one side of the dual ,god1 and 'conceived' is a proper thing to say of the other2 and so thou mayst believe1 without any imputation of polytheism1 in ,christ1 as a being 'begotten1' not created2 'conceived1' not made4 ,would that ,i knew that ,jesus of ,nazareth is he6 ,this learning is entirely new to me1 said the lad4 ,perhaps it is higher than ,i am yet able to comprehend4 ,i believe in just precisely what the gospels say1 no more1 no less2 that ,jesus is the ,christ1 only-begotten ,son of ,god1 conceived of the ,holy ,ghost1 before there was a creation1 and born of the ,virgin into the world long after ,god by him had made all things that are created4 ,but1 with thy profound knowledge of all these mysteries1 how is it that thou thyself dost not believe8 ,who and what art thou1 thou ancient1 learned1 yet unhappy man1 whom may our ,lord soon bless and save8 ,i love thee1 boy1 but ,i am old1 and now too weary to talk more with thee4 ,wilt thou not come unto me again8 ,i desire to live in seclusion as ,i have done for years1 and beg of thee to speak of me to none2 but come again thyself whenever thou canst4 ,i will return upon the seventh day hence1 said ,arius1 and speak of thee to none except my father's family1 and thou wilt not be annoyed by them4 ,and so fare-thee-well1 sir1 and may the peace of ,god come upon thee6 ,amen6 said the ancient1 and farewell6 ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,,flotson ,,of ,,the ,,middle ,,sea4 ,in the evening of that day upon which ,arius encountered the strange old eremite upon the mountainside1 draggled skirts of clouds swept across the northern horizon1 and distant lightnings gleamed upon the waves4 ,during the night the storm came nearer and nearer1 and before sunrise the wind roared wildly over the ,baucalis farm1 and the troubled sea broke in foam and thunder for many a league along the coast4 ,all day the tempest raged1 but with nightfall the clouds broke away1 although the turbulent waves continued to roll and tumble on the coast1 and the angry waters gurgled through the narrow entrance into the little bay upon which ,baucalis fronted4 ,the dwellers at the farm watched the magnificent display from their open windows1 but saw no sign of any ship belabored by the storm1 and1 after their usual religious exercises1 retired to rest1 thankful that there seemed to be no wreck along their coasts4 ,during the night the sea ran down1 and when ,arius1 early in the beautiful morning1 went to the garden's edge beside the water1 there was only a gentle swell perceivable upon the bosom of the deep1 and a faint murmur of the waters crowding into and out of the narrow opening of the bay with a gurgling noise from which the farm derived its name4 ,the lad pursued his usual occupation1 until his attention was caught by a sound under the bank below him1 as if some one gently and regularly struck upon the rock2 and the boy then stepped forward1 and1 parting with his hands the fringe of shrub and weeds that grew upon the verge of the land1 he gazed down into the waters of the bay1 and at once discovered that the unusual sounds were made by the striking of the ends of some spars that composed a small raft against the rock1 with the rise and fall of every wave4 ,he also saw that two long spars or fragments of a ship's mast had been fastened across two others so as to form a small square between them1 and that a large bull's hide was securely stretched over this square1 leaving the four ends of the timbers extending beyond it4 ,he also saw the outline of a human form lying supinely upon the hide1 and of a smaller figure1 with its head resting upon the other1 both covered over with a bright-hued woolen quilt4 ,the lad called loudly to his father1 who was at work in an adjacent field1 but at a considerable distance from him1 and1 as soon as he had caught his attention1 ,arius sprang down the bank to ascertain whether the persons so quietly lying upon the raft were still alive4 ,the ends of the timbers projected far beyond the hide upon which they lay1 and the boy found himself in deep water almost at his first step from the shore2 but he had been accustomed to daily baths in the bay from childhood1 and without fear or hesitation he boldly dashed in between the projecting timbers toward the hide on which the bodies lay4 ,the noise he made in calling ,ammonius1 and in dashing through the water1 roused up one of the sleepers on the raft1 and she slightly raised her head1 and with her hand threw back the woolen covering1 and ,arius saw the swarthy face of a young ,egyptian girl of twelve turned upon him with wide-open1 wondering eyes4 ,the other form was that of a woman1 but she neither spoke nor moved1 and ,arius thought she must be dead4 ,but the girl did speak1 and the boy thought she used the ,egyptian tongue1 although he could not understand her words4 ,then he said1 ,maiden1 canst thou speak in ,greek4 ,a swift gleam of intelligence broke over the child's wan face1 and she joyfully answered3 ,yea6 for in ,alexandria ,greek is the common speech of all1 whether they be ,romans1 ,egyptians1 or ,jews6 ,art thou wet8 ,yea1 she said1 soaked in salt water for ,i know not how long2 but ,i have slept soundly1 and mamma has not even yet waked up4 ,if thou art so thoroughly wet already1 a little more water will not hurt thee2 so put thine arms about my neck1 hold fast1 and ,i will carry thee to land4 ,but mother6 she cried2 and then becoming frightened that she did not awake1 she kissed her passionately1 saying3 ,mamma6 mother6 wake up6 ,we have drifted to the shore6 ,then the poor lady murmured words that neither of them could comprehend1 but she made no attempt to move1 and seemed to be talking unconsciously4 ,then ,arius took the girl's hand in his1 saying gently3 ,my father will soon be here1 and together we can take thy mother from the raft4 ,come thou with me4 ,then the girl raised herself up into a sitting posture1 and ,arius1 holding to the spar with one hand1 with the other drew her down into the sea beside him1 saying3 ,now put up thine arms and hold on tightly2 it is but a few feet to the shore4 ,and the girl said1 ,i can swim as well as thou1 but ,i am weary and cold and hungry1 and will put one hand on thy shoulder4 ,and when she had done so the boy went hand over hand along the spar1 and drew himself and her rapidly shoreward1 until his feet rested firmly upon the bottom1 and then he caught the child up in his arms and lifted her up to the dry ground4 ,by this time1 ,ammonius1 coming with all speed1 had reached the bank above them1 and at one swift1 intelligent glance comprehended the scene in all its pitiful details2 then he sprang down the bank beside them1 and said unto ,arius1 ,doth the woman yet live8 ,yea1 father1 she was talking even now2 but ,i scarcely think she knew what things she said4 ,run thou unto the house swiftly1 tell thy mother1 and bring hither a saw4 ,and the boy sprang up the bank instantly and ran homeward4 ,then ,ammonius spoke kindly to the girl1 saying1 ,how farest thou1 little maiden8 ,and the child said3 ,i am well enough1 but wet and hungry4 ,but mamma is ill4 ,please bring her to the land4 ,yea1 maiden2 soon will my son return with a saw1 wherewith ,i can saw off two of the timbers where they cross the other two1 and so draw the raft up close to the land1 and then lift thy mother gently and safely to the shore4 ,dost thou understand me1 child8 ,yea1 she answered1 and ,i see that it is best to wait4 ,but ,i want my mother2 she is sick indeed4 ,very soon the agile youth returned1 bringing the saw with him1 and ,ammonius immediately swam out to the bull's hide1 and sawed away two of the timbers at the intersection thereof1 and quickly drew the raft close up against the shore1 and took up the quilt and cast it to ,arius1 telling him to spread it out upon the ground1 and in his strong arms lifted up the unconscious woman and bore her up the bank and gently laid her upon the quilt4 ,soon ,arete and old ,thopt joined them2 and ,arius and his mother took each an end of the quilt upon which the woman lay1 and ,ammonius gathered up the other two ends1 and they bore her gently but swiftly to the cottage2 and old ,thopt took the girl's hand in hers and followed them as quickly as her growing infirmities permitted4 ,arete and old ,thopt stripped the poor lady of her elegant apparel that was soaked through with sea-water1 and rubbed her vigorously with woolen cloths1 clothed her with warm woolen gowns out of ,arete's wardrobe1 and gave her hot tea made of such shrubs as were known to their simple domestic pharmacy4 ,the sufferer manifestly got much relief from this treatment1 but it was only too apparent that the terrible exposure to which she had been subjected had taken hold upon the very roots of life in her beautiful but delicate frame4 ,her unconscious murmurs were uttered in the ,egyptian tongue1 and1 no sooner had old ,thopt heard it1 than a strange excitement seized her1 and she answered the lady in the same strange speech1 crooning over her like a mother over a sick child1 or more like some affectionate animal licking its wounded young2 for the ,egyptian speech evidently shows the syllabication into articulate sounds of thoughts that were primarily expressed in signs and grimaces--the translation of brute means of communication into words2 and its original rudimentary form is as direct and unveiled in the expression of passion and emotion as the actions of an animal could be4 ,the maiden1 ,theckla1 having been well rubbed1 well clad in dry garments1 and well fed with hot soup and viands1 seemed almost free from any ill effects of her long exposure upon the raft2 and1 being assured that her mother was tenderly cared for1 rapidly recovered her strength and spirits4 ,the famous medical school at ,cyrene educated many men in all the learning of a profession which was then in its infancy1 and so thoroughly infested with charlatanism that even the most eminent professors of the art of healing commanded but small respect among intelligent people2 and the ,christians especially had no faith in their pretended ability to cure disease4 ,in ordinary cases they trusted to careful nursing1 and the curative power of nature in people whose freedom from vice and whose simple1 healthful manner of life gave the patient every chance of recovery1 without the use of incantations1 charms1 and poisons1 which then constituted the chief resources of professional pharmacy2 and in desperate cases they anointed the stricken one with oil1 obtained the prayers of the ,church in his behalf1 and calmly awaited the issue2 having neither any inordinate love of life nor any distressful fear of death1 and looking upon even a fatal issue of the illness as a change that was often better than recovery--a happy release from the cares and uncertainties of earthly life1 that was neither to be too rashly sought for nor too anxiously avoided4 ,hence the women at the farm themselves assumed the care of their interesting patient1 and gave her constant and affectionate attention1 but no drugs except such simple remedies as were in common family use1 of all of which old ,thopt had a very thorough knowledge4 ,the old woman believed that sound and refreshing sleep is the secret of health and longevity1 and that no one would die so long as this blessing was obtainable2 and hence1 in her opinion1 the poppy was a panacea4 ,the bark of certain species of the willow she knew to be good against malarial fevers1 and this was her favorite remedy in every disease which manifested a remittent or intermittent form4 ,she had no hesitation in declaring that the lady would be ill a long time1 and that whether she would live or die must depend upon the vital forces she had to draw upon2 for old ,thopt had always remained at least a semi-pagan1 and1 if there was any ,christianity in her1 it was inextricably tangled up with the remnants of the old religion which she had learned in her home upon the ,nile4 ,she loved her mistress passionately and devotedly1 just as a faithful dog might have loved1 and she refused to accept the freedom offered to her by ,arete when1 under the influence and instructions of ,ammonius1 that lady had become a ,christian2 because one of the fixed and immovable articles of her ancient creed was that many ,egyptians were created to be slaves1 and that she was one of them2 so that it would have been a measureless impiety for her to set up herself to be free4 ,if she had any hatred of the new religion1 it grew out of the fact that that faith undertook to abolish the relation of mistress and slave between ,arete and herself4 ,she had not undressed and washed her patient without immediately perceiving that she was one of that aristocratic class who had come into the world to enjoy all of its advantages1 and to be waited upon by slaves1 as was demonstrated to old ,thopt's satisfaction by the fineness of her kilt1 girdle1 and gown1 and by the delicate pink-color of her flesh beneath it2 and the old woman would as soon have thought of organizing a rebellion against ,anubis1 the jackal-headed god himself1 as to have thought of withholding proper reverence and care from the superior being who had been cast upon her guardianship4 ,so that the ,christian charity of ,arete and the inborn sense of duty and obligation which generations of inherited servitude had made second nature in old ,thopt combined to secure faithful and untiring care in behalf of the sick woman1 and one or the other of them was in attendance upon her day and night4 ,but as ,ammonius had carried her from the raft to the land1 and on the way up to the house1 he had heard her utter unconsciously1 in the ,egyptian language1 disjointed sentences which caused him much anxiety2 and1 as soon as her immediate wants had been attended to1 he charged the family that they were not in any way to apprise the lady that she had fallen into the hands of ,christians until such time as he might deem it proper to instruct them otherwise2 but that they should be as diligent in their care of her as if she had been the sister of them all4 ,before the close of the first day's watching beside her patient1 ,arete found ample reason1 in the lady's feverish revelations1 for the injunctions which her husband had given concerning her4 ,she talked almost incessantly3 now of her home in ,alexandria2 now of the rulers of ,egypt2 now of her husband ,amosis1 and of her daughter2 now of some special mission which ,amosis had undertaken at ,rome2 now of the fearful tempest2 now of a desperate struggle upon the raft between her husband and some one else1 in which both had fallen into the sea together4 ,the substance of this disjointed and feverish babbling left no doubt upon ,arete's mind that the lady's husband was in the service of the rulers of ,egypt1 and high in the confidence of both the priests and of the government2 nor that he was a bitter adversary of the ,christians2 nor that1 when overtaken by the tempest1 he was on his journey to ,rome1 to obtain from the ,emperor larger authority to persecute the ,christians1 even to extermination1 in ,egypt and throughout ,northern ,libya4 ,she gathered also that when the officer and his wife and child had betaken themselves to the raft as their last hope of safety1 some one1 seeing that all order and discipline were lost1 inflamed by a guilty passion for the beautiful woman1 had leaped upon the raft with them as it was leaving the vessel's side1 and that a desperate struggle had occurred between the husband and the intruder1 in which both had fallen into the sea2 and that the lady herself regarded the very name of ,christians with detestation and horror1 and fully sympathized with her husband's purpose to persecute them2 and she had expected him to reap great and rapid advancement from his zeal against the churches4 ,and1 although not unconscious of the element of danger lurking in their intercourse with such a conscientious hater of ,christianity1 ,arete felt even larger compassion for her beautiful patient's pagan darkness than for her physical illness2 but she fully realized the propriety of her husband's caution upon the subject4 ,and so the weary days went by1 and on the sixth morning the fever broke1 and left the poor lady with restored consciousness1 but physically as weak and helpless as an infant4 ,during these days1 ,arius and ,theckla had become fast friends4 ,she was a beautiful child1 but an ,egyptian of the aristocratic class4 ,her hair1 which was as black as jet1 curled profusely all around and over her shapely head in luxuriant masses4 ,her forehead was low and broad1 the face a perfect oval from the full temples to the point of the plump1 delicate1 projecting chin1 while the small1 full-lipped mouth was red as a cherry1 the upper lip notably short and voluptuous4 ,the black1 arched1 delicate eyebrows nearly met at the root of the high1 straight1 delicately chiseled nose1 and the large1 dark eyes1 soft1 black1 and fathomless1 free alike from fire and languishment1 were of a kind found nowhere on earth except along the ,nile--full1 wide-open eyes that seemed calm and untroubled as the sightless orbs of any sphinx1 yet full of mystery as is the old1 old land of ,kem4 ,arius soon discovered that the girl was remarkably bright and quick1 but that she could neither read nor write1 all the instruction she had ever received 7and she had been very carefully taught7 having been communicated by oral teaching4 ,her native tongue was1 of course1 that of ,egypt1 but she spoke ,greek with fluency1 and ,latin also1 but with difficulty and hesitation4 ,on the evening of the day on which she had been rescued from the waves1 the boy and girl were playing and chatting together in the shade before the cottage4 ,the sun was just sinking beyond the distant mountain-range1 when the girl said1 ,do you go at sunrise or at sunset8 ,go whither8 said ,arius4 ,why1 to worship ,mentu1 or ,atmu1 of course6 ,do you not worship8 ,worship whom8 asked ,arius4 ,oh1 she answered1 old ,ea1 or ,ptah1 or ,hesiri-,hes1 or the other gods1 any of them you prefer8 ,i do not worship any of them1 said ,arius4 ,perhaps1 then1 said ,theckla1 thou art an atheist1 and hatest all of the gods2 and that is very wrong4 ,for papa says that the atheists are little better than the ,christians themselves1 and that it is owing to their evil influence that so many young people in ,alexandria are growing up to believe in nothing4 ,but1 blessed be the gods1 ,i have been brought up in religion6 ,and which of the gods dost thou love and worship most8 ,i love none of them surely1 but ,i fear and worship ,ptah1 ,ra1 and ,hesiri-,hes1 the cross old things2 because mamma says that they are the most respectable2 and ,i fear them much1 especially the terrible1 implacable1 pitiless ,ma-t4 ,but do you not think1 said ,arius1 that you would rather worship some loving1 compassionate1 and holy deity1 whom you could love1 and obey because you loved him8 ,oh1 that would be funny1 would it not8--for a girl to fall in love with a god6 ,i never thought of such a thing before1 but ,i believe1 she added1 with an arch glance at ,arius1 that ,i would like a really nice handsome boy better than any of the plebeian gods6 ,what dost thou mean1 ,theckla1 by saying 'the plebeian gods'8 ,oh1 ,i mean the new-fangled deities that have come into fashion during the last two or three thousand years--the cheap1 low-priced divinities worshiped by the slaves and by the mechanics1 like ,sebek1 the crocodile-headed1 and all that contemptible crowd4 ,mamma says that we--that is1 the nobility1 you know--ought not to pay any attention to any of them except the dreadful old gods1 like ,ra1 ,ptah1 ,hesiri-,hes1 and the other ancient divinities2 because our own family is older and more honorable than any of them except the high1 dreadful old fellows that have lived forever4 ,still1 boy1 thou hadst better worship even the wretched ,sebek than to be an atheist or a ,christian2 for papa says so4 ,then the boy's heart yearned to tell the beautiful pagan of the ,god in whom he believed1 but1 remembering his father's caution on that subject1 he chose rather to avoid further conversation of the kind1 and started off toward the bay to take his evening bath4 ,whither goest thou8 asked the little maiden4 ,i am going to the bay to take a bath1 as ,i do daily4 ,that will be fine sport1 she cried1 and ,i am going with you6 ,and ,theckla sprang to her feet1 and ran along beside him4 ,the boy reached the water's edge1 and1 casting aside the loose gown habitually worn about the farm1 he plunged into the bay and struck out from the shore1 the play of his limbs being almost unimpeded by the close-fitting under-garment reaching from the neck to midway of the thigh2 and instantly the young girl1 whom old ,thopt had arrayed in the short1 sleeveless kilt and long gown which the women usually wore1 threw off her outside gown and plunged in after him1 exclaiming3 ,oh1 it is nicer than ,lake ,mareotis6 ,but ,i have swum with papa from the great ,pharos to the ,kibotos in the little harbor of ,eunostos6 and she swam after the boy as gracefully as a mermaid4 ,soon she caught up with him1 and1 having placed her little hands upon his head1 she suddenly straightened out her arms with all her strength1 and raising herself up with a lithe and joyous spring above him1 with all her weight she plunged his head down far beneath the surface1 and swam laughingly away4 ,the boy came up instantly and pursued the fleeing maiden1 and as soon as he could catch up with her1 which was no easy task1 he said1 ,thou shalt go under too1 ,theckla6 but she was so excellent a swimmer1 and so quick and active1 that for a long time she baffled all his efforts to get her head beneath the waves4 ,she laughed and struggled1 and defied him1 and exulted greatly that he was not able to give her such a ducking as she had given him1 until1 at last1 he wound his long arms around her1 pinioning both of hers1 and1 clasping her to his bosom1 stood straight up1 and they sank together until his feet touched the bottom1 from which he sprang upward to the surface4 ,then the lad kissed her and released her1 saying1 ,wilt thou dip me again1 ,theckla1 or hast thou had enough of it8 ,but the girl clasped her hands above her head1 threw herself suddenly downward1 and for a moment her little feet flashed above the water as she dived1 and instantly afterward she clasped the boy's legs in her arms and pulled him again beneath the surface1 and rose above the waves before he had recovered himself4 ,and so they sported in the calm waters of the bay until the twilight began to thicken over the valley1 when they started for the shore1 and the girl swam beside him as lightly as a gull1 and1 having thrown their long gowns around them1 hand in hand they walked back to the cottage4 ,theckla's first inquiry was of her mother1 and1 finding that she continued ill1 she obstinately refused to leave her after it grew dark1 even for a moment1 but stretched herself out upon the couch beside her and slept until morning4 ,so it was every evening4 ,during the day-time ,arius was her favorite companion1 but she seemed to have an unconquerable aversion to darkness1 and would not leave her mother's side while it continued4 ,ammonius told them to let her have her own way1 as terror of the dark hours was part of the old religion in which she had been raised4 ,,chapter ,,vii4 ,,theckla ,,finds ,,one ,,god ,,and ,,heareth ,,of ,,another4 ,so passed the days away1 and ,arius and ,theckla became as firmly bound to each other as if they had been raised together all their little lives4 ,on the second day after her coming1 ,arius had resumed his usual tasks in the garden and in the fields2 and when he came home at noontide she seemed rejoiced to see him1 and demanded with playful imperiousness1 ,where hast thou been all the morning1 ,arius8 ,i have been at work in the garden1 replied the boy4 ,at work6 she exclaimed2 digging with thy hands8 ,why1 thou art not a slave6 ,and the boy answered1 laughing merrily3 ,nay1 ,i call no man master2 ,i am as free as any ,caesar6 ,why1 then1 dost thou work8 ,verily1 ,i thought that none but slaves and mechanics ever labor4 ,but thou dost greatly err4 ,it is true that some ,greeks1 ,romans1 and ,jews1 suppose that none ought to labor except those whom they call 'vile'2 or rather they call all who labor 'vile1' but ,i do not accept their monstrous definitions1 having been thoroughly taught that the only man who is free is he who lives by his labor without dependence upon relatives1 or upon the offices which are distributed by the favoritism of the dissolute and wicked creatures whom they call emperors1 ,caesars1 proconsuls1 and such titles2 and ,i am free-born1 and will maintain my liberty4 ,why1 then1 dost thou toil8 ,because we need to toil in order to live comfortably and independently1 as we are not rich1 and do not desire to be so2 but ,i never will be any man's servant4 ,and1 also1 because it is noble and right to toil in some way1 and every one who is not idiotic1 deformed1 or afflicted1 is unfit to live unless he follows some honorable and useful vocation4 ,thou art the very nicest boy ,i know1 she said1 but it seemeth so strange to me that thou shouldst labor with thy hands1 and shouldst talk as if thou didst believe that it is good and not degrading to do so4 ,i never heard such things4 ,but ,i will go with thee this afternoon and see what thou doest4 ,thou mayst do so1 said ,arius1 and thou mayst help me with my work if thou wilt4 ,but the little maiden held up her hands that looked like delicate wax-work1 and laughingly cried out1 ,even with these hands8 ,yea1 said the boy1 merrily1 even with those1 tender and pretty as they are4 ,so after the midday meal1 when ,arius went back to the patch of onions at which he was at work1 ,theckla accompanied him1 and stood awhile watching him as he dug up the tubers4 ,what is to be done with these8 she asked4 ,they are to be gathered up into little heaps1 and carried hence to the house1 and stored away until wanted4 ,why1 ,i can pile them up for you1 she cried1 and straightway she began to gather the onions up as fast as the boy dug them1 saying3 ,i wonder what mamma would think if she knew ,i was learning to work8 ,but it is good1 and ,i will help thee every day4 ,thou shalt not weary thyself1 said the boy1 and thou shalt quit as soon as thou dost desire to do so4 ,but she would not stop1 and continued at the task for several hours1 until it was completed1 seeming to be delighted with her newly discovered ability to be of use4 ,what other work hast thou to do8 ,nothing else1 ,theckla1 except to take some salt to the cattle in the pasture1 beyond the field1 and thou mayst go into the house4 ,i will not be long absent4 ,but ,i will not go to the house1 ,arius2 ,i will go with thee1 and see the large-eyed beasts4 ,come on1 then1 said the boy1 and1 taking up the bag of salt which he had brought from the barn1 he led the way along the shore of the little bay until they had passed beyond the field1 where they came upon the edge of the pasture-land1 and there ,arius scattered the salt along a great trough of wood1 to which some of the cattle had hurried up as soon as they saw the boy1 and others came one after another1 until more than a score were contentedly licking up the salt2 and among them a fine bull-calf that was peculiarly marked4 ,the kindly-treated herd were tame and fearless1 and1 as soon as young ,theckla saw the bull1 she gazed at him with the most intense interest1 and ran up to the animal1 crying out1 excitedly3 ,lo1 the god6 the god6 the beautiful young ,apis6 ,what dost thou mean now8 said ,arius4 ,why1 boy1 she answered1 joyously1 thou art the most fortunate boy that ever lived4 ,seest thou not the god--the sacred bull--the beautiful young ,apis8 ,seest thou not the black-colored hide2 the triangular white spot upon his forehead2 the hairs on his back roughened out into the form of an eagle2 the crescent white spot upon his right side8 ,oh1 if he hath a knot under his tongue in the shape of a scarabaeus1 the sacred beetle of ,ptah1 he hath then all the marks that reveal the bull to be a god6 ,wilt thou not look under his tongue and see8 ,the boy gazed upon her with mingled pity1 amusement1 and contempt4 ,he had read and heard of the worship of idols and of beasts1 but had never before witnessed an actual exhibition of such idolatry4 ,why1 ,theckla1 he answered1 the bull is no more a god than thou art a cow4 ,i am amazed that so sensible a girl should be capable of such folly as to think this beast a god4 ,but he is an ,apis1 ,arius1 and the priests of the temple at ,memphis would give thee his weight in gold for him4 ,they would come hither in a royal procession to carry him hence2 they would keep him for forty days at ,nilopolis1 and for forty days at ,memphis1 and the noblest of the women in the city would go in naked and worship him2 and he would be fed like a great king as long as he lives1 and when he dies he would become an ,osor-hapi1 a great god1 and would secure thy soul4 ,surely the priests must know that he is a great god1 or they would not build such grand temples in honor of ,apis1 and worship him with such magnificent and costly ceremonies and processions4 ,i verily fear that thou art an atheist1 ,arius1 but ,i have been raised up to be religious1 and ,i know4 ,theckla1 answered the boy1 ,i can take a goad in my hand and drive this sort of a god whithersoever ,i will2 ,i can catch his tail in my hands and twist it until he shall bellow with pain4 ,if thou wilt hold out to him an ear of corn in thine hand1 he will follow thee about like a dog2 and thou callest the beast a god6 ,theckla1 ,i am verily ashamed of thy foolishness4 ,but the young girl looked gravely at her companion1 and said in tones of solemn warning and reproof3 ,arius1 thou dost not believe in ,ea1 ,ptah1 ,shu1 ,seb1 ,set1 ,mentu1 ,atmu1 nor in ,hesiri-,hes2 and thou dost laugh at the sacred ,hathors1 and thou dost mock the bull-god ,apis6--,boy1 dost thou believe in anything8 ,or art thou an atheist8 ,yea1 cried ,arius1 laughing1 ,i believe thou art the brightest and the prettiest little pagan in the world2 and some time ,i shall explain to thee what ,i believe1 and convince thee of the folly of thy polytheistic and idolatrous notions4 ,but not now1 for thy god and the other beasts with him have salt enough1 and we must return home4 ,they went back along the bay-shore1 and the sun was nigh the tops of the distant mountains2 and ,arius1 walking a little in advance of ,theckla1 heard a sudden plunge into the water1 and looking back he saw the little maiden swimming boldly out into the bay1 and immediately he plunged in after her4 ,they swam1 dived1 raced1 scuffled1 and sported in the pure and healthful element until twilight began to gather over the lowlands1 and then1 hand in hand1 they wandered back to the cottage1 ,theckla going immediately to her mother's apartment1 whose side she would not leave so long as the night lasted--a horror of darkness being incident to the ,egyptian religion1 derived1 perhaps1 from the grand midnight ceremonies of the ,memphian priests in which annually with torches and processions1 and weird and impressive wailings1 they celebrated the world-wide search of ,isis for the dismembered body of the consort whose mangled limbs the hatred of the evil ,seth had scattered about the earth4 ,theckla wanted to tell her mother about the wonderful young ,apis1 but old ,thopt peremptorily enjoined silence upon her1 and forbade the sick lady to talk in her present excessively debilitated condition4 ,for it was manifest that her recovery was exceedingly doubtful1 and that even the slightest excitement or effort might be fatal to her4 ,she lay quietly enough1 and while she recognized ,theckla1 and seemed to understand the few ,egyptian words spoken to her by ,arete and old ,thopt1 which were carefully limited to repeating to her that she had been very ill1 and must remain entirely quiet1 and neither talk nor even think1 she seemed almost to have forgotten the shipwreck and the loss of her husband2 and the two women who watched her devotedly even doubted whether she knew that she was away from home4 ,they looked forward with great anxiety to the time when she might grow strong enough to shake off this healthful lassitude of extreme exhaustion1 and realize her unhappy circumstances4 ,but the recent past seemed to have been blotted out of her memory1 and she lay quiet and uncomplaining1 apparently content with her surroundings2 and the anxious nurses carefully avoided everything that could even by chance arouse her drowsy intelligence1 and renew the consciousness of grief that seemed to slumber in her brain4 ,the ,sabbath-day came round again1 and1 with the rising of the sun1 young ,theckla bounded out of her mother's room1 calling aloud for ,arius4 ,it was usual on the ,sabbath for the family at ,baucalis to go to some house of a ,christian in the vicinity1 where would be gathered together a small assemblage of the faithful for religious services1 or to have the neighbors assemble at the farm for the same purpose4 ,on this day1 however1 ,arete and old ,thopt would be necessarily detained at home by the illness of the ,egyptian ,hatasa2 and ,ammonius1 who still thought it prudent1 both upon her account and upon his own1 not to inform her that she was enjoying the hospitality of a family belonging to the hated sect that was everywhere spoken against1 and that was persecuted throughout ,libya even more bitterly than elsewhere in the ,roman ,empire1 ordered that ,arius should take charge of ,theckla for the day1 and determined himself to go to the assembly1 in order to consult certain of the brethren about his future course in reference to his involuntary guests4 ,arius then informed his father about the singular recluse he had met with upon the mountain on the preceding ,sabbath1 of his promise to visit him upon that day1 and asked his permission to go1 saying that he would take ,theckla with him if his father had no objection to suggest1 and would invite the singular and learned old man to visit them4 ,to this ,ammonius readily gave his consent1 and ,arius thereupon told ,theckla of the facts1 and invited her to accompany him1 to which she enthusiastically assented4 ,the farm vineyard produced a wine almost identical with the famous ,mareotic1 which was praised from the mouth of the ,nile to ,athens and to ,rome4 ,it also produced figs1 pomegranates1 apricots1 peaches1 oranges1 citrons1 lemons1 limes1 and bananas1 which the ,christians commonly called the fruits of paradise1 because in that latitude they were in season the whole year through4 ,it also produced various melons1 among them a delicious watermelon1 yellow on the inside1 lotus1 and olives4 ,in their garden1 also1 grew the rose1 the jasmine1 the lily1 the oleander1 chrysanthemums1 geraniums1 dahlias1 helianthus1 and violets1 and they could raise almost every vegetable known to both tropical and temperate zones4 ,arius procured a basket1 and enlisted the services of old ,thopt by telling her that he was about to visit an ancient ,egyptian hermit who dwelt alone upon the mountain1 and desired to take him a lot of good things to comfort his loneliness2 and that kind-hearted creature soon had a few bottles of excellent wine1 some bread-loaves of finest flour1 and quite an assortment of choice fruits1 both preserved and fresh1 packed into the basket1 the whole crowned with a beautiful bouquet plucked by ,theckla's dainty fingers4 ,arius1 bearing his basket1 and followed by the agile girl1 pursued his way along the little bay until he had passed by it westwardly1 and then began the long but gradual ascent of the mountain1 upon a small plateau of which dwelt the aged eremite4 ,in less than two hours they had reached the plateau in front of the hermitage1 and soon beheld the ancient seated near his own door1 his weary eyes gazing far away over the brilliant expanse of the ,mediterranean4 ,the approach of the two young people caught his attention1 and with a genial smile the old man welcomed them4 ,taking the girl's hand in his own1 he murmured3 ,she is a bright and lovely child1 and a true daughter of ,kem 7the ,black-land74 ,he spoke in the ,egyptian language1 which he knew ,arius did not understand1 but the girl answered in the same tongue3 ,yea1 father1 ,i am from ,to-mehit 7the ,north-land71 and was born in ,alexandria4 ,then the ancient said with surprise3 ,how is it that thou speakest ,egyptian1 when thy brother knoweth no word of the strange old language8 ,or is he thy brother8 ,this he said in ,greek1 and ,arius answered1 ,nay1 she is not my sister1 but is a guest in my father's house4 ,then he succinctly narrated the story of the rescue of ,theckla and her mother from the raft4 ,the old man listened with much interest to the boy's graphic recital2 and then1 turning to ,theckla1 he said3 ,child1 art thou1 too1 a ,christian like thy friend ,arius2 or art thou still in bondage to the false and fearful gods of ,kem8 ,then the girl showed in her speaking face her loathing and abhorrence for the very name of ,christ1 and turning hastily to ,arius she cried3 ,art thou1 then1 a ,christian8 ,belongest thou to that accursed and criminal association8 ,oh1 say it is not so1 or ,i will never1 never love thee any more6 ,but the boy drew himself up proudly and answered3 ,yea1 ,theckla1 ,i am a ,christian1 thank the boundless mercy of ,god6 ,and1 when thou shalt have learned what it is to be a ,christian1 ,i trust that thou wilt follow ,jesus thyself1 and love me and all other ,christians more and more4 ,for verily we are not such a people as thou hast been taught to believe us to be1 any more than our bull is a god1 as thou didst suppose4 ,i do not very much believe in ,apis1 she said1 but the common people do4 ,ah6 ,arius1 ,i am so sorry to hear this thing of thee6 ,why1 if my mother had known that ye were ,christians1 she would sooner have died upon the raft than have gone into thy father's house1 or to have suffered any one of you to touch her with your hands4 ,oh1 ,i am so vexed to find that thou art connected with such a people6 ,then said ,arius3 ,thy mother is well cared for2 and thou must let her know nothing until she hath become stronger2 thou wouldst only distress her by informing her of the fact of our being ,christians1 and it could do no good to tell her4 ,then the girl drew nigh to him with tearful eyes1 and crossed her little hands upon his shoulder1 and leaned her head against them1 and1 looking up into his eyes with sorrow and tenderness1 said3 ,ye have been so good and kind to both of us1 that ,i can not help loving all the people at thy home1 and ,i do love thee1 although thou art a ,christian2 but it is a terrible thing2 for papa says that to be a ,christian is worse than to be an atheist4 ,these things all occurred in a moment1 and the ancient1 seeing that it had not been the purpose of ,arius to inform the maiden concerning his religion1 and that he himself had unwittingly brought about the disclosure of the fact1 said unto them3 ,come within and be seated1 my children2 ,i desire to talk to both of you4 ,and1 when they had gone within1 ,arius set his basket upon the old man's table1 saying3 ,i have brought unto thee wine1 bread1 and fruits1 as a token of my reverence for thine age and learning4 ,i desire to be friendly with thee4 ,the old man seemed to be much touched by the boy's speech and manner1 and gently answered3 ,i thank thee1 truly1 and far more for thy kind words than for any gifts4 ,not often do the ancient enjoy the friendship of the young1 although nothing else on earth can be more pleasant unto them4 ,but the heart of a ,christian needeth renewal1 said ,arius1 if it be not always both young enough to sympathize with the youngest1 and old enough to sympathize with even the very oldest4 ,the very core of our religion is the ,agape1 a love which is not measured by age nor accident1 but goeth out freely to every one that needeth it4 ,the old man looked upon the boy with wonder1 saying3 ,that is beautiful1 indeed2 there is no such truth in any other religion4 ,and the girl said1 ,that is good and strong1 ,arius1 although it be a ,christian dogma4 ,then the ancient said3 ,i desire that ye will listen to me carefully for a moment1 and thou especially1 ,theckla4 ,children1 ,i am nigh upon fourscore years of age4 ,my name is ,am-nem-hat4 ,in mine infancy ,i was placed in the great temple at ,thebes1 and dedicated to the service of ,amen-,ba1 ,mut1 and ,kuhns1 the ,theban triad4 ,my family was ancient and honorable in ,egypt1 and their influence and wealth opened the way for me to all priestly honors and learning4 ,i remained in that temple fifty years1 during twenty-five of which ,i was a priest1 and ,i gradually mastered all the wisdom1 learning1 and mysteries of the priesthood1 until my fellows determined that ,i should be elevated to the highest rank in the sacerdotal service1 and ,i was ordained and inaugurated to be high-priest at ,ombos1 where ,i continued for five-and-twenty years longer4 ,the triad which throughout all ,egypt is worshiped as ,hesiri-,hes1 and ,horus1 we at ,thebes worshiped as ,amen-,ra1 ,mut1 and ,kuhns1 and at ,ombos as ,ptah-,pukht and ,imhotep4 ,but1 while during all these years ,i exercised the functions and exhausted the learning of the priesthood1 ,i forever sought after ,ma-t1 the ,goddess of ,truth1 she that in her own hall1 in the lower world1 is called ,two ,truths1 by whom the dead are judged4--,dost thou know something of the fearful ,ma-t1 young ,theckla8 ,yea1 answered the girl1 with a perceptible shudder1 ,i know her well1 and tremble at the dreadful thought of her6 ,so wise6 so hard and pitiless6 so tearless1 and yet so just6 ,the terrible ,ma-t1 without mercy1 incapable of love1 unmoved by hate1 implacable1 emotionless1 the fearful judge1 the ,truth6 ,then listen to me1 child6 ,i worshiped through all these lonely years as a faithful1 conscientious priest1 and memorized the book of the dead1 and studied the mysteries of medicine1 of astronomy1 and of mathematics1 and sought unceasingly to know the awful ,ma-t6 ,dost thou think that ,i am one who ought to know whether any of the gods of ,kem are true or false8 ,then ,theckla fell upon her knees before the ancient priest1 and lifting her little hands to him she cried3 ,yea1 father1 thou knowest6 ,ancient1 honorable1 learned priest1 thou knowest6 ,teach thou ,arius to believe in the three great gods1 to seek the awful ,ma-t1 and to abandon the pernicious ,christian faith1 for thou art wise6 thou knowest all the truth6 ,listen then1 ,theckla4 ,five years ago1 driven by the quenchless curiosity of an unsatisfied but earnest soul1 ,i caused to be brought before me one who preached to men of ,jesus ,christ of ,nazareth1 because ,i had heard that these ,christians were irreclaimable from the errors of their superstition1 and ,i desired to test the question whether they could be persuaded to return unto the old religion4 ,i kept him with me many days1 while we discussed these things1 and then sent him from me unconvinced4 ,and afterward ,i fled from the temple secretly1 in an open boat1 in which ,i had placed my most valuable possessions1 and floated down the ,nile4 ,thence ,i wandered along the coast to ,alexandria1 where1 for a great sum1 secretly ,i purchased all the sacred writings of the ,jews and ,christians1 and1 after many days more of wandering along the coast1 ,i found this spot and have since then dwelt here alone1 still seeking for the truth4 ,for--art thou listening to me1 ,theckla8--a horror of great darkness had fallen upon my soul4 ,i know that ,amen-,ra1 ,mut1 and ,kuhns1 are not true gods6 ,apis is nothing but a bull2 ,anubis is only a jackal2 ,sebek is a crocodile and nothing more2 and even the most ancient gods1 if there be any truth in them at all1 are only the visible emblems of some higher truth which the very priests have forgotten1 if1 indeed1 they ever knew it4 ,i have hoped and half expected to find that this unknown truth1 this 'hidden' thing which is not ,hapi1 might be that which the ,christians promulgate2 but this ,i do not know4 ,nevertheless1 my child1 ,i tell thee that the gods of ,kem are no true gods2 and ,i counsel thee to learn of ,arius that which he believeth6 ,for falsehood is not profitable2 and ,i realize that all my days have been consumed in learning and in teaching only errors2 and it is sad and terrible4 ,both of them heard the old man's confession with awe and sympathy1 and when1 overcome by strong emotion1 he had ceased to speak1 ,theckla gave way to a passionate burst of tears2 but1 as soon as she could regain her self-control1 she turned to the ancient and with strange earnestness exclaimed1 ,o ,father ,am-nem-hat1 high and honorable priest1 hast thou1 too1 become a ,christian8 ,nay1 replied the old man solemnly1 ,i have only learned the bitter lesson that the gods of ,egypt are all false3 ,i have not found a true ,god yet1 if any such there be4 ,thou shalt yet find him1 cried ,arius1 to the joy and consolation of thy spirit1 and thine old age shall be filled with the peace of ,god that passeth all understanding2 for he that seeketh findeth1 and to him that knocketh shall it be opened4 ,then they were all silent for a time4 ,then some of the kids came up to the door1 and ,theckla1 oppressed with the sadness and solemnity of the last few minutes1 sprang up1 crying out3 ,o the pretty1 happy kids6 ,may ,i go out and play with them8 ,and the old man1 with a pleasant smile1 answered1 ,yea1 my child1 if thou wilt not leave the plateau4 ,and ,theckla bounded out of the house1 and was soon engaged in a lively romp with the sportive young goats4 ,,chapter ,,viii4 ,,who ,,is ,,hapi8 ,the absence of ,theckla gave ,arius the opportunity he desired to call out from ,am-nem-hat a fuller expression of certain theological ideas suggested by the ancient during their first conversation1 the remembrance of which had been the subject of frequent meditation ever since2 and the boy said3 ,since ,i last saw thee1 ,father ,am-nem-hat1 many circumstances have combined to prevent me from giving to the things which ,i heard from thee that careful consideration which ,i desired to bestow upon them2 yet ,i have pondered much upon those philosophic views which thou didst utter concerning the dualism of ,god4 ,i desire to hear more fully thereof2 for although ,i know that ,christianity is1 for the most part1 a practical1 experimental thing1 concerning the heart and the life of a man rather than a philosophical or theological system1 concerning which ,jesus himself had naught to say1 as if he preferred to leave dogmas and ceremonies to the ,scribes and ,pharisees1 so that it is possible for one to be a genuine and faithful ,christian with little knowledge of philosophy or of science1 yet it behooves the young especially to seek for information concerning every question that can arise out of the faith4 ,thou must understand1 said ,am-nem-hat1 that ,i do not assume to be a teacher of thy religion4 ,being set free from the bondage of ,egyptology1 and left1 as it were1 without any religion for the last five years1 ,i have given much time and study to ,christianity1 reading the ,scriptures1 of course1 by the light of all that ,i have learned of other systems1 and seeking only to discover the truth4 ,there is one thing1 which ,i had long supposed to be true1 which recent thought and investigation seem to establish beyond any great room for doubt4 ,that thing is the fact that the old ,egyptians believed the human spirit to be of divine origin1 engaged throughout earthly life in a warfare between good and evil1 and that its final state was determined after death by a solemn judgment rendered according to the deeds done in the body4 ,this warfare continued through all the dynasties alike until during the eighteenth dynasty1 the priesthood1 fearing that the principle1 or god of evil1 was about to triumph1 got together and obtained a royal decree1 ratified by the sacerdotal order1 to banish ,seth 7the evil god7 out of ,egypt1 and out of the religion of ,kem2 but this action failed to have that salutary influence which had been expected from it4 ,the fact itself was1 perhaps1 the most singular one in ,egyptian history2 but our sacred records leave no doubt that the royal and sacerdotal authorities united in a solemn decree for the banishment of ,seth1 in order to secure the future safety of the human soul4 ,i have just as little doubt that originally they believed in one supreme ,god1 who was conceived of as a dual being1 combining in himself both the poles of spiritual sex-hood perfectly1 and giving birth to a third divinity1 by which the triad1 that is constantly repeated under different names1 was made complete4 ,hence ,i declared to thee that nothing could save the ,christian faith from the imputation of polytheism except the assumption that the ,god of the ,christians1 like the original myth of all primitive faith1 hath in himself a double spiritual sex-hood1 of which ,christ is the ,son1 'begotten1' not created2 'conceived1' not made2 divine1 because as the son of man is human1 the ,son of ,god must be divine4 ,if this is not true1 then the ,christ of these ,scriptures1 no matter how pure and exalted he may have been1 was either a created being1 or else he was only a mere appearance1 a mere simulacrum of ,deity1 a pious fraud1 who merely seemed to live among men1 and to die for their justification1 but did not do so in reality4 ,the old man paused at this point1 but the boy1 keeping steadily in view the matter which had aroused his own interest in the conversation1 said1 ,but are there any proofs of the divine dualism and trilogy of which thou hast so confidently spoken8 ,i think so1 said the ancient1 but the original idea has been overlaid and hidden for countless centuries by the myths and symbolisms and external ceremonies devised by ancient priests to express them for the common people1 until the priests themselves perhaps only dimly perceived the original truth1 and regarded the symbolism itself as true--a most bare and flagrant idolatry4 ,for when1 at some indefinite yet very remote period1 religion became blended with government and the priests sought rather to control public affairs than to maintain a true worship1 the religious idea became so degraded that the sun1 which was originally only the symbol of a higher1 unseen ,god1 was mistaken for a ,god itself1 and worshiped as such2 and this degradation increased with ages1 until finally any one who could build a sculptured sarcophagus1 and pay for the embalming processes1 ritualistic prayers1 incantations1 charms1 and ceremonies1 was declared to be in ,hesiri justified4 ,according to the inscriptions on the sepulchres1 no rich man was damned1 and respectability on earth and salvation after death were dependent upon money alone4 ,there was nothing to be done in the way of restraining one's self from evil1 nothing to be done in the way of active benevolence4 ,the chief business of an ,egyptian's life was to acquire sufficient wealth to build a costly tomb1 and the most expensive event in a man's experience was his funeral4 ,hence the rich were all saved1 and the poor were mostly condemned1 without regard to personal character and action4 ,yet all the while the most pious and learned of the priests clearly perceived1 even through the mists of error1 superstition1 and selfishness1 which debased the ancient faith1 the primitive truth that ,god was one--a dual being that was to become a triad by the generation of a ,son4 ,i think1 said ,arius1 that ,i comprehend the argument2 yet ,i desire to hear the proofs of this divine dualism more explicitly stated4 ,the proofs thereof1 derived from the dualism in the original faith of the most ancient races 7as the ,egyptian1 ,indian1 and ,chinese71 and from the fact that the monotheist ,manes1 or ,moses1 called his one ,god by a name which is the dual or plural number of a ,hebrew noun1 have already been suggested to you4 ,but1 in the ancient religion of ,egypt1 this dualism pervaded the whole system everywhere4 ,there was even a dual name for everything--the one common1 the other sacred or hieratic4 ,the ancient name of ,egypt1 ',kem1' signified both the ',black-land' and also the 'black man' or people4 ,the local name1 ,mizraim1 was a dual word1 signifying both upper and lower ,egypt1 in which ',to-mehit' was the north-land1 and ',to-res1' the south-land1 and the sacred name of the river1 which the ,greeks call the ,nile1 was ',hapi'2 and the same word was applied to ,apis1 the bull-god2 and in both cases the word was used to denote 'the hidden1' 'the concealed1' the source of the ,nile being believed to be undiscoverable1 and the being of whom ,apis was originally the symbol being yet 'hidden1' 'unrevealed4' ,no matter where1 or by what name1 the one supreme1 self-existent1 self-productive ,creator of all things was worshiped1 he was originally worshiped as a dual entity1 a double god1 at once father and mother of a third manifestation that was always a son4 ,primarily ,apis1 'the hidden1' 'the concealed1' simply meant that this third person was yet unrevealed2 but just as ,ra 7the sun71 originally the symbol of the one ,god1 became substituted for ,god himself1 afterward ,apis becomes the real 'hidden' thing1 of which he was primarily only a symbol1 and his spiritual form seems to have become ,horus4 ,yet ,ra is rarely associated with a female consort2 but1 when he is so1 it is always with a female ,ra1 and never with an inferior being4 ,but1 even after this idolatry became established1 the higher priests preserved the original idea of a dual god1 to be made a triad by the generation of a son2 and everywhere in ,egypt1 no matter by what local names their gods were called1 this trilogy was affirmed in every temple4 ,the very essence of the ancient ,egyptology1 therefore1 is the idea of one dual god1 that becomes a trilogy by the generation of a son4 ,the same thing is true of the most ancient form of the ,indian and ,chinese polytheisms4 ,thou must perceive1 therefore1 that in the original faith of all the primitive nations1 the divine being is ,father-mother1 which is one dual ,god1 and a son4 ,if1 therefore1 the ,christian religion presents the idea of a spiritual dualism made a trilogy by the generation of a son1 it maintains the very idea of the ,deity1 which is the core of all the primitive religions--,egyptian1 ,indian1 ,chinese1 and1 ,i think1 ,jewish also4 ,if thou art not weary1 said ,arius1 ,i would desire much to hear thee declare how these views1 which are entirely new to me1 agree with thy reading of our sacred books4 ,i will cheerfully state the result of my investigations1 said the ancient1 again reminding thee that ,i read them only as ,i have done the sacred books of every other people known to me1 and not as one having any especial authority to declare the meaning thereof4 ,i know perfectly well as to that1 said the boy1 but desire to know what thou hast found therein in reference to this opinion of thine4 ,i have found first1 as ,i have already suggested1 that ,moses1 who was a monotheist1 and a bitter enemy of all polytheistic ideas1 constantly uses the plural number of a ,hebrew noun to name the one ,god in whom he believed4 ,according to the prophetic portions of the ,jewish scriptures1 ,i find that the ,son of ,god was to be born of a virgin1 and the trilogy was to be manifested to man by the incarnation of this son4 ,now1 in the sacred books of the ,christians1 the four called ,gospels1 ,christ is always called the ,son of ,god1 and ,jesus is called ,christ4 ,uniformly that which stands in the same relation to ,god that was attributed to the earthly manifestation of the divine nature by all original faiths is the ,christ2 that which in the ,christian system occupies the same relation to the divine nature which was borne by the feminine side of the dual ,god of all the original faiths is called the ,holy ,ghost4 ,this expression 7,holy ,ghost7 occurs two hundred and twelve times in the ,new ,testament1 and in every instance the words are in the ,greek neuter gender1 which expresses nothing as to sex4 ,the common declaration concerning ,christ is that he was 'begotten' of ,god3 a man is begotten of his father2 he was 'conceived' of the ,holy ,ghost3 a man is conceived of his mother4 ,my interpretation1 therefore1 must be that these scriptures teach us that the one ,god is a divine dualism1 a double spiritual ,being1 the ,father-,ghost1 and that the ,christian trilogy is completed by the generation of a son of this ,father-,ghost which is one double ,god2 and that as far as sex-hood can be predicated of a spiritual nature1 ,christ1 the ,son1 is a spirit begotten and conceived of ,god his ,father-,mother1 by whom the worlds were made1 and who was afterward manifested in the flesh by assuming human nature4 ,this is what thy scriptures teach me3 ,i know not whether it be true2 but it is a glorious statement of that which was the original faith of all primitive peoples before mankind lapsed into idolatry2 for every high-priest in ,egypt assuredly knoweth that polytheism was not the first faith of men4 ,but1 said ,arius1 is not the ,holy ,ghost called 'he' in the paragraph from ,john which readeth--',and ,i will pray the ,father1 and he shall give you another ,comforter1 that ,,he may abide with you forever2 the ,spirit of truth2 whom the world can not receive1 because it seeth ,,him not1 neither knoweth ,,him3 but ye know ,,him1 for ,,he dwelleth with you and shall be in you'2 and in that passage which readeth as follows3 ',but the ,comforter1 the ,holy ,ghost1 whom the ,father will send in my name1 ,,he shall teach you all things'3 and do not these readings conflict with your idea that the name of the third person in the ,christian triad expresses nothing as to sex8 ,i think not so1 answered the ancient1 because it is evident that in these places the only thing that can be meant by the ',holy ,ghost' and the ',spirit of truth' is the ,paraclete1 the ,comforter2 and while the ,greek word for comforter is a noun of the masculine gender1 the words ',holy ,ghost' and ',spirit of truth' still retain their neuter form1 although put in apposition with it2 and the pronouns 'he' and 'him' take their masculine form from the word comforter1 and not from the words ,holy ,ghost and ,spirit1 which are always neuter1 and express nothing as to sex4 ,besides this1 ,i do not find anywhere in the scriptures any characteristics which are essentially masculine ascribed to the ,holy ,ghost1 and ,i do find many which are essentially feminine4 ,wilt thou state any other argument1 if there be any1 that maintaineth this grand idea of a dual ,god that becometh a triad by the generation of a son8 ,there is another1 said the ancient1 which is conclusive to my mind that the doctrine of thy scriptures is as ,i have stated it4 ,in ,genesis it is written that ,god said1 ',let us make man in our own image'2 and1 also1 it is written1 ',male and female created he them4' ,it seemeth to me that this 'image' and 'likeness' hath a deeper signification than the mere similitude of man's character to that of ,god can convey4 ,god is a spirit1 according to these scriptures1 and no resemblance can be imagined between human beings and him in regard to physical constitution4 ,so far as the characters constituted the 'image and likeness1' the books show that it would include only the first man on one side1 and ,god the ,father on the other4 ,but the words are generic3 'us' and 'our' the triad1 on one side1 and 'man' 7that is 'male and female1' the human race7 on the other1 and ,i suppose the 'image and likeness' spoken of is one found in the essential nature of man1 in his constitution and relations4 ,for as in heaven1 so in earth2 in both1 the trilogy includes ,father1 ,mother1 ,son3 trinity is family2 and the essential point of the image and likeness between the human and the divine subsists in the fact that human nature necessarily exists as a triad--father1 mother1 son2 just as the divine nature must do4 ,this seemeth to me to be the only ground from which it is possible to predicate divinity of ,jesus ,christ without involving the whole ,christian system in the mazes of polytheism2 for if he be divine otherwise than in this fact of generation1 there must be more than one ,god4 ,in strict accordance with this view1 ,i have observed that in those nations which are ignorant of this feminine aspect of the dual god1 wives are degraded--are mere chattels1 mere slaves2 in others1 that 7like ,egypt7 recognize the divine feminine nature1 but hold that she is inferior to the masculine element of this dualism1 wives are tolerated1 are not shut up in seclusion1 are not mere slaves and chattels2 while among the ,christians alone who hold the absolute equality of ,father and ,spirit1 womanhood is glorified and made honorable2 and ,jesus himself elevated marriage almost1 if not altogether1 into a religious sacrament4 ,the views you present seem very like the truth1 said the boy1 musingly1 and they are certainly grand enough to be true4 ,but they are entirely new to me1 and ,i shall not fail to give them such study and meditation as my sense of the magnitude of the subject involved may demand4 ,i have never heard any discussion upon the nature of the relation of the three persons of our ,christian trilogy4 ,i think1 said the ancient1 thou wilt find that it is a mere mistake to suppose that there are three1 for the sacred books teach me that there are only two1 the ,father-,ghost1 or double ,god1 but one only2 and the ,son of this one ,god4 ,the perfectest flowers in nature are hermaphrodites4 ,but wilt thou inform me whether any perfect1 self-producing creature1 possessed of animal life1 hath ever been discovered8 ,never1 answered the ancient4 ,the partial realization of such a condition1 the rare approximations thereto1 which have been curiously noted by ,egyptian priests for centuries and myriads of years1 have been universally regarded as a deformity1 and not as a perfection4 ,yet the priesthood say that the fact was perfectly realized1 according to ,moses1 in the case of the first man2 for the first woman was not created as the man was1 but proceeded out of him2 and the account given by ,moses afterward means just that4 ,i could say many things upon this matter indeed1 but for the fact that the oath of secrecy1 taken at every step of his progress in the sacerdotal life by every ,egyptian priest1 was vast and solemn2 intended to cover his whole future life1 and secure his silence under every possible mutation of his own fortune4 ,the sphinxes1 with wide-open eyes and sealed lips1 and faces that are inscrutable and calm1 revealing nothing that might show a trace of any passion1 emotion1 thought1 or purpose1 and yet full of intelligence and power1 are the perfect symbol of the ,egyptian priesthood2 and ,i know not just how far these obligations are binding upon me4 ,i will not question thee1 said ,arius1 but will endeavor to profit by whatever thou mayst be at liberty to declare4 ,thou mayst some day find use for the fact that was well known to the priesthood1 who were the repository of all knowledge in the land of ,kem1 that in the embryonic or total life1 both in animals and in man1 there is absolutely no distinction of sex4 ,up to a short period prior to its birth1 it is impossible to determine whether the offspring will be male or female--from which fact it seems to follow that sex is not a primary or essential function of animal existence1 but dependent upon conditions during gestation which centuries of investigation have failed to disclose4 ,dost thou remember how bitterly the sacred books of the ,israelites1 from ,moses down1 denounce ,baal1 and ,ashtaroth1 and the star-god ,remphan1 and all the secret rites of the national religions of all other people except their own1 the ,egyptians included8 ,hast thou observed that many of the ceremonies which other nations practiced as part of religion are denounced by ,moses as crimes punishable with death8 ,hast thou observed that throughout the ,jewish scriptures1 and especially throughout the ,pentateuch1 there are bitter and vindictive laws and customs devised for the express purpose of segregating the ,israelites from all other peoples1 for building up1 as it were1 a wall of partition between them and all other nations--and this1 notwithstanding the fact that it would have been natural and right for ,moses and his people1 if they believed themselves to be in possession of the truth1 to seek to impart that truth to others1 and so procure the universal acceptance thereof8 ,hast thou marked the fact that the missionary spirit1 which was the glory of every other religion1 so as to create continual wars undertaken for the sole purpose of forcing other peoples to adopt the religion of the conqueror1 was constantly repressed by the ,jewish laws and branded as a crime8 ,and hast thou ever reflected upon the real signification of these facts8 ,yea1 answered ,arius1 and ,i have been taught that ,god1 by ,moses1 so commanded the ,jews in order to preserve the peculiar people from being seduced into following after strange gods1 and adopting the idolatries which were everywhere believed in4 ,for the idolatries thou hast named1 and every false religion which had for its symbol a moon1 a cow1 a cock1 or any symbol intended to indicate the fecundity of ,nature1 was only the worship of that very mystery of sex of which thou hast spoken such strange things1 the deification of lasciviousness1 the apotheosis of sensualism4 ,they finally became so1 indeed1 said ,am-nem-hat1 sadly1 when the original truth became thoroughly corrupted2 but it was not so in the beginning4 ,for if thou wilt keep in mind the fact that the original faith of every primitive nation held the true ,god to be a dualism that was to become a triad by the generation of a ,son2 if thou wilt remember that this ,son was also held to be ,hapi1 'the hidden1' 'the concealed1' 'the unrevealed1' even as unto this day the high-priest of every temple in ,egypt will declare unto thee2 and1 considering these things1 thou wilt not surely say that the grand roll of ,egyptian priests1 stretching back for more than thirty centuries of recorded history from this age of ours1 were all mere sensualists4 ,on the contrary1 thou wilt see in these singular rites and ceremonies1 even in their present degraded form1 the signs and symbols of a deathless longing in the hearts of that grand1 pure1 holy race of sacred priests1 and of a search prosecuted over land and sea1 through heaven1 and earth1 and hell1 during all the fruitless and slow-gliding centuries1 by every art1 science1 and resource known to men--a longing and a search after ,hapi1 'the hidden one1' 'the concealed ,son1' 'the unrevealed ,saviour1' for whom the whole creation groaneth--a sublime spectacle1 sad and grand enough to move a god to pity6 ,for while the crowd see only a splendid pageant in that annual festival in which1 with torches and with magnificent display1 the priests and the whole population at ,memphis wander over the city1 the river1 and the lake1 seeking in earth1 and fire1 and water1 for the dismembered body of the dual god1 thou wilt find among them aged1 pure1 sad1 learned men1 who see in the same grand spectacle the perpetual memorial of their world-old search for ,hapi1 'the concealed'2 and1 if thou couldst gaze into their shut1 silent1 sorrowful hearts1 thou wouldst see all the faculties of soul and spirit exhaling in a yearning prayer that he might come6 and at the gate of every temple thou wouldst find the priestly symbol1 the ,sphinx1 the sleepless watcher1 cut out of imperishable stone1 'gazing right on with calm1 eternal eyes1' till ,hapi come6--for such is the true signification of ,hesiri-,hes1 whom the ,greeks call ,osiris-,isis6 ,and even in the later and more degraded worship of the bull-god ,apis1 while the common crowd see only the apotheosis of sensualism1 as thou hast called it1 in the fact that1 when a new ,apis is discovered1 devout women at ,memphis1 during forty days1 expose themselves stripped naked to the gaze of the sacred brute1 the sad-faced priests realize that the endless and unavailing search to discover ,hapi1 'the concealed1' had sometimes been prosecuted by unlawful means1 against which ,moses1 in the ,jewish scriptures1 denounced the penalty of death4 ,and the period of forty days was purposely chosen in order to cover by a few days1 in both directions1 a lunation of the moon2 for the worship of the moon-god universally connected the lunations of that planet with the sexhood of women4 ,but thou wouldst greatly err if thou shouldst believe that in its original1 undegraded form1 this worship was sensualism2 for it began with some new effort to wring out of the mystery of sex the secret of ,hapi1 'the concealed'2 and was glorified by the fact that it was part and parcel of the weary1 world-old search after him6 ,oh1 will he ever come8 ,then the boy sprang to his feet1 to the very tips of his toes1 his right hand vibrating1 his head erected and bent forward1 his dark eyes gleaming with mesmeric light1 his whole form and face glowing with passionate and quivering emotion1 and he cried aloud3 ,thou art pious and aged and learned6 ,thou teachest me much6 ,but ,i will also teach thee something6 ,as surely as thou livest1 ,hapi1 the ,hidden1 whom thou callest the desire of all nations1 hath already come in the flesh1 and his name is ,jesus ,christ4 ,perhaps so1 perhaps so1 said the ancient1 mournfully4 ,but the priests of ,kem1 during the past three thousand years1 often imagined that they had found him1 and as often met with bitter disappointment4 ,the ,sphinx still watches with unwinking gaze for the solution of the mighty problem1 and the old are difficult to convince4 ,but at that moment ,theckla burst in upon them1 flushed and weary with her romping with the goats1 crying out1 ,o sacred ,hapi1 ,i am so hungry and so tired6 ,then the old man spread out a linen cloth upon the table1 and1 at his desire1 ,arius and ,theckla placed thereon the table-ware and the dainties taken from the basket which the boy had brought1 while he took from a little spring nigh his hermitage a jar of cool1 refreshing goat's milk3 and they three did feast right joyously4 ,,chapter ,,ix4 ,,the ,,democracy ,,of ,,faith4 ,it was indeed a singular thing to hear1 the usual conversation of those young people about religious questions upon which the greatest minds of subsequent ages have spent their force without exhausting them2 but it should be remembered that everything like exact science was then in its infancy3 all that was actually known of medicine1 chemistry1 geology1 geometry1 geography1 botany1 and even of mathematics1 could be very quickly learned2 and around this narrow limit of ascertained truth spread a boundless wilderness of vagrant speculation1 in which the seeker after learning might wander a whole lifetime without ever being able to add one single valuable fact to the stock of knowledge2 so that religion1 whether ,christianity or paganism1 was universally regarded as the one thing that might most profitably be learned and known2 and education1 even from infancy1 consisted in acquiring the knowledge of it3 and this education was among the heathen chiefly objective1 handling the visible1 tangible symbols of a superstition which possessed only the most meager elements of subjective truth and power1 except1 perhaps1 for the higher priests who had been initiated into mysteries unknown to the common people2 while among the ,christians the process was almost reversed4 ,christianity had no objective life1 except in the person of ,jesus ,christ2 and the subjective power which it possessed upon both intellect and consciousness had no assignable limits1 inasmuch as it seemed to make the martyrs almost insensible to physical pain1 and yet could produce a moral sensitiveness so acute that to be conscious of willful deception might work the death of the body1 as in the case of ,ananias and ,sapphira when they lied to ,peter about the consecration of their property to holy uses4 ,this education among the ,egyptians1 especially among females of the higher classes1 was chiefly oral1 but among the ,christians the young were taught both orally and by the written text4 ,one of the strangest and yet most logical results of the ,christian teachings and practice 7and one which has been1 for very sufficient reasons1 ignored by the theologians7 was to develop a radical and uncompromising spirit of democracy throughout the ,christian communities or churches4 ,the early ,christians uniformly held that they1 as ,christians1 belonged to a kingdom which was in1 but not of1 the world--a kingdom for which no earthly potentate had right or power to legislate2 and this living faith loosened the bond of allegiance and dissolved the sense of obligation as to all human authority1 and was the negation of the lawfulness of temporal government over the subjects of the kingdom for which they recognized no king but ,christ4 ,while1 for the sake of peace1 they were willing to render unto ,caesar the things which are ,caesar's1 by paying taxes to that government under which they lived1 and by even yielding ready obedience to all laws and customs which did not come in conflict with the higher law of the kingdom1 the rights of conscience1 they universally regarded these laws as extraneous to their own organization1 foreign statutes1 imposed upon them from without2 and1 being solicitous to render unto ,god the things which are ,god's1 they steadily abstained from any participation in the affairs of government1 and quietly assumed the right to judge for themselves whether any law1 regulation1 or custom1 prescribed by the sovereign power1 or other human authority1 was or was not such as they might conscientiously obey4 ,and1 while they would no more have thought of holding office under pagan rulers or of participating in their legislation and government than they would have thought of accepting the priesthood of a heathen temple and participating in its idolatrous worship1 they obeyed all laws alike1 except such as conflicted with conscience1 and these they refused to obey in the very face of persecutions1 torture1 and death4 ,but this fearless assertion of the rights of conscience necessarily involved the right to sit in judgment upon all human laws and the powers that ordained them1 and to determine for themselves whether the law was lawful4 ,that helpless spirit of blind obedience to the decrees of despotic governments which characterized the pagan peoples was1 therefore1 impossible to the ,christians4 ,in the very teeth of universally established law and custom1 they steadily refused to bear arms1 to own slaves1 to seek any legal redress in civil courts1 to follow the law of their domicile in regard to the ownership of property or the succession to estates of the deceased1 just as they refused to sacrifice to the gods1 or to call any man master4 ,under the same lofty conception of the rights of conscience1 in lands where women were bought and sold like cattle1 they refused to practice polygamy2 and in lands where female chastity was unknown and plural wives and concubines were esteemed to be the insignia of honor and influence1 they clave fast to that monogamic marriage which ,jesus had elevated into a holy sacrament2 and while throughout the world women were regarded as slaves1 as domestic chattels1 or1 at the very best1 as an inferior race and a necessary evil1 so that the birth of a female child was looked upon as a household calamity1 the ,christian faith that the ,holy ,ghost conceived ,christ before he was born of a virgin and manifested in the flesh1 glorified and exalted the dignity of womanhood and maternity1 and created the idea of personal responsibility1 rights1 and duties for both sexes alike4 ,the logical tendency of ,christianity was1 therefore1 to originate the idea of personal liberty for all men1 unknown to the world before2 to repudiate the heathen doctrine of the divine character and right of kings2 to sit in judgment upon their laws1 and to intelligently obey1 or refuse to obey1 them2 in a word1 to cultivate and exercise1 as a matter of religious faith1 that spirit of personal independence1 both of action and of thought1 which we in later times denominate democracy1 the concrete form of which was the election of deacons1 presbyters1 and bishops by the people unto whom they ministered4 ,but this habit of independent thought did not tend as in later times in the direction of ecclesiastical schisms2 because1 if any one embraced a doctrinal error1 either it was maintained by him as an individual opinion2 or if a mistaken zeal led him to proclaim it publicly1 and seek thereby to bind the consciences of other ,christians1 the matter soon came to the knowledge of the churches1 and1 when the ,church assembled to consider the alleged error1 the ,holy ,paraclete directed the counsels of the assembled bishops and presbyters1 so that their deliverances were infallibly correct1 and were universally accepted as final4 ,so that1 during the first three centuries1 no heresy could survive the condemnation of a ,christian council1 and no learning1 zeal1 and genius could give to heresy such vitality and power as to seriously threaten the peace of the ,church4 ,even ,peter could not force the observance of the rite of circumcision upon the free ,christian communities2 and the heresies of ,menander1 ,cerinthus1 ,nicolaus1 ,valentinius1 ,marcion1 ,tatianus1 ,blastus1 ,montanus1 ,artimon1 and others1 perished almost as soon as they had been condemned4 ,it was perfectly natural1 therefore1 that while both ,arius and ,theckla were almost children in many respects1 they should both be far advanced in religious learning1 each of them in harmony with one of the separate systems under which they had been reared2 and that they should be1 in many attitudes of thought and feeling1 a pleasing enigma to each other4 ,the girl1 although brimful of bright and pleasing fancies1 had all her life been accustomed to accept as truth whatever was taught to her as such1 and the very basis of her training had been implicit and unquestioning obedience to authority without reason1 so that she had never1 perhaps1 attempted to exercise an independent thought1 judgment1 or inquiry about any question of religious1 political1 or social life1 her existence having been passed in strict and unconscious conformity to rigid ,egyptian customs1 into the molds and forms of which she had been fashioned from her infancy4 ,the illness of her mother1 which left her to the freedom of thought1 expression1 and action1 characteristic of every ,christian household1 was a new and intoxicating experience to the girl2 and1 whatever else it might be possible for her to become1 it was manifestly impossible that she could ever again resiliate into the moral and social mummyism of ordinary ,egyptian female life4 ,the bondage of ,egypt was broken4 ,but the boy1 fixed and immovable in his faith in the few salient and all-important doctrines covered by the ,apostles' ,creed1 as that creed was taught during the first three centuries1 as to everything else1 had been freed by his training from the shackles of authority1 and so unconsciously enjoyed and exercised the liberty of the gospel in which he had been reared by questioning1 investigating1 trying every phenomenon--social1 religious1 and political--that came within the range of his observation and experience4 ,am-nem-hat imagined that in these two youthful but well-instructed young people he beheld the living incarnation of the opposing civilizations under which they had been reared2 and it was a pathetic and beautiful thing to see with what eager intentness he noted almost every inflection of their voices1 every expression of their countenances1 almost every peculiar turn and change of their thoughts1 while he encouraged them to talk1 hardly caring what might be the subject of their conversation4 ,at the beginning of their little feast the ancient said3 ,arius1 if ye ,christians have any custom of thank-offering1 prayer1 or libations1 before ye partake of food1 ,i would desire to have thee perform or repeat it now4 ,then answered ,arius3 ,we make no libation or offering1 nor are we restricted to any set formula for returning thanks to ,god2 but generally we repeat the ,greek3 ,pater hemon4 ,wilt thou do so now8 ,then the boy said1 ,yea1 gladly2 and1 while they watched him narrowly1 he solemnly said3 ,our ,father1 which art in heaven1 hallowed be thy name3 thy kingdom come3 thy will be done on earth as in heaven4 ,give us daily our daily bread2 and forgive us our debts as we forgive debtors3 and let us not be led into trial1 but deliver us from trouble3 for thine is the kingdom1 and the power1 and the truth1 forever4 ,then said ,am-nem-hat1 ,theckla1 what form of worship hast thou been taught to observe before partaking of thy daily food8 ,and the girl said3 ,on solemn occasions1 our fathers make libations2 but it is not according to ,egyptian customs1 or religion1 for a female to meddle with any sacred rite1 beyond her own private devotions1 as thou1 ,o priest1 must assuredly know4 ,dost thou know the reason1 ,theckla1 that woman is thus excluded1 not only from participation in the sacred rites1 but from every place that is inconsistent with the idea that she must of necessity be either a slave or a domestic pet1 having right to existence only as the appanage of a man upon whom she is dependent as slave1 wife1 or daughter8 ,nay1 she answered2 but ,i have been so taught1 and1 therefore1 it must be right and proper4 ,i will tell thee1 ,theckla1 for it is verily a thing which every female ought to know4 ,the reason of it is that the original idea of ,god was that of a dual being1 equally divine and glorious in both aspects of his double nature4 ,but nearly all nations1 as they sank deeper and deeper into idolatry1 degraded the feminine conception of this dualism1 and some of them utterly lost it4 ,in ,egypt they have held ,hes to be consort of ,hesiri1 and1 although inferior to him1 yet entitled to great honor4 ,hence the ,egyptian women have never been shut up1 kept in seclusion and ignorance1 and esteemed only as slaves or as chattels1 as is universally the case among nations that have entirely fallen away from the divine truth4 ,but ,i tell thee1 ,theckla1 that the religion of the ,christians alone maintains the absolute equality of the ,godhead1 by maintaining the ,holy ,ghost1 the ,mother of ,nature1 to be consubstantial with the ,father1 and hence it alone elevates woman to her true position1 and endows her with responsibility1 respect and honor1 rights and duties2 so that1 although all men on earth should reject and curse the ,christ1 every woman1 who is true to herself and to her sex1 should cleave unto him in spite of pain and even death itself4 ,do thou remember these things1 ,theckla2 and1 when thou shalt see with what respect1 honor1 and love the ,christian husband treateth his wife and daughters1 remember thou that the vast difference between them and other men1 in that regard1 ariseth not out of any difference in the nature or disposition of the individuals1 but out of the difference in their religion only2 for that faith regardeth women as persons1 not as things4 ,forget not these truths1 ,theckla6 for1 whether it be true or false1 ,christianity alone hath ever done justice to womanhood1 wifehood1 maternity2 and the woman who does not love and follow ,jesus betrayeth herself and her sex4 ,surely thou1 also1 art a ,christian6 said the young girl4 ,nay1 answered ,am-nem-hat2 ,i say not that to thee6 ,for ,i can not understand what it is to be a ,christian4 ,but1 having carefully studied this religion as ,i have done all others known among mankind1 ,i do solemnly assure thee that it is the only one on earth that is fair and just to chaste and intelligent women4 ,for it teacheth that the equal1 consubstantial ,holy ,spirit conceived a ,saviour that was virgin-born2 and it so serveth to redeem all womanhood from centuries of contempt and degradation2 for no man who hath an intelligent faith in ,christianity can ever regard woman as the mere instrument of his pleasure1 or as the mere slave of his will1 but as a friend1 helpmate1 and companion1 worthy of love1 honor1 and respect2 so that1 whether it be true or false1 every woman should cleave thereto1 because it is for her1 at least1 temporal salvation4 ,for ,christianity differeth as radically from all other religions in regard to the esteem in which it holdeth women as it does in regard to slavery and to the poor4 ,and while the rich and the great may hate this system because it would deprive them of the social and political precedence which every other religion maintaineth for them1 the slaves1 the poor1 and the women should never forget that ,jesus ,christ is the truest friend they ever had on earth4 ,then said ,arius1 ,father ,am-nem-hat1 why art not thou a ,christian1 having views of our religion that are so wise and just8 ,and the old man answered3 ,that thing1 my son1 ,i can not tell thee1 nor can ,i comprehend it for myself4 ,i can not understand what is the precise attitude of mine own spirit toward ,christianity4 ,canst thou instruct me8 ,nay1 verily1 said ,arius4 ,in my heart ,i yearn for the power to say something that might open thine eyes unto the light2 but my small knowledge and experience serve not to enable me to understand how it is possible that one so aged and so wise1 so well instructed in our ,lord's own teachings1 can fail to be a ,christian4 ,but my father was an idolater in his youth1 and he is learned in our religion4 ,if thou wilt go home with us1 thou shalt be received with honor and affection1 and he1 perhaps1 can give thee aid4 ,wilt thou not go8 ,i thank thee much1 said ,am-nem-hat4 ,but the way is long1 and the mountain steep1 for one so old as ,i4 ,and besides1 it seemeth to me that1 if human knowledge and patient thought could extort any final truth out of the mute lips of ,nature1 even ,i could have made her speak6 ,but1 said the boy1 the tree of knowledge is not that of life4 ,even the most ignorant and depraved find peace in believing1 and ,i have met with none so wise as thou4 ,if thou wilt come to us1 ,i will bring hither on to-morrow a she-ass1 gentle and sure of foot1 which my mother is accustomed to ride1 and will walk beside thee to our home1 if only thou wilt come4 ,yea1 cried ,theckla1 thou must surely come6 ,for ,i will tell my mother that ,i have met the high-priest of ,ombos1 and she will long much to see thee4 ,then ,am-nem-hat1 as if overpowered by their persuasions1 replied3 ,ye are both so kind to an old and lonely man that ,i can not resist your entreaties1 and will even do as ye desire2 for ye know not what pleasure the old may derive from the polite and hearty attentions of the young4 ,then the two young people bade the old man a kind farewell1 and1 with the light heart of youth and health1 took their way homeward down the mountain4 ,and when they had come to the edge of the pasture-land they met with some of the cattle1 and among them was the young bull-calf whose peculiar markings had so excited the wonder and superstition of ,theckla2 and ,arius cried out laughingly3 ,lo1 ,theckla6 there is thy god1 and thou shalt ride home upon the back of the beast4 ,and he cut a long withe and fastened it upon the horns of the bull1 and led up the gentle beast1 and1 seizing the young girl in his arms1 he lifted her astride of the fat1 round calf1 and led him along4 ,and1 when ,arius mocked and ridiculed the young ,apis1 the girl joined in his merriment1 and he was glad to see that she was fast losing all superstitious reverence for the brute1 and for all the other pagan deities2 for her growing contempt for ,apis necessarily struck at her reverence for the whole system1 of which a bull with a black hide1 a triangular white spot on his forehead1 a spread-eagle in the hairs of his back1 a crescent white spot upon his side1 and a knob like a scarabaeus under his tongue1 was so important a part4 ,when they had reached that part of the pasture which was nearest to the house1 ,theckla sprang from the animal's back1 and1 with some lingering doubt of his divinity still troubling her mind1 she said3 ,arius1 ,i really wonder whether the ,apis hath a knob under his tongue in the shape of a scarabaeus8 ,wilt thou not look into his mouth8 ,i know not that1 said the boy2 but1 if he hath not a rather odd-looking spot under his tongue1 he is the only bull-calf ,i ever saw that hath it not2 and ,i suppose it would be easy to irritate and inflame this spot until it would look like a natural knob about as large as a good1 lively beetle4 ,i had never thought it might be possible for the priests to so deceive any one1 said ,theckla4 ,perhaps they did not do so1 answered the boy2 but they may have been deceived by the cunning of those who had such beasts and desired to sell them4 ,theckla sighed1 but her reverence for ,apis and for all of his mysteries was utterly gone forever4 ,,chapter ,x4 ,,faith ,,and ,,philosophy4 ,during the time that ,arius and ,theckla had been absent at the hermitage of ,am-nem-hat1 a great change had occurred in the condition of the ,egyptian lady1 ,hatasa1 at the ,baucalis cottage4 ,early in the morning she had fallen into a profound slumber1 but before noon she had awakened suddenly1 and in a moment afterward the whole house was filled with her bitter wailing4 ,all at once the terrible sense of loss had overwhelmed her mind with impassioned force1 and in heart-broken tones she repeated the name of her husband over and over again1 and momently called aloud for ,theckla1 darling ,theckla6 ,where is my daughter1 my only child8 ,then with great tenderness ,arete told her that ,theckla was well and happy1 and would soon return with her own son1 with whom she had gone to visit a near neighbor4 ,the poor woman's grief seemed hopeless and unendurable4 ,at one moment she would yearningly lament the loss of her husband1 and at the next reproach the gods of ,egypt with his destruction1 and then1 perhaps1 pray to them in tones of hopeless supplication4 ,o ,ra and ,thoth6 she cried1 ye murderous1 heartless gods1 that have so cruelly bereft me1 have pity upon ,amosis1 whom ye have snatched away to the under-world6 ,o merciless and fearful ,ma-t1 that hast never had compassion upon any mortal1 thou terrible ,two ,truths in thy dark halls sitting1 unmoved by sorrow or pain1 in the gloom of mournful ,amenti1 soften once thy stony heart1 that thou mayst feel the sharpness of our earthly woe1 so that thou judge not mine ,amosis until ,i have builded his sarcophagus4 ,o thou ,hesiri-,hes6 that cometh nearer to our human life than other dreadful deities1 restore my husband's body to the land1 that with due honors and uncounted cost ,i yet may have his mummy-rites prepared to smooth his pathway through the under-world6 ,then1 seeming to realize the uselessness of any prayer in the absence of the ceremonies of a funeral1 she moaned in hopeless grief3 ,o terrible6 to be cut off in youth1 with no sarcophagus builded1 and no mummy-cloth--cast off alone and friendless1 into the darkness of ,amenti6 ,o fearful fate6 to be called up for judgment1 like a pauper1 before the merciless1 unsparing ,ma-t6 ,and so she would cry1 as loudly as her feebleness permitted1 until exhausted nature enforced silence upon her wailing lips4 ,she calleth upon the ancient1 fearful gods of ,kem1 said old ,thopt1 in a half-terrified whisper to ,arete4 ,she is without ,god and without hope in the world1 whispered ,arete4 ,may the compassionate ,lord pity her and bring unto her the consolations of his grace6 ,my heart weeps for her1 whispered old ,thopt2 for the ,egyptians are not as the ,christians are4 ,they have a shuddering horror of death1 and it is to them the sum of all possible wretchedness4 ,and so the weary hours passed slowly1 and1 at last1 came ,theckla and ,arius home2 and the girl1 bounding into her mother's room1 cast her arms about her and kissed her passionately4 ,and when the mother broke out into renewed wailings1 the daughter said3 ,nay1 mother1 why dost thou lament so bitterly8 ,surely thou art much better now1 and father will soon return to comfort thee4 ,cheer up thyself with the hope of speedily returning health and strength4 ,alas6 alas6 thy father will return no more6--no more6 ,ah1 nevermore6 ,then with startled1 wondering eyes1 the young girl gazed into her mother's face1 crying out3 ,what meanest thou8 ,he hath always come back from every absence joyously2 why sayst thou ',no more--ah1 never1 more1' so sorrowfully8 ,surely he must again return to us6 ,then it seemed apparent enough that these ,egyptians had such an awful terror of death1 and the girl had been so carefully guarded against all knowledge thereof1 that she could scarcely realize what thing was meant thereby2 for the ,egyptians said nothing of death1 but only1 ,he hath gone hence1 or ,he is the ,hesiri justified4 ,he is dead1 poor child6 moaned the mother1 swallowed up forever by the cruel1 unrelenting sea6 ,thou wilt see his face1 and hear his voice1 and spring to meet his fond caress no more1 she wailed--no more6 ,is he1 then1 the ,hesiri justified8 she asked1 a nameless wonder and terror taking hold upon her soul4 ,oh1 thou wilt break all my heart6 she answered4 ,he hath died without a sarcophagus and the mummy-cloth4 ,how shall he1 then1 dare to meet the dreadful ,ma-t in the dark hall wherein she sitteth as the ,two ,truths1 judge of all the dead8 ,then the full desolation of her father's awful fate1 and of her own mighty loss1 for the first time swept her young heart with terrible distinctness1 and1 sinking down beside her mother1 the girl blended her broken-hearted wailings with the woman's bitter cries4 ,leave them together1 said ,arete1 and she and old ,thopt quietly withdrew4 ,and she informed ,ammonius of the sorrowful condition of their guests1 and1 with her dark eyes full of sympathetic tears1 she said1 ,it is a harrowing grief1 and ,i was so young when ,i became a ,christian1 and view death so differently from them1 that ,i know not how to offer consolation for such sorrow4 ,thou shalt leave them alone for the present1 answered ,ammonius4 ,the ,egyptians have no consolation except those which their erroneous faith buildeth upon the sarcophagus and the mummy-rites--all external consolations--of which1 in such a case as this1 they are deprived4 ,let them alone4 ,perhaps the ,lord will show us some way to aid them1 or their violent grief will wear out itself in lamentations4 ,all thou canst do is but to wait and hope4 ,the long night passed wearily away4 ,arete and old ,thopt divided the watches thereof between them1 as they had done ever since ,hatasa came to ,baucalis1 to see that she wanted no attention which kindness could supply2 but neither of them knew how to utter soothing words unto a grief that seemed so hopeless2 for the religion of ,egypt contained no word of comfort for such grief1 and the beautiful idolaters were ignorant of that of ,jesus4 ,all that mother and daughter knew of religious faith kept forcing back upon their broken hearts the dreadful conviction that the soul's condition after death depended upon the building of a sarcophagus and the preparation of the mummy1 in accordance with the rites prescribed in ,the ,book of the ,dead2 and in such a case as this no mummy-rites could be paid unless the corpse could be recovered2 and1 although the sarcophagus might be builded1 they did not know but that the father and husband whom they loved might be judged by the awful goddess ,ma-t before this work could be completed2 and none of the exceptions made by their religion in favor of those who fell in battle for the rulers of ,egypt1 or who perished by shipwreck1 applied to the case of ,amosis1 for he had lost his life in a private quarrel after the shipwreck had happened4 ,their hopeless sorrow was pitiful1 indeed2 but the young girl fell back upon a final truth when she kept repeating to her mother1 over and over again1 her own convictions in such words as these3 ,thou knowest that he was a good and upright man1 doing only what he did believe to be right and just1 and surely the greatest ,god of all1 by whatever name he may be known1 will be most merciful to him without a sarcophagus or the mummy-rites4 ,and so the young idolater1 not knowing the law1 but doing by nature the things which are written in the law1 became a law unto herself1 and the unknown ,god1 whom she did ignorantly worship to that extent which was commensurate with her faith1 revealed himself unto her2 and even from this unreasoning hope they both drew something of comfort4 ,and during the night ,theckla informed her mother of her visit to the old eremite ,am-nem-hat1 and of his having been priest at ,thebes and high-priest at ,ombos2 and how ancient1 wise1 and good he seemed to be2 and that he had promised to come to the cottage on the following day1 and expressed the hope that out of his vast stores of wisdom he might be able to bring forth some truth that would yield them surer consolation2 and this also somewhat comforted that bitterly smitten pair4 ,and early the next morning ,arius went to the abode of ,am-nem-hat1 leading the she-ass on which his mother was accustomed to ride1 and1 having got the ancient comfortably seated upon the jennet1 he led her down the mountain and unto the cottage of ,baucalis safely1 where all were awaiting the arrival of the priest to whose visit ,hatasa looked forward with vague but earnest hope4 ,and1 when the old man had come1 ,ammonius1 with great respect and tenderness1 assisted him to dismount1 and led him unto the house4 ,and1 having most kindly received him1 they told him of the sorrowful woman1 and how anxiously she had anticipated his coming1 and he said1 ,let me go unto her at once4 ,and1 when he had entered her chamber1 he stood in the middle of the floor1 and1 with his raised and extended arms crossed at the wrists in likeness of a cross 7for the cross is ages older than ,jesus71 he looked upon ,hatasa1 saying3 ,whatever ,god is greater than ,ra1 whatever ,god is wiser than ,ptah1 and whatever ,god is more merciful than ,hesiri-,hes1 and more just than ,ma-t1 by whatsoever name the great ,god of all ought to be known among men1 ,i invoke him to bless and comfort thee1 ,o daughter of affliction4 ,may that truest and highest ,god lift up the light of his face upon thee and give thee peace6 ,then1 sitting down beside her couch1 he took her hand in his1 saying kindly1 ,daughter1 what is thy name8 ,hatasa1 answered she4 ,art thou of ,alexandria8 ,yea1 she said4 ,but my family were of ,thebes1 where lived and died my father ,ahmad1 and my grandfather1 ,butau1 and many generations more4 ,butau1 of ,thebes6 said the old man4 ,hast thou1 then1 never heard of ,am-nem-hat1 priest at ,thebes1 high-priest at ,ombos8 ,surely so1 she answered4 ,for the same wise and holy priest was the brother of my grandfather ,butau1 the great general1 and ,i have often heard my parents speak of the sacred priest with reverence and pride4 ,i am that ,am-nem-hat1 and thou hast found a kinsman in whom thou mayst implicitly confide4 ,then seized she his hand1 and1 kissing it1 she cried1 ,i do rejoice thereat1 and welcome thee as kinsman1 and as sacred priest most pious and most wise4 ,then she poured out to him the burden of her heart1 and asked him if there was any hope1 her husband having builded no sarcophagus1 and having had no mummy-rites4 ,and the old man answered mournfully1 ,daughter1 as an ,alexandrian1 thou shouldst know the vast temple of ,serapis which standeth before the magnificent street1 two hundred feet wide1 in ,rhacotis1 the western and ,egyptian quarter of the city--the grand and beautiful temple which containeth the statue of the god that was brought thither out of ,pontus8 ,yea1 father1 answered she1 from childhood ,i have known the holy temple well4 ,and didst thou also know the wise and pious ,raph-nath1 high-priest of that temple1 who died there some fifteen years ago8 ,yea1 verily1 ,i remember him quite well4 ,he and ,i were boys1 at ,thebes1 in the great temple together4 ,all his lifetime we were friends4 ,when he felt that his physical powers were failing1 and that the end of his long and holy life was fast approaching1 he sent unto me to come to him and spend his last days with him2 and so it happened that ,i was at ,alexandria when the ancient high-priest died4 ,we did talk much and often of our long religious lives2 much1 of our learned ignorance2 much1 of the destiny of the human soul2 much1 of the truth4 ,when ,i did ask of him whether he had any special request to make concerning his own funeral rites1 he answered me in some such words as these3 ',nay1 my brother4 ,let the obsequies be simply conducted1 but in accordance with the rites and ceremonies prescribed for a priest's funeral by ',the ,book of the ,dead4' ,for although both thou and ,i be well aware that the sarcophagus is naught1 and the mummy naught1 and that no rites nor ceremonies which men can devise in any way concern the soul after death1 yet1 because the law and order system of ,kem hath been for so many centuries built up on these vain things1 ,i desire that the usual forms be all observed at mine own funeral4 ,although surely no high-priest of ,egypt ought to think that it can make any difference to the soul how1 or when1 or by what means1 a man may depart this life1 or whether any funeral rites are paid or not2 for thou knowest that the true purpose of religion is to control the living1 and that the dead are far beyond the reach of human agencies4' ',on what1 then1 dependeth thy soul's condition in the other world8' ,i said4 ',surely1' he said1 'upon nothing that any priest can do or leave undone1 but upon whether the man hath done his duties well according to the best of his faith and knowledge4' ,and afterward1 and almost in the hour of his dissolution1 ,i said unto him again1 ',brother1 how farest thou8' ,and he answered me1 saying3 ',the light of life within me burneth low and flickereth4 ,it will soon go out4 ,but ,i fare well and peacefully4' ',and thou hast no fear of awful ,ma-t1 my brother1 and of the silent hall wherein the ,two ,truths judge the dead8' ,and smilingly he answered me3 ',nay1 ,brother ,am-nem-hat4 ,no man attaineth to the high-priesthood in ,egypt without having learned that the things of which thou speakest are for the people--not for the higher priests--part of the system which we administer1 not final truths for us4 ,for ,i know1 as thou also knowest1 that above and beyond the grand ,egyptian triads1 there must be some supreme ,god over all whom we ignorantly worship2 who is patient because he is eternal1 and merciful because he is all-wise2 and having all these years discharged1 as faithfully as human frailties might permit1 every duty that came under my hand1 ,i look away above the gods of ,kem1 and trust myself unshrinkingly in the hands of the unknown ,god1 in whom we both believe4' ,and1 almost in the same moment1 the old man quietly departed4--,daughter1 for thee and for thy great sorrow there is no consolation in the religion of ,egypt4 ,all of the consolation ,i can offer is to tell thee plainly that the things which the high-priest ,raph-nath declared unto me upon his bed of death are true2 and1 as the sum of all my learning and priestly life1 ,i say unto thee that thou canst do nothing else for thyself1 nor for thy husband1 nor for any human soul1 except to cast thyself and him upon the mercy of the unknown ,god1 hoping and believing that all is for the best4 ,the old man's voice was tremulous1 and his grand1 pure face was full of compassion as he uttered these words in tones of inexpressible and uncomplaining sadness1 and with impressive earnestness4 ,and this is all8 she cried--all that the old religion of ,kem1 stripped of its outward1 ornate forms and ceremonies1 has to offer to the broken-hearted8 ,yea1 answered ,am-nem-hat4 ,this is all1 indeed4 ,and it is little2 and the prevailing sadness of all wise men grows out of this2 yet the heart that loves and trusts may find that even this is enough to reconcile it to the grand and pitiless course of nature4 ,so saith the philosopher ,seneca3 ',we shall adore all that ignoble crowd of gods which ancient superstition hath gathered together in a long course of years1 only so as to remember that their worship is rather in accordance with custom than with reality or truth4' ,and again he saith1 ',the ,god is near you1 is with you1 is within you'2 and again1 ',there is no good man without ,god4' ,and ,epictetus also saith3 ',if you remember always that1 in all you do in soul or body1 ,god stands by as a witness1 in all your prayers and your actions you will not err1 and you shall have ,god dwelling within you4' ,and he saith3 ',great is the struggle1 divine the need2 it is for kingdom1 for freedom1 for tranquillity1 for peace4 ,think on ,god2 call upon him1 thy champion and aid1 as sailors invoke the great twin brothers in the storm4 ,and1 indeed1 what storm is greater than that which ariseth out of powerful semblances 7appearances of evil71 that drive reason out of its course8 ,what1 indeed1 but semblance is a storm itself8 ,come1 now1 therefore1 remove this fear of death1 and bring as many thunders and lightnings as thou wilt1 and thou shalt soon perceive how great tranquillity and calm are in that reason which is the ruling faculty of the soul4' ,and he saith further3 ',thou must be absolutely resigned to the will of ,god4 ,thou must conquer every passion1 abrogate every desire4' ,and one greater1 sadder1 diviner than them all1 even ,marcus ,aurelius1 the ,stoic ,emperor1 declareth3 ',surely life and death1 honor and dishonor1 pain and pleasure1 all things happen equally to bad men and good1 being things that make us neither better nor worse1 therefore are they neither good nor evil4' ,and he saith of every man3 ',thou hast embarked1 thou hast made the voyage2 thou hast come to shore2 get out4 ,if1 indeed1 unto another life1 there is even there no want of gods2 but if unto a state devoid of sensation1 thou wilt cease to be held of pains and pleasures4' ,and he saith3 ',then pass thou through the short space of time conformably to ,nature1 and end the journey in content1 just as the olive falls off when it is ripe1 blessing ,nature that produced it1 and thanking the tree on which it grew2 444 accepting all that happens1 and all that is allotted1 and finally waiting for death with a cheerful mind4' ,and so ,i say unto thee3 ,no man can do more for thee1 for thy husband1 or for any human soul1 than to fall back upon the mercy of an unknown ,god1 and seek for peace in the grand hope that all is for the best4 ,i can not live on that1 she murmured4 ,o my husband1 all my heart yearns after thee1 and it will break within me unless ,i can find some clearer1 higher assurance of the mercy of ,egypt's gods for thee1 or of this dim and terrible unknown whom ,am-nem-hat declares to be in truth the only one4 ,i can not live in this void uncertainty and darkness6 ,o ,amosis1 my husband6 ,o ye cruel gods6 ,these good people among whom ,i find thee1 said ,am-nem-hat1 are followers of the new ,god1 ,jesus ,christ1 a sect that is everywhere spoken against4 ,i have1 however1 a very favorable opinion of ,jesus and of his religion1 and ,i take it for granted that thou dost not know the truth concerning them4 ,perhaps they could teach unto thee some consolation for thy sorrow4 ,the hated ,christians6 she cried out1 bitterly4 ,why1 when my lord ,amosis lost his life1 he was even then upon his way to ,rome to obtain from the ,emperor power and authority to extirpate the impious and terrible association from ,egypt4 ,if they had known this fact1 perhaps ,i had been already reconciled1 or at least silenced1 by the icy hand of death4 ,nay1 nay1 mother1 cried ,theckla4 ,that is but an unjust thing1 for they knew from the first1 and from thine own unconscious talk1 that father desired to destroy them all2 and the lad ,arius1 their son1 charged me that ,i should not tell thee until thou wert stronger2 for that it might distress thee1 and could do no good4 ,he is a true-hearted boy1 and ,i think a wise one also4 ,and they have treated their known enemy with more than sisterly care and kindness1 said ,hatasa4 ,surely it is most strange6 ,but ,am-nem-hat said3 ,i have seen the ,christians tortured1 decapitated1 burned at the stake1 and have heard them even with their last breath pray to their ,god to forgive those who punished them with such torments4 ,it is a new and most strange religion1 and possibly it might do thee good4 ,no gods of ,kem can aid thee in thy sorrow4 ,i wish that ,i could see the boy1 she said4 ,and ,theckla sprang up quickly1 saying1 ,i will bring him unto thee4 ,and thereupon she went forth of the room and sought ,arius until she found him2 and she said1 ,arius1 my mother desireth much to speak with thee concerning thy religion4 ,and the boy said1 ,i go unto her gladly1 and may the ,lord direct me what to say unto her6 ,and when the boy had come into that room where she was1 ,am-nem-hat said3 ,i have discovered that ,hatasa is the granddaughter of my brother1 and she seemeth very dear to me1 that am childless4 ,thou knowest the great sorrow for which ,i have been able to offer no consolation1 except to bid her cast herself upon the mercy of the unknown ,god in some way1 and seek for him if by chance she might find him1 and obtain mercy4 ,for neither faith nor philosophy1 as ,i have learned them1 goeth one single step beyond where this dim1 uncertain light guideth the soul1 and we must therewith be content4 ,but1 moaned the stricken woman1 this chill and shadowy uncertainty will drive me mad4 ,my soul yearneth after my loving1 noble husband4--,o boy1 if thou knowest anything that bringest comfort in the very face of pitiless ,death1 speak thou to me1 and speak thou truthfully2 for ,i am sore afflicted and without hope6 ,how1 when all the gods of ,egypt fail me--how can ,i trust the mercy of a strange and unknown ,god8 ,then the ,god-ordained minister stood up before them1 and with that strange1 continuous1 rhythmic motion of the hand1 with his fine head erect and bending toward her from the long and shapely neck1 his luminous eyes agleam with strange mesmeric light1 his voice sibilant1 tremulous1 incisive1 began to preach his first little sermon in a way that grace and training made natural unto him3 ,trouble not thine heart1 ,o woman1 with any thought about the gods of ,egypt1 for ,i tell thee that the unknown ,god to whom all men turn in time of sorest trial and sorrow1 even as ,am-nem-hat hath declared unto thee1 is no more unknown1 but is one ,god over all1 blessed for evermore1 and hath revealed himself unto men through his ,son1 our ,lord and ,saviour1 ,jesus ,christ1 who loved us1 and hath borne all of our sins upon himself1 that we by faith in him may so be free2 for1 to them who believe in ,jesus1 life and immortality are brought to light in the gospel1 and for them death hath no sting1 the grave no victory4--,what name do ye ,egyptians give unto the burial-place of your dead8 ,the boy paused1 and looked upon her1 demanding an answer with his eyes4 ,we call it sarcophagus1 she replied4 ,yea1 he continued1 sarcophagus6 ,the devourer of human flesh6 ,but we ,christians call it cemeterion--a sleeping-ground2 because we know that ,jesus arose from the dead for our justification1 and know that all they who sleep in death shall rise again2 for so our ,lord hath taught us4 ,thou complainest that the light of nature is dim and chill1 and giveth thee no certain guide nor hope6 ,thou meanest that the course of nature is stern1 pitiless1 implacable2 teaching only that one must submit to the inevitable without hope2 a forced resignation in which there is no comfort2 an iron stoicism which teaches us to endure pain bravely but furnisheth no compensation for sorrow2 the obedience of a slave who knows that it is impossible to resist and foolish to attempt it2 not the faith and love of a child that obeys because he loves1 and bears chastisement meekly because he knows that infinite wisdom and exhaustless love inflict it for his good4 ,o woman1 listen what the divine ,son of ,god1 who took our nature upon himself and was in all things touched with the feelings of our infirmities1 saith unto thee3 ',come unto me1 thou weary and heavy-laden1 and ,i will give thee rest4 ,like as a father pitieth his children1 the tender mercy of our ,god is over thee4 ,he that believeth on me shall never die1 for life and immortality are brought to light in the gospel1 which is the power of ,god and the wisdom of ,god unto salvation for every one that believeth4' ,for ,jesus loveth thee2 he died to save thee and to give thee peace2 and his blood can cleanse thee from all sin1 so that thou mayst be justified by faith1 and find peace in believing1 and in all times of tribulation and distress thou mayst find ,jesus a present help and saviour4 ,o woman1 sorely smitten6 which one of the gods of ,kem hath died to redeem thy soul8 ,none1 she answered--none6 ,which one of them cleanseth thee from sin1 and giveth thee a sure1 unfailing promise of eternal life1 thereby releasing thee from the fear of death that keepeth mankind in bondage1 teaching that death is but a change through which the conscious spirit passeth into larger life8 ,none6 not one1 she answered4 ,i have never heard such glorious promises from any priest4 ,but to make these glorious promises steadfast1 abiding1 true1 the ,son of ,god took upon himself our nature2 became a man for our justification1 and offered up himself a divine and perfect sacrifice for us1 to make atonement for our sins2 and having submitted himself to be crucified by ,pontius ,pilate1 the third day he arose from the dead1 whereby we know that we also shall rise4 ,seek thou for ,christ by faith1 for in him are joy and peace4 ,in him are hope for all bereavement1 consolation for all grief4 ,he loveth thee4 ,he so loved thee as to die for thee6 ,come thou to him1 and thou shalt learn how kind1 and compassionate1 and merciful a loving ,god can be6 ,for all that hath happened unto thee is not the cruel1 blind1 relentless infliction of merciless fate1 working through nature2 nor is it the vengeance of an angry ,god upon thee and thy husband2 but is only the wise chastisement of thy ,father1 ,god1 whereby he seeketh to wean thee away from the love of this vain and transitory life1 and to draw thy spirit upward to himself1 and to the glory of the world to come4 ,oh1 if thou wilt believe in ,christ1 thou shalt find before his mercy-seat a refuge from every stormy wind that blows1 and peace that passeth all understanding1 that floweth as a river1 that teacheth thee that these light afflictions1 which are but for a moment1 shall work out for thee a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory in that bright world to which we haste4 ,seek thou for ,christ1 and thou shalt know how good1 and pure1 and holy an exercise even thy human sorrow and yearning may become4 ,then said the woman3 ,it is all very beautiful and comforting1 and ,i would know more of it4 ,but tell me where ,i may find a temple in which these things are taught1 and a priest that knoweth them4 ,then answered ,arius3 ,we have no temple here2 and ,jesus is our only priest4 ,but there are bishops and presbyters who preach the gospel1 when the ,christians assemble together4 ,and in every ,christian family there are daily religious exercises4 ,dost thou have such worship here in thy father's house8 ,assuredly6 on the evening of every day4 ,and at what place8 ,in any place that may be most convenient4 ,in thine own apartment1 if thou wilt4 ,,chapter ,,xi4 ,,for ,,the ,,work',s ,,sake4 ,that night1 at the request of ,hatasa1 the whole family assembled in her room1 and she insisted upon having them engage in their usual religious exercises1 to which she listened with profoundest attention1 and with a certain amazement2 for it was hard for her to grasp at once the idea that ,god might be worshiped without a temple1 a priest1 and a sacrifice2 but the fact furnished its own best explanation4 ,and the sorrowful woman soon found herself following with a new1 strange sort of interest the reading of the gospel1 and the earnest1 extemporaneous1 sympathetic prayer of ,ammonius1 in which he pleaded with ,god not to suffer his dear and sorrowful guests1 nor the aged and righteous priest1 who had so long sought for the truth1 to depart from his abode without having learned by blessed experience how freely ,jesus can forgive1 and what light and peace his gospel can afford to all who believe thereon4 ,after the conclusion of these exercises1 ,am-nem-hat saith to ,ammonius1 ,there are some things connected with thy simple and beautiful religion about which ,i would question thee when thou shalt have leisure and inclination to answer me4 ,then said ,ammonius3 ,whenever thou wilt6 ,even now1 if thou wilt go with me into another room1 where our conversation may not weary the others4 ,nay1 cried ,hatasa4 ,go not hence1 ,i beg2 for ,i eagerly desire to hear such conversation4 ,then said ,am-nem-hat3 ,i know the ,jewish scriptures1 and also the new books which the ,christians have written2 but ,i desire thee to tell me plainly what the evidence is of the fact1 upon which thou dost continually insist1 that ,jesus of ,nazareth1 whom ,pilate crucified1 is the ,christ4 ,the evidence is primarily historical and prophetic1 said ,ammonius1 based chiefly upon the ,jewish laws and prophecies concerning him that were written centuries before the advent of our ,lord1 and that do testify of him4 ,yea1 answered ,am-nem-hat1 but these proofs only go to establish the coming of a ,divine ,man1 in whom not only ,plato and ,socrates1 who knew nothing of the ,jews1 but the ,egyptians also1 and many more1 believed4 ,i speak not of proofs that ,messiah was to come1 but of the proof that ,jesus1 whom ,pilate crucified1 was he4 ,the evidences upon this point are twofold1 answered ,ammonius4 ,one line of proof which is the most satisfying1 and which in fact amounts to positive knowledge1 is the personal consciousness of the believer1 experimental religion1 whereby he knoweth that faith1 the conviction of sin1 the justification of the believer1 and all of the phenomena which must necessarily attend the faith1 are true4 ,but this highest1 most satisfactory1 most scientific form of evidence is of course inaccessible to one that believeth not1 except by the testimony of those who have personal experience of the truth4 ,the other line of evidence is founded on the fact that the prophecies foretold for centuries just what ,messiah should do and suffer when he might come1 and we know that ,jesus did and suffered just those things--many of them not possible to be done without the ,divinity--as healing of the sick1 unstopping the deaf ears1 cleansing the lepers1 restoring sight to the blind1 raising the dead1 and preaching good tidings to the poor2 all of which things ,jesus customarily did1 all of which things his followers have done from that day to this2 whereby we know that he is ,christ indeed4 ,dost thou mean to assert that the ,christians yet work miracles8 asked ,am-nem-hat4 ,assuredly1 replied ,ammonius4 ,jesus not only did the miracles himself1 but did solemnly promise that1 wherever his disciples should continue to obey him in all things1 they should be able1 by faith in his name1 to do thaumaturgical works even unto the end of time2 and they have certainly done so ever since4 ,dost thou really believe that thou hast seen a miracle with thine own eyes8 ,yea1 verily1 said ,ammonius1 and many of them4 ,the ancient paused a long time1 and seemed lost in profoundest meditation4 ,at length he answered in a tone of inexpressible sadness and weariness3 ,i was in the temple service at ,thebes for nearly half a century1 and much of the time a priest4 ,at ,ombos ,i was high-priest for five-and-twenty years1 and until some five years ago4 ,i have seen some wonders1 indeed1 which the people called miracles4 but alas6 alas6 ,i know just how those things were done6 ,the sun rises and sets1 and no man hindereth it6 ,the ,nile overfloweth its banks1 and refresheth all the land of ,kem1 and shrinketh back in his accustomed channel2 the stars in heaven pursue their bright and tranquil way1 and seed-time cometh1 and the harvest2 and life and death4 ,all nature moves on in obedience to fixed1 changeless1 universal laws1 which have been from the beginning2 and ,i find myself unable to believe that these laws were ever violated1 or suspended1 in order to furnish evidences of any religion1 or for any purpose whatever2 although1 no doubt1 good men may believe that such things have occurred4 ,and as to that1 said ,ammonius1 beyond any question thou art right4 ,he hath but a poor conception of our ,god who thinketh that1 in creating a world wherein he intended miracles to occur1 he did not know enough to provide natural laws by which these phenomena might come to pass without violating or suspending the established order4 ,but1 if ,i could know that it violates or suspends any law of nature to raise the dead1 ,i would not believe such a fact1 although ,i have seen it done4 ,but why dost thou suppose that the anastasis of the dead is contrary to natural law8 ,our ,lord hath never said so2 on the contrary1 he came to fulfill1 not to violate1 the law4 ,surely thou canst not declare that any miracle violates or suspends1 or is without law1 unless thou canst first truthfully declare that all laws are known to thee1 and that among them there is none by which the dead might be raised up4 ,but although thou art wise and learned1 thou knowest that ,nature withholdeth many secrets yet from thee4 ,thou knowest that no man hath mastered all her laws2 and even those which we know may be weak1 and mean1 and narrow1 compared with those of which we are profoundly ignorant4 ,but we ,christians teach that ,god is not the author of confusion1 but of order2 that all laws of nature1 physical1 mental1 spiritual1 are but the expression of his will1 which must be harmonious throughout1 and can not be self-contradictory2 and that just as he hath made some law by which water seeks a level1 and by which heavy bodies tend toward the center of the world1 and by which oil and water1 that repel each other by nature1 will unite with an alkali to make a new creature1 just so he hath established laws by which the miracles are done2 so that the anastasis of the dead1 or any other miracle1 must be as purely and truly a natural phenomenon as is the rising of the sun1 or the falling of the dew--not so common1 perhaps1 because these phenomena involve powers and faculties of the human soul that do not act always and automatically as do the laws of physical nature2 so neither does one sleep1 or talk1 or think always1 but only when he wills to do so4 ,that is a new1 strange view of thaumaturgy6 ,thou sayst 'the miracles are under law'2 perhaps1 then1 other men besides the ,christians might be able to perform them4 ,i know not to what extent it might be possible for other men to exercise the power of faith which is an essential condition in the working of miracles4 ,i suppose they might do wonderful things1 that would bear about the same relation to our ,christian miracles that their various religions bear to our holy ,christianity4 ,and ,i suppose that the witchcraft and demonology denounced by ,moses were the results of the exercise of faith in false gods4 ,but a ,christian miracle1 depending upon faith in ,christ as a primary condition for the exercise of thaumaturgical power1 must remain impossible to all who possess not that faith4 ,thou hast read the ,gospels1 and thou knowest the ,lord hath said1 ',if ye had faith as a grain of mustard-seed1 ye might say unto this mountain1 ,be thou removed1 and be thou cast into the midst of the sea1 and it should obey you4' ,but he also said1 ',without me ye can do nothing4' ,i infer1 said ,am-nem-hat1 that thou thinkest faith to be the law of miracles2 thou thinkest that this faith is itself a force in nature sufficient for the accomplishment of physical results2 and that they who sincerely believe may1 by means of this force1 even raise up the dead4 ,why1 then1 are not all the dead raised up8 ,thou hast stated the law rather too broadly1 answered ,ammonius4 ,the faith that worketh miracles must be applied under proper conditions to be of any avail4 ,water1 oil1 and alkali do not always produce soap1 but only when the proper conditions are observed4 ,so ,i suppose that no man could be raised up from the dead against his will2 and1 while there be many ,christians that have sought for martyrdom1 there be but few that were willing to be raised again1 and fewer still that ever requested the brethren to pray for their anastasis1 because they preferred to depart1 and to be with the ,lord1 which is far better4 ,i do remember1 said ,am-nem-hat1 that many years ago1 when ,decius was ,emperor of ,rome1 a bitter persecution raged against the ,christians at ,alexandria4 ,i saw ,julian1 and ,macar1 and ,epimachus1 and ,alexander burned at the stake2 and truly many seemed to seek for martyrdom rather than to shun it1 a fact which we attributed to a certain incorrigible and hopeless wickedness in them1 and not1 as thou dost1 to their assurance of obtaining a better life4 ,i suppose1 indeed1 that such men as those would not have desired to be restored to a life which they seemed anxious to lose2 and it seemeth reasonable enough that1 even if it had been possible to do so1 they should not have been recalled against their will4 ,wilt thou not state more fully yet the conditions upon which thou thinkest this thaumaturgy may be exercised8 ,faith in ,jesus is the primary condition1 said ,ammonius1 but there are also others4 ,once a man came unto our ,lord and besought him to heal his son1 saying that the disciples had been unable to do so4 ,our ,lord did heal him with a word4 ,afterward the disciples inquired of him why it was that they had failed in doing the same work1 and he said unto them that it was because of their unbelief4 ,now thou must perceive that it was not because of their want of faith in him1 for they were then following him2 so that it must have been because of their unbelief in their own power and authority to do the work in his name4 ,it seemeth1 therefore1 that faith on the part of the thaumaturgist in his own power to accomplish the miracle in the ,lord's name is one of the conditions of thaumaturgy4 ,that also seemeth to be a reasonable and proper condition1 answered ,am-nem-hat4 ,but are there yet others8 ,it is written that he did not many wonderful works at ,capernaum because of their unbelief4 ,he often said to those who asked his aid1 ',be it unto thee according to thy faith4' ,and from these facts it seems to follow that faith on the part of him for1 or upon1 whom the work was to be done1 and on the part of those among whom it was to be done1 was also one of the conditions upon which the exercise of thaumaturgical power depended4 ,but1 objected ,am-nem-hat1 if he was in truth divine1 why should he pay any attention to the unbelieving or to the unwilling8 ,why did he not do the miracles in defiance of them all1 as well as if they had been faithful and willing8 ,because1 answered ,ammonius1 our ,lord teacheth and requireth only a willing obedience and faith4 ,not ,god himself will force the human will2 for that which is of compulsion hath no morality4 ,it is of necessity1 therefore1 neither holy nor unholy4 ,a necessary holiness is a contradiction in terms4 ,god's use of sovereignty hath been to make man free4 ,besides1 faith itself is the law of miracles2 to have wrought miracles where no faith was1 would have been to violate the very law by which he worked1 and so to have degraded miracles to the plane of an arbitrary and sporadic exhibition of divine power1 instead of leaving them as they are1 the highest result of the very highest form of universal law4 ,that seemeth reasonable enough1 rejoined ,am-nem-hat1 and in accordance with my conception of the character of a holy and perfect ,god4 ,but as ,i perceive thou clearly comprehendest the ,christian system1 upon which ,i have bestowed much thought almost in vain1 suffer me to put one other case to thee which seemeth to me to be inexplicable upon any principles which thou hast stated as constituent elements of the law of miracles1 if thou art not yet weary of my questions4 ,nay1 said ,ammonius1 ,i am not weary4 ,thou mayst ask many things1 indeed1 which ,i know not1 and can not answer2 but1 so far as ,i can give thee any aid1 it affordeth me pleasure to answer thee as intelligently as ,i can4 ,the matter is this1 said ,am-nem-hat4 ,it is recorded in thy sacred books that when the apostles were going about ,jerusalem1 imparting the ,paraclete by the laying on of their hands1 and working divers miracles1 one ,simon1 a magician1 came unto them and offered money unto them if they would communicate unto him the same power1 so that he also might become a thaumaturgist4 ,but one of them1 named ,peter1 did bitterly rebuke him1 saying1 ',thy money perish with thee6' ,now1 the apostles had faith2 the people who saw them doing all these wonderful works had faith1 and were baptized by ,philip4 ,simon ,magus himself had faith as much as any one of them1 and1 when ,peter rebuked him1 with fear and trembling he besought ,peter1 saying1 ',pray ye to the ,lord for me1 that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me4' ,now1 here seem to have been all of the conditions of faith and willingness in ,simon of which thou hast spoken1 and yet ,peter manifestly regarded the desire of ,simon as a sort of sacrilege4 ,why was this so8 ,why1 said ,ammonius1 ,peter declared that his thought that the gift of ,god may be purchased with money was evil2 and that his heart was not right in the sight of ,god1 and that he should repent of his wickedness1 and that his very thought showed that he was still in the gall of bitterness and in the bonds of iniquity4 ,that is very true1 answered ,am-nem-hat1 but his tender of money to the apostles only proves his appreciation of the value of the power which he desired to purchase4 ,peter saith not that ,simon was a bad man1 but that this particular thing was wicked2 why was it so in him1 and not in them8 ,because1 replied ,ammonius1 it is manifest from the whole record that ,simon desired to purchase this power for himself1 and to use it for his own purposes4 ,certainly so1 persisted ,am-nem-hat1 but in what respect was it sacrilegious for him to desire to use the power for his own purposes1 any more than it would have been to use his brain1 or his hand1 for his own advancement2 or his learning1 or skill1 for the acquisition and cultivation of which he had1 perhaps1 expended money8 ,the answer to thy question1 replied ,ammonius1 involves some consideration of the very genius of ,christianity as a system of divine truth4 ,if1 as thou seemest to suppose1 the religion of our ,lord had been only a system of spiritual truth1 it might be difficult to deny that the apostles were selfish1 and that ,simon was very badly treated4 ,but this is not at all true4 ,thou knowest that the legislation of ,moses was for the ,israelites only2 that of ,egypt for the land and people of ,kem only2 that of other lands and ages for certain peoples only4 ,but thou canst not have read the scriptures so carefully without learning the fact that ,jesus died for all men1 and that his truth is designed for all mankind4 ,thou seest1 therefore1 that1 if ,simon ,magus could have obtained this power to exercise it for his own purposes1 he would have made it the agency by which to gain limitless authority and wealth unto himself1 and oppress the poor4 ,thou seest also that1 if any nation or government could exercise thaumaturgical powers1 that nation or government would soon become the ruler and the tyrant of the world4 ,thou seest that1 if any church that is in any way connected with1 or bound unto1 an earthly government1 could exercise this power1 ecclesiasticism would quickly make mankind its slaves3 for manifestly no people could long resist a government that had thaumaturgical power wherewith to enforce obedience to its laws4 ,thou seest also that if the faith that is effective for miracles could be exercised for any purposes except the edification of the ,church and the good of all men1 the faith itself might have become a nameless and unappealable tyranny4 ,nay1 if it were ever possible to exercise such power except under such conditions as necessarily and absolutely to preclude the use of it for any private purposes1 thou seest that sooner or later1 under the influence of inborn selfishness1 the thaumaturgists would have made war upon each other1 and1 in place of seeing nations contending with sword1 and bow1 and spear1 we would have seen them hurling against each other all of the destructive forces of nature1 and only chaos and utter ruin could have ended the superhuman strife4 ,it was therefore ordained that the thaumaturgic faith can not be exercised except under conditions which necessarily exclude the use of it for private purposes1 and insure its exercise for the good of the common ,church only4 ,canst thou specify by what means this restricted use of the power hath been enforced8 ,for it seemeth to me that1 if it exists1 it must be beyond control4 ,in order to exclude all worldly ambitions and selfishness from the kingdom which he established in the world1 our ,lord ordained that his ,church should be a community in which all men are free and equal--brethren only4 ,hence he ordained1 as the fundamental law of the kingdom1 that all private rights of property 7including estates1 rank1 offices1 prerogatives7 should be forever abolished in his ,church1 and that ,christians should hold them all in common4 ,hence1 the kingdom of heaven is an absolute democracy1 social and political1 based upon faith in ,christ1 and community of rights and property among all who believe4 ,of this community the apostles themselves were the divinely appointed type4 ,they used thaumaturgy for the common good only1 and not for personal aggrandizement4 ,the common treasure was put into a bag1 and1 as if to show the divine scorn of wealth and of all human distinctions that grow out of it1 the bag was intrusted to ,judas1 the only base one of the twelve4 ,it was easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven1 because the law of that kingdom imperatively required the consecration of all that he had to the common good4 ,but1 under the power of a living faith1 many complied with this law1 and the ,church prospered4 ,thus did the bishops that were ordained by the apostles1 as ,linus at ,rome1 ,polycarp at ,smyrna1 ,evodius at ,antioch1 and others also4 ,thus did ,paulinus1 ,cyprian1 ,hilary1 and others4 ,such has been the law and practice of the common ,church even unto this day4 ,for the primary law of the kingdom of heaven demandeth the consecration of all property1 and the abdication of all worldly honors1 offices1 and authority4 ,and ,simon ,magus desired not part or lot in this kingdom1 but his own advantage only4 ,and thou must perceive that thaumaturgical power exercised by such a church must necessarily be for the common good of all1 and not for any personal1 political1 or sectarian purposes2 and the faith that worketh wonders must therefore be impossible to any human association except to the church organized upon the foundation which ,jesus himself laid1 even the communion of the holy2 for the liberty1 fraternity1 and equality1 which constitute the socialism and politics of the kingdom1 can not exist upon any other foundation4 ,and1 of course1 thaumaturgic power will vanish even out of the ,church if the day shall ever come in which those who believe shall abandon the communal organization of the kingdom of heaven1 and establish human statutes as the law thereof4 ,i think1 said ,am-nem-hat1 that thy words remove many of the difficulties which have beset my study of thy sacred books4 ,for ,i now perceive that the parables of ,jesus--a species of literary composition unknown1 perhaps impossible1 to other men--which ,i supposed to refer to some spiritual1 mystical doctrines1 were in fact spoken concerning his ,church1 or kingdom1 in this world4 ,assuredly so1 replied ,ammonius4 ,and thou hast done well to characterize the parable as 'a species of literary composition unknown and impossible to other men'2 for no other man hath written a parable1 nor do ,i suppose that any man ever will do so4 ,for he spake as never man spake3 he spake in parables2 without a parable he spake not4 ,the history1 the poem1 the fable1 the allegory1 may be used by other teachers also2 but the parable is the language of ,jesus alone2 and no man can handle it but himself4 ,i can now understand that strange parable of 'the unjust steward1' said ,am-nem-hat1 although1 when ,i first read the words1 ',i say unto you1 make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness1 that when ye fail they may receive you into everlasting habitations1' ,i did even suppose that ,jesus represented eternal life to be a vendible thing1 and that his religion1 like every other1 assured the rich that they could purchase salvation with money--although this seemed to be antagonistic to the general current of his teachings4 ,verily1 replied ,ammonius1 the words of ,jesus would convey no other meaning1 if1 indeed1 the fundamental law of the ,church had not excluded therefrom all the private wealth1 honors1 and authority after which the ,gentiles seek4 ,but1 if thou wilt consider that the unjust steward is any believer that useth his means1 pecuniary1 intellectual1 physical1 for his own aggrandizement1 and not for the common good2 that the ,lord of that steward is ,jesus2 that unrighteous mammon is wealth held by private ownership1 and that the true riches is wealth held by common title for the good of all--thou canst then understand how1 even upon ceasing to be steward 7the end of life71 one may make amends for past selfishness and mammon-worship1 by giving up his property to the common ,church4 ,thou canst understand how it is just that those who come in even at the eleventh hour to work in his vine-yard shall have an equal reward with those who entered early and bore the heat and burden of the day4 ,thou wilt see that it is true that those who gave up houses and lands for his sake and the gospel's reaped manifold more 'now in this present life' by gaining a communal title in the property of all other believers--an increase which our ,lord expressly promises as to all the interests and relationships of life1 except as to the wife2 for1 while1 if one leave houses1 lands1 father1 mother1 brother1 sister1 or children1 for the gospel's sake1 the severed interests and relationships are replaced a hundred-fold by his admission into the kingdom of heaven1 monogamic marriage was and is the law of the ,church4 ,and thou canst thus give a practical and beautiful meaning to all that our ,lord hath said and done2 thou wilt see that the social and political system of the gospel is the only kingdom that can ever banish crime1 hatred1 and selfishness out of human life1 and so regenerate the world2 thou wilt see that the ,scribes and ,pharisees persecuted our ,lord because his kingdom excluded war1 slavery1 private-property rights1 estates1 rank1 offices1 prerogatives--of all which things they were 'covetous'--just as the ,romans and all other established governments persecute the ,christians1 even unto this day1 for the same reasons4 ,for ,christ desireth the brotherhood of men2 the liberty and equality of men2 and that the average talents1 energy1 and prosperity of all may insure the common weal2 and not that some shall be emperors1 lords1 and masters1 whereby it cometh to pass that many must be slaves2 not that some be inordinately rich1 and others distressfully poor4 ,i will read the gospels and the ,acts again in the light of thine instructions1 said ,am-nem-hat4 ,but1 verily1 many passages thereof already come crowding into my mind that bear new and potent meanings2 for ,i perceive clearly enough that ,christianity is not only a system of spiritual truth1 but also of social and political truth1 that is founded upon the faith1 and from that basis assaulteth selfishness in its strong citadel of private rights by elevating the common good into a higher thing than private aggrandizement1 and separating the people of his kingdom from all personal honors1 prerogatives1 and wealth1 after which the ,gentiles seek4 ,thou wilt perceive this all the more clearly1 said ,ammonius1 if thou wilt reread the gospels with this thought in thy mind2 for thou wilt at once perceive that many passages1 which in any other view would seem strongly tainted with fanaticism1 or rhapsody1 or demagoguery1 are precisely the things which ,jesus ought to have said if his kingdom was1 indeed1 a social and political democracy founded upon faith and community of rights and property4 ,for the ,jews1 who supposed that our ,lord would overturn the ,roman authority and establish a great ,israelitish nation instead thereof1 were not any more in error than are those who falsely suppose that he would establish no kingdom at all1 and that he taught only spiritual truth1 as do the ,therapeutae4 ,i am familiar with the work of ,philo ',on a ,contemplative ,life1 or the ,devout1' answered ,am-nem-hat1 in which he giveth a full and succinct account of the ,therapeutae2 but1 indeed1 ,i had supposed that he therein intended to describe the first heralds of the gospel1 and the practices handed down from the apostles4 ,beyond doubt the ,therapeutae were ,christians1 continued ,ammonius1 but they separated themselves from the apostolical churches in order to lead a more devout life1 and they gradually exalted all their conceptions of spiritual truth until they began to despise all temporal surroundings2 and in this they departed from the teaching of our ,lord3 for there is no teacher of men more free from asceticism or stoicism than is ,jesus4 ,he was ever busied about and interested in the common1 every-day life of common men2 he was touched with the feeling of our infirmity in all things2 sympathized in all the joys and sorrows of those about him1 their trials and triumphs1 seeking to lead them1 not out of the world1 but into a way of life wherein every pure and wholesome feeling1 affection1 and faculty of the human heart might find full development1 exercise1 and satisfaction4 ,the vast difference1 indeed1 between ,jesus and the philosophers subsists in the fact that1 while they were ever painfully seeking for rules and actions by which the select and favored few might attain a perfect human life1 he ordained a simple1 perfect system by which to bring the higher1 purer life within the reach of all men1 especially the poor4 ,in such conversations the time passed quickly2 and it was strange to note with what deep interest the sorrowful ,hatasa1 and also ,theckla and ,arius1 listened to every word1 and strove to catch the full signification of every phrase2 while ,arete heard it patiently1 as one might listen to an oft-told but still pleasant story1 and old ,thopt1 as if she knew little and cared less about the whole matter1 being satisfied that whatever ,ammonius and his wife might do must be right and true4 ,,chapter ,,xii4 ,,the ,,one ,,thing ,,needful4 ,on the same day began ,arius to teach ,theckla letters2 for1 although the girl had been remarkably well instructed for an ,egyptian maiden1 all of her tuition had been oral4 ,but1 in accordance with her strong wish to learn how to read and write1 the boy began at once with the three alphabets1 ,latin1 ,greek1 and ,hebrew1 and in a single day she learned all of the letters1 and the relative power of each1 and in a very short time she could make all of the characters with a sharp point of keil upon a leaf of papyrus4 ,then1 as leisure served1 he would take a single word1 as1 for example1 spirit1 and would pronounce and spell it in the three languages 7nishema1 pneuma1 animus71 and she would repeat the three names for the same thing after him1 and spell them1 and write them down1 over and over again1 until she had become thoroughly familiar with the letters1 the sound1 and the form of the written word4 ,the acquisition of a few words every day soon gave her command of a considerable vocabulary in each tongue1 and she rapidly learned to associate the words with all familiar objects1 and to call them by the right name in either tongue4 ,then he would select some short passage1 generally from the sacred writings1 and during the day she would write it over and over again1 in each of the languages1 while he was absent upon the various duties which pertained to his part of the farm-labor4 ,the girl was continually learning2 and it was pleasant to see how soon she began1 of her own accord1 to select and translate into the different tongues any passage which pleased her4 ,this process of education continued1 as we shall hereafter see1 during the years which she spent at ,baucalis1 and finally ,theckla became very familiar with the three languages in which the scriptures were then written4 ,on the next evening after that described in the last chapter1 all the dwellers at the cottage assembled again in ,hatasa's room1 by her request1 to hold the usual evening service2 for the lady had seldom quitted her bed1 and she remained deplorably weak1 suffering with continual pain in her lungs1 the result1 perhaps1 of her great exposure during the storm1 and of the terrible depression of spirits that succeeded it4 ,all through the pagan world1 the only known refuge from hopeless sorrow was suicide1 and the idea of self-destruction was ever present to her4 ,perhaps her maternal affection for ,theckla alone deterred her from putting an end to her life2 for it was not regarded by the heathen as cowardly1 criminal1 or even immoral1 to seek that refuge from misfortune4 ,cato did it2 ,seneca approved of it2 ,epictetus1 ,aurelius1 and all the great lights of pagan antiquity regarded self-immolation as a matter of choice1 and often as an act of wisdom4 ,but1 from the moment in which ,hatasa had been informed that the kind friends who surrounded her were ,christians1 she felt a desire to know more of them1 and of their peculiar religion1 strong enough to give her a new interest in life2 and she had requested ,ammonius to have the service in her room1 and told him that1 although she was too weak to take any part in their conversation about ,christianity1 she desired to hear himself and ,am-nem-hat discuss any topic pertaining thereto in which they were interested4 ,so1 after the usual exercises of reading and prayer1 the whole family remained together4 ,the ancient remarked to ,ammonius that during the day he had pondered much upon the things spoken of in their former conversation1 and suggested1 as a difficulty in the way of the acceptance of ,christianity1 something like the following3 ,i can understand how a kind and merciful ,god might lay down certain rules of action1 and require obedience to his laws1 under whatever penalties he might choose to impose2 but it seemeth to me that to require one to believe1 as the sole condition of justification1 is arbitrary and unjust4 ,suppose that one hath some natural bent of mind1 or hath been reared and educated in some such way that it is hard1 perhaps impossible1 for him to believe2 yet thy books say3 ',believe and live2 he that believeth not is condemned already4' ,is not this an arbitrary demand for faith2 and doth it not do violence to that very autonomy of the will which thou sayest ,jesus himself always respected and venerated8 ,thou dost somewhat mistake the matter1 said ,ammonius4 ,the ,lord does not demand our faith2 he simply stateth an actual fact1 which is1 that the believer is justified by faith1 and that he who does not believe is condemned already4 ,i hardly understand what thou sayest3 'he simply stateth an actual fact4' ,i think thou wilt find that there is no arbitrary demand in it4 ,our ,lord gave no command only because he had power and authority to do so2 but he knew what was in man1 and gave only such commands as his divine wisdom perceived to be necessary for the welfare of mankind4 ,as to the necessity of faith upon which he insists1 the case is thus3 ,all men upon earth are under the conviction of sin1 and all alike are forever seeking for some escape from the bonds of this conviction4 ,thou wilt perceive that this conviction hath no reference to any specific1 sinful act2 for1 perhaps1 the best and purest men have always been those who felt it most keenly4 ,it is a consciousness of alienation between the human and the divine4 ,it is a natural1 intuitive perception1 in the heart of every man1 that he is not as good as he ought to be1 less perfect than he might be4 ,the universal desire to get rid of this conviction of sin hath filled the world with false and ineffectual religions from the very dawn of time2 for all men1 in every age and clime1 have sought for some form of penance or of sacrifice1 some means in faith or work1 by which to make atonement and secure reconciliation1 and thereby shake off this conviction of sin4 ,hast thou ever heard of any kindred1 tribe1 or tongue 7or even of any individual71 that professed to be perfect1 sinless1 needing no sacrifice1 no atonement for sin--that is1 for a consciously sinful condition independent of all specific acts of transgression8 ,nay1 answered ,am-nem-hat2 for thou art clearly right in that4 ,all men do by nature bewail their sinful state4 ,humanity standeth forever like the lepers in ,israel1 with uplifted hand1 crying aloud to heaven and earth1 ',unclean6 unclean6' ,it is a conviction upon which philosophy hath no power4 ,it cometh some time into every human heart1 resistless as the precession of the equinoxes1 spontaneous as the flowing of the ,nile--a natural thing1 which a man can no more control than he can reach forth his puny hand and unloose the bands of ,orion1 or bind the sweet influence of ,pleiades1 or guide ,arcturus and his suns4 ,all literature1 all monuments1 all ages1 and all men1 testify unto this terrible truth4 ,now the work of ,jesus1 said ,ammonius1 was not to burden this sick and sorrowful nature with any arbitrary law of faith1 but was to provide a way by which this universal conviction of sin might be atoned for--a perfect righteousness and sacrifice available by faith for our justification2 to wit1 that ,god was in ,christ reconciling the world unto himself4 ,and faith is made the condition1 because no other condition could be available for all men alike1 whether great or small1 rich or poor1 learned or ignorant2 and ,jesus died for all6 ,thou must see that this faith1 instead of being1 as thou didst suppose1 an arbitrary condition or command1 is simply the enabling act1 instituted by divine wisdom and compassion1 by means whereof we may be able to attain unto reconciliation with ,god4 ,and without this faith we could never be justified by holy life and works alone1 because it is a law of our nature that1 just as we become better and purer beings1 our conception of the degree of fitness required of us necessarily becomes higher1 so that it is impossible for us to get any nearer to it2 so that without faith the best men are as much under conviction of sin as the worst2 so that without faith it is impossible for us to be consciously justified1 because our nature requires a perfect righteousness2 and this perfect righteousness and sacrifice must be human1 that we may be able to trust its love and willingness to aid us1 and must be divine1 that we may have faith in its power to save4 ,hast thou ever heard of any name given under heaven1 or among men1 which supplies these natural and necessary conditions for our conscious justification and reconciliation with ,god1 and with our own hearts also1 except the name of ,jesus ,christ8 ,if thou hast1 please utter it4 ,verily1 answered ,am-nem-hat1 there is none4 ,no religion of which ,i have heard professeth to know any4 ,the old man seemed lost in profoundest meditation1 and there was silence in the room1 until ,theckla said3 ,father ,am-nem-hat1 do thou bid ,arius repeat what things he said to me of this matter of faith when he was teaching the alphabets to me this morning4 ,i think it was much plainer than thy learned discoursing with ,ammonius4 ,yea1 said ,am-nem-hat1 ,i beg that ,arius will do so1 for ,i much desire to hear thereof4 ,the boy blushed vividly at being so called upon in the presence of his elders1 but1 at a sign from his father1 he stood up before them1 saying3 ,i did not suppose the talk of persons so young could interest those who are so much older and wiser1 but1 as ye desire to hear it1 ,i can almost repeat it4 ,as ,theckla and ,i were running over the alphabets1 in order to get the sound of the letters and the form of the characters1 she came upon the letter ',a' a second time1 and she cried out3 ',oh1 ,i know that one2 it is ,latin ,a1 ,greek ,alpha1 ,hebrew ,aleph4' ,and ,i said unto her1 ',theckla1 how knowest thou that the characters stand for these sounds8' and she answered1 ',thou didst tell me so1 and ,i did believe thee1 boy1 and that is how ,i know it4' ,then said ,i3 ',theckla1 thou learnest the alphabet by faith only4 ,if thou wert naturally constituted so that thou couldst not believe1 thou couldst never learn anything not tangible to thy senses4 ,if thou wert by nature even indifferent between faith and non-faith1 thy progress in the acquisition of knowledge would be slow and painful4 ,thou shouldst therefore learn1 from the learning of these alphabets1 that faith is the first1 most inevitable act of intelligence4 ,thou shouldst learn that belief precedes knowledge always1 that ,faith is the elder sister and leadeth ,knowledge by the hand1 and that without antecedent faith it is impossible to learn and to know anything except what is palpable to the senses2 just as it would be impossible for thee to learn these alphabets without faith4' ,and thereupon ,theckla did pinch mine ear1 and laugh at me1 saying1 ',that all seemeth to be true and plain enough1 thou odd boy1 but why art thou preaching at me now8' ,and ,i did answer3 ',because1 thou dear sister1 some time thy faith may be demanded for another alphabet than this1 even the alphabet of spiritual life2 and1 when that day shall come1 ,i would have thee remember that just as all human knowledge is builded upon the basis of faith only1 so it should not seem a hard thing unto thee that ,god hath fashioned thy nature so that thou must be incapable of learning even the alphabet of everlasting life except upon the very same condition of faith only4 ,faith precedeth all knowledge2 believe and obey1 and finally thou shalt know4' ,i think this was about what was spoken between us concerning faith4 ,and it is most wise1 beautiful1 and instructive talk1 said ,am-nem-hat1 and serveth to complete the powerful utterances of thy father upon the same lofty and interesting subject4 ,i do thank thee for repeating it4 ,then spake ,hatasa1 saying to ,ammonius1 ,suppose that one hath died without having known the truth concerning ,jesus1 and without having exercised this faith1 is there no hope for such a one8 ,the trembling voice in which she spoke1 and the look of timid1 doubtful entreaty which accompanied these words1 touched every heart1 and made them all feel that by such a one the poor lady meant her young and gallant husband ,amosis1 whose memory seemed ever in her heart4 ,ammonius answered3 ,i do not know whether ,i could make thee understand fully the views which we ,christians entertain about such a case as thou hast suggested1 but we believe that there is hope for such a man4 ,the great apostle ,paul was ,saul of ,tarsus1 and for a long time he did persecute the ,christians because they were ,christians1 yet he declareth himself that he acted in all good conscience before ,god1 believing that it was his duty to do so1 and he afterward became the great apostle and a glorious martyr4 ,i doubt not that there are among those who now persecute the ,christians some good and just men1 that would follow ,jesus unto death if they could know him as he is4 ,the conviction of sin1 we know1 hath no reference to any specific transgression1 nor hath the forgiveness of sin4 ,whether an act be a sin or not dependeth largely upon the intent with which it is done4 ,now1 when the heathen1 who know not ,jesus nor his divine truth1 do yet live just and righteous lives according to the best light and knowledge they possess1 and die without the consolation of the faith1 the benefit of the atonement accrueth to them in some way1 we know not precisely how far1 nor to what effect2 to all such1 indeed1 and especially to such as have some living ,christian relative or friend that taketh upon himself the rite of baptism for the dead2 for1 if they have not the law1 they are not judged by the law1 but by their works and righteousness under the law which they have4 ,how is that8 said ,hatasa1 with breathless interest4 ,thou sayest a living ,christian may be baptized for the dead8 ,assuredly1 answered ,ammonius4 ,the apostles so taught1 and the ,church hath always so practiced4 ,if any ,christian hath a relative that died without knowledge of ,jesus1 and such ,christian doth believe that the deceased was a just and righteous person according to the measure of light given unto him1 and was such that he would have followed our ,lord if he had known sufficiently of him1 such ,christian may receive baptism for the deceased1 and the dead shall reap benefit of this vicarious faith and obedience1 how and to what extent hath never been clearly revealed unto us4 ,there is hope in that6 cried ,hatasa4 ,there is consolation in that4 ,thy ,lord must have been full of human love and pity to make provision not only for his friends1 but for those good and just men1 also1 who have ignorantly been his enemies4 ,yea1 verily1 answered ,ammonius4 ,he loveth all men2 his mercy endureth forever2 his loving-kindness is stronger than height1 or depth1 or life1 or death1 or any other creature1 as thou mayest assuredly know for thyself if thou wilt believe on him4 ,then ,am-nem-hat said3 ,there is much in this religion that taketh fast hold upon both the heart and the mind2 for it verily seemeth that ,jesus seeketh not to impose a system upon man that is in any respect external to man1 but rather that he seeketh to show unto man such spiritual food as is most divinely suitable to satisfy that hunger of the soul wherefrom the whole world suffereth already2 and he seemeth to propose nothing as matter of faith which was not already a conscious want and need of nature3 so that his teachings ought to be accepted as at least the highest utterance of philosophy if even not as divinely true4 ,thy profound criticism of the spirit of our religion striketh very nearly to the heart of the whole matter1 said ,ammonius4 ,for the world yearned after ,god whom it knew not1 and ,jesus plainly declareth that unknown ,god whom men ignorantly worship4 ,the world groaned and sorrowed under the blind conviction of sin1 and1 wherever men acquired a local habitation and a name on earth1 there they had their holy places also2 and in some way--often in a crude and ignorant way1 often in a gross and sensual way1 often in a heathenish and cruel way--they sought1 by sacred rites of penitence and sacrifice1 to atone for their wrong deeds done2 but the wrongs continually repeated themselves1 and the unavailing religions left the world's heart like a troubled sea that can not rest4 ,but ,jesus saith the sin for which ye suffer is not a wrong thing done at all2 these wicked deeds of yours are not sin1 but are the outcroppings of the sin that lieth back of all your deeds4 ,can a bitter fountain send forth sweet waters8 ,doth an evil tree bear good fruits8 ,do ye gather figs from thistles8 ,cease now your world-old and unavailing efforts to regenerate the heart by the vain expiation of your wicked deeds4 ,purify the fountain1 that the waters thereof may be sweet4 ,make the tree good1 and its fruits shall be good also4 ,for sin is non-conformity to the will of ,god1 and your evil deeds are only the evidences of your enmity against him4 ,so1 when the blind yearnings of the world's heart after peace had made sacrifices1 not only of every beast and creeping thing upon the earth1 but of men also1 he saith3 ',all these things ye do in vain1 for your righteousness must exceed that of the ,scribes and ,pharisees1 or ye shall likewise perish4 ,i am the ,light1 the ,truth1 the ,way--the ,lamb of ,god that taketh away the sin of the world--a perfect righteousness and sacrifice once for all offered for the sin of men4 ,believe in me1 and ye shall be saved2 all other sacrifices are in vain4' ,so every yearning want of the heart is met and satisfied in ,christ4 ,all other religions under heaven condemn actions which they suppose to be wicked1 and prescribe certain forms of expiation for such as they suppose to be expiable2 but ,jesus proposes to pardon1 not so much the sinful act as the sinner1 the sinful nature out of which the act ariseth1 and to regenerate this nature so that it will hate what it believes to be wicked1 and love what it believes to be holy4 ,for ,christ atoneth for all sin1 and the act of faith is to personally appropriate the benefit thereof to each one for himself4 ,true1 said ,am-nem-hat1 and ,i undertake to assert that no other religion in the world hath so represented sin to be want of conformity to the will of ,god1 rather than an evil deed2 and in this whole matter of sin and the forgiveness thereof1 thy religion differeth from paganism more radically than even in the doctrine of one ,god it differeth from polytheism4 ,and in this and such like conversation the evening wore away until bed-time came1 and they separated for the night4 ,the family at ,baucalis did not speak or think of these matters as of mere abstract theories of truth1 or of philosophy1 but as actual1 living verities4 ,the ,christians felt their religion to be the only real life4 ,they regarded all earthly pursuits1 passions1 and pleasures1 as mere incidents of existence1 and religion as the one controlling and all-important thing4 ,their pleasant home was to them a merely temporary station on the highway whereby they were journeying to a better land2 the flesh was only a tabernacle which the spirit must soon forsake2 all that pertained to it was for a brief season only2 the real life was only begun during their occupancy of this earthly tenement2 ,christian faith was to them the one thing real and permanent1 and earthly existence was of little consequence except as it might stand related to eternal interests4 ,hence there was a freshness1 a vigor1 a sense of reality and earnestness1 in their way of thinking and speaking of such things1 that demonstrated their religion to be no beautiful1 speculative philosophy1 but a hard1 experimental1 and all-controlling fact4 ,and so every night during that week the dwellers at ,baucalis assembled in ,hatasa's room1 and passed long hours in the discussion of all the salient points of ,christianity in a friendly1 careful way1 as if1 indeed1 they had a mutual interest in ascertaining the truth1 especially concerning all those ideas upon which the antagonism between ,christianity and paganism most plainly appeared4 ,to set down all the various conversations in which they engaged would indeed be to write a treatise upon primitive ,christianity1 a work in which1 perhaps1 no interest would be felt in an age in which that system no longer exists upon earth1 and is utterly unknown to all except a few self-poised1 fearless1 unpopular antiquarians1 who have been eccentric and independent enough to exhume that ancient religion from out the accumulated debris of fifteen centuries of ecclesiastical progress which flourisheth over its ruins even as the vine ripens and the roses bloom over the wreck of buried ,pompeii4 ,yet we can not resist the inclination that moveth us to write out our notes of one other evening's conversation that happened between this ,christian family and their pagan guests4 ,,chapter ,,xiii4 ,,the ,,net ,,result ,,of ,,law4 ,on the next evening1 after the conclusion of their usual daily services1 the ancient ,am-nem-hat began the conversation which occupied their attention during that meeting by saying to ,ammonius3 ,thou didst observe that the future state of just and good men who died without any sufficient knowledge of ,christianity to lead them to embrace that faith 'hath never been clearly revealed unto us4' ,is it not true also that the future state of all men hath been left almost entirely unrevealed8 ,i ask thee this1 because ,i have found myself altogether unable1 from my readings of the sacred books1 to locate heaven1 either anywhere in this world or in any other sun or star4 ,and either ,i have utterly failed to comprehend some of the things which ,i have carefully read1 or else the scriptures leave this future state in a very misty1 uncertain1 indefinite condition4 ,wilt thou inform me how this matter may really stand8 ,thy reading is in no respect at fault1 replied ,ammonius4 ,our ,lord hath left the future life altogether unrevealed1 not only in respect to the locality thereof1 but also in every other respect4 ,types and figures are used in reference thereto1 whereby we know that it shall be eternal and blest2 but1 beyond this general assurance of exalted happiness and unfailing duration1 we are not informed4 ,to each ,christian soul it will undoubtedly be the best that is possible for him3 the place1 the development1 the environments thereof1 and all else that belongeth thereto1 are unrevealed4 ,i know not whether it would have been more pleasing to have some definite knowledge of that future life2 that is1 ,i can not tell whether the system of religion would or would not appear unto me to have been more perfect if all had been revealed by it1 or whether it is wiser and perhaps even more pleasing to have left it thus vague and undefined1 with a general assurance of its beatitude1 said ,am-nem-hat1 yet ,i could wish that something tangible and satisfying were revealed in reference thereto4 ,why1 thinkest thou1 was it not more fully revealed8 ,i know not1 answered ,ammonius1 but ,i feel certain that it was purposely left as a thing to be held by faith1 and not in knowledge4 ,either it may have been because it hath not yet entered into the heart of man to conceive what that life may be1 so that human speech could not convey any adequate knowledge thereof2 or1 if it were possible to do so1 the overpowering glory and splendor thereof1 if definitely grasped and understood1 and already realized1 might render us impatient of this mundane existence1 and too indifferent to all the duties and obligations thereof4 ,i think1 indeed1 that those very ,therapeutae1 of whom ,philo speaketh1 were to be censured for an unwarranted attempt to realize1 in this present world1 a spiritual life which our ,lord expressly reserved for the future2 an effort1 indeed1 necessarily impossible to succeed1 and perhaps injurious both to these anchorites and to other men also4 ,for the purpose of the gospel is not only to justify and save all who believe and obey it1 but the declared purpose of our ,lord is to regenerate mankind by the agency of his own kingdom2 and surely it tendeth not to the accomplishment of this purpose to have ,christians withdraw themselves permanently beyond the reach of common life and experience2 so that it is manifestly an error to suppose that1 because they have the assurance of a superlatively better life beyond1 ,christians should for that reason despise the life that now is4 ,and1 in accordance with this view1 thou wilt find that the ,church forbiddeth any man to go out of the world 7by suicide7 as the heathen commonly do2 forbiddeth any man to seek for martyrdom1 as many had done2 and forbiddeth any man to flee from that place in which he was converted into the mountains and the deserts3 because the kingdom of our ,lord must exist in the world--not out of it--for the regeneration thereof4 ,but he saith himself1 suggested ,am-nem-hat1 ',my kingdom is not of this world4' ,verily1 replied ,ammonius4 ,and his kingdom is not 'of' the world1 but is 'in' the world4 ,not surely a kingdom founded upon the social1 religious1 and political laws and customs of the world1 like other kingdoms2 but1 not the less1 a kingdom for men living in the world1 and founded on its own social1 religious1 and political economies4 ,and this temporal1 earthly kingdom1 established by our ,lord in the world1 is the very essence of the gospel1 the most important part of the truth which he revealed to men4 ,that is new to me1 answered ,am-nem-hat1 for ,i had supposed that the religious idea chiefly handleth the affairs of man with reference to the future life1 and that his temporal condition is the affair of government1 unto which he is kept in subjection by the sense of duty and obligation which religion supplieth4 ,and thou art manifestly in the right as to all governments that exist or ever have existed among men1 except only the kingdom of heaven4 ,how many governments have existed in ,egypt8 ,i know not that1 answered the ancient4 ,our records cover thirty full dynasties before the second ,persian invasion1 which occurred seven centuries ago1 but each of these dynasties represents more than one ,pharaoh1 and several of them a great many2 for government is not a permanent thing1 and some form of revolution ever lieth in wait for it1 as a tiger in a jungle watcheth a man to spring upon and strangle him4 ,and how many governments have existed among other peoples and nations during the thousands of years covered by the records of thy land of ,kem8 ,i know not that1 said ,am-nem-hat2 they are unknown and innumerable4 ,therefore1 answered ,ammonius1 each one of them must have contained1 in its very constitution and nature1 the seeds of its own dissolution2 and1 so far at least in human history1 the science of government hath learned no secret by which to secure permanency for itself4 ,the inference thou hast drawn seemeth to follow necessarily and undeniably from the known facts4 ,and what hath been the net result of the science of government among all the peoples and nations of whom thou hast ever heard8 ,misery6 ,yea6--,but state the net result of government in political or in philosophical terms6 ,state it for thyself2 ,i desire to learn of thee4 ,hath not the net result of human government everywhere1 in all climes and ages and among all men1 been only to produce1 or develop1 a ruling class at the top of every social and political system1 unto whom all the blessings of the government and civilization are given by law2 an oppressed or enslaved people at the bottom1 upon whose weary shoulders rest all of the burdens and the waste of life2 and between these two extremes1 some religious system and some armed force1 seeking to adjust the correlative legal rights and duties of the high and the low1 the rich and the poor1 the class that ruleth and the class that is ruled over1 by the agency of religion1 so long as the religious sentiment serveth to keep the people in bondage1 and by sword and spear when superstition faileth8 ,add to this result the fact that women are everywhere slaves1 or chattels1 legally lower and more debased than their husbands and fathers1 no matter what position the men may occupy2 and have we not plainly stated1 in this terrible formula1 the net result of the science of human government to which it infallibly leadeth1 and from which it hath never escaped8 ,if thy large learning hath ever taught thee the name and location of any nation or people of whom this is not true1 wilt thou now declare it8 ,i can not name such a government or people1 answered ,am-nem-hat4 ,for history is but a dreary record of unceasing strife--among the fortunate for precedence and power1 and among the poor for existence2 and during the struggle it hath evermore happened that the women have been trampled into the filth and mud4 ,i know not the reason thereof1 but the fact is fearfully true4 ,doth it then seem to thee that to have ordained some system by which this net result of the science of government may be avoided2 some truth by which war and slavery that have cursed the life and labor of every people under heaven1 may be abolished2 some social and political organization by which the false and cruel distinctions maintained by accidents of fortune1 birth1 rank1 or by even genius and extraordinary abilities1 between the rich and the poor1 the great and the small1 the feeble and the wise1 may be utterly removed2 and by which womanhood1 wifehood1 maternity1 shall be redeemed from slavery and elevated to such a place that men can no more degrade them without consciously degrading themselves also2 some divine and human law of brotherhood among men by which the race shall attain to liberty1 equality1 and fraternity--dost thou think that to devise and establish such a system is a work worthy of a ,god8 ,yea1 verily6 most worthy of a ,god2 perhaps impossible even unto him4 ,this very system hath our ,lord ordained2 it is the kingdom of heaven upon earth2 it is the common ,church of ,jesus ,christ whereby the regeneration of mankind must be secured4 ,there was a long silence after this1 during which all seemed to be pondering on what ,ammonius had said1 and it was finally broken by ,arius1 who spoke as follows3 ,i do not get all of thy meaning4 ,why is it true that all human governments of necessity result in the slavery of the many to the few1 and in their own ultimate destruction8 ,why can not wise and good men organize some form of government that may secure both permanency for itself and the prosperity of the people also8 ,yea1 tell us that1 said ,am-nem-hat1 and also inform us by what means ,jesus designeth to avoid in his kingdom the net result which seemeth necessarily to overtake all human governments sooner or later8 ,the same considerations1 said ,ammonius1 may furnish an answer to both questions4 ,but first let me ask of thy great learning1 ,am-nem-hat1 whether any man hath proposed1 or even conceived1 of some form of human government which hath never yet been tried among mankind8 ,i think not1 said the ancient4 ,both ,plato and ,aristotle have indulged in the attempt to define all the possible forms that government might assume2 but1 even in the political dream which ,plato calleth ',the ,republic1' he faileth to specify any form or machinery of government which hath not been repeatedly tried and found to fail2 only the results he dreams of are imaginary2 the government he devised hath been vainly experimented upon by others4 ,the ,greek philosopher erred in his delineation of an ideal government both by omitting therefrom the power of faith as the controlling principle thereof1 and by denying the sanctity of monogamic marriage4 ,his ',republic' is1 therefore1 nugatory1 for liberty can not exist in any community at all unless it exists for all alike2 and polygamy denies the liberty of half the human race by enslaving women4 ,but thou truly sayest that every possible form of government hath been tried among men1 and that all of them alike have failed to secure either permanency for themselves or the welfare of the people4 ,thou must see1 therefore1 that the universal failure of government dependeth not upon the form of it1 nor upon the age1 or clime1 or nation in which it existeth2 nor upon the religion1 language1 laws1 nor customs of the people2 for all forms of it have failed alike1 in all ages1 among all peoples1 under all imaginable religions1 languages1 customs1 and laws4 ,seemeth this conclusion to be just and true8 ,yea1 answered ,am-nem-hat1 ,i can see no escape therefrom whatever4 ,then it surely followeth1 said ,ammonius1 that whatever may be the cause of this universal failure of government1 it existeth in all of them alike1 and worketh the destruction and failure of them all1 independently of the form1 religion1 laws1 customs1 or other things in regard to which they differ one from another2 for the cause of this failure must be common to all of them4 ,seemeth this conclusion a valid one to thee8 ,verily1 said the ancient4 ,the cause must be one common to all governments1 or else we might find somewhere a government in which this cause did not exist and operate2 and so find a government that possesseth permanency and secureth the welfare of the people4 ,but there hath never been1 and is not1 such a government on earth4 ,the cause of failure must be common unto all4 ,wilt thou draw from out the store-house of thine erudition1 and show unto us one law or custom that is common to all human governments8 ,for in that one thing1 whatever it may be1 we shall assuredly find the sole cause of the failure of governments1 and of all the tyranny1 injustice1 oppression1 and wretchedness1 that maketh human life a burden to the masses of mankind4 ,thou must state the law or custom that is common to all governments alike1 for thyself1 said ,am-nem-hat1 for they differ almost inconceivably in form1 religion1 language1 laws1 and customs2 and ,i recall none which is common to every human government4 ,all human governments1 said ,ammonius1 have one thing in common3 they agree in one pernicious law and custom which is the cause of failure in them all2 for all human governments alike maintain the legal right of individuals to acquire1 hold1 and transmit private property-rights in estates1 offices1 prerogatives2 even in women and in slaves4 ,this is the idolatry of mammon1 of which all nations are guilty1 the only idolatry which ,jesus ever denounced by name1 the only one that opposeth his kingdom with a potent logic based upon selfishness4 ,many are learning to hate this idolatry in respect of the royal offices3 even the debased ,romans scorn the name of 'king1' and call their master 'imperator1' the commander of the army2 some tribes hate it in its application to men1 and own no slaves2 the ,scythians and some other nations deny the right of property in women1 and take but one wife4 ,jesus ,christ denies the right of private property1 not only in women1 slaves1 offices1 and prerogatives1 but in houses1 lands1 and everything else4 ,hence the property-law of his kingdom imperatively demandeth the transfer of all that the believer hath unto the common ,church2 this sacrifice is hard to make if one hath great possessions1 and1 therefore1 it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven4 ,no rich man doeth this except under the power of a dominant faith which teacheth him that the thing which is best for all believers is best for him2 and that the common good is better than self-aggrandizement4 ,no sane man doubteth that the political economy of ,jesus would bless the world1 if men would adopt it2 but not many great1 not many wise1 not many rich1 not many noble1 come into the kingdom1 because selfishness revolts at the sacrifice of real or imaginary advantages1 secured to them by mammon-worship4 ,it is emphatically the gospel1 the glad tidings1 for the poor1 and it is a regeneration that beginneth at the bottom1 not at the top1 of every social system4 ,all human governments are founded upon the idolatrous faith that private rights of property are the sacredest thing in human life1 and that government over the people is necessary to protect it4 ,jesus denieth this faith3 he saith that liberty is better than wealth1 equality better than rank1 fraternity better than power4 ,he1 therefore1 in his kingdom1 abolisheth private rights of property in order to reach something that is infinitely higher and better for all men2 and he summeth up human life1 laws1 governments1 all that pertaineth to man's social condition1 in one short sentence which containeth in itself the ultimate truth of all social and political economy and wisdom3 ',ye can not serve ,god and ,mammon4' ,and the ,pharisees hated ,jesus only because they were 'covetous'2 and the ,romans and other nations persecute us even unto death because they know that the triumph of the kingdom of heaven is the overthrow of all government over the people2 and they love power1 and wealth1 and rank4 ,how wouldst thou punish crime if all human governments were thus abolished8 asked the ancient4 ,there would then be no crime to punish1 answered ,ammonius4 ,for human statutes1 growing up out of the idolatry of private rights of property1 both create and punish crimes4 ,there could be neither treason nor war in the absence of government2 and all other crimes1 which in some shape are the out-put of the idolatry of mammon1 would cease with the false social and political systems which generate and nourish them4 ,crimes are1 and for nearly three centuries have been1 utterly unknown among the ,christian communities4 ,what1 then1 standeth in the way of the triumph of the kingdom of heaven8 ,naught except the selfishness of men intrenched behind the strong rampart of private property-rights--the one thing against which our ,lord hath declared undying and uncompromising enmity4 ,the old man sat in silence for a long time1 and his grave and noble face showed the traces of many conflicting emotions4 ,finally he said3 ,thy son did once ask me why ,i am not a ,christian1 and ,i could not answer him1 nor do ,i know4 ,but ,arius thought that thou mightst understand better than either he1 or ,i1 the exact attitude in which my soul standeth toward ,christ and his religion4 ,canst thou tell me what the trouble is8 ,then1 said ,ammonius unto him1 thou mayst believe that ,jesus is the ,christ2 thou mayst believe that his religion is divinely true and perfect1 best for thee and for mankind2 thou mayst believe that he is ready and willing to accept and save every one that cometh unto him by faith2 thou mayst believe that he will so accept and save thee whenever thou wilt come unto him thus2 thou mayst believe and purpose that thou wilt come--but all this maketh no man a ,christian6 ,the thing which maketh thee a ,christian is the voluntary surrender of thine own will to the will of ,jesus2 to abrogate all in his favor2 to accept his will as thine only law4 ,and this he saith thou canst do if thou wilt2 no man on earth1 no angel in heaven1 can do this thing for thee1 nor force thee to do it for thyself2 nor can any enginery of earth or hell prevent thee from doing this thing if thou wilt4 ,it is a matter between thee and thy ,lord only2 and thou and he must transact it4 ,but if1 freely and voluntarily1 with a full purpose of heart and mind to obey ,christ only1 thou makest this grand surrender of thyself to him1 the light1 and peace1 and blessedness which he imparteth to those who truly love him shall be thine own forever4 ,wilt thou have this man ,christ ,jesus to reign over thee8 ,then a glorious beauty shone from the old man's countenance1 and his eyes grew bright with happy tears1 and he exclaimed joyously3 ,i make this surrender now2 the light breaketh in even upon my soul2 it is as plain as the noonday sun3 ',glory be to ,god in the highest1 and on earth peace2 good-will to men6' ,the truth for which all my life long ,i have so vainly sought cometh unto me as to a little child4 ,and it is pure1 satisfying1 beautiful6 ',praise the ,lord1 ,o my soul6' ',except ye be converted1 and become as little children1 ye can in no wise enter into the kingdom6' said ,ammonius4 ,and all men1 great and small1 wise and ignorant1 young and old1 meet upon an exact equality before our ,lord1 said the boy ,arius2 for ,god is no respecter of persons4 ,,chapter ,,xiv4 ,,the ,,blind ,,receive ,,their ,,sight4 ,the next day was the ,sabbath again1 and ,christian families from the region round about ,baucalis1 to the number of some four hundred1 assembled at the cottage for religious services4 ,some of them came on foot1 some on horseback1 and some of them in boats along the coast4 ,am-nem-hat informed the presbyter1 who came to preach for them1 of his desire1 and that of ,hatasa and her daughter1 to be received into the kingdom of heaven4 ,he also informed him that1 at his cottage in the neighborhood1 he had a considerable sum in gold and silver1 which he desired to give to the ,church1 or in some other way consecrate to holy uses2 and that the ,egyptian ladies had property in ,alexandria1 all of which1 or such portion as he might advise1 they wished to use in the same way4 ,the presbyter informed them that such a desire was natural and commendable in every one that sought to be a ,christian2 but that for the time being they must remain as stewards of their own estates1 because the ,christians of that region were all prosperous and needed nothing1 and there was no application for aid from other communities4 ,he further told them that1 as soon as it might be considered safe for them to do so1 the ,christians of the vicinage purposed to erect a church for the accommodation of the numerous brethren around about1 and that whenever they might enter upon this work the opportunity would be given to them to aid therein2 and that1 if any calamity should overtake another ,christian community1 in any part of the world1 whereby they might be brought to need assistance1 he would inform them of it as soon as the bishops communicated such facts to him2 but that at that time there was no way in which the money could be used4 ,early in the morning ,arius and his father had set up some poles in holes in the ground already made to receive them1 and had stretched strong cords from them unto the eaves of the cottage1 and had unrolled and fastened thereon a canopy made of wide cotton cloth1 which formed a shelter from the sunshine2 and1 while some of the congregation sat within the house1 the greater part of them found places on the outside under the awning4 ,hatasa had her couch drawn up beside the open window1 from which she could see and hear all that might be done4 ,theckla was here1 there1 and everywhere1 making friends with nearly all the girls and boys that attended1 and especially with one little fellow of twelve years of age who was stone-blind4 ,in the course of her sympathetic talk with this lad he informed her that his parents had brought him there to have the ,church pray that his sight might be restored to him4 ,how long hast thou been thus blind8 asked ,theckla4 ,i do not know1 said the boy4 ,i remember that ,i could once see1 and the world was beautiful to me1 and the people1 and many things4 ,but it has been so long since then6 ,dost thou believe that their prayers can cure thy blindness8 ,assuredly1 said he1 whenever the ,lord will4 ,why1 then1 hast thou not sought the prayers of the ,church before this time1 if so thou believest8 ,my parents wished not to have the miracle wrought on me until they thought me to be old enough both to understand how great an affliction loss of sight is and to remember the means whereby ,i regained it--if1 indeed1 the ,lord will at this time grant our request4 ,and thou surely wilt love ,jesus much if he shall hear thee1 wilt thou not8 ,yea1 will ,i6 ,indeed1 ,i love him now with all my soul2 but if he restoreth my sight unto me ,i could work for him far more when ,i am older2 and chiefly for that reason do ,i pray for his mercy in this matter4 ,and ,i shall pray for thee1 also1 said ,theckla4 ,and she told ,hatasa and ,am-nem-hat about the boy1 and they looked amazed thereat1 but said nothing4 ,by nine o'clock in the morning all had assembled whom they expected2 and1 having set a watch on the only practicable road that led down from the mountains to ,baucalis1 to give them timely notice of the approach of any whose coming might endanger them1 the exercises of the day were inaugurated with singing and prayer and the reading of the gospel4 ,there were a wonderful simplicity and directness1 both in songs and prayers4 ,if ,jesus ,christ1 the ,saviour1 ,friend1 and ,king1 through whom their worship was addressed to ,god1 had been visibly present regarding the manner of their devotions1 the whole service could not have been more earnest1 simple1 and direct4 ,if1 indeed1 he was not present1 they thought and felt otherwise2 and the sense of his presence was as real and actual unto them as if1 on raising their eyes1 they could have looked him in the face2 and this unquestioning faith gave a strange sense of life and vividness to all of the exercises1 the progress of which ,am-nem-hat1 ,hatasa1 and ,theckla watched with joy and eagerness4 ,the presbyter preached with great simplicity and earnestness1 describing the love of ,jesus and the triumphs of the faith1 and in the peroration his address swelled into a glorious paean of victory as he declared the steadfastness and faithfulness of certain ,christians who had recently suffered martyrdom in other places1 telling them that no man could foresee how soon some of them also might be called upon to tread the glorious path by which their brethren had been perfected in the ,lord1 and transferred to eternal felicity4 ,but1 looking into the flashing eyes and rapt faces turned upon him from every side1 he deemed it prudent to give them solemn warning that the crown of martyrdom was not to be officiously sought after1 any more than it was to be avoided by unfaithfulness2 but that they must be alike ready to live unto ,christ1 or to die for him1 as the providence of ,god might determine to be best for each of them4 ,then he said that if there were any present who had not before publicly professed their faith in ,christ1 and desired to do so1 the ,church would then witness their good confession2 and thereupon ,am-nem-hat and ,theckla both stepped forward and gave their hands to the presbyter4 ,the presbyter then briefly stated to the people the facts which he had learned in regard to the past life and experience of the ancient1 and the recital thereof at once rendered the old man an object of respect and affection to all of them4 ,their interest was enlisted by the exceptional fact that an aged and learned pagan priest had found the ,saviour precious to his soul4 ,then ,ammonius sent forward ,arius and bade him relate to the assembly the story of the shipwreck of ,hatasa and ,theckla1 and of their desire to become ,christians2 and the boy narrated the circumstances so vividly1 and with such unconscious force and eloquence1 that they twain also were welcomed into the hearts of all those ,christians1 and the sense of strangeness and restraint that naturally affects the mind at our first meeting with those whom we have not seen before was at once dissolved by the influence of fraternal interest and affection4 ,am-nem-hat having signified his desire to be baptized by immersion1 they all repaired to the shore of the little bay1 where1 with appropriate ceremony1 that sacred rite was administered4 ,but1 owing to the debilitated condition of ,hatasa1 she and ,theckla received the same sacred rite1 after suitable explanations1 by having the water sprinkled upon them at the house4 ,many of those who were present1 and especially those who had come in boats1 brought prepared food with them1 and soon this was distributed over clean cloths spread out under the trees1 and all of them did eat together with gladness1 as if it had been one large and loving family--,arete and old ,thopt being diligent to supply from their own stores everything that was needed or had been forgotten4 ,then in the afternoon the congregation was again assembled1 and they engaged in singing and prayer4 ,the presbyter informed the people that a blind boy had come1 with his parents1 to ask the prayers of the ,church that ,god would restore his sight1 explaining the reason why they had not sooner done so1 very much as the boy had stated to ,theckla1 and saying that they should first partake of the holy communion1 and afterward pray for the lad's recovery4 ,then this rite was administered2 and all of them engaged in prayer1 the presbyter leading and the people making occasional responses4 ,and even while they were so engaged the lad sprang to his feet1 and1 throwing his arms about his mother's neck1 he cried aloud3 ,o mother1 ,i see6 ,i see6--,brethren1 thank ,god for me1 for my sight is perfectly restored6 ,and the presbyter changed the form of his words from supplication into praise and thanksgiving2 and1 when he had finished1 many pressed forward to congratulate the lad upon his miraculous cure2 and afterward1 when they went away1 he went also1 seeing as well as other boys4 ,then later in the evening1 having first agreed upon the place of their next meeting1 the congregation received a benediction at the mouth of the presbyter and quietly dispersed4 ,but almost every head of a family first came unto ,am-nem-hat and unto ,hatasa and ,theckla1 and urged them with great kindness to come unto their homes and abide with them as long as might be convenient4 ,but1 before the presbyter departed1 ,hatasa requested that he come unto her1 and of him she asked concerning the baptism for the dead2 and having diligently inquired of her concerning the character and manner of life of her husband1 and having heard her firm declaration of her belief that he was one who ever sought to do that which he thought to be just1 right1 and true1 so that if he had sufficiently learned of ,jesus he would have been a ,christian1 the presbyter administered to her the baptism for the dead1 from which the poor lady derived a strange and unmeasurable satisfaction and peace4 ,but ,hatasa did not recover any strength1 and the next day she was weaker than ever1 and the next1 and so on from day to day4 ,she requested them to hold services in her room every evening1 and seemed gladly to engage with them in prayer4 ,but she said that she had no power to will or to wish that she might continue to live4 ,she dreaded the pain and weariness of a lingering convalescence1 and she said that the only earthly care that had troubled her was concern for her daughter's welfare1 and that she would never separate her from her newly discovered but precious ,christian friendships1 and did not wish her to go among their pagan kindred4 ,she informed ,ammonius that there was much property in ,alexandria that now belonged to ,theckla1 and asked him what disposition should be made of it4 ,ammonius at first said3 ,let it go4 ,theckla shall lack for nothing2 and riches are a snare to the young4 ,but1 upon considering that the estate would go to the pagan kindred1 and never to the ,church1 unless the legal right of the girl thereto was asserted1 he sent unto ,cyrene for a proper officer1 who came and took the depositions of ,hatasa1 ,arius1 ,thopt1 and ,theckla1 as to the shipwreck of ,amosis and his family1 and as to the identity and parentage of the maiden1 to be laid before the orphans' court at ,alexandria4 ,she also made a written request that ,theckla's relative ,am-nem-hat should be appointed guardian of the maiden's person and estate1 with her friend ,ammonius to succeed him if the aged man should die during ,theckla's minority4 ,and1 having accomplished these things in due and proper form1 she began to fail more rapidly1 and about midnight sank peacefully into rest1 almost her last request being that she might be buried in the sleeping-ground of the ,christians of that vicinity4 ,and1 when ,theckla saw that she was dead1 the wild sorrow of her heart broke out in almost the very same words that her mother had used upon the death of ,amosis1 and she cried3 ,no more6 no more6 ,ah1 never more6 ,but ,ammonius said unto her1 ,come hither1 daughter6 ,and1 when she had come1 he laid his hand upon her head and he asked1 ,art thou a ,christian8 ,and she answered1 ,yea1 ,i love the ,lord4 ,then he saith3 ,that is well1 my child4 ,but1 if thou art a ,christian1 use not the vain and despairing lamentation of the heathen4 ,thou shouldst not think nor feel as they do when they cry out in their bitterness1 ',no more4' ,thy mother leaveth thee not forever1 child4 ,she hath only gone before thee by a little space at most1 and thou shalt go unto her again4 ,so the ,lord whom thou lovest doth solemnly promise thee1 and thou must never distrust his promise or his love4 ,but ,i loved my mother6 ,i must weep for her4 ,yea1 daughter1 weep as much as thou wilt4 ,that is but natural and proper4 ,so perhaps thou wouldst weep if she had gone to ,alexandria1 leaving thee behind2 yet thou wouldst take comfort in the hope that she would come to thee again4 ,so now she hath gone to ,jesus1 and is safe with him1 and thou must take comfort in the hope1 nay1 in the very certainty1 that1 while she returneth not1 perhaps1 unto thee1 thou shalt soon go unto her4 ,and thou1 being a ,christian girl1 shalt not vex thy heart with the hopeless sorrow that the heathen feel4 ,and the girl was comforted indeed1 and her pleasant faith aided the buoyancy of health and youth in helping her to weary down the sorrow that followed the loss of her young1 beautiful1 and beloved mother2 because the power of that faith brought the world's ,consoler very near1 and ,death to her was shorn of his greatest terrors4 ,it was agreed among them that ,theckla and ,am-nem-hat should reside permanently at the cottage4 ,the old man and ,arius soon brought all of his possessions from the hermitage1 even to his favorite goats2 and1 some of the neighbors assisting them1 they built another room of stone1 into which the ancient's manuscripts1 his furniture1 and his accumulation of coin1 were all safely stowed away4 ,and1 all things having been thus satisfactorily arranged1 the old man was conveyed in the boat around to ,apollonia1 and thence he took shipping unto ,alexandria1 where he produced before the orphans' court the depositions and other papers committed unto him by ,hatasa2 and1 as guardian of ,theckla1 leased the houses which she owned in the city1 and received and brought back to ,baucalis with him some elegant personal effects that had belonged to ,hatasa2 her relatives consenting thereto without much opposition1 and stipulating only that1 if the girl should die1 they were to be immediately informed of the fact2 and that1 if she should live1 she was to come to the city as soon as she became of age4 ,they were all pagans1 and the old priest would have gone almost any length to avoid placing his young and beautiful ,christian ward within the range of their influence4 ,and1 having transacted all things necessary1 in a very few days the old man returned gladly to ,baucalis--a place to which his heart seemed bound by stronger and more beautiful associations than had ever come into his long and lonely life elsewhere on earth1 not even excepting ,thebes and ,ombos1 nor his own quiet hermitage upon the mountain-side4 ,and the aged priest at once installed himself as the tutor of ,theckla2 and he taught to ,arius1 also1 such science and literature as then were known unto the wisest men of ,egypt2 but some things he continued to learn from the boy himself4 ,and so the next four years glided quietly away1 during which the routine of their peaceful lives pursued its usual course2 and in their flight ,arius became a tall and graceful youth of twenty2 ,theckla grew into a blooming and exquisitely beautiful woman of sixteen2 for in the ardent ,libyan latitudes the girls grow quickly into womanhood4 ,these years made small changes in ,ammonius and ,arete2 they told lightly upon the venerable ,am-nem-hat1 whose pure and quiet life had been favorable to longevity and to the preservation of his faculties unimpaired even unto an extreme old age2 and ,thopt herself bore the flight of time quite well1 becoming almost imperceptibly more fixed and rigid in all her actions and opinions1 and more and more impressed with the idea that ,christianity was an excellent and beautiful thing for wise and perfect people like those among whom her lot was cast1 and might even have suited her if it had not sought to abolish the relation of mistress and slave between herself and ,arete1 contrary to nature and to common sense1 she said2 but that old grudge she could never entirely get over4 ,,chapter ,,xv4 ,,love ,,and ,,parting4 ,during these four years a great change had occurred in the heart and in the person of beautiful young ,theckla4 ,there came a gradually developing fullness and roundness over her whole form2 the sharp1 angular lines of childhood faded away in the softer curves of maturity2 a deeper color bloomed upon her peachy cheeks2 a sweeter1 more unfathomable light burned in her dark1 soft eyes2 the delicate pink hue under the skin1 which in all ,egyptians of the higher classes1 whose complexions are untanned by a hard life and constant exposure1 proves the ancient race of the land of ,kem to be consanguineous with the ,aryan rather than with the ,nigritian family of man1 became more clearly and deliciously defined2 and a sort of intangible self-consciousness grew up within her heart which intuitively led her to keep her hands off the boy companion whom she loved as a brother1 and1 without understanding why she did so1 she ceased to romp and tumble around with him as she had been accustomed to do during the first year of her residence at ,baucalis4 ,in place of casting aside her gown and plunging into the waters of the bay with him1 when she went to bathe1 she went alone1 or with ,arete4 ,yet there was not the slightest tendency to prudishness in this gradual withdrawal of that tactual familiarity with ,arius which had characterized her first intercourse with him2 but1 without ever having been talked to or lectured at on the subject1 her chaste1 pure soul instinctively drew from the very spirit of the gospel lessons fine boundaries of feeling that made her unconsciously observe even the most delicate bounds of maiden modesty4 ,but this retiring somewhat within herself--this ceasing from the outward1 demonstrative signs of trust and affection--was physical only3 for the boy and girl grew daily nearer and dearer to each other2 grew daily more trustful and confidential with each other2 and daily became more and more identified in interest1 thought1 and feeling4 ,they talked not of love any more than an affectionate brother and sister would have done1 but the affection that united them to each other seeped down dew-like to the very roots of life in both4 ,ever his care and watchfulness for her grew more tender and respectful1 and ever the smile with which she acknowledged his constant little attentions grew more bright and trustful2 and1 from this basis of evenly developing physical1 intellectual1 and spiritual progress and perfectness in both of them1 their souls leaned unto each other1 and mingled in an affection as chaste1 strong1 and intimate as human nature knows1 growing together day by day1 and attuning themselves to perfect concord in all the utterances and aspirations of their beautiful and happy lives--a human love that was impossible to pagan civilization1 and is almost impossible to ours1 but that flourished in its almost divine sweetness and beauty in the primitive ,christian communities1 side by side with thaumaturgy and the graces of that spiritual life which hath almost become a dream unto the world rather than a blessed reality4 ,so those four years passed fleetly and pleasantly away1 and ,arius was now a very tall but graceful youth of twenty1 and ,theckla was an exquisitely beautiful woman of sixteen1 when ,ammonius told his son that the time had come at which he desired him to go to ,antioch in ,syria1 and pursue his studies with the ,bishop ,lucanius1 for four or five years1 preparatory to his ordination as a presbyter--if1 indeed1 his heart was still set on preferring to be a teacher and a preacher of the gospel to all other vocations2 whereupon the young man at once answered that no earthly inducement could lead him to abandon the ministry1 for which he had always considered himself set apart2 and immediately the family began to make preparations for the young man's departure4 ,on the evening before ,arius left ,baucalis1 he and ,theckla wandered along the shores of the little bay1 until they happened to come unto the spot at which she had been rescued from the raft1 and the girl said3 ,even there thou didst bring me unto the shore1 ,arius4 ,it seemeth to me to have been ages and ages ago2 and yet the time hath passed so pleasantly6 ,yea1 said ,arius1 yet it is only four years since then1 and1 after to-morrow1 it may be as long a time before ,i see the dear old farm again1 or thee4 ,theckla1 wilt thou forget thy friend and our happy life at ,baucalis1 and all the things which made us blessed here so long8 ,nay1 she said4 ,life opens wide before us both1 ,arius1 as we stand here upon its threshold--wide as the sea out yonder1 and unknown4 ,but ,baucalis will always be the dearest place on earth to me4 ,theckla1 said the young man1 taking one of the girl's hands in his1 ,i love thee truly and tenderly4 ,when ,i shall have finished the course of study at ,antioch1 ,i desire to come for thee and claim thee for my wife4 ,dost thou love me1 ,theckla1 so that thou couldst be happy as my wife8 ,and the girl laid her head against his shoulder1 and1 raising her dewy eyes to his1 she said1 ,if thou so lovest me1 ,arius1 ,i would be the happiest woman in the world to be thy wife4 ,then the young man kissed her tenderly1 and said3 ,theckla1 let this be a covenant between thee and me before the ,lord1 that when ,i shall have finished the studies required at ,antioch1 ,i will come for thee1 and thou shalt be my wife4 ,and she answered3 ,yea1 ,arius6 ,let this be our covenant4 ,that was all of it--quiet1 simple1 truthful2 based upon the very highest mutual love1 respect1 and trust2 but no grand ceremonial that human pride ever imagined1 or human lips pronounced1 could have any more thoroughly bound and consecrated them unto each other for life and death than did that simple1 heart-felt covenant4 ,for in those days1 and in the ,christian communities1 marriage was not of compulsion1 or of trade1 convenience1 ambition1 but of free1 intelligent choice2 and among those people the equally shameful blasphemies of adultery and divorce were utterly unknown4 ,so1 upon the next morning1 after a tender leave-taking all around1 in which even old ,thopt commended him to the guardianship of ,god1 ,arius1 accompanied by his father1 loaded his boxes into their little boat1 and they made their way unto ,apollonia1 at which port they took shipping for ,alexandria1 whence immediately they went in another ship unto the sea-port for ,antioch1 and thence to the ancient city wherein they were first called ,christians4 ,ammonius recalled to the mind of the ,bishop ,lucanius the fearful storm in which they two had met more than twenty years before1 which interview had been the medium of the ,lord's mercy unto him2 and was most gladly and affectionately welcomed4 ,ammonius informed the bishop that1 having been precluded from the public ministrations of the word by his own physical infirmities1 he had made a vow to dedicate the first son that might be born unto him to the service of ,god1 and had1 therefore1 brought unto him his only child1 a lad not altogether ignorant of the gospel nor of letters1 whose heart was set upon doing the ,lord's work1 to profit by his experience and instructions4 ,and the lad pleased the bishop greatly2 and1 after some conversation1 ,arius was admitted into the school1 or class of young men whom the bishop taught1 as a deacon in the church immediately under the charge of ,lucanius2 for the bishops of those days were not lords or princes1 but were presbyters1 who had their own congregations1 and who1 from zeal and learning1 age and experience1 were intrusted also with an advisory superintendence of some other presbyters and churches1 and especially with the training of young deacons for the ministry4 ,and the next day ,ammonius resumed his homeward journey1 and in due time reached ,baucalis without accident or delay4 ,on the very same evening that ,arius and ,theckla had plighted their troth unto each other1 the young man took the girl by the hand1 and1 having led her unto his parents1 told them of the new relationship established between them1 and ,ammonius and ,arete gladly accepted the maiden ,theckla as their daughter2 and she abode with them for two years longer1 constantly aiding in all household duties1 and likewise pursuing such studies as ,am-nem-hat advised2 and especially practicing the art of writing upon papyrus1 and upon parchment1 and upon vellum1 until she had satisfied herself that vellum was altogether the best material for a certain purpose which she had in view1 and that her own handwriting had acquired sufficient precision and neatness for her contemplated task2 and then she announced her purpose of removing to the city of ,alexandria1 and occupying one of her own houses there1 if only ,am-nem-hat would go with her and make his home at her abode4 ,this purpose she mentioned to the whole family one evening after their usual religious services1 whereupon ,arete said3 ,why wouldst thou leave us1 daughter8 ,art thou not happy at ,baucalis8 ,yea1 replied ,theckla4 ,thy home hath been a haven of rest and happiness to me1 and ,i could be happier here than elsewhere in the world2 but in two years more our ,arius1 of whom the bishop writeth such loving things1 will be a presbyter2 and ,i go hence unto ,alexandria because1 before the time expires1 ,i wish to make with mine own hand a perfect copy of the scriptures for our young presbyter1 and also wish to build a church for him1 that when he leaveth the bishop he may have a church and a congregation1 and a perfect copy of the sacred word ready for him2 and thou knowest that at ,alexandria ,i may even find original manuscripts of both gospels and epistles from which to transcribe my copy4 ,what less than this1 indeed1 wouldst thou have me do for our most dear young presbyter8 ,and they all1 seeing that she had made a matter of conscience of these two purposes1 ceased to oppose her design2 and not long afterward she and ,am-nem-hat were taken in their little boat unto ,apollonia1 by ,ammonius2 and thence they went by ship to ,alexandria2 and1 after a speedy and pleasant voyage1 they cast anchor in the little harbor of ,eunostos2 and thence removed straightway unto one of the nine dwellings which she owned in ,rhacotis1 the ,egyptian quarter of the city4 ,here1 with the aid of six years' accumulated rents from her handsome estate1 the young girl quickly furnished her home in the most comfortable manner1 and had a room carefully furnished for ,am-nem-hat1 and another in which the manuscripts were to be kept1 and in which they might prosecute their studies2 for the aged grand-uncle and the young maiden had almost come to sustain to each other the relation of dear companions and fellow-students rather than that of teacher and pupil4 ,very soon1 also1 with the aid of the old man1 who possessed a critical knowledge of such matters1 she procured a large quantity of the finest vellum1 and began her self-appointed task of transcribing the scriptures for ,arius4 ,and afterward she sold 7through her guardian7 five of the nine houses which she owned1 for a large sum1 and having carefully selected a plot of ground suitable for the purpose1 she bought it1 taking the title thereto in the name of certain persons whom she knew to be ,christians1 upon a secret trust for the common ,church1 and after many consultations with ,am-nem-hat1 and with the bishop and with other friends1 she began the work of building a beautiful and substantial church2 and1 with the making of her careful and accurate copies of the scriptures and the building of the church1 both she and ,am-nem-hat found themselves constantly employed4 ,for1 although at that time there was no open and public persecution of the ,christians1 it had not long ceased1 and none knew at what moment the caprice of their pagan rulers1 stimulated by the hatred of ,jewish and pagan priests1 might blaze out into a general and merciless war against them2 so that their meetings were quietly held1 and the erection of churches was carried on without show or publicity2 and generally1 indeed1 parts of the buildings were used as a school for the children of ,christians2 and many a church was saved from destruction by the fitful and uncertain hate of the populace and priests1 by being taken for a school rather than a church4 ,and there were few who desired to be known as ,christians1 except to persons of like faith1 though none hesitated to declare this faith at any peril1 when called in question about it4 ,the city of ,alexandria1 which was founded by ,alexander the ,great1 about #cbb ,b4,c41 was1 at the date of our story1 one of the most populous1 wealthy1 and intellectual cities in the world4 ,situated twelve miles west of the ,canopic mouth of the ,nile1 its walls were washed on the south by the placid waters of ,lake ,mareotis1 and on the north by the ,mediterranean ,sea2 and it was the seat and center of a vast industry and an almost unequaled commerce4 ,the streets were straight and parallel1 and the city was divided into four quarters by two magnificent highways1 each two hundred feet wide1 crossing each other at right angles1 and built up on each side with splendid houses1 temples1 and public buildings of every kind4 ,a vast necropolis lay west of the city1 on the east a mighty hippodrome4 ,in the northeastern part was the ,regis ,judaeorum1 or ,jewish quarter1 wherein the ,israelites abode1 but their business extended not only through the great city1 but throughout the world4 ,the western part was called ,rhacotis1 the ,egyptian quarter1 and contained1 besides its vast ,libyan population and magnificent residences1 the great temple of ,serapis1 and the sacred statue of the god that had been brought thither out of ,pontus4 ,but ,bruchium1 the royal or ,greek quarter1 was the most splendid portion of the city1 containing the palace of the ,ptolemies1 on ,lochias1 a peninsula stretching eastwardly1 the library and museum1 the ,caesarium1 or temple of the ,caesars1 and the ,dicasterium1 or court of justice1 and other buildings that bore witness to the knowledge of ,dinocrates the architect1 who rebuilt the temple of ,diana at ,ephesus4 ,about a mile from the mainland was the little island of ,pharos1 on which was a light-house over four hundred feet in height1 that was begun by ,ptolemy ,soter1 #cjj ,b4,c41 and finished by ,philadelphus1 his successor4 ,an artificial mole called ,hepta ,stadium1 nearly a mile in length1 connected the island with the mainland1 and between this mole and ,lochias was the great harbor1 while on the other side of it was a smaller harbor1 called ,eunostos 7safe return71 in which was an artificial basin known as ,kibotos 7the chest71 which was filled from and connected with ,lake ,mareotis by a canal1 another arm of which stretched eastward to the mouth of the ,nile4 ,throughout this vast metropolis1 in every quarter thereof1 undistinguished by dress1 nationality1 language1 or manners1 of almost every race under heaven1 engaged in every avocation except official business or military services1 unknown except to their co-religionists1 dwelt the countless members of the ,christian ,church1 forming numerous communities1 or congregations1 that1 without any public visible organization1 were yet bound together by bonds of faith and love stronger than any ,roman statutes1 or any ties of nature1 or any ligaments of interest or of ambition4 ,of course1 in so vast a population1 an aged man and a young girl would be as indistinguishable to all1 except their own small circle of friends and acquaintances1 as any particular leaf in the forest1 or as any wave at sea2 and in such a city1 the selfishness of the crowd1 the hurry and confusion of business or of pleasure1 formed a sort of refuge for the ,christians2 so that1 long before the period of which we write1 almost the first circumstance which called any public attention to their numbers was the fact that1 under their influence1 the pagan temples were less crowded1 and the pagan offerings less rich and free1 than had been usual in times past2 and1 when the fated ,israelites had been accused of proselyting the people from the worship of the gods1 they defended themselves against the angry priests by declaring that not they1 but the ,christians1 converted men of all nations from the old superstitions1 and led them to abandon the temples and forsake the gods4 ,soon after their settlement in ,alexandria1 ,am-nem-hat had informed the relatives of ,theckla of the young girl's arrival1 and they had courteously called to see her1 and had invited her to their own homes1 and had showed every disposition to receive the beautiful young heiress with favor and affection4 ,but they were all heathens1 and her association with them was necessarily limited to formal and distant intercourse2 as every visit to the great temple of ,serapis1 every public occasion1 or a birth1 a marriage1 or a funeral among them1 might force her either to countenance their pagan rites and ceremonies1 or to attract unto herself an unpleasant and perhaps dangerous attention by refusing to do so4 ,hence she preferred to maintain only a ceremonious acquaintance with her kindred1 and to find her real friendships among the ,christians1 with many of whom she soon came to be upon terms of social and personal intimacy and confidence4 ,among the relatives whom she was almost compelled occasionally to meet1 and to receive at her own house1 was her cousin ,harroun1 the son of her mother's sister1 who also was a pagan4 ,the young man was of perfect physical organization1 like so many of the ,egyptian upper class1 as beautiful as an untamed leopard1 of quick1 bright1 sparkling intelligence1 instinct with passion and appetite1 and a general favorite among the aristocratic youth of ,egyptian society in the city4 ,one of ,theckla's greatest misfortunes and annoyances she found in the fact that this elegant youth conceived a violent passion for her at first sight1 and seemed resolved to push his claims to the heart and hand of the young maiden without delay4 ,as soon1 however1 as ,theckla perceived any intimation of his feelings in regard to herself1 she quietly arranged to receive him thereafter only in the library1 and took care to see that ,grand-uncle ,am-nem-hat should be present1 so that the young man never got an opportunity to see her alone4 ,and to prevent the constant repetition of his invitations to her to visit the theatre1 the hippodrome1 and other places of amusement1 she told him kindly that it was useless to offer such courtesies1 for1 that while it was unpleasant to refuse them1 she could not and would not accept them from him nor from any one else1 having no inclination to mingle in such throngs1 and no need of any amusements except those which she was accustomed to find in literary pursuits4 ,harroun1 who had been raised under a system in which courtship and marriage were1 to a large extent1 matters of convenience1 and in which a chaste girl was not supposed to be possessed of any will1 but was to be disposed of as her relations might deem to be proper and advantageous1 thought that he had never seen so shy a maiden2 but1 in spite of her seeming unconsciousness and manifest indifference1 he ceased not to visit her1 claiming the privilege of a near relation in that particular1 and ceased not to show his admiration for her by looks which were almost loathsome to her pure young soul4 ,for the youth1 like every other pagan1 was mostly a brute1 a very beautiful and elegant animal1 truly1 but not the less an animal2 a very intellectual and gifted brute1 but not the less brutal2 and his sensuous admiration was offensive to the girl4 ,the lofty and pure affection to which she and ,arius gave the name of love would have been utterly incomprehensible to him as to every heathen4 ,that to which they gave the name of love sprang as directly out of sensuous admiration and preference as does the passion of the lower animals2 and while she did not comprehend why his advances were so repulsive to herself1 she began to feel his preference as a sort of persecution1 and avoided him as much as possible4 ,yet1 as far as a pagan is capable of love at all1 he loved her1 and the very fact that he found her favor hard to win rendered successful pursuit of her all the more desirable4 ,to him it seemed a strange and unprecedented thing that a girl so young1 so beautiful1 and so wealthy1 should voluntarily renounce all the social advantages of the aristocratic circle in which her family moved1 and spend her time in seemingly unending studies1 with little or no companionship save that of the grave and taciturn old man who was never absent from the room while he was there2 and ,harroun gradually learned to regard his unfailing presence in the light of a personal injury to himself1 so that he soon harbored a bitter prejudice against the ancient1 that lacked very little of growing into actual hatred4 ,but there was nothing tangible about which to make a quarrel1 except the fact that he could never see ,theckla alone1 and1 as this seemed to be her own choice1 exercised in her own house1 there was nothing for him to do except to submit to it2 but his aversion to the quiet and dignified old man increased in intensity from month to month4 ,finally1 he told her in ,am-nem-hat's presence that he had been called away by the public service in which he was engaged1 beyond the cataracts of the ,nile1 and would be absent for several months2 and that he desired to have some private conversation with her before he departed from ,alexandria4 ,the young girl looked somewhat disconcerted by this request1 but she immediately arose1 and said unto him1 ,let us pass into the adjoining room1 cousin1 and ,i will hear thee4 ,he followed her gladly1 and no sooner had the door closed behind them than he came close up to her and began a most vehement protestation of his love4 ,as soon as there was the slightest pause in the passionate and rapid torrent of his speech1 she said1 gravely and calmly3 ,cousin1 hear me for a moment4 ,i have carefully avoided any such declaration as thou hast begun to make1 and beseech thee to leave it unspoken4 ,it is useless to say such things to me1 and can only occasion mutual and unavailing regrets4 ,thou art my cousin1 and1 ,i trust1 my friend4 ,there never can be anything else between us1 and it is folly to think otherwise4 ,here let it rest1 and let us return to the library1 and forget this foolish episode4 ,there is no folly about it6 cried the young man1 passionately4 ,we are both young and wealthy1 and in every way suitable companions4 ,it is very natural and right4 ,i am neither an idiot nor a child1 and ,i love thee1 ,theckla1 and will not be put aside in any such fashion4 ,why dost thou continually avoid me8 ,why hast thou for months contrived so that ,i can not speak to thee except in the presence of strangers1 or of that old mummy whom thou keepest at thy side forever8 ,why dost thou deny thyself all the pleasures and associations natural to thine age and social rank8 ,why spendest thou all thy time in dreary readings1 unsuited to thy youth and circumstances1 for the amusement of that selfish old fossil there1 who never leaveth thee for a day nor an hour8 ,all this must and shall be changed8 ,then the girl drew herself up straight1 and1 fixing her dark eyes full upon him1 said in calm and measured tones1 ,if ,i give thee a good reason for having avoided thee1 and for having endeavored to escape any such useless and unpleasant conversation as this one1 will that suffice thee8 ,yea6 if1 indeed1 the reason be a good one4 ,the reason1 then1 is this1 she answered3 ,i do not love thee2 ,i do not desire thy love2 strange and incredible as it may seem to thee1 ,i do not even admire thee in any way whatever1 and thy profession of affection is irksome to me1 and the more irksome the more thou dost insist upon my hearing thereof4 ,but thou wilt learn to love me1 ,theckla1 he cried out vehemently1 and thou shalt give me some reasonable opportunity to win thy regard6 ,ah1 ,i understand it perfectly4 ,it is the fault of that old grand-uncle1 who ought to have been 'the ,osiris ,justified' half a century ago4 ,he hath prejudiced thy heart against me1 because he desireth thee to consume thy youth and brightness in ministering unto his desolate and selfish old age4 ,but ,i swear by all the gods that1 as soon as ,i return home1 ,i will have thy nearer kindred take thee away from him1 so that thou shalt take thy proper place among the maidens of thine own age and rank1 and learn some more reasonable way of life1 and some better views of duty and of happiness than his selfish and exacting age can teach thee6 ,i see that thou art now blinded by this old man's influence1 and resolved against the course of reason and of nature2 so for the present1 fare thee well1 ,theckla1 but remember that ,i love thee1 and that thou shalt yet be mine own4 ,then the young man1 trembling with rage and disappointment1 fled from the house1 and for many months the young girl saw no more of him4 ,meanwhile1 the building of the church was quietly but diligently prosecuted2 and1 with the most elaborate and conscientious patience1 ,theckla labored to make an accurate copy of the scriptures1 and1 through the bishop and other ,christian friends1 she obtained the use of more than one original epistle from which to transcribe the text4 ,some months before the date arrived at which ,arius was to be ordained1 the diligent young girl had the satisfaction of witnessing the completion of the edifice1 a splendid and substantial structure1 which the bishop dedicated to ,god by the name of ,baucalis1 given unto it at ,theckla's request2 and a number of ,christians who had learned all about the young girl's history1 and why and for whom the church had been builded1 organized themselves into a community1 and customarily held service of singing and prayer therein4 ,and they prepared also a letter1 signed by all of them1 in which they informed ,arius that they had agreed in requesting him to come and be their presbyter1 as soon as he might be ordained2 and that1 although they knew him not in the flesh1 they were ready to receive him with open hearts1 first for ,theckla's sake1 and afterward1 they hoped and believed1 even for his own4 ,about the same time1 also1 the young girl completed the copy of the sacred writings which she had made for ,arius2 and this labor of love1 and of care and patience1 included the ,old ,testament1 the ,new ,testament1 the ,pastor of ,hennas1 and the ,epistles of ,clement to the ,corinthians1 together with some letters written by ,polycarp1 ,bishop of ,smyrna1 all copied in the uncial ,greek text1 with minutest care and accuracy4 ,and she had a box made of cedar of ,lebanon1 with silver hinges and fastenings1 to contain the precious parchments1 and a silver plate thereon1 upon which was engraved the name ,arius2 and1 having finished both the church and the writings1 she prepared a letter unto him1 and put her letter1 and that which the ,church had written unto him1 and the scriptures1 into the cedar box1 and laid them away safely1 awaiting an opportunity to send them to him against the time of his ordination1 for the ,christians of those days sent no letters or parcels which might show that they were ,christians1 except by the hands of those whom they knew to be of the same faith4 ,and this was ,theckla's letter to ,arius3 ,,dearly ,,beloved3 ,seeing that thou hast devoted thy life unto the service of our blessed ,lord1 ,i did meditate much how ,i also might be able to accomplish some good in his holy name1 and likewise gratify thee4 ,i have accordingly1 during the past two years1 caused to be builded here a beautiful church1 which hath recently been dedicated by the name of ',baucalis1' in memory of our dear old home2 and thou wilt learn1 from the letter sent herewith1 that our little community desireth thee to be our presbyter4 ,also1 as a token of the great love wherewith thy ,theckla loveth thee1 she hath written with her own hand a most careful copy of the sacred scriptures1 and of some other manuscripts which thou esteemest highly1 and sendeth the same unto thee1 with the love of thy ,,theckla4 ,and a short time before the days set for the ordination of ,arius1 and of other young men who were deacons studying with the bishop at ,antioch1 the ,bishop of ,alexandria went unto the ancient city to be present upon that occasion1 and by him ,theckla sent unto ,arius the box containing the scriptures and letters2 and1 having so done1 the young girl waited the coming of the youthful presbyter1 with her heart full of love1 and peace1 and happiness4 ,,chapter ,,xvi4 ,,before ,,the ,,temple ,,of ,,serapis4 ,and while ,theckla thus awaited1 with gladdest anticipations and almost trembling joy1 for the consummation of her own happiness1 ,harroun returned to ,alexandria1 and immediately began manoeuvring to have the young girl taken to the house of his mother1 or to some other relative1 where she would be thrown into association with those of her own age and rank1 and removed beyond the influence of old ,am-nem-hat4 ,and immediately thereafter his mother came unto ,theckla1 and urged her1 by every argument and inducement which she deemed most suitable to influence a young and beautiful girl1 to abandon the strange seclusion in which she had lived so long1 and come to her home1 and take her proper place among the best and gayest young people of the city--a society to which she belonged by birth1 and which she was so well fitted to adorn4 ,theckla kindly but persistently refused every such invitation1 pleading her orphaned condition1 her love of solitude and literature1 and her strong aversion to the gay and beautiful but voluptuous life led by the golden youth of ,alexandria4 ,but ,theckla1 darling1 said her aunt1 if thou dost not at least occasionally repair to the great temple of ,serapis1 where all the youth and fashion of the city are often seen1 the world will learn to regard thee as an atheist2 and ,i assure thee1 dear1 that there is hardly anything more injurious to a young girl's prospects than a reputation for singularity or eccentricity in any respect4 ,the world takes it for granted that there must be something radically wrong about every young girl that is in any respect different from others of her own age and rank1 or that affects to feel1 and think1 and act differently from them4 ,thou must ever sacrifice thine own inclinations to conform thyself to that which is considered the proper thing4 ,why1 aunt1 said ,theckla1 laughing1 thy talk of what 'the world' will say and do amuses and amazes me4 ,not one out of ten thousand of the people of ,alexandria knoweth or careth for me4 ',the world1' it seems to me1 is thyself1 and ,cousin ,harroun1 and1 perhaps1 not a half score besides my relatives2 and1 while ,i meddle not with their pursuits1 it seemeth to me that it would be easy enough for them to avoid distressing themselves on my account4 ,but thy manner of life exciteth unfavorable comment4 ,thou dost refuse to go into society1 and scornest all the amusements1 pleasures1 and pursuits proper to thine age1 and family1 and wealth4 ,believe me1 dear ,theckla1 that no young girl can affect such eccentricities without being visited by the condemnation of society4 ,thou must leave this ascetic and unnatural life1 and live conformably to nature and to custom4 ,i suppose1 said ,theckla1 laughing again1 that 'society1' like 'the world1' signifieth that very small and exclusive circle of rich and aristocratic people to which my noble kindred belong4 ,but surely ,i can determine what manner of life suiteth mine own feelings1 inclinations1 and desires as well as any of them might do4 ,and concerning these matters1 ,i will even judge for myself1 not seeking in any way to influence their actions or opinions1 but abiding steadfastly by mine own4 ,horrible6 ,o ,hes6 cried her aunt4 ,to think that mine own niece1 my sister's child1 at the age of eighteen1 should be unmaidenly enough to hold any inclinations1 desires1 or opinions except those which are framed for her by the custom of the class to which she belongeth6 ,why1 ,theckla1 a young girl hath no more business to entertain or handle such things as 'opinions' than she has to handle sword or spear4 ,it is bold1 vicious1 unmaidenly6 ,never--never--never utter such an atrocious and barbarous sentiment again6 ,if ,i did not know thee to be chaste1 and pure1 and maidenly1 such abominable utterances would make me fear that thou art on the road to ruin6 ,i am aware1 said ,theckla1 that the ,egyptians regard all females1 young girls especially1 as things2 but ,i consider myself as a person1 not as a thing at all4 ,nature hath granted unto me certain rights1 privileges1 powers of mind and body1 and hath devolved upon me certain duties and responsibilities4 ,thou seest1 therefore1 that ,i am unfitted for association with young ladies who are merely things1 not persons4 ,thou seest that such an association might be dangerous to them2 and might interfere with their 'prospects' by rendering them averse to being reared up1 to be selected by some 'eligible' youth1 or by some rich and influential old man1 as a horse or a dog is selected1 and then disposed of as any other domestic animal is provided for4 ,and thou must assuredly perceive that it would be most unwise of thee to expose these pretty1 proper1 feminine 'things' to the dangerous influences of an association with a girl who hath the hardihood to believe that she is a person1 and the boldness to declare that she hath 'opinions1' convictions of duty and of right which she will not sacrifice even to the terrible fear of 'the world' nor of 'society4' ,it is best1 therefore1 even to suffer me to live as ,i desire to do1 neither interfering with my relatives in their way of life1 nor suffering them to prescribe my own4 ,the good lady's fastidious notions of propriety were fearfully shocked by the young girl's independent character and utterances2 and she determined in her own heart to do whatever she could to prevent her son from continuing his pursuit of a girl whose alliance with him would have been so advantageous in every way if she had not been spoiled by such absurd and dangerous opinions4 ,but the young man ,harroun had his opinions also1 one of which was that he was almost irresistible2 and another1 that the opinions of any young girl were merely moral or social megrims1 which any man of common sense and passable appearance ought to know how to cure or alleviate2 and he1 therefore1 did not admit the possibility of giving up ,theckla voluntarily1 or of being ultimately rejected by her1 although he dreaded ,am-nem-hat's influence over her1 and began to hate the old man with great intensity2 for he supposed that the declaration of personal independence on the part of ,theckla1 whereby his mother had been shocked1 and even frightened1 was simply the repetition of sentiments inculcated by the learned and ancient man1 the force and effect of which ,theckla did not even comprehend4 ,he dreamed not that these very principles of thought and of action might be the legitimate outgrowth of a new religion which had1 with undying energy and power1 laid hold upon the very roots of her whole nature1 so that no change therein was henceforth at all possible1 except in the direction of larger life and development4 ,accordingly1 notwithstanding his mother's unfavorable report1 both upon his own prospects of successful courtship1 and also upon the bold1 self-centered1 fearless character of the maiden herself1 he resolved to visit her as usual1 and to prosecute his suit with diligence4 ,he called immediately upon her1 and finding that neither ,theckla nor ,am-nem-hat was at home1 with the freedom allowed by his kinship to the maiden1 he passed on into the library1 intending to tarry there until her return4 ,while he lingered there impatiently1 his eye caught sight of a roll of parchment which had been thoughtlessly left lying in the great armchair usually occupied by ,am-nem-hat1 and1 to amuse himself until ,theckla's return1 he picked up the book and glanced at the title thereof4 ,that title was1 ,the ,gospel of our ,lord and ,saviour ,jesus ,christ1 written by ,his ,servant ,john4 ,harroun started visibly as he read the words2 and then a baleful light came into his beautiful dark eyes1 and a sinister smile1 that made his handsome face look malevolent and cruel1 passed over his bright young face4 ,he knew that it was a very grave offense against the law to read or to possess such books1 yet1 impelled by curiosity1 he read a page or two thereof1 beginning with the words3 ,in the beginning was the ,logos1 and the ,logos was with ,god1 and the ,logos was ,god2 and ending with the words1 ,and ,i saw1 and bare record that this is the ,son of ,god2 but1 remembering that he was violating the law by reading this writing1 he turned it over in his hand1 and upon the back thereof read this inscription3 ,am-nem-hat of ,ombos4 ,so6 so6 murmured the young man4 ,the old and meddlesome idiot hath fallen into the accursed and criminal superstition of the ,christians6 and from his manner of life is1 perhaps1 one of the ,therapeutae1 as they style their most crazy ascetics1 who seldom appear in the cities1 or leave the deserts and the mountains4 ,the book itself1 as far as ,i have read1 seemeth to have been borrowed from the ,neo-,platonists1 and is harmless enough1 surely4 ,but it is a crime to own or read any magical book of the ,christians1 and this book is ,am-nem-hat's6 ,i think ,i see a way to rid myself of the pestilent old dotard6 ,ah6 a ,christian6 ,a renegade high-priest of ,ombos6 ,manifestly a corrupter of youth6 ,perhaps sent hither by his accursed associates to seduce the wealthy orphan into the same illegal and abominable association and plunder her of her property4 ,i think ,i see my way clear before me6 ,the young man carefully concealed the manuscript in his clothing1 and1 leaving word that he had called to see his cousin1 but could not longer await her coming1 he went straightway from the house unto the temple of ,serapis1 and requested an interview with the high-priest4 ,and having been introduced into the audience-chamber of the high-priest1 whom he greeted with the profoundest obeisance1 as if addressing some superior being1 he saith unto him1 ,i desire to know of thee whether the laws now allow the profession of the iniquitous and atheistic ,christian faith in this city1 or in any part of ,egypt8 ,and the high-priest answered3 ,no4 ,the law is still in force which requires the destruction of their magical books1 and of their churches1 and the punishment of all who refuse to sacrifice unto the gods4 ,but our magistrates and people have become careless and indifferent to these wise and salutary laws which are for the good of religion1 and for the preservation of the government1 so that the law is not enforced1 and even here in ,alexandria this illegal and criminal association possess houses in which they secretly celebrate their infamous rites and ceremonies4 ,canst not thou cause the law to be enforced if an extreme case of such crime should be brought to thy notice8 ,recently a better feeling hath been manifested in many localities1 replied the high-priest4 ,tyrannis1 bishop of a church in ,tyre1 ,zenobius1 of ,sidon1 ,silvanus1 at ,emisa1 have but lately paid with their lives for the crime of ,christianity1 having been cast unto the wild beasts1 and so destroyed4 ,another ,silvanus1 bishop of the churches about ,gaza1 and thirty-nine others with him1 have been beheaded4 ,even here in ,egypt1 ,peleus and ,nilus have been committed to the flames1 and ,pamphilus at ,caesarea4 ,thou canst remember that even in ,alexandria1 ,peter the bishop1 and ,faustus1 ,dius1 and ,ammonius1 have been put to death1 and in other parts of ,egypt1 ,phileus1 ,pochumius1 ,hesychius1 and ,theodorus1 have been in various ways destroyed4 ,but a false sentiment of humanity protects these criminals2 for it hath become a common saying in the city that the superstition is a harmless one1 and that the ,christians are the most honest1 faithful1 and diligent servants1 tradesmen1 mechanics1 and agents1 that one can employ2 and those who cherish this fatal leniency for the accursed sect1 themselves neglect the temple services1 and gradually drift off into atheism4 ,so that there is a great indifference on the subject of enforcing the law against these criminals2 yet ,i doubt not that1 if an extreme case should occur1 the people might be easily roused up to seize the malefactors1 and the magistrates would hardly dare to resist any forcible expression of the popular will4 ,of what case dost thou speak as an 'extreme' one8 ,then said ,harroun3 ,there is a man in the city who hath embraced this accursed superstition1 and who owneth and readeth the books of the sect contrary to the law4 ,he was for many years a priest of our religion1 and was even a high-priest at ,ombos4 ,he hath by some sort of necromancy1 perhaps by means of his magical books1 infatuated and attached unto himself a young ,egyptian maiden1 an orphan girl1 belonging to our own ancient and honorable family1 mine own cousin1 and he keepeth her shut up in her own house1 separated from her kindred1 and deprived of all the pleasures and advantages that naturally belong to a noble and wealthy maid of ,alexandria4 ,some years ago he procured himself to be appointed her guardian1 and he hath sold five houses that belonged to her1 and hath given no account thereof1 except to produce the young girl's receipt therefor1 in which she saith the sale was made at her request1 that she had received the price thereof from him1 and had used the same for pious purposes4 ,why did not her relatives interfere to prevent the alienation of her estate8 ,her father was shipwrecked and lost1 and we supposed that the 'pious purposes' signified the use of the money to build his sarcophagus and propitiate the gods1 with which1 of course1 no one would interfere2 but this1 ,i lately discover1 hath never been done1 and we suppose that the man of whom ,i speak hath persuaded her to use the money for the purpose of building some temple or burial-place for the use of the abominable ,christian association4 ,who is this man8 said the high-priest4 ,his name is ,am-nem-hat4 ,am-nem-hat6 said the high-priest1 in amazement1 ,i know of the man3 he was high-priest at ,ombos1 and1 after a long life devoted to the service of the gods1 he left his temple secretly to become an eremite--a great1 and learned1 and pious man6 ,surely there must be some mistake6 ,there is no mistake about what ,i have told you1 said ,harroun1 for he left the temple to become a ,christian1 and1 from his manner of life1 ,i think is one of the fearful sect called ,therapeutae4 ,hast thou any proof that he hath become a ,christian8 ,the youth drew forth from his clothing the ,gospel written by ,john1 saying3 ,here is one of the magical books of the ,christians which no reasonable man understandeth4 ,i found this in ,am-nem-hat's own chair1 in his room1 and on the back thereof is the indorsement1 ',am-nem-hat of ,ombos4' ,he will not deny that he is a ,christian if charged with that crime4 ,for they never deny it when they are guilty thereof4 ,this is an extreme case1 said the high-priest4 ,besides the corruption of youth and the plundering of this young girl of which thou speakest1 it is an enormous sacrilege for a priest to abandon his religion1 but infinitely worse when he leaveth religion and adopteth the accursed and inhuman ,christian superstition4 ,leave that book with me and go thy way1 but fail not to point out the house when the proper time shall come4 ,the young man took out his purse1 and placed a liberal sum upon the table1 saying3 ,this is for proper prayers and offerings for thy success2 but remember that the deluded young girl1 my cousin ,theckla1 must not be in any way molested4 ,assuredly1 answered the high-priest1 her near kinship to thine own ancient1 honorable1 and devout family will be her protection1 and ,i promise thee to reclaim her from the delusion which the witchcraft of this renegade priest hath brought upon her4 ,as for this man who hath so dishonored the ancient religion of the land of ,kem1 and who might by reason of his former lofty character seduce much people from allegiance to the gods1 this man shall surely die4 ,then for a few days there was a great running to and fro among the pagan priests throughout the city1 and especially among those who were connected with the great temple of ,serapis4 ,great processions were had1 at different places1 in honor of various gods1 the people were vehemently exhorted to greater diligence in their worship1 and the ,christians were vehemently denounced1 so that there was an uproar throughout ,rhacotis1 and crowds of people rioting through the streets1 accompanied by squads of soldiers1 and seeking for the dwellings of those who were suspected of being ,christians4 ,and1 in the language of the historian of those times3 ,a certain prophet and poet1 inauspicious to the city1 whoever he was1 excited the mass of the heathen against us1 stirring them up to their native superstition4 ,stimulated by him1 and taking full liberty of exercising any kind of wickedness1 they considered this the only piety and the worship of their demons--viz41 to slay us4 ,first1 then1 seizing a certain aged man named ,mitra1 they called upon him to utter impious expressions1 and1 as he did not obey1 they beat his body with clubs1 and pricked his face and eyes2 after which they led him away to the suburbs1 where they stoned him4 ,next they led a woman called ,quinta1 who was a believer1 to the temple of an idol1 and attempted to force her to worship2 but1 when she turned away in disgust1 they tied her by the feet and dragged her through the whole city1 and over the rough stones of the paved streets1 dashing her against the millstones1 and scourging her at the same time1 until they brought her to the same place1 when they stoned her4 ,then1 with one accord1 they all rushed upon the houses of the pious1 and whomsoever of their neighbors they knew1 they drove thither in all haste1 and despoiled and plundered them1 setting apart the more valuable articles for themselves1 but the more common and wooden furniture threw about and burned in the roads1 presenting a sight like a city taken by the enemy4 ,but the brethren retired and gave way1 and1 like those to whom ,paul bears witness1 they also regarded the plunder of their goods with joy4 ,and1 on the third evening of this rioting against the ,christians1 a crowd of people1 with soldiers1 assembled about the vast temple of ,serapis1 and the high-priest harangued them against the ,christians1 and especially against ,am-nem-hat1 whom he called the renegade of ,ombos1 a seducer of youth1 and a plunderer of orphans2 and1 the house having been pointed out unto them1 the mob surged thitherward1 yelling and shouting1 and calling upon their idols for vengeance against the ,christians1 and chiefly against ,am-nem-hat1 the renegade of ,ombos4 ,and they struck with violence upon the door1 insomuch that the domestics were frightened1 and the old man himself opened the door and said unto them1 ,what seek ye8 ,and they yelled out3 ,we seek ,am-nem-hat1 the traitor to the gods6 ,am-nem-hat1 the renegade high-priest of ,ombos6 ,and1 as soon as their clamor somewhat ceased1 he said1 ,i am ,am-nem-hat of ,ombos4 ,and when they saw the man's great age1 and his calm and dignified deportment1 they were somewhat abashed1 and they cried out1 ,it is reported that thou hast forsaken the ancient gods of the ,nile1 and that thou hast fallen away into the atheism of the ,christians4 ,then the old man stood up straight and glorious before them1 and he said3 ,children1 for fifty years ,i was in the great temple of ,thebes1 and was long time a priest4 ,twenty-and-five years ,i was high-priest at ,ombos1 always seeking for the truth4 ,then ,i discovered that the ,christians alone know and worship the one true ,god1 and ,i am with all my heart1 soul1 mind1 and strength1 a ,christian6 ,children1 seek ye the same divine truth2 the same glorious forgiveness1 faith and light2 the same redeeming love4 ,and he would truly have borne further testimony for ,jesus1 but from the outskirts of the crowd the high-priest shouted3 ,away with this blasphemer6 ,to the stake with the old renegade6 ,and the mob echoed the cry1 shouting out vehemently3 ,away with the atheist6 ,to the stake with the ancient traitor6 ,and one of them standing near knocked down the old man with his pike2 and1 as many of them sprang forward to seize him1 ,theckla darted out of the door to his side1 and with blazing eyes and extended hands she cried3 ,o cowards6 brutes6 ,the disgrace of ,egypt1 to strike down an old man like that6 ,stand back6 ,and the men seemed abashed at the words and manner of the beautiful young girl1 and stood irresolute until the high-priest called out1 ,perhaps thou1 also1 art a ,christian8 ,and she said3 ,yea6 thank ,god1 ,i am6 ,then all the more they shouted3 ,to the stake with the old atheist6 ,the corrupter of our youth6 ,and they forcibly pushed the maiden aside1 and they lifted up ,am-nem-hat1 and set him upon his feet1 and the soldiers haled him away to the vacant space in front of the great temple of ,serapis1 where were set up iron columns to which the wealthy visitors thereto were wont to hitch the horses that drew their chariots4 ,and they chained the old man fast to one of these1 and soon they built a great pyre round him out of the furniture of which they plundered ,theckla's house1 and other houses of ,christians on that street4 ,and they did set fire unto the pile1 and by the first flames thereof ,theckla beheld the calm and shining face of the beloved ancient gazing peacefully upon the mob4 ,then they lighted it in other places1 and the girl went near to the edge of the fire1 and she cried aloud3 ,be thou of good cheer1 ,o father ,am-nem-hat6 ,thy ,lord and ,saviour ,jesus ,christ be with thee now6 ,yea1 daughter ,theckla1 answered the old man4 ,but go thou hence6 ,the ,lord is all-sufficient unto me6 ,go thou in peace6 ,then ,theckla fell upon her knees before them all and prayed aloud1 saying3 ,o ,jesus1 ,son of ,god1 have mercy upon him6 ,comfort1 sustain1 and strengthen him1 and receive him into glory6 ,and1 while she prayed1 the fire grew fiercer1 and spread all over the dry1 combustible furniture of which the pyre was build ed4 ,and1 while she was praying1 a strong centurion came unto her1 bearing some incense in his hand1 and he said3 ,thou invokest the accursed ,galilean for him1 and seekest by thy strong magic to harden him against the flame6 ,take thou of this incense1 girl1 and cast it into the fire to ,jupiter1 cursing the malefactor ,christ1 or thou shalt quickly follow the old renegade6 ,then she only prayed the more2 and the man called another to him1 and they seized the young girl1 and1 swinging her back and forth between them1 so cast her through the circle of fire unto ,am-nem-hat4 ,and she arose and stood up beside him1 and threw her arms about the old man's neck1 and did kiss him lovingly1 and leaned her head upon the old man's breast1 and smiled upon him radiantly4 ,and the idolaters being the more enraged1 because they twain seemed to scorn the flames1 piled yet other furniture and wood against them1 until the greatness thereof hid them from view2 and with a last farewell1 commending themselves and ,arius unto ,god1 they breathed the cruel flames1 and so died4 ,but the pagans continued to pile on fuel until they were utterly consumed2 and the high-priest1 coming near1 cast into the flame the manuscript of the ,gospel of ,john1 saying1 ,the law requireth all books of the ,christians to be burned2 and the crowd pillaged the house1 and found yet other sacred writings1 which they brought and cast into the flames2 and there were destroyed the original ,epistles of ,john1 which ,theckla had copied for ,arius4 ,now when the centurion and the soldier seized upon ,theckla to cast her into the fire1 a young man ran forward from the outskirts of the crowd1 shouting in terror and in agony1 ,not her6 centurion1 not her6 ,but the act was sudden1 and before he could reach them1 and before they heard his cries1 it was done1 and the girl was leaning on the breast of ,am-nem-hat4 ,and the youth fainted1 and1 with a wail of anguish1 fell heavily upon his face along the ground4 ,and the high-priest1 seeing from his apparel that he was a man of rank1 leaped forward1 and raised up his head1 and1 looking upon his face1 he saw that it was ,harroun4 ,,chapter ,,xvii4 ,,crucified ,,unto ,,the ,,world4 ,arius having been joyfully ordained to be a presbyter1 and being uninformed of the martyrdom of ,am-nem-hat and of ,theckla1 with gladness of heart and bright anticipations of coming happiness reached the city of ,alexandria1 and went first of all1 as his duty was1 to ,peter1 the bishop1 whose return from ,antioch had briefly preceded his own arrival4 ,and1 after the usual salutations had passed between them1 the bishop1 looking tenderly upon him1 said3 ,son1 thou hast been ordained a presbyter1 and hast been consecrated to the ,master's service1 and the ,bishop ,lucanius highly extolleth thy fitness for the holy office4 ,but thou art young1 my son1 and the ,lord hath laid a heavy cross upon thee4 ,hast thou received any recent news from our unfortunate city of ,alexandria8 ,the last news ,i received was borne by thee when thou didst come unto ,antioch bringing a letter from my betrothed1 and that from the community1 and the casket containing the perfect and beautiful copies of the sacred writings which ,theckla wrote with her own hand for me4 ,why dost thou ask so seriously8 ,i did only precede thee by three days1 my son2 but upon my arrival heard the news of a sudden outbreak of persecution in which many of the pious were perfected1 and their goods despoiled1 the recital whereof will pierce thy heart4 ,thine old friend ,am-nem-hat did bravely testify for ,jesus even in the midst of the flame by which he was made perfect4 ,i loved him much1 said ,arius1 and his long life hath ended gloriously6 ,then a ghastly pallor came over the young man's cheek and lip1 and he could only murmur1 ,and ,theckla1 bishop8 ,son1 said the bishop1 tenderly1 thy beautiful ,theckla was also a perfect witness for our ,lord at the same time and place with the ancient ,am-nem-hat4 ,then bowed the youth his head upon his hands1 and writhings as of some mortal agony swept over him4 ,son1 said old ,peter1 tearfully1 canst thou not say1 ',he doeth all things well1 and blessed be his name'8 ,not yet6 not yet6 sobbed out the broken-hearted man2 but give unto me the key of the church ,baucalis6 ,and the bishop called a young deacon unto him1 and bade him take the key and guide the youthful presbyter unto that church4 ,and in silence the sorely-smitten man followed his guide until they had reached the door of the beautiful church2 then said ,arius unto him3 ,thou mayst return4 ,farewell6 ,and ,arius opened the door and passed within1 and locked the door behind him4 ,and it was twilight2 and the full moon shed a soft and mellow light through the vast area of the sacred room2 and1 not far off1 the gentle waves of the sea gleamed in the golden sheen1 and lapsed away along the quiet coast4 ,back and forth1 along the great aisle1 with slow and heavy footsteps--back and forth1 until the long night waned away1 and the muffled tread of the sufferer seemed to become regular1 unceasing1 continuous1 as part of the very course of nature itself--all night long1 back and forth1 wrestling sorely with his sudden1 mighty grief1 the young man trod the desolate aisle1 and his bosom heaved with anguish1 but not a single word escaped his compressed1 ashy lips4 ,the first faint light of dawn mottled the eastern sky2 then the glad sunlight streamed far out along the peaceful sea1 and the freshness of the morning laughed from earth and heaven4 ,then went he slowly unto a window opening unto the east1 and the sun was rising gloriously1 and then the man raised up his right hand reverently1 and1 gazing away into the glowing heavens1 with trembling lips and broken heart1 he murmured3 ,yea6 ,he doeth all things well2 and blessed be his name6 ,but the first great sorrow of his life had fallen upon him2 that which ages a man in a single day2 that which breaketh off and casteth far from him all the brightness and freshness of his youth forever1 and setteth him henceforth face to face with the hard and bitter realities of life1 making all of the beautiful past only a dim and blessed memory of happiness1 the light and sweetness whereof his lip shall taste no more on earth4 ,the youth was a man now2 tried in the furnace of affliction2 exercised by grief2 strengthened and hardened and chastened by the bitter cup of woe4 ,quietly he departed from the church2 with calm1 unfaltering tread he went back unto the bishop2 and then unwaveringly he asked for1 and unflinchingly heard1 the pathetic details of the martyrdom4 ,and the kind-hearted old man said unto him3 ,son1 thou triest thy heart too bitterly4 ,if thou desirest to be alone1 ,i can give thee a room unto thyself1 and thou canst abide quietly with me until thou shalt feel better able to assume thy pastoral charge4 ,i thank thee much1 bishop1 for thou art very kind4 ,but ,god forbid that private grief should ever keep me from a sacred task6 ,i will even preach to my people in the ,baucalis church this morning4 ,for ,i know--and then the right hand momently began its rhythmic movement1 the mesmeric light gleamed in his somber eyes1 the strong1 bold head sprang forward upon the lithe1 serpentine neck1 and1 with a light1 plaintive hiss in every tone that cut through the hearer's heart1 he continued--for ,i know that ,theckla would even have it so if she could counsel me4 ,the good old bishop sprang toward and embraced him1 crying out3 ,my son6 my son6 ,thou art of the splendid stuff of which ,god maketh martyrs6 ,may he console and comfort thee1 and feed thee with the bread of everlasting life6 ,for the bishop saw in his haggard countenance the ineffaceable traces of his mighty struggle with that night-long agony2 he saw the grandeur and beauty of the imperious will that wearied down the complainings of an aching heart2 and the clear1 resolute soul that fixed its eye upon the path of ,christian duty1 not to be swerved therefrom by any earthly agency1 and ready to immolate even its sacred hours of grief for the sake of other souls4 ,henceforth the fair forms of youth1 and love1 and hope1 would pass him by upon life's lonely pilgrimage almost unrecognized--strangers to him except for some far-off1 heart-broken memories4 ,henceforth upon his chastened hearing the voices of honor and ambition would fall unheeded as the sounding brass or the tinkling cymbal6 ,only when the stern1 cold face of ,duty might meet his gaze1 henceforth1 his spirit would look up and say3 ,i know thee4 ,welcome here6 ,only when the shrinking forms of human sorrow1 and pain1 and wretchedness1 should henceforth claim his sympathy1 his soul would reach forth ministering hands and say3 ,ye are old friends of mine6 ,i welcome you6 ,and he did preach in the ,baucalis church1 that very morning1 a sermon which was never forgotten by those who heard it4 ,the love of ,christ constraineth us1 he exclaimed2 then in words that leaped1 and flashed1 and glinted1 ringing distinct as bell-notes1 yet all flowing in a strong1 even1 jubilant current unto a definite purpose1 he set before them the loftiest form and manner in which love hath ever showed its power and beauty1 in the best stories of pagan mythology and history1 in high and glorious examples from the ,old and ,new ,testament1 and from church history1 all brought out like pictures before the mind1 and above them all he glorified and magnified that love divine of ,jesus2 then how we are bound1 constrained thereby2 unto what end2 and1 finally1 that the necessary result of this bondage to ,christ is absolute freedom as to all other authority upon earth1 higher than any natural courage or ,stoic philosophy could confer4 ,but there was not even the remotest reference to his private sorrow4 ,all of them had known ,theckla1 and the covenant between her and ,arius1 and the building of the church for him1 and the transcribing of the scriptures for him by her hand2 and all of their hearts had yearned after him in sympathizing sorrow2 but not one word of self even inadvertently found utterance in his clear1 cold1 steel-like exegesis of the truth1 or in the copious1 affluent stream of exhortation and comfort4 ,he had come to minister unto them1 not to be ministered unto by them2 he had come to help them bear all things1 with clear eyes to see1 with open heart to feel and share1 with strong1 resolute1 uncomplaining spirit to bear all of their sorrows and trials2 his own to be sealed up in his own soul1 buried out of human sight forever4 ,he took all hearts by storm3 instinctively they felt that this young man was thoroughly furnished unto every good work2 they could rely upon him1 they could trust him under all circumstances1 in any emergency4 ,an old ,christian in the congregation1 who had been a ,roman officer for many years before his conversion1 and had faced every form of death upon the battlefield1 whispered to the friend next to him3 ,what a splendid commander he would have made6 ,he is the bravest man ,i ever saw1 for1 if there had been a streak of weakness1 or cowardice1 or selfishness in his nature1 he could not have buried his own grief out of sight1 and put his whole heart into his work as he hath done4 ,it was so through all the services of that first day4 ,quiet1 grave1 courteous1 he discharged every duty of his position without the slightest reference to his own feelings or trials4 ,for1 during that night of awful sorrow1 he had fully settled all his earthly life4 ,henceforth the church at ,baucalis was to be his home2 the community that might worship there1 his family2 he was1 henceforth1 to have no griefs1 ambitions1 trials of his own2 no hopes1 no fears2 he was to bear the burdens of others2 to love1 guide1 counsel1 and strengthen the souls intrusted to his care2 to do a minister's work1 that is1 a spiritual servant's work1 so long as life might last1 and to wait patiently1 uncomplainingly1 without disquietude or bitterness of spirit1 if possible with gladness1 until the end might come4 ,such was the destiny he had mapped out for himself during that night of bitter anguish in the beautiful church2 such was the destiny that upon the next morning1 with grand1 simple1 unselfish faith and courage1 he arose to meet4 ,the thoroughness of this profound self-abnegation was exhibited on the night succeeding that first day's labors1 when1 in the solitude of his own apartment1 he took from out its cedar casket the beautiful manuscript which ,theckla's hand had lovingly prepared for him1 and made an indorsement thereon1 in the ,arabic tongue1 that it had been transcribed by ,theckla1 a noble ,egyptian lady1 who also was a martyr in ,alexandria4 ,but he did not write that it was transcribed for him2 his name nowhere appears on any part of the manuscript2 there is not a word or sign that can by any possibility connect his name or fate with hers4 ,arius seemed to him to have been slain and buried long ago2 only ,god's presbyter survived the ruin of his life1 and stood up in the place of ,arius1 calm1 strong1 fearless1 unselfish1 and devout4 ,and this great manuscript1 which was the offering of ,theckla's love unto him1 hath survived the lapse of ages1 bearing yet upon its priceless pages the indorsement of ,arius4 ,it is known throughout ,christendom as the ,,codex ,,alexandrinus--,a of the ,british ,museum1 although some later writings have been blended therewith1 and some of the manuscripts prepared by ,theckla have been lost4 ,,book ,,ii4 ,,chapter ,i4 ,,his ,,most ,,catholic ,,majesty4 ,the historians1 secular and ecclesiastic1 have alike failed to do justice to the vast abilities of ,constantine the ,great4 ,those who have questioned his superiority to all other ,roman emperors 7if1 indeed1 not to all other men7 have united in ascribing to accident1 to the mere drifting of events1 facts which were really the forecastings of profoundest statesmanship1 guided by a political sagacity that pierced through to the very core of the whole social and religious life of the vast empire over which he ruled1 almost untroubled by the influences of human passions1 fears1 and faith4 ,on the other hand1 those who have felt constrained to give even the slightest credence to his alleged profession of faith in ,christ have attributed to religious zeal1 enthusiasm1 or fears1 the most salient actions of a life that was1 from beginning to end1 dominated only by the lust for dominion1 incapable of any creed but atheism1 and absolutely content with the negation of the existence of any ,being greater than himself4 ,to those who take a more rational view of his magnificent but criminal career1 and who1 looking behind the mask of reverence for paganism which he cast aside at precisely the politic moment1 in order to assume a false pretense of reverence for ,christianity1 discern the cool1 deliberate atheist1 who was ready to profess any creed and foster any superstition that might best serve to smooth the road to absolute power1 and make mankind his slaves3 to them the astute politician1 the successful warrior1 the consummate ruler of men1 assumes such colossal proportions that1 compared with him1 ,alexander1 ,caesar1 and ,napoleon1 seem to sink into the lower grade of butchers and stabbers1 only half-taught in the science of government1 of which ,constantine alone was master4 ,for it is no more certain that he despised and pitied paganism while he was solemnly offering sacrifices to ,jupiter1 and winning the admiration and love of the ,roman world for his imperial piety1 than it is certain that he pitied and despised the ,church of ,christ1 even while he was manipulating the faith into a sure and reliable support of the empire2 in both courses he only played with the world1 giving men any religious toy which the greater part might prefer to have1 in exchange for the liberty of which he robbed them so plausibly and successfully that they scarcely perceived his theft1 and enthusiastically caressed the royal thief4 ,the ,christians of that age died at the stake1 or by the sword1 or by wild beasts1 rather than to cast a pinch of incense into the sacred fires and say1 ,proh ,jupiter6 ,the pagans would have plunged into civil war1 and would have endured or inflicted any pain1 rather than acknowledge any feeling for ,christ except hatred1 loathing1 and contempt4 ,but ,constantine both adopted the cross as a military standard1 and also observed the heathen rites with customary ostentation and solemnity2 having absolutely no conscientious scruples for or against any religion2 regarding both the old and the new faiths as things proper enough for common men1 but altogether indifferent to him2 and using both alike as mere instruments convenient for the advancement of his own political purposes4 ,after he had defeated ,maxentius at the ,milvian ,bridge1 he caused his own statue to be erected at ,rome2 and1 while the general design and execution of the work were unexceptionable to his pagan subjects1 the image bore in its hand the symbol of the cross1 which1 until that day1 had been esteemed to be a badge of crime and infamy1 as disgraceful to any ,roman as the lewd ,priapi of the gardens could have been to the ,christians2 and the thanksgiving which he offered to commemorate his victory was couched in such enigmatical terms that in applying it to ,mars or ,jupiter1 the pagan did no more violence to the text than the ,christian would do in ascribing it to ,christ and ,god4 ,so1 when1 to please the ,christians1 he decreed the solemn observance of ,sunday1 he inspired the pagans with confidence and respect1 by calling the sacred day ,dies ,solis 7the ,day of the ,sun71 a formula of heathendom with which they had been familiar all their lives4 ,utterly devoid of faith in anything else except himself and his own destiny1 unyielding in that ambition to exercise dominion which nerved him for the doubtful war against ,maxentius1 he regarded both mankind and religion with pity and contempt1 and sought to rule men for their good and his own glory1 by means of any faith which they might prefer2 and hence1 as ,christianity became more known and popular1 he identified himself with it more and more1 only in order to foster an agency which seemed to be available in the work of consolidating the warring factions of the empire and securing the permanency of his throne4 ,but the gospel of love and peace over which he extended the imperial protection did not deter him from exterminating the whole race of ,maxentius after he had defeated him in battle2 nor from the deliberate and politic murder of ,maximin1 who was the father of ,fausta his wife1 and who had been the benefactor of his father ,constantius2 nor from the destruction of his wife herself1 nor of his sons2 nor from the assassination of the ,emperor ,licinius and his son1 the offspring of his sister ,constantia--crimes so infamous and unnecessary that the first spark of real animosity against the gods of ,rome that ever flashed across the serene and boundless depths of his almost superhuman intelligence gleamed for a moment past his consummate and life-long duplicity when the pagan priests refused all expiation for such crimes2 and be turned away more decidedly to a religion which promises pardon for every sin3 not that he cared anything for the sacred rites of either church2 but because he was the first ,roman ruler to attach any definite meaning to the words public opinion1 and he desired to maintain the confidence of his people1 and also to secure the full benefit of those crimes which he committed to place his own authority beyond the reach of accident4 ,so thoroughly indifferent to all sense of religion was this greatest of the rulers of mankind that dissimulation was an easy task which involved no conscientious scruples of any kind2 and was so gracefully and perfectly enacted that even ,eusebius1 the father of ecclesiastical history1 himself no ordinary man1 was for a long time very thoroughly deceived into believing that the atheistic emperor was ,god's vicegerent for the establishment of the ,christian ,church on earth4 ,constantine1 therefore1 in the very commencement 7says ,eusebius71 being proclaimed supreme emperor and ,augustus by the soldiers1 and much longer before this by the universal sovereign1 ,god--,constantine1 the protector of the good1 combining his hatred of wickedness with the love of goodness1 went forth with his son ,crispus1 the most benevolent ,caesar1 to extend a caring arm to all them that were perishing4 ,both1 therefore1 the father and the son1 having1 as it were1 ,god the ,universal ,king and his ,son1 our ,saviour1 as their leader and aid1 drawing up the army on all sides against the enemies of ,god1 bore away an easy victory4 ,with choirs and hymns1 says ,eusebius1 in the cities and villages1 at the same time they celebrated and extolled first of all ,god the ,universal ,king1 because they were thus taught2 then they also celebrated the praises of the pious emperor1 and with him all his divinely-favored children1 including ,crispus ,caesar whom he caused to be murdered afterward4 ,only the lone and incorruptible seer of ,patmos1 ,john the ,divine1 foresaw the mighty pagan in his real character1 and depicted him in words of scathing denunciation and rebuke which the prostituted ,church then failed to understand when the things were transacted before her eyes--a prophetic and apocalyptic view of ,constantine and ,constantinople which becomes of easier interpretation as the centuries glide away1 revealing more and more clearly what things ,john foretold1 that were to follow upon the subversion of ,christianity by the most potent human enemy that ,jesus ever had1 and locating the seat of ,antichrist upon seven hills above the sea to which the commerce of the world resorted--a description inapplicable to any capital on earth except the city of ,constantinople4 ,the tentative effort made by ,constantine in #cab and #cac1 when he had used the influence of the ,christians against ,maxentius1 had proved entirely successful1 and the great ruler at once began to make inquiries to ascertain to what extent the same faith might prevail throughout the ,empire of the ,east1 and how far he might depend upon its aid in subverting the sovereign power of ,licinius1 who then reigned over the ,eastern ,empire4 ,for1 upon the death of ,diocletian1 ,constantius and ,galerius had parted the empire between themselves in accordance with the emperor's will1 dividing both the provinces and the legions1 which was the first division of ,roman sovereignty4 ,constantine succeeded his father ,constantius1 and1 by the overthrow of ,maxentius1 had become master of all of the ,western ,empire1 although north of the ,mediterranean ,licinius ruled ,pannonia1 ,dalmatia1 ,dacia1 ,greece1 and ,thrace2 and1 having overthrown ,maximian1 ruled the ,east1 including ,asia ,minor1 ,syria1 and ,egypt4 ,but it was always ,constantine's set purpose to restore the unity of the empire1 and to concentrate the whole imperial authority in his own hand--a purpose of which he never for one moment lost sight1 and which is the explanation of his whole magnificent career4 ,the present difficulty in the way was the fact that he had permitted1 perhaps solicited1 ,licinius to sign with him the ,decree of ,milan1 which gave peace to the ,church2 and this celebrated document had been issued in both their names1 by their joint authority1 and had been so published throughout the empire4 ,in addition to this was the fact that the ,christians universally regarded the defeat of ,maximian and the triumph of ,licinius as providential1 for the former had persecuted the ,church1 and the latter had protected it in conjunction with ,constantine4 ,the public actions of ,maximian gave countenance to this opinion3 for1 while he had great faith in the heathen gods and priests1 and had resorted to magic in order to conduct the war with ,licinius triumphantly1 after he had been defeated in battle he slew many of his priests as jugglers and impostors1 and as the destroyers of his own safety1 since by their oracles he had been induced to undertake the disastrous war4 ,moreover1 having heard that ,constantine and ,licinius were both ,christians1 he supposed that their success was the result of their religion1 and himself immediately issued a decree providing safety for the ,christians whom less than a year before he had ordered to be persecuted1 by decrees engraved on brazen tablets2 he gave them liberty to rebuild their churches1 and commanded that all of their property which had been seized and sold under the former decrees should be restored to them4 ,shortly afterward he miserably died1 and ,licinius ruled alone4 ,licinius was a firm believer in ,christianity1 and his faith and the decrees of ,maximian alike confirmed both himself and his subjects in the opinion that he was under the divine protection4 ,constantine was not long in perceiving the greatest political error1 perhaps the only one1 committed by him1 the affixing of the signature of ,licinius to the ,decree of ,milan2 but1 at the time it was done1 human foresight could hardly have anticipated such a wholesale abandonment of paganism1 and such an ardent and enthusiastic adoption of ,constantine's new ecclesiasticism1 on the part of the people1 as did actually occur4 ,to have left the name of ,licinius out of the decree would have fostered any ambitious views which that emperor might have entertained1 by enabling him to set up himself as the especial guardian of the heathen religion1 and so concentrating in his own hands all the resources of the pagan world4 ,constantine was compelled1 therefore1 either to divide the influence of the ,christians with ,licinius1 or else to array himself and ,christianity on the one side1 against ,licinius and paganism on the other2 and he was too wise a ruler not to perceive that such a civil and religious war would be disastrous to both rulers1 if not the ultimate ruin of the empire2 and1 not knowing the vast numerical strength of the ,christians1 he chose the former alternative4 ,but no sooner had he succeeded in getting all power in the ,north and ,west concentrated firmly in his owe hands1 than he began to seek for means whereby to undermine the power of his rival1 and so carry into effect his life-long purpose--the reuniting of the divided empire1 and the concentration of all power in his own hands4 ,the ,christians of the ,eastern ,empire maintained the primitive religion1 and persevered in their original opposition to bearing arms in war1 and to slavery1 and to private-property rights1 and so added nothing to the military power of ,licinius1 except their constantly increasing communal wealth4 ,licinius simply left the ,church at peace1 and was not consummate politician enough to use its vast resources in aid of his government1 as ,constantine had done1 by inducing the ,christians to abandon the primitive organization of the ,church and become ,roman subjects in everything except the mere article of faith4 ,when ,ulfilas1 the ,goth1 converted his barbarous countrymen1 and transformed the fierce and warlike tribes into peaceful and settled peoples among whom war1 slavery1 polygamy1 and private property1 were unknown1 and among whom no king was recognized but ,christ1 ,constantine declared war against them1 and pursued them with fire and sword until they were forced to adopt ,roman laws and customs1 and agreed by treaty to supply a permanent force of forty thousand young men to the imperial army2 and1 after that1 he caused ,ulfilas himself to be ordained a bishop1 and sent him back to his own people to teach the imperial religion instead of ,christianity4 ,but this profound and atheistic policy was too deep for the ,emperor ,licinius2 and ,constantine knew well that1 according to the primitive ,christianity1 a whole ,christian province would not furnish a single recruit to his rival's legions1 since no ,christian would bear arms4 ,eusebius of ,caesarea1 who had prepared the way for ,constantine to become the head of the ,church in the ,western ,empire1 was the emperor's chosen friend and constant counselor1 and the ruler of ,rome never forgot that the bishop had1 first of all men1 invited his attention to the fact that the despised and persecuted ,christians constituted already a body of men so numerous1 so virtuous1 and so prosperous1 as to hold the balance of power between any factions which might divide the ,roman people just as soon as the legal disabilities which both concealed their numbers and fettered their influence might be removed by imperial favor4 ,under the advice of ,eusebius1 the emperor1 in his own name1 sent to ,anulinus1 ,proconsul of ,africa1 a decree most favorable to the ,christians throughout that region2 he also made presents of large sums of money to the bishops of ,africa1 ,numidia1 and ,mauritania1 who had been plundered in the persecutions of ,maximian2 he also sent a decree ordaining that all church prelates be freed from obligation to discharge any public1 military1 or political duties and offices2 also1 he made a decree commanding a certain council to be held concerning the affairs of ,caecilianus1 ,bishop of ,carthage1 and sent to ,miltiades1 ,bishop of ,rome1 copies of the charges against ,caecilianus2 also1 a decree addressed to ,chrestus1 ,bishop of ,syracuse1 commanding that a council of many bishops1 both of ,africa and of ,gaul1 should assemble at the city of ,arles1 in order to consider and determine certain questions which were disputed among the faithful4 ,in short1 counseled by ,eusebius1 who never doubted the ultimate overthrow of idolatry1 and the ultimate triumph of whatever ecclesiastical system might be established in place of the ,christian communities1 ,constantine zealously strove in every way to identify himself and his government with the new religion1 and to hold himself out as the head of the ,church1 as well as of the state4 ,at the same time he steadily pursued a secret policy of winning to himself the affection and confidence of the ,christian subjects of the ,emperor ,licinius1 by the use of agents whom he kept in his own service1 in the household of every bishop of the ,eastern ,church4 ,this zeal in the service of the established ecclesiasticism soon met with the great reward which ,eusebius had promised to the emperor2 for1 throughout the length and breadth of the churches it began to be commonly declared that ,constantine was the divinely-appointed protector of the ,christians2 that ,god was the friend and vigilant protector of ,constantine2 and that no man could be his equal1 and no man could stand against him4 ,licinius soon perceived the influence of these machinations1 and saw that1 even in his own dominions1 the ,christians1 and especially the prelates1 offered up more prayers for ,constantine than for himself--so that he did not suppose1 saith ,eusebius1 that they offered prayers for him at all1 but persuaded himself that they did all things1 and propitiated the ,deity1 only for the divinely-favored ,emperor ,constantine4 ,this treasonable sentiment1 of course1 aroused the resentment of the jealous ,licinius1 and more and more developed that estrangement between him and the ,christians for which ,constantine secretly but zealously labored2 and ,licinius sought revenge by fomenting every disaffection which manifested itself against the rule of ,constantine in ,africa4 ,but the bishops were as perfect a police force as modern times have ever succeeded in organizing1 and kept ,rome fully advised of every movement inaugurated by the enemies of the most ,christian emperor4 ,and ,eusebius saith1 concerning ,licinius1 that when he saw that his secret preparations by no means succeeded according to his wish1 as ,god detected every artifice and villainy to his favorite prince1 no longer able to conceal himself1 ,licinius commenced an open war4 ,and in thus determining war against ,constantine1 he now proceeded to array himself against the ,supreme ,god whom he knew ,constantine to worship4 ,afterward he began imperceptibly to assail those pious subjects under him who had never at any time troubled his government4 ,this too1 he did1 violently urged on by the innate propensity of his malice1 that overclouded and darkened his understanding4 ,he did not1 therefore1 bear in mind those that had persecuted the ,christians before him1 nor those whose destroyer and punisher he himself had been appointed1 for their wickedness4 ,but1 departing from sound reason1 and1 as one might say1 seized with insanity1 he had determined to wage war against ,god himself1 the protector and aid of ,constantine1 in place of the one whom ,he assisted4 ,and first1 indeed1 he drove away all the ,christians from his house1 the wretch thus divesting himself of those prayers to ,god for his safety which they were taught to offer up for all men4 ,after this he ordered the soldiers in the cities to be cashiered and stripped of military honors unless they chose to sacrifice to demons4 ,constantine having craftily succeeded in embroiling ,licinius with the ,church1 watched with secret joy1 until the enemy whom he wished to destroy followed up this lustration of his army and navy1 which was designed to drive out the ,christian spies of ,constantine1 with more strenuous measures2 and1 in the language of ,eusebius1 at last proceeded to such an extent of madness as to attack the bishops1 now indeed regarding them as the servants of the ,supreme ,god1 but hostile to his measures4 ,and as the angry tyrant adopted extreme remedies for this ecclesiastical treason1 razing the churches to the ground2 subjecting the bishops to the same punishment as the worst criminals2 cutting the bodies of some into small pieces and feeding them out to fishes in the sea2 and destroying others by various modes of torture and death--the whole ,christian world regarded him with horror and detestation1 and looked to ,constantine for deliverance4 ,so that the error which the emperor had committed1 in soliciting ,licinius to affix his signature to the ,decree of ,milan1 was not only fully compensated by his consummate skill and artifice1 but the ,church prayed earth and ,heaven for the destruction of ,licinius4 ,licinius1 irritated more and more by the wide-spread disaffection of his subjects1 espoused the cause of ,bassianus1 who had married ,anastasia1 the sister of ,constantine1 and urged him into rebellion in order to gain larger power2 and1 ,bassianus having been defeated and dethroned1 ,licinius refused to deliver up the partisans of the fallen ,caesar who had taken refuge in his dominions2 and upon this pretext ,constantine declared war against him2 and in two battles1 one at ,cibalis in ,pannonia1 and the other upon the plains of ,mardia in ,thrace1 he defeated ,licinius1 and so crippled him that he was compelled to make peace1 with the loss of ,pannonia1 ,dalmatia1 ,dacia1 ,macedonia1 and ,greece1 which provinces were added to the dominions of ,constantine1 and extended his empire to the extremity of ,peloponnesus1 leaving ,licinius ,emperor of ,thrace1 ,asia ,minor1 ,syria1 and ,egypt4 ,this war happened in the year #cae1 and the ambition of ,constantine was temporarily sated1 so that he then refrained from pushing to extremities the defeated but still powerful ,licinius until he might have time and opportunity to alienate the affection and confidence of his subjects in ,asia as thoroughly as he had done in ,europe4 ,and1 besides this1 he wanted time in order to subjugate the ,goths whom ,ulfilas had converted1 subvert the ,christian communities organized among them on the primitive foundation1 and force them to adopt the ecclesiastical system which he had established at ,rome1 in order to make the ,gothic nation an available factor in any future war in which he might engage4 ,but in a few years afterward1 having successfully waged war against the ,goths1 and having seen the influence of ,licinius greatly impaired by the persecutions of the ,church in ,syria and ,egypt which he had encouraged and1 perhaps1 instigated1 as well as by that secret diplomacy of which ,constantine was master1 the ,roman emperor deemed that the time had come to destroy ,licinius1 and restore the unity of the empire1 and consolidate all power in his own hands1 especially as the great age and unpopular vices of ,licinius seemed to presage an easy victory4 ,he accordingly 7and without any pretext whatever on this occasion7 declared war against the ,illyrian emperor2 and in the great battle of ,adrianople1 and in the siege of ,byzantium1 and in the decisive action of ,chrysopolis1 in all of which he engaged ,licinius with inferior numbers1 his vast military genius asserted itself1 so that by continuous defeats he reduced the ,emperor of the ,east to the necessity of making an unconditional surrender4 ,constantia1 the wife of ,licinius1 was the sister of ,constantine1 and1 at her request and entreaties1 the conqueror temporarily spared the life of his fallen rival1 and banished him to ,thessalonica1 where he was soon afterward assassinated in some mysterious manner1 it being to this day uncertain whether he perished by the order of the senate1 by a tumult of the soldiers1 or by the machinations of ,constantine4 ,but it is certain that the first ,christian emperor regarded the fact that a man might stand in the way of his ambition1 or possibly compromise his safety1 as a sufficient reason for putting him to death1 even if the unlucky person happened to be his own son4 ,thus the mighty and victorious ,constantine1 saith ,eusebius1 adorned with every virtue of religion1 with his most pious son1 ,crispus ,caesar1 resembling in all things his father1 recovered the ,east as his own1 and thus restored the ,roman ,empire to its ancient state of one united body2 extending their peaceful sway around the world1 from the rising sun to the opposite regions1 to the north and the south1 even to the borders of the declining day4 ,but this greatest statesman1 politician1 and ruler--this absolute1 untroubled1 and self-confident atheist--had only the godliness that is profitable for the life that now is2 for this ,christian had never been baptized 7knowing that an emperor can not be a ,christian72 and he afterward murdered in cold blood1 without provocation1 his most pious son1 ,crispus ,caesar1 resembling in all things his father2 his own wife ,fausta1 and the youthful ,licinius1 son of his sister ,constantia2 just as he systematically assassinated every one whom his calm1 merciless1 wise policy thought to be possibly inimical to his own safety4 ,but he realized the life-long ambition of his soul1 the restoration of the unity of the ,roman ,empire under his own authority2 and did it by the aid of the ,christian ,church1 which he bribed1 corrupted1 and secularized1 until it acknowledged him to be king instead of ,jesus ,christ4 ,these historical details1 however1 anticipate our narrative of ,arius the ,libyan1 to which we must now return4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,a ,,naval ,,question4 ,after the overthrow of the ,christian communities which ,ulfilas had founded among the ,goths1 ,constantine called ,eusebius1 ,bishop of ,caesarea1 unto himself1 and began to make diligent inquiries concerning the churches of ,syria and of ,egypt2 and1 having obtained all of the information current among the bishops1 he entered into conversation with ,eusebius1 apparently for the purpose of still further satisfying himself upon certain points involved in his investigations4 ,thou sayest1 said ,constantine1 that1 in spite of the persecution in which many bishops and private persons have suffered martyrdom1 the ,church constantly increases in numbers and influence4 ,yea1 replied ,eusebius1 but not so rapidly as in thine own dominions2 for in most places their services are secretly conducted because of the heathen2 yet the truth triumphs everywhere1 and the churches prosper wonderfully4 ,the cruel wrongs done unto the faithful excite the interest and compassion of all fair-minded men1 and there are always many who seek for fuller information concerning our holy religion1 and there are always some at hand ready to impart it4 ,i would that it were possible for me at this time to occupy the same relation to the ,eastern ,church that so happily obtains in the ,empire of the ,west4 ,but that seems to be impossible while the ,emperor ,licinius reigns over those realms4 ,thou art as much beloved by the ,christians of the ,east as by those of ,europe or of ,africa2 and they look unto thee for deliverance1 and hopefully await thy coming4 ,but ,europe and ,africa are under mine own hand1 and ,asia is not2 the ,church of the ,east is beyond the reach of my protection4 ,stretch forth thine arm of power1 thou favorite of the supreme ,god1 and take it unto thyself4 ,thou alone art fitted to be emperor1 and ,asia1 as part of the ,roman ,empire1 is rightfully thine own4 ,then ,constantine gave way to one of those fits of sudden1 silent meditation which were not unusual to him1 and continued to gaze upon his bishop long and earnestly4 ,at last he said3 ,the ,emperor ,licinius is a brave and skillful commander1 trained all his life in the discipline of the ,roman army4 ,he not only hath yet a solid foothold upon ,european soil1 but he could call into action out of populous ,asia double as many soldiers as the ,western ,empire could put into the field1 including the hardy ,goths1 whom ,i have added to the military force of ,rome4 ,he is no merely titular emperor1 but is a consummate warrior1 a wise ruler1 an able and valiant man1 as he hath already proved against both ,maximian and myself4 ,thou and ,god art greater still6 said the bishop1 solemnly4 ,that might be so upon the land1 murmured ,constantine1 absently1 for many of my legions are veterans1 who have followed me through seventeen campaigns without defeat1 and the ,goths are brave and hardy4 ,but the old emperor's vast superiority is on the sea4 ,for1 since ,rome ceased to be the seat of empire1 the naval establishments of ,misenum and ,ravenna have been greatly neglected1 and the maritime cities of ,greece no longer furnish those formidable fleets which made the republic of ,athens so famous4 ,but the ,emperor ,licinius can draw from ,egypt and the adjacent coasts of ,africa1 from the ports of ,phoenicia and the ,isle of ,cyprus1 and from ,bithynia1 ,ionia1 and ,caria1 a fleet to which the rest of mankind could offer no effective opposition2 so that1 if ,i should be successful on land1 the emperor's naval superiority would enable him to carry an offensive war into every sea-coast of ,hispania1 ,gaul1 and ,italy1 cut off all my supplies1 and force me to retreat even in the face of victory4 ,it will not do6 he cried1 passionately and despondingly--it will not do6 and it requires years to prepare a navy6 ,there must be some other way--some other way6 ,what dark and secret thought slumbered in the capacious deeps of that calm1 unwavering spirit to which expediency was ever a sufficient justification for any crime that might advance political designs1 no man can ever know2 but ,eusebius at once perceived that the thing which he supposed to have been a suggestion of his own--a temptation held out by him to the emperor and ventured upon because his zeal for the persecuted ,christians of the ,eastern ,church made him earnestly desire that ,constantine should conquer and protect those regions--had in truth long been a subject of profoundest meditation in the emperor's soul2 a most dangerous ambition1 which he had considered in every possible aspect of it4 ,neither of these able men spoke for some time4 ,then the emperor said1 musingly3 ,would that it were possible for me at this time to occupy the same relation to the ,eastern ,churches that so happily obtains in the ,empire of the ,west6 ,but there must be some other way--some other way6 ,eusebius perceived from the repetition of these words that they in some way contained the particular matter concerning which ,constantine desired him to speak2 and he shuddered at the unwelcome thought of what might possibly be required at the hand of some bishop of the ,church by the implacable and unscrupulous emperor2 but1 not fully comprehending the drift of the royal mind1 he answered3 ,it would be easy to attach the bishops and their congregations unto thyself as thou didst those of ,africa1 by secret aid to the churches1 and by kind messages unto those who have experienced the tyrant's cruelty2 for already all ,christians regard thee as divinely raised up for their succor1 and they are comforted by the hope that1 when thou dost rule the world1 the gospel shall be as free in the ,east as it is in the ,west4 ,but that is a mere sentiment1 answered ,constantine4 ,the ,christians are not soldiers2 in the ,east they refuse to bear arms1 or to recognize an earthly ruler4 ,surely thou dost remember how difficult it was to bring them over to any active support of mine empire even in the ,west4 ,yea1 verily6 ,but thou mayst gradually assume direction of the ,church there as thou hast done here3 by largesses to the bishops2 by calling councils in thine own name to settle clerical differences2 and by training them1 as thou hast done here1 to regard thee alone as the real source of both ecclesiastical and political authority2 and so by degrees control them as thou wilt4 ,i have meditated over all of that1 said ,constantine1 and the great difficulty in the way of its accomplishment grows out of the fact that any attempt to interfere in the trial of charges against bishops or presbyters1 whether upon accusations of personal misconduct1 or of erroneous doctrine1 within the dominions of the ,emperor ,licinius1 would be regarded by him1 and by his subjects1 as an unwarrantable interference in matters which do not concern the ,empire of the ,west2 and such a course would only inflame and consolidate those whom ,i prefer to divide in sentiment4 ,but1 said ,eusebius1 if the question in dispute should be one1 not between the members of some particular community1 or locality1 but between almost the whole body of the ,christians in the ,western ,empire on the one hand1 and almost the whole body of the ,eastern ,church upon the other1 could there be any impropriety in calling a council of the whole ,church1 ,east and ,west1 to consider and determine it8 ,no1 said ,constantine4 ,if there were only such a question1 the way would be laid open at least for a beginning4 ,but how couldst thou ever create such a question8 ,the question1 or rather the questions 7for there are two of them71 are already created--the ,east upon one side of both1 and the ,west upon the other4 ,what are these questions8 ,one is a great dispute concerning the proper time for the celebration of ,easter2 and the other a most subtile controversy concerning the nature of ,godhead and the relation of the ,father1 ,son1 and ,holy ,ghost2 a dispute in which ,hosius of ,cordova leads many bishops and presbyters upon one side1 and ,arius the ,libyan as many upon the other4 ,arius the ,libyan6 cried ,constantine1 with sudden wrath4 ,the ,libyan serpent6 ,the ram of ,baucalis6 a presbyter of ,alexandria6 ,by thundering ,jove1 ,i will yet crush that hard1 stubborn1 fearless nature1 for he hath been more in my way than even the ,emperor ,licinius himself6 ,curse the man6 curse him6 ,eusebius gazed upon the emperor in mute astonishment4 ,he knew that ,constantine possessed an almost supernatural knowledge of all political movements and persons1 even in the remotest corner of the empire over which he reigned1 but he had never even dreamed that the mighty emperor had heard so much as the name of the gaunt1 unsocial1 self-denying1 and inflexible presbyter of the ,baucalis church at ,alexandria1 in the dominions of ,licinius4 ,knowest thou the man8 he asked with unconcealed astonishment4 ,constantine had already regained his usual calmness1 and in placid tones replied3 ,i have never seen ,arius1 but have constantly and often heard of his dangerous and revolutionary teachings1 and of his rugged1 implacable1 unyielding character4 ,he hateth me without any cause1 except that ,i am emperor1 and scorneth every favor ,i was inclined to show him4 ,i even tendered unto him the bishopric of ,alexandria1 which ,alexander now holds1 but he refused to accept it1 for no other reason than that he supposed his advancement to that high place to have been procured by the influence of mine agents in that city4 ,i regret that he is not thy friend1 answered ,eusebius2 but wilt thou instruct me how a presbyter could teach dangerous and revolutionary doctrines8 ,perhaps such teachings might furnish matter for which the ,church might suspend him from the office of presbyter1 and silence his utterances4 ,i do not think so1 answered ,constantine4 ,he teaches that a ,christian can not be an emperor1 nor bear arms in war2 and that to take sides in a struggle between any earthly governments is to betray the ,christ4 ,he teaches that no ,christian can hold slaves1 own private property1 or recognize ,roman and ,egyptian laws and customs in reference to marriage and divorce4 ,in a word1 he still rigidly adheres to that primitive ,christianity1 the prevalence of which would soon render all government over the people unnecessary if not impossible1 and which1 as thou knowest1 it was so difficult for us to guide to right and reasonable action even in ,rome and in other parts of the ,west4 ,but his primitive and fearless teachings have reduced to the ghostly form of a mere sentiment all the active aid ,i had expected to obtain from the ,christians of ,syria and of ,egypt4 ,the fleet1 the mighty fleet1 which putteth all my coasts at the mercy of ,licinius1 ought to have been mine own1 and would have been but for that ,libyan serpent who paralyzed the arms of willing ,christians by his accursed teachings4 ,but1 said ,eusebius1 solemnly1 these teachings were the very doctrines of our ,lord1 and ,arius hath proclaimed nothing but the truths of the gospel1 and for three hundred years no ,christian man hath owned a slave or claimed private title to property1 or lifted up a weapon even in defense of the faith for which he does not hesitate to die4 ,and the bishop's fine face darkened1 and his heart twitched as if some transient gleam of lightning had revealed before him a bottomless pit that opened down to perdition2 and for a moment he half-way felt that he had lost his own soul by juggling with the empire in the name of ,jesus and for the glory of the ,church4 ,while he stood in painful meditation1 the emperor continued3 ,yea6 doubtless this was the primitive system2 and1 thoroughly permeated with its new and radical principles1 ,arius seeketh to enforce them4 ,the ,african ram1 bold1 self-confident1 aggressive6 the ,libyan serpent1 agile1 beautiful1 tameless1 and dangerous6 scorning all earthly ambitions as trifles unworthy of the consideration of an immortal spirit2 despising pain1 and toil1 and peril2 almost courting martyrdom2 immovable by threats of vengeance1 or by hope of reward2 alike inaccessible to flattery and to fear--but for that one man ,i would hold the ,east in my hand to-day6 ,for the fleet was largely manned and officered by ,christians1 and all things were arranged to deliver up the ships to me1 when this fierce1 invincible1 immovable presbyter poured out the angry torrent of his eloquence and learning1 urging the ,christians to obey all laws of the government under which they lived that were not contrary to conscience1 and denouncing those who might engage on either side in favor of an earthly ruler as traitors to ,christ and his kingdom4 ,their courage shriveled up before his fierce denunciation1 as if it had been smitten by the wrath of ,god1 and all the carefully prepared plans for getting possession of more than half the fleet of ,licinius1 and especially of the great galleys with three banks of oars1 faded away before the breath of this one irreconcilable and immovable man4 ,then the attention of the ,emperor ,licinius having been called to the matter1 he made a lustration of his army and navy1 and dishonorably dismissed therefrom every man who refused to offer sacrifice to the gods2 and also from his civil service1 and from his palaces4 ,and since that day there hath been no man in the service of ,licinius that is a ,christian4 ,but the emperor sent to ,arius a parchment giving to him legal authority to preach the gospel publicly in his city of ,alexandria1 because his gospel had saved the fleet2 and the stern1 uncompromising presbyter sent it back with a message that his authority to preach was from ,god1 not from man4 ,for what reason did ,arius so bitterly take sides against thee1 the favorite of ,god1 the protector of the ,church8 ,it would be unjust1 said ,constantine1 to say that he ever did so4 ,he did not2 but his powerful influence in holding the ,christians of ,egypt and of ,syria to strictest neutrality was the most injurious policy he could have pursued against me2 but he would have pursued the same course against any other ruler in the world4 ,eusebius was the fast friend of ,arius1 whom he admired and loved beyond all living men 7for ,pamphilus had already suffered martyrdom72 and the great ecclesiastic1 rejoicing at the praises bestowed upon his friend by the greatest ruler of men1 strove to call out yet more of his opinion1 and accordingly said unto him1 ,couldst thou not1 then1 attack the moral character of ,arius1 and call a council to condemn him for some irregularity1 and so get rid of him8 ,nay1 answered the emperor1 the man is proof against all earthly temptations4 ,when all arrangements had been made to confer upon him the see of ,alexandria1 he calmly but positively refused to accept the office1 saying he would live and die presbyter of the ,baucalis church4 ,gifts of money sent unto him anonymously he poured into the common treasury of the ,church uncounted1 and1 in the midst of opulence1 lived the life of an anchorite4 ,seven hundred of the noblest women of ,alexandria are his communicants1 and constant watchfulness never detected him in the slightest impropriety with any of them4 ,in the pestilence which decimated and terrified the great city1 by day and night he ministered unto the afflicted1 when even parents abandoned their children and children their parents1 and the ties of blood were disregarded1 until the people believed him to be invested with a charmed life that was invulnerable to poniard1 poison1 or pestilence4 ,he is the purest and the strongest soul on earth1 said the emperor1 with undisguised admiration1 but he hath barred my way unto the conquest of the ,east6 ,eusebius glowed with pleasure as he listened to the language in which the emperor depicted the character of ,arius1 and replied3 ,only the truly great are able to do justice to those whom they have strong reason to dislike1 but thou hast painted the grand and lonely soul of the ,libyan even as it is4 ,he hath been purified by sorrow4 ,he is all for ,christ1 and earthly hopes1 fears and ambitions no more can move his chaste and lofty spirit4 ,but1 said ,constantine1 sternly1 however admirable the presbyter may be1 ,i will not forget that he hath robbed me of the fleet6 ,he hath barred my way unto the conquest of the ,east4 ,then said ,eusebius3 ,if the fleet of ,licinius could be by some means neutralized2 if that valiant tyrant could1 perhaps1 be induced to keep his fleet out of the war altogether1 and leave the fate of the empire to be decided by the armies of the ,east and of the ,west--would that content thee8 ,the handsome face of ,constantine glowed with a wonderful light of hope and pleasure as he answered1 eagerly2 ,yea1 thou most wise and infallible bishop6 ,if thou canst accomplish this thing1 soon shall the churches of the ,east enjoy the imperial protection as fully as do those of the ,western ,empire2 and1 freed from the persecutions of ,licinius and of the pagan priests1 the ,church shall triumph over all the world4 ,but ,i have told thee that no more able warrior lives than the emperor2 he will never forego the use of his right arm of power3 thou canst not neutralize his navy4 ,the greatest of ecclesiastics gazed with affectionate admiration upon the greatest of emperors1 and calmly answered3 ,i am a man of peace1 and know nothing of the conduct of a war4 ,but ,i do know something of the human heart1 and of the secret springs that govern the actions of men4 ,when ,i did visit thee in ,gaul1 before the war with ,maxentius1 thou didst tell me that ,i could not cast a javelin1 nor smite with a sword1 nor draw out a legion in battle order1 but that ,i knew all ,italy1 and showed thee how to conquer ,rome4 ,verily ,i know not how to sail a ship1 yet ,i will endeavor diligently to keep the tyrant's navy far off from thy coasts4 ,if ,i should fail1 thou wilt quickly know the unwelcome truth2 and if ,i succeed thou shalt learn it immediately4 ,thou hast always succeeded1 answered ,constantine2 no promise made by thee hath failed4 ,thou hast never once disappointed thine emperor and friend4 ,for the present1 said ,eusebius1 ,i do greatly desire of thee an indefinite leave of absence1 but ,i trust not a protracted one1 in order that ,i may pay a visit to my beloved brother ,eusebius1 the ,bishop of ,nicomedia4 ,for an instant the face of ,constantine was clouded4 ,within the dominions of ,licinius8 he softly murmured1 but in a moment he answered3 ,thou hast leave to go6 ,but tell me1 bishop1 why thou goest unto ,nicomedia4 ,what canst thou do there except to expose thy dear and valuable head to the fury of the emperor8 ,i go thither1 said ,eusebius1 with a light and musical laugh1 seeking to prepare a problem over which the historians and warriors of all future ages shall puzzle their weary brains in vain4 ,the question which will be1 ,i trust1 a riddle unto them1 is briefly this3 ,why was it that1 in the second war with the most ,christian ,emperor ,constantine1 the brave and competent commander ,licinius1 possessing so vast a superiority at sea1 utterly failed to carry an offensive war into the very center of his rival's dominions1 and1 having moored his fleet safely in some secure strait or bay1 left the issue of the war to be decided by the land-forces alone1 in the conduct of which the most glorious ,emperor ,constantine was known to be invincible8 ,then ,constantine sprang from his seat1 and with eager1 glowing face he embraced the bishop and kissed him1 saying3 ,canst thou1 indeed1 do this thing for me8 ,if thou canst1 thou art stronger than ten legions1 and deservest a reward equal to their pay6 ,thou knowest well1 said ,eusebius1 kindly but with inexpressible dignity1 that ,i have served thee faithfully without reward1 because ,i love thee1 ,augustus1 and love the ,church of ,christ1 and know assuredly that thine own triumph will secure the triumph of the faith6 ,thou speakest nothing but the truth1 bishop1 replied ,constantine1 his fine face lighting up with strong emotions1 and ,i have loved and honored thee in my heart accordingly4 ,thou knowest that1 whenever thou needest me1 ,i am all thine own4 ,but how can this miracle that shall neutralize the emperor's maritime ascendency be wrought8 ,i think1 answered ,eusebius1 gravely and sadly1 that miracles have recently ceased throughout the world1 so that even the ,church of ,christ hath to depend upon only human agencies1 which thou knowest was not formerly the case4 ,it is well known1 however1 that the old ,emperor ,licinius doth not doubt the truth and divinity of our holy religion1 although he hateth the ,christians because he hath been persuaded that they offer up more prayers for thee than for himself4 ,now1 it hath seemed probable to me that if an authentic ,christian prophecy could be privately circulated through the imperial palace of ,nicomedia to the purport that the ,eastern ,empire would be overthrown whenever it might send a hostile fleet to ravage the coasts of ,europe1 his fear and hatred of the ,christians would influence him to retain his fleet at home in order to forestall the prophecy4 ,of course1 the common sense of the matter would be1 as thou hast said1 for him to use his vast naval strength to desolate thy coasts in ,greece1 ,italy1 ,africa1 ,hispania1 and ,gaul2 but1 perhaps1 he may not do so4 ,the matter is not very clearly wrought out in my mind1 but gradually takes shape as ,i consider it1 and ,i desire to see my brother1 ,eusebius of ,nicomedia1 a wise and prudent man1 to converse with him concerning it4 ,thou art a great and wonderful bishop1 said ,constantine4 ,go thou1 and may ,god prosper thee6 ,keep me well informed of thy movements1 and of all events that happen4 ,thou shalt have orders for all supplies1 attendance1 and money1 which thou canst possibly need for thy purposes4 ,if thou fall into any trouble at ,nicomedia1 or elsewhere1 have sure means of informing me1 for ,i would risk the sovereignty of the world to deliver thee1 thou incomparable friend and bishop4 ,when wilt thou depart8 ,within a few days1 at most1 said ,eusebius4 ,and thou shalt do nothing except to grant me leave of absence4 ,we bishops can further each other upon our journeys quite well1 and ,i wish to go secretly and without attracting notice4 ,when thou hast leisure1 said ,constantine1 come unto me again1 and come prepared to unravel these questions concerning the celebration of ,easter1 and concerning the ,godhead1 to the very last threads of them2 for ,i earnestly desire to be perfectly informed therein4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,,the ,,politics ,,of ,,religion4 ,a day or two afterward1 ,eusebius again sought audience of the emperor1 and in a long interview1 during which ,constantine1 with his own hand1 kept copious and accurate memoranda of the conversation1 the bishop carefully explained the nature of the church controversy respecting the observance of ,easter1 and also the nature of the abstract and peculiar ideas involved in the dispute concerning the ,deity2 and in the whole interview the emperor manifested the perfect thoroughness with which his calm1 grand intelligence was accustomed to go to the very bottom of every matter which once secured his interest1 grasping all possible aspects and relationships of the subject--the evidence upon which alleged facts might be founded1 the authority upon which each opinion might rest--so that at the close of the long and studious interview he was as well informed upon the subjects discussed as were the most learned ecclesiastics of his generation4 ,i perceive1 he said to ,eusebius1 that thou art an advocate of the opinion of ,arius the ,libyan1 concerning what ,hosius calleth the ,holy ,trinity8 ,yea6 answered the bishop2 for neither do the ,gospels teach me1 nor can the aid of reason enable me to understand that three are one any more than that one is three2 nor can ,i evade the fact that ',father' and ',son' are terms which of necessity imply that the ,father antedates the ,son2 nor can ,i believe that ,god the ,father lived in our flesh and died upon the cross4 ,so that1 whenever the ',arian heresy1' as they call it1 shall be heard before a general council1 ,i shall be numbered among the heterodox1 if it is indeed possible that any council shall ever condemn the grand ,libyan's doctrines6 ,i regret much1 replied the emperor1 that thy conscience leadeth thee in that direction1 although the fact must never become a cause of difference between thee and me4 ,for1 while ,i would yield cheerful acquiescence to thy superior learning about all merely religious questions1 ,i perceive already that the political aspects of this controversy will make it politic for me to maintain the opinions of ,hosius and his party4 ,what possible political significance can exist in such an abstract dispute about matters of theological faith and doctrine8 ,constantine laughed pleasantly1 and answered3 ,of course1 a pious and learned bishop would sooner perceive the minutest ramifications of the theological roots of any question than to grasp its most palpable political outgrowth4 ,i will tell thee1 bishop1 but the communication is for thee alone4 ,as to the paschal controversy1 it is a mere matter of sentiment or feeling between those who do not wish to follow the ,jews in fixing the time of its observance1 and desire to have some period assigned by the ,christian authority1 on the one hand2 and1 on the other1 those who are unwilling to depart from the practice of three centuries for any reason--but these differences can be easily reconciled4 ,but1 as to this other controversy1 it is of an essentially different kind4 ,thy statement of it revealed to me the salient fact that the doctrine of ,arius is that of the ,eastern ,church1 the doctrine of ,hosius that of the ,western2 and a geographical line might almost be run through the faith upon this question--,arius and his party upon one side1 ,hosius and his upon the other--and along the line itself many who are not the partisans of either opinion4 ,thou seest1 therefore1 that it is really a question between two empires1 and1 whenever it shall be determined1 a proper regard for the prestige of mine own empire requires me to see that the decision shall be in favor of the ,western ,church4 ,dost thou now perceive one plainest and least important point of its political bearings8 ,yea1 verily1 answered ,eusebius4 ,but it had not occurred to me before6 ,after the matter shall have been accomplished1 said ,constantine1 many others shall also see it1 but not just yet2 for it is the business of him who is fit to rule not only to see1 but to foresee1 whatever may concern his empire6 ,thou alone hast seen it yet1 replied the bishop4 ,but what other political significance can the controversy possibly possess8 ,ah6 bishop1 said the emperor1 it is the great question of our age4 ,it involves in itself the whole field of controversy between the old civilizations and the new2 between paganism and ,christianity2 between ,jesus ,christ and the rulers of mankind4 ,the doctrines of ,arius are the utterances of that primitive ,christianity which proclaimed the fraternity of all men1 condemned war1 slavery1 and private-property rights4 ,it maintaineth ,jesus as the king of a kingdom established in the world2 a real and actual government among the ,christian communities1 which may yield obedience to laws that do not fetter conscience1 but does not acknowledge allegiance to any human emperor or king4 ,its universal prevalence would speedily render all government over the people ridiculous and unnecessary2 for ,christ would be the only king1 and all men brethren1 free and equal1 as was the case in ,moasia1 under the apostolical ,ulfilas1 until ,i was constrained to send an army thither and force the ,goths to give up their communal organization1 and adopt the ,roman laws and customs4 ,the system of ,arius1 primitive ,christianity1 dear bishop1 would leave no room for ,constantine on earth4 ,but the doctrine of ,hosius1 by elevating ,jesus to actual ,godhead1 leaveth his earthly career a mere manifestation1 or appearance1 of the divine in human flesh2 and1 since the ,god hath returned to his former ineffable condition1 it leaveth his kingdom to be only a pure and lofty spiritual phantasm--and leaves mankind for ,constantine to govern4 ,thou seest that there can be no rivalry between the ,christianity of ,hosius and the sovereigns of this world1 while the faith of ,arius would soon subvert all human governments1 and dethrone every prince on earth4 ,beyond any question1 the emperors1 from ,nero to my own times1 sought only to preserve the empire by persecuting the ,christians1 and properly described ,christianity as 'a baleful and malignant superstition1' 'a criminal association1' 'a new society that departed from the laws and ceremonies of our fathers1 inventing a new government for itself inconsistent with the imperial laws and rights4' ,they understood that ,roman sovereignty could not maintain itself against a rapidly increasing association that proposed to abolish war1 slavery1 private rights of property1 offices1 rank1 and prerogative2 and they tried to stamp it out of existence4 ,these emperors strove to defend the empire by exterminating the ,christians2 if they had been greater men1 they would have adopted the new religion1 pruned it of all doctrines that might menace the imperial authority1 translating ,jesus to the highest heaven1 and taking for themselves his place upon the earth--as ,i have done4 ,i am1 therefore1 the champion of the ,holy ,trinity1 as ,hosius hath defined it2 and at the right time ,arius must be condemned as a heretic4 ,for ,i will no more suffer him to build up the churches of the ,east upon this basis of primitive ,christianity than ,i would suffer ,ulfilas to accomplish a similar purpose among the ,gothic tribes4 ,dost thou now perceive the political significancy of this ,arian heresy1 my dear bishop8 ,but ,eusebius stood before the emperor pale and trembling1 the cold perspiration standing in great drops upon his pallid brow4 ,for a moment an awful mist of horror enveloped his struggling soul4 ,had he1 then1 made a terrible mistake in using his own large abilities and influence to place the persecuted saints under the protection of the grand and humane emperor8 ,had he betrayed the ,church of ,christ1 and lost his own soul1 in bringing about that union of ecclesiastical and imperial authority which made the kingdom of heaven an appanage of the ,roman emperor1 and had secured safety1 peace1 and glory1 for the ,christians by giving to ,constantine the place that should belong only to ,jesus ,christ8 ,had he indeed been overreached and manipulated by this most able of mankind for his own political purposes1 even while he thought himself to be using ,constantine for the glory of ,god and for the edification of the ,church8 ,sick1 doubtful1 terrified1 he faintly answered3 ,but the things which thou sayest the doctrines of ,arius would accomplish are precisely the triumph which our ,lord did promise to the ,church1 and which he pledged his divinity to achieve6 ,surely ,arius must be right6 ,war1 slavery1 and mammon-worship1 must be banished out of the world6 ,mankind must become brethren in the ,lord6 ,the ,church must triumph1 and ,christ must be the only king6 ,not in my time6 said ,constantine1 with the calmness and firmness of mature and deliberate conviction2 not while ,i live6 ,the empire shall be mine own4 ,i will yield my right to no man1 human or divine6 ,let the ,church grow and prepare for future triumph over earthly sovereignty when the scepter shall be held by some more weak and nerveless hand than mine4 ,i will govern while ,i live1 both church and state1 in spite of gods or demons6 ,the bishop made no answer4 ,a terrible error into which he had gone with glad heart and exuberant hope seemed palpably revealed to him4 ,he was utterly cowed and humbled4 ,with a crushing sense of self-abasement1 shame1 mortification1 repentance1 almost crime1 he realized the fact that1 compared with that colossal man1 who amused himself by playing with the loftiest emotions of the human soul as he did with his ever-victorious legions--a man who1 under his calm1 grand bearing1 concealed a devil of ambition that was ready to mock at all that men hold sacred1 and even to hurl his phalanx against ,christ himself--he felt like a child1 a pygmy4 ,with ashy lips he murmured3 ,almost thou hast defied the ,son of ,god6 ,beware6 ,then1 with a singular smile that had in its beauty and light something of lofty mournfulness1 the emperor answered3 ,and if ,i should do so1 dear bishop1 what then8 ,jesus hath no power against me except through thaumaturgy1 and thou dost know that thaumaturgy faded out when the ,church abandoned that communal system upon which ,arius insisteth yet so manfully4 ,i have made my choice1 and will abide the issue1 bishop4 ,thou knowest that ,i never was baptized4 ,i might have been a ,christian1 but ,i preferred to reign over the ,roman ,empire2 and ,i will reign until the end4 ,ah6 for him1 then1 with all the glad assurance born of utter ignorance that such a being could exist among mankind1 the bishop had carefully freighted the old ship ,zion with the godless furniture of ,roman law and custom1 its statutes of slavery1 its laws and usages of war and conquest1 its idolatrous system of private-property rights1 titles1 prerogatives1 political and social class distinctions between those whom ,god made to be brethren1 out of which idolatry the sorrow of the world had grown1 from all of which ,jesus had died to ransom a fallen race4 ,he had unwittingly launched the freighted ship upon the troubled sea of earthly politics4 ,thinking that he would win the ,roman ,empire for the ,church1 he had betrayed and sold the cause of ,christ to ,constantine4 ,thinking that he guided and controlled the emperor1 he had labored with all diligence to make himself the master's slave4 ,he knew it now only too well--he knew that ,constantine had always known it2 and1 appalled by the vast resources of that greatest of mankind1 crushed by the sense of his amazing genius1 he seemed unto himself to grow small1 contemptible1 and weak4 ,and the ship of the ,church8 ,would she go down forever in the troubled waters1 amid the stormy strife for worldly gains and power8 ,or would she yet1 somehow1 sometime1 somewhere1 outride the tempests1 and in some unknown and distant clime reach into a safe haven8 ,not in my time1 said ,constantine2 not while ,i live6 ,when1 then8 ,these bitter meditations were broken by the calm1 sweet voice of ,constantine3 ,bishop1 thou must perceive for thyself that the radical polity of the primitive ,christianity to which ,arius cleaves unswervingly1 and which ,ulfilas founded among the ,goths so firmly that ,i had to send the legions thither to uproot it1 was somewhat fanatical1 or at least premature1 and not suited to the every-day life of selfish and wicked men4 ,thou must perceive1 also1 with equal clearness1 that the splendid ecclesiasticism which ,i have established throughout the ,western ,empire in place of the primitive religion is vastly better for mankind than any system ever before attempted1 and that it should be speedily extended over all the ,east4 ,what future1 grander developments await the ,church1 no mortal can foretell4 ,for the present1 ,i desire of thee to seek means whereby to fan the flame of this ,arian controversy3 it must not die out until it can be summoned before an imperial council1 and receive formal condemnation at the mouths of all the bishops called into a synod by the ,emperor of the west6 ,and if1 when the council shall have been convened1 its members shall sustain ,arius1 what then8 ,a religious war1 perhaps1 answered ,constantine1 or a return unto the pagan gods2 both dreadful alternatives1 which the ,church and the empire should regard with equal horror4 ,but the council will never so decide4 ,i answer for its action2 only keep thou the flame of controversy burning until the proper hour arrives6 ,i will contrive means that shall not fail to do so1 answered ,eusebius1 and1 bowing low1 at a sign from the emperor he withdrew1 overwhelmed with the perception of that calm1 relentless1 almost superhuman sagacity which ,constantine had permitted him to see4 ,yea6 murmured ,eusebius1 ,i will fan this flame of controversy6 ,it shall blaze throughout the ,church6 ,and it may even happen that ,constantine1 although the greatest of the human race1 is not a match for ,god4 ,who knows8 ,thaumaturgy may be restored to the ,church1 or1 even if1 as ,constantine asserteth1 the kingdom of our ,lord was prematurely established1 the spiritual truth of the gospel will sometime educate mankind up to the ultimate reception of its socialism and politics4 ,and to this end it shall be my task before ,i die to organize within the bosom of the ,church sacred brotherhoods1 bound by holy ties of chastity1 obedience1 and poverty1 to keep alive forever the memory of that communal system upon which ,christ founded his kingdom4 ,at all events1 there is no possibility of going backward now2 and more than ever do ,i desire to see ,constantine obtain the sovereignty of the ,east4 ,and now for ,nicomedia6 ,that very day the bishop set out upon his dangerous mission1 to concert measures by which to neutralize the naval power of the ,emperor ,licinius4 ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,,the ,,prophecy ,,of ,,gaius4 ,proceeding1 therefore1 with all diligence1 not very many days afterward1 the ,bishop of ,caesarea arrived at ,nicomedia1 and straightway1 by the use of certain secret means of communication which were well known to all ,christians1 he found1 and took up his abode with ,eusebius of that city2 and they together discussed at great length what means might be used to neutralize the naval power of the tyrant ,licinius4 ,eusebius of ,caesarea had been absent for many months1 and ,constantine had begun to grow impatient at his long delay1 during which he had received no tidings from the bishop personally1 and had heard nothing concerning him1 except that he was quietly residing in the city with the other ,eusebius4 ,and the emperor1 who valued his bishop highly1 and enjoyed his companionship more than that of any other man1 began to fear that the revelation of his own real character and purposes1 which he had made at their last memorable interview1 had alienated his friend forever1 and thereby deprived himself of the services which he deemed to be almost invaluable4 ,it gave him unmingled pleasure1 therefore1 to receive upon a certain day a written message that ,eusebius1 ,bishop of ,nicomedia1 sent by his brother ,eusebius ,pamphilus1 craves audience of the emperor4 ,constantine eagerly ordered that he be admitted1 and1 having dismissed all others1 he gave the bishop a very cordial greeting1 and then said1 with greatest interest and solicitude3 ,tell me first of all of thy brother1 my friend the ,bishop of ,caesarea6 ,where now is the holy and able man8 ,is he well8 ,what doeth he8 ,the bishop was somewhat lacking in the courtly elegance that characterized his brother1 but still had a certain ease born of good sense and honesty of purpose1 and he answered in a straightforward and intelligent way that pleased ,constantine1 and enabled him instantly to take the measure of the man1 and value him at once at his full worth1 a thing he was not always able to do with the other ,eusebius4 ,the bishop1 my brother1 fared well when ,i last saw him4 ,we parted at ,nicomedia--he to go unto ,alexandria1 'upon the emperor's business1' he said2 ,i to come hither by his desire4 ,he sendeth love and reverence unto thee1 'the greatest of mankind1' as he saith2 and hath sent me hither because he thought that the things which ,i am requested to tell thee ought not to be committed to writing1 nor intrusted to any ordinary messenger4 ,whenever thou desirest to hear it1 ,i will briefly narrate what hath happened at ,nicomedia4 ,i am alone with thee1 bishop1 to hear thy report4 ,proceed with thy narrative at once4 ,but first be thou seated1 and partake of such refreshments as thou wilt4 ,nay1 answered the bishop1 ,i need naught except thine own attention4 ,then sit thou there1 and count upon an eager listener4 ,the business upon which thy bishop came unto me having been carefully unfolded by him1 the delay therein was caused by the necessity of sending far beyond ,antioch for a fitting person to accomplish that upon which we had agreed as necessary for thy service2 but it hath been done4 ,the great fleet of the ,emperor ,licinius hath been so far neutralized that not a ship thereof will cross the sea to molest thy coasts if there should be war4 ,on that thou mayst implicitly rely4 ,tell me the means by which this most important work hath been accomplished2 and spare thou no details of the business3 my only wish now is to hear thee fully6 ,it happened more than a year ago1 said the bishop1 that ,i received letters from a presbyter at ,chalcis1 far beyond ,antioch in ,syria1 concerning a most singular youth of that village1 who was an epileptic--a devout ,christian1 but of strange fancies and of extraordinary appearance4 ,this lad1 the presbyter informed me1 during the paroxysms of his disease seemed to be possessed by some sort of a spirit of divination1 and the ,church there had vainly attempted to exorcise the spirit2 for thaumaturgy hath recently been lost4 ,but the presbyter himself had little faith in his prophetic powers1 because he had discovered that it was possible1 by strongly impressing the mind of the youth1 before the paroxysms came upon him1 with some peculiar and striking thought1 to anticipate the subject1 and often even the very words1 of his supposed prophetic ravings4 ,now1 when the bishop unfolded to me what he desired to attempt for thy service1 ,i at once thought of this ,syrian youth1 and judged that he might be advantageously used therein4 ,the sending of a messenger to ,chalcis for him wrought some delay1 and1 when the messenger reached that place1 the youth had gone elsewhere2 and it was a work of time to discover him1 and might1 indeed1 have been impossible1 but for a certain notoriety bestowed upon him by the strange misfortune under which he labored4 ,and1 after we had received the youth at ,nicomedia1 it was a work of time1 and care1 and patience1 to secure his entire confidence1 and train him properly for the business we had undertaken4 ,do ,i state the matter too minutely for thy patience8 ,nay1 said ,constantine2 it is wonderfully interesting4 ,thou need have no fear that thy narrative will weary me3 ,i do desire to hear thee fully4 ,we found by frequent experiments1 continued ,eusebius1 that the paroxysms of the youth's disease were not strictly periodical1 but that any sudden1 strong emotion was liable to bring on an attack4 ,we found that when we had made him memorize certain words beforehand1 he was liable1 on the increment of his disease1 to repeat just those words in a sort of chanting tone1 the melody and manner of which were very impressive1 even when the words themselves were unmeaning4 ,we found that he was ready to do or suffer anything if persuaded that it would be for the good of the ,church4 ,we kept the youth in safe retreat1 carefully secluded1 so that he might remain entirely unknown in ,nicomedia4 ,we then constantly assured him that ,god was able to accomplish his own designs by using even the most humble agencies1 and that no man had the right to look upon himself as a being too insignificant to work for the glory of his ,creator2 and that even he1 although sorely afflicted1 by zeal and faithfulness might be able some time to perform a great service to the persecuted ,church4 ,he eagerly inquired how that might be1 and was manifestly ready to seek for martyrdom if that had been the duty enjoined upon him4 ,but we carefully impressed upon him that all that was required of him was to memorize and constantly repeat a certain form of words that we dictated to him2 to meditate upon them day and night2 to suffer nothing else to occupy his thoughts2 and to wait in faith and hope the result of this discipline4 ,we instructed him that1 if any one should ask him about the words he might utter when the fit was on him1 to say nothing1 except that he was moved so to speak2 if any should ask him whom he knew in ,nicomedia1 he was to answer1 ',eusebius the bishop'2 and that in answer to every question put to him he should tell the exact truth4 ,we soon found that1 whenever he suffered under a paroxysm of his malady1 he would fall to the ground and presently repeat in that sad1 wailing chant that seemed to be natural to him1 the very words which we had dictated to him1 and no others4 ,what words were these8 asked ,constantine4 ,the words1 replied ,eusebius1 were as follows3 ',joy to the land of ,syria6 ,joy to the holy ones of ,egypt6 for their deliverer cometh6 ,when the great ships shall cross the middle sea1 the tyrant's power shall fail1 and a holy emperor shall add the ,east unto his ,western ,empire6 ,joy to ,syria and to ,egypt1 when the great ships shall cross the middle sea6' ,having experimented with the lad until it seemed to be morally certain that1 under the influence of a paroxysm of his disease1 he would chant these words only1 we directed him to go daily to the gate which opened into the grounds surrounding the imperial palace at ,nicomedia1 until he might see the ,emperor ,licinius about to come forth1 and that then he should boldly force his way through the gates1 at any hazard1 without offering salutations or explanation to any one4 ,this the youth promised faithfully to do2 and it happened that1 the first time he went thither1 he saw one whom he supposed to be the emperor1 coming forth accompanied by a throng of attendants1 and he rushed forward so impetuously that the emperor was compelled to give place to him2 and then a soldier knocked down the poor lad with the pole of his pike4 ,licinius stopped to ascertain the meaning of an intrusion so bold and unusual1 and the pain of the blow and the excitement of the situation brought upon the youth one of his strange attacks1 and while he lay writhing and twisting about upon the paving-stones1 in a loud1 weird voice1 whose unearthly melody filled all the place1 he chanted the words that had been taught to him3 ',joy to the land of ,syria6 ,joy to the holy ones of ,egypt6 for their deliverer cometh6 ,when the great ships shall cross the middle sea1 the tyrant's power shall fail1 and a holy emperor shall add the ,east unto his ,western ,empire6 ,joy to ,syria and to ,egypt1 when the great ships shall cross the middle sea6' ,then a centurion sprang forward1 and would have slain the youth with his sword1 but ,licinius waved him off1 and stood looking upon the singular lad with interest and wonder4 ,and the youth flopped up off of the ground like a fish1 and fell back heavily1 and almost immediately resumed his wild1 sweet chanting of the self-same words2 and a profound silence obtained until his song was ended4 ,and very soon that paroxysm passed off1 and the lad arose1 and looked about him1 as if he knew not where he was nor how he came to be there4 ,constantine laughed a low1 joyous1 almost boyish laugh1 exclaiming3 ,a superb performance1 indeed6 ,a masterly thing6 ,but continue thy most welcome narrative6 ,then the ,emperor ,licinius1 whose features are bronzed1 and hard1 and cruel1 looked steadily upon the abashed young man1 saying in a stern1 imperious voice1 ',who art thou8' ,and the lad answered1 ',i am ,gaius1 a poor youth of ,chalcis in ,syria6' ',knowest thou to whom thou art speaking8' ',nay1 verily1' answered ,gaius1 'but ,i suppose thee to be the emperor6' ',what is thy business in ,nicomedia8' ',i have no business anywhere1' said the lad4 ',i am diseased1 an invalid1 an epileptic1 and am incapacitated for business4 ,verily ,i came unto ,nicomedia hoping to be cured of this fearful malady4' ',what brought thee unto our palace-gates8' ',i came hither to look upon the emperor1 having never seen so great a man2 but some cowardly brute did strike me down with a pike6' ',why didst thou chant such things as thou hast done even in mine own presence8' ',what things did ,i chant8 ,i know not1 for the hard blow brought upon me an attack of the epilepsy1 and while it continueth ,i know not what ,i say1 but speak only as ,i am moved to speak6' ',what1 then1 moveth thee to chant at all8' ',i know not1 nor do ,i even know that ,i have done so1 unless some one who hath heard me informeth me thereof6' ',whom knowest thou in my city of ,nicomedia8' ',none save the ,bishop ,eusebius6' ',art thou1 then1 a ,christian8' ',yea6 ,thanks to the boundless mercy of our ,lord6' ,then said the emperor3 ',let immediate search be made for this ,eusebius1 and let him be straightway brought before me4 ,keep ye this boy in strictest prison1 but use him kindly2 for it may be that he hath a demon6' ,i did not choose to be found upon that day1 although the city was sifted well for that purpose4 ,and upon the next day1 ,licinius caused the lad ,gaius to be brought before him1 and he spoke kindly unto him1 saying3 ',thou art a strange and interesting youth1 and ,i desire to take thee into my service1 and to attach thee unto myself1 and to care for thee well4 ,hast thou memory good enough to keep in thy mind for me a catalogue of more than three hundred ships8' ',i know not1' said the lad4 ',at school ,i learned rapidly and retained well all that ,i acquired2 but ,i fear that the malady wherewith ,i am afflicted hath injured both mind and body4' ',let me test thy memory somewhat to ascertain thy capacity for the service ,i would have thee render4 ,canst thou name the stations and distances upon the road from ,chalcis unto ,antioch1 and thence unto the sea8' ,and the boy gave the whole itinerary correctly4 ,and the emperor asked of him a great many questions with exceeding affability1 and finally said unto him3 ',thou hast a fine1 retentive memory1 and ,i will make a man of thee4 ,see1 now1 how much thou canst remember of the song which thou didst twice chant on yesterday6' ,but the lad said3 ',i know not the words at all1 and know not that ,i did chant at all4 ,all that occurreth when the fit is upon me is blankness and darkness1 so that ,i know nothing1 and suffer not1 and if fire were put upon me1 ,i would not feel any pain so long as the paroxysm continueth6' ,then the emperor gave way to wrath1 and shouted furiously3 ',thou liest1 villain6 ,thou seekest to deceive me6 ,repeat thy chant instantly1 or ,i will put thee to torture to extract the truth6' ,then the boy grew very pale1 and trembled1 but he only answered3 ',thou demandest of me that which is impossible6 ,i do not know the words1 and can not repeat them1 though thou shouldst slay me6' ,then cried out the emperor1 ',bring thumb-screws hither1 and torment this wretch6' ,then one put upon his thumb that cruel screw1 and twisted hard upon it1 and the boy shrieked with pain4 ,then the fit came upon him1 and he fell headlong upon the floor1 and the torturer removed the screw4 ,and immediately the boy began1 in a clear1 sweet voice that filled the great hall with music1 to chant the same words again3 ',joy to the land of ,syria6 ,joy to the holy ones of ,egypt6'--and the emperor sprang forward1 and with the point of a dagger he tore up a finger-nail of the boy1 watching his face intently2 but the lad's countenance changed not1 and he continued his chant evenly and serenely4 ,and the emperor commanded that fire be brought to him in a brazier1 and he laid a coal thereof upon the boy's naked breast1 and blew upon it until the burned flesh smelled all about1 but the boy showed no consciousness of pain1 and continued to chant sweetly until his song was ended4 ,and for a short space the lad lay as one dead1 and then a strong convulsion contorted his limbs1 and lifted him from the floor1 and violently cast him down again2 and then once more he chanted the same words1 and the emperor listened and watched him with fear and wonder4 ,and when the attack had passed away1 ,licinius said3 ',let this boy be guarded carefully1 but let him be treated with the greatest kindness2 for surely1 beyond any doubt1 he hath a demon6' ,and the lictors with great astonishment and fear led the boy away4 ,and having been fully informed of all these things on the same night1 by a ,christian whom we had allowed to sacrifice and so retain his place in the palace1 for the good of the ,church1 upon the next morning went ,i up to the gates and boldly demanded admission1 declaring to the centurion on duty who ,i was1 and that ,i had been informed that the emperor was seeking me throughout the city2 and speedily they brought me into the presence of ,licinius1 and he said1 ',art thou ,eusebius1 the ,bishop of ,nicomedia8' ',yea1 ,i am he6' ',and like all of thy treasonable sect1 that lurk within my city of ,nicomedia1 thou art still offering up prayers for the ,emperor ,constantine8' ',yea1 doubtless6' ',and thou dost not pray for me1 nor propitiate ,god for me1 thine own lawful emperor1 at all8' ',yea1 daily ,i pray ,god for thee that he would soften thy flinty heart1 and turn thee from the devices of wickedness unto the wisdom of the just6' ',but thou prayest not for my prosperity1 and for the glory and perpetuity of mine empire8' ',nay1 verily4 ,i have no faith to pray for the triumph of the cruel and of the wicked6' ,then said he1 ',dost thou know the boy ,gaius of ,chalcis8' ',yea6 ,he was with me at my house until the third day past1 but he hath disappeared1 and ,i am anxious concerning him4' ',is there anything peculiar about the boy8' ',he hath a peculiar and terrible malady called epilepsy6' ,and then attentively regarding me with his hard and searching eyes1 he said1 ',doth the boy prophesy8' ',when he hath a paroxysm of his disease he customarily chanteth strange things which some esteem to be prophecies2 but whether his sayings be truly prophetic or not ,i can not inform thee4' ',perhaps thou dost remember the words of some of his pretended prophecies8' ',yea1 verily6 ,for since he hath been with me he hath hardly ever chanted anything but a certain song which ,i have heard him repeat very often when the disease taketh him4' ',repeat thou those words6' ,then with a certain show of exultation ,i chanted the same words that ,gaius had uttered1 and1 when ,i had finished1 ,licinius cried out fiercely1 ',thou dost believe1 indeed1 that the words of ,gaius are a sure prophecy1 and thou dost rejoice at my threatened overthrow6' ,i looked smilingly upon the emperor1 but made no answer2 and thereupon he fell into a great rage and said unto me1 grimly enough3 ',thou art a tall man1 bishop6 ,verily1 ,i think thou art fully a head too tall1 and this day ,i will reduce thee to a more proper stature by cutting off thy head'2 and when he saw that ,i was unterrified by this threat1 he added1 ',and the boy's head also6' ,then gazing fixedly upon him1 ,i did say3 ',surely thou mayst do so1 for thou art a blood-soaked1 merciless tyrant enough for any crime4 ,but this deed would make thee contemptible2 for it would prove that thou art not only a tyrant1 but also a fool6' ,then turning almost livid with suppressed wrath1 he cried out1 ',what dost thou mean1 thou insolent8' ',i mean that some years ago when the bold and eloquent preaching of the brave and righteous presbyter1 ,arius the ,libyan1 did operate to save for thee a large part of thy fleet1 thou didst order that he should never be molested in the public discharge of the duties of his sacred office2 wherefore1 even the ,christians1 who knew thee to be a bloody tyrant1 and a desecrator of the sacrament of marriage by an infamous law1 and a violator of all the sanctities and decencies of life1 still did give thee credit for intelligence4 ,but if now thou shalt murder those who1 even unintentionally1 have given thee warning in time to save thy whole navy1 all men will regard thee as an idiot4' ',how save my whole navy8' ',by keeping the ships thereof upon thine own side of the ,mediterranean2 for the words are1 when the great ships shall cross the middle sea1 and perhaps it may signify not until then8' ',by ,jupiter ,stator1' he answered1 vehemently1 ',i think that thou art right6 ,and that accursed when shall never happen4 ,for this honest saying of thine1 thou mayst go hence free1 and take the lad ,gaius with thee6' ,and thereupon ,i withdrew2 but ,i am certainly advised that his purpose holds good never to send his fleet across the ,mediterranean4 ,how dost thou know that8 asked ,constantine1 eagerly4 ,we waited many weeks1 replied ,eusebius1 to obtain some reliable indications of his purposes2 but the ,emperor ,licinius is a great commander1 and men drilled in military services talk cautiously even when drunk1 as he frequently is1 so that we got nothing4 ,finally1 a centurion came one night to mine abode1 which ,i had caused to be publicly known1 and with great courtesy informed me that the emperor had sent him to bring me into his presence4 ,having dismissed all others1 as if the matter were most secret1 he said3 ',i know ye ,christian bishops love not me1 and that ye offer prayers for ,constantine2 yet ,i do not think that thou wouldst lie to me4 ,i therefore tell thee that1 since thou wert last before me1 ,i sent an embassy secretly unto the oracle at ,delphi1 with many costly gifts1 asking of the oracle what success ,i would have if ,i should send my navy against the ,western ,empire2 and ,i desire thee to read and to construe the answer of the god4' ,then he gave unto me a parchment on which was written1 ',when the navy of the ,emperor ,licinius shall pass over the sea to war with the ,emperor ,constantine1 his empire shall be overthrown4' ,i read the oracle1 and laughed4 ,then said ,i unto him3 ',like all of the pretended oracles of the heathen1 it is simply an evasion4 ,of course1 if two great emperors engage in war1 one of them must be overthrown4 ,this oracle saith not which of them4 ,if the ,western ,empire be defeated1 the priests will say1 ,we foretold that4 ,but if the ,eastern ,empire shall be subverted1 they will just as truly say1 ,we foretold that4' ',art thou certain that the language bears one construction as naturally and grammatically as it does the other8' ',assuredly so6 ,the ,latin infinitive mood with the accusative case possesses a wonderful facility for such a construction as may signify either one thing or the other4' ,then he gave way to sudden wrath1 and cried aloud3 ',curses on the lying1 cheating oracles by which so many mighty men have been lured into destruction6' ,and1 fixing his eyes upon me1 he continued1 ',was there any such ambiguity in what thy boy ,gaius chanted8' ',nay1 verily1' ,i answered4 ',he said1 ,a holy emperor shall add the ,east unto his ,western ,empire4 ,thou canst not add the ,east unto anything1 although thou mightest add something to the ,east2 but canst add nothing to the ,western ,empire1 which is not thine own1 and thou art not a holy emperor6' ',it is only a cursed trick of the oracle to lure me on to ruin6' he exclaimed4 ',the ,emperor ,constantine hath bribed the god to influence me so that he may invade and overthrow mine empire while my fleet is far away4 ,i will keep mine own coasts safe with wooden walls henceforth1 and not a ship shall cross the middle sea4' ,then he said unto me3 ',thou seem'st an honest and fair-minded man1 and henceforth thou may'st practice thy religion publicly in my city of ,nicomedia without fear or molestation4 ,so fare thee well4' ,i think that this completeth my account1 except ,i should add that from the very beginning of this matter the ,emperor ,licinius hath zealously endeavored to keep it all profoundly secret1 so that it is known to very few4 ,then said ,constantine unto the bishop3 ,what didst thou mean by saying to the emperor1 ',the ,christians who knew thee to be a bloody tyrant1 and the desecrator of the sacrament of marriage by an infamous law'8 ,what law was that8 ,and ,eusebius answered3 ,he hath revived the former law of ,maximin1 that 'no woman of rank should marry without the emperor's consent1' and for the same infamous purpose1 ut ipse in omnibus nuptiis proegustator esset2 and this licentiousness hath done more to set the ,church against the emperor than even the murder of the bishops4 ,how strange1 said ,constantine1 that men should think themselves fit to govern an empire who can not even govern their own brutal passions6 ,then the great emperor indulged in long-continued laughter1 not loud nor vociferous1 but quiet1 hearty1 joyous1 and exultant4 ,but1 soon resuming his usual equanimity1 he said unto the bishop3 ,thou art the most welcome messenger that hath ever come unto me since thy brother of ,caesarea did first visit me in ,gaul before the overthrow of ,maxentius4 ,tell me what great favor worthy of ,rome's emperor ,i can do for thee4 ,then ,eusebius1 with glowing countenance1 bent low1 and seizing the emperor's hand he kissed it fervently1 exclaiming1 ,stretch forth thy mighty hand1 ,augustus1 and free the persecuted churches of the ,east6 ,constantine was deeply moved1 and answered3 ,it shall be done1 bishop6 ,trust me1 it shall be done6 ,but ,i have given order for thy fitting entertainment1 and while thou shalt rest and refresh thyself1 think of some personal favor ,i can do for thee4 ,eusebius bowed gravely and withdrew4 ,the emperor was alone1 seated1 buried in profoundest meditation4 ,for a long time he was silent1 and then his deep thought found utterance in murmured words3 ,a wonderful faith1 truly1 that can bind the heart and intellect of even able men like the ,eusebii in absolute slavery to an idea1 so that ,christ and the ,church are first in all their thoughts and purposes2 and ease1 comfort1 wealth1 and power1 and even life and death1 are trifling things compared therewith6 ,if any ,god exists1 these ,christians surely have discovered him in ,jesus4 ,but ,i am sufficient for myself1 and need no ,deity4 ,then he was silent again for some time longer4 ,but suddenly he gave way to jubilant merriment1 murmuring amid his laughter3 ,it was a superb farce1 that prophecy of ,gaius6 ,better than the ,legio ,fulminea4 ,better even than the ,labarum6 ,surely the fine1 ,grecian hand of my ,eusebius hath only acquired a more delicate touch with his advancing years6 ,and the great emperor continued to laugh merrily4 ,but neither pain nor pleasure ever interfered with the grand game of empire2 and before midnight orders had been framed and issued by which the veteran legions of ,hispania1 ,gaul1 and ,germany were to be gradually replaced by more recent levies2 by which the brave and hardy ,goths were put upon the most rigid military discipline2 and by which all the chosen troops1 upon whose skill and valor the unconquerable leader would be willing to stake the sovereignty of the world1 were slowly concentrated to the eastward of ,milan by a quiet1 steady1 unostentatious military movement that consumed months in its accomplishment and scarcely excited the suspicions of even the vigilant and intelligent agents of the ,emperor ,licinius4 ,,chapter ,v4 ,a ,,born ,,ecclesiastic4 ,in the year ,a4,d4 #cai1 ,alexander1 the old and pious ,bishop of ,alexandria1 having become imbued with that ,trinitarianism which began to assume a sort of doctrinal prominence in the ,western ,church even from the time when ,constantine had defeated ,maxentius and had so become ,emperor of ,rome1 publicly proclaimed this dogma wherever he went4 ,during that year1 upon one of his episcopal visits1 he preached in the ,baucalis church a sermon which gave great offense to ,arius the ,libyan1 who was presbyter thereof1 and to many of the vast and opulent congregation4 ,upon the following ,sabbath the presbyter had delivered an elaborate discourse1 in the course of which he inveighed with great force and earnestness against some expounders of new doctrines who had grown too learned in the philosophy of the world1 and too much in love with the political and legal religion which had been established in place of ,christianity in the ,western ,empire to remain satisfied with the simple1 unquestionable statement of the ,gospels that ,jesus ,christ was the ,son of ,god2 and had gone about to trouble the faith and harass the consciences of believers by novel and dangerous speculations concerning the nature of ,deity that were not taught in the ,scriptures and were unknown to three centuries of ,christian faith and practice4 ,and1 although ,arius mentioned not the venerable bishop by name1 no one doubted for whom his fierce rebuke was intended1 and understood perfectly well what doctrinal deliverances he condemned as the philosophy of the world1 as the political and legal religion which had been established in the ,western ,empire1 and as not taught in the ,scriptures1 and as unknown to three centuries of ,christian faith and practice4 ,to this sermon the bishop subsequently replied in language of even greater vehemence2 and before very long there was a continuous controversy going on between them1 in which numerous ,christians engaged on both sides1 until it spread throughout the churches and grew into heated and sometimes acrimonious disputations4 ,nearly all the ,romans in ,alexandria took part with the bishop1 and urged him earnestly in the prosecution of the controversy1 while the native ,christians1 for the most part1 clave unto ,arius2 and the word foreigner1 which before that time was never applied by one ,christian to another 7for they were all brethren71 quickly crept into common use4 ,the superior learning1 zeal1 and influence of the presbyter greatly outweighed the personal and episcopal power of the bishop1 and a vast majority of the ,alexandrian clergy and laity sustained the views of ,arius as the only true doctrine of the ,scriptures1 as approved by the ancient and constant teachings of the ,church2 and the controversy might have sunk into oblivion but for the foreign element1 many of whom really seemed to make it their chief vocation to proclaim the great truth of the ,holy ,trinity1 and to utter eloquent panegyrics upon the character of ,constantine the ,emperor of ,rome4 ,under these influences each party steadily maintained its own opinions1 and the matter remained in this condition until ,eusebius of ,caesarea1 having parted from the other ,eusebius at ,nicomedia1 had journeyed unto ,alexandria to redeem his promise made to the emperor that the flame of controversy should be kept burning until a general council could be convoked to determine it4 ,eusebius very soon comprehended the situation1 and speedily reached the conclusion that even his superior official station and the support of the foreigners would not enable the bishop long to maintain himself against the vast power and influence of the presbyter without efficient aid4 ,that1 he thought1 could not be effectively rendered except by some man of rare abilities1 who might combine in himself all the characteristics of a courtier as well as of a priest1 for the foreign element was already largely secularized2 and he very anxiously looked about him for some man fit to be intrusted with the task of upholding the hands of the venerable ,alexander4 ,of course our ,eusebius had duly renewed his ancient friendship for ,arius1 whom he loved and honored above all living men1 and they had many interesting conversations upon the condition and prospects of the ,church1 and upon the present duties of the faithful pastor4 ,eusebius skillfully argued in favor of accommodating priestly action to the exigencies of social and political surroundings4 ,arius would hear of no compromise upon any point of either faith or practice4 ,pontius ,pilate1 he vehemently exclaimed1 was the prince of compromisers when he washed his hands of 'the innocent blood1' and delivered up our ,lord to be crucified6 ,his successors are in all things worthy of him1 seeking both to win the world by their actions and to save their souls by the profession of a faith which they do not practice6 ,how fare ye bishops under the reign of ,antichrist--ye that dwell where ,satan's seat is8 ,the ,church hath prospered beyond all expectation4 ,the bishops almost rank with princes2 the presbyters are blessed with exceeding comfort and honor1 and throughout the ,western ,empire the people crowd into the churches faster than they can be built4 ,then the grim old presbyter's hand waved to and fro1 and his grand1 shaggy head darted forward upon the long1 lean neck1 and the sad eyes gleamed with strange1 mesmeric light1 and his voice hissed with sibilant sharpness as he exclaimed3 ,yea1 my brother6 ,and ,i have heard that your prince-bishops own slaves and nourish concubines2 and that 'the brethren' hold estates and offices1 and fleece their brethren by the crime of usury2 and that the only difference between ,romans who are ,christians and those who are not subsists in the fact that one class of them patronizes the imperial churches and professes faith in ,christ1 and the other does not degrade itself and dishonor religion by any such shams and farces6 ,are these things so8 ,eusebius winced at this fierce and bitter thrust1 but answered3 ,some abuses have crept in among us1 in consequence of our wonderful prosperity1 which were unknown to the severity and simplicity of an earlier age2 but we have many saintly bishops1 presbyters1 and people2 and the evils of which thou speakest belong not to the ,church1 but to the frailty of individuals4 ,thou art verily mistaken1 brother6 ,or what dost thou expect from a statutory religion1 from an established church of which ,constantine is king instead of ,christ8 ,i tell thee plainly that a church which imperial authority hath legalized along with legalized war1 slavery1 and mammon-worship1 is not only no church of ,christ1 but is that ,antichrist of which ,john in the ,apocalypse doth speak4 ,and it shall grow continually worse and worse4 ,i doubt not1 answered ,eusebius1 that it would have been better to have preserved primitive ,christianity2 but the emperor is so powerful1 and ecclesiasticism hath become insensibly so firmly established1 that it is impossible now to turn back to the original system1 perhaps dangerous to attempt it4 ,yea1 dangerous1 said ,arius1 bitterly4 ,for already he hath persecuted the saints1 having waged a cruel war against the ,goths to overthrow the church which ,ulfilas planted among them1 and force them to adopt the ,roman laws and legal religion4 ,i look forward every year to see this man of sin build a new capital1 upon seven hills1 above the sea1 that ,john's description of him may be made complete4 ,thou must follow thine own counsel1 brother4 ,as for me1 in life1 in death1 ,i am fixed in unflinching opposition to any name of blasphemy that may be used to designate a legal religion that sanctions war1 slavery1 and mammon-worship4 ,many such conversations occurred between the bishop and ,arius2 but ,eusebius found that the stern old man was incapable of compromise1 and despised all expediency4 ,yea1 he would say1 ,i have been told that ye ,western ,christians already believe that charity consisteth of alms-giving1 instead of love to the brethren6 444 ,ye foolishly dream of converting the world1 he cried1 by means of a church founded upon ,roman laws1 whose faith is a mere intellectual assent and conviction6 ,but ye will find that instead of securing liberty1 fraternity1 equality1 ye have only added the bond of conscience to bind the burdens more tightly upon the shoulders of mankind1 and furnished the new ,pharisees with new power to oppress the poor4444 ,yea1 verily1 he said1 ye know that faith in ,christ and community of property constituted the liberty of the gospel wherewith ,jesus sought to make man free6 ,but ye have imported into the very bosom of the ,church all of the tyrannies1 injustices1 class-distinctions1 and wrongs which constitute mammon-worship and the sorrow of the world2 and there is no difference between your system and the old religions except that ye have substituted the name of ,christ for that of ,jupiter and ,mars in juggling with the rights of man4 ,and when ,eusebius endeavored to arouse in the stern old man some considerations of personal prudence1 by intimating the probability that ,constantine might some day rule the ,east also1 the lone and immovable man sternly answered3 ,yea1 he will obtain the ,east6 ,for he alone of all men hath never failed in diplomacy2 hath never abandoned a purpose2 hath never lost a battle1 and never will6 ,he hath sold his soul for earthly glory1 and ,satan will pay to him his price4 ,but although ,eusebius loved to commune with the stern old man1 whose stainless integrity of character he could love and honor1 but scarcely imitate1 he never forgot the object of his journey to ,alexandria1 and was constantly on the lookout for some one to whom he could assign the task of aiding the ancient ,alexander in his controversy with the great and fearless presbyter4 ,at last he fell in with a youth who was an archdeacon in the bishop's church1 and who1 although very young1 was possessed of such remarkable genius and learning1 and of such pre-eminent personal advantages1 as at once to attract and astonish him1 and seemed to render him the fittest person to engage4 ,he sedulously cultivated the young man's friendship1 and admired him more and more as he learned more of his character and abilities4 ,finally1 he cordially invited the youth to make with him a visit to ,constantine1 and having with much difficulty obtained the consent of the aged ,alexander1 who loved the bright and accomplished youth with exceeding tenderness1 they twain departed for ,milan4 ,when the long and tedious journey had been safely accomplished1 ,eusebius promptly waited upon the emperor1 who received him with fraternal cordiality4 ,ah1 thou vagabond friend1 he cried1 thou runaway bishop1 whom ,i had almost given up for lost1 give some good account of thyself1 or thou shalt never again have leave of absence1 even for a day4 ,i have indeed delayed my return beyond all expectation1 said the bishop2 but ,i suppose that my brother of ,nicomedia hath imparted all needful information of thy lost shepherd up to the time at which ,i set out for ,alexandria4 ,yea1 verily1 answered ,constantine4 ,and his narrative was most perspicuous and entertaining1 and eloquent enough to draw my veteran legions from the remotest quarters of the empire2 and even now they are slowly but steadily concentrating eastwardly1 and they have a certain ,oriental bearing in their movements which would please thee mightily if only thou wert soldier enough to perceive it4 ,both of the great men indulged in a laugh at this pleasant sally of the emperor1 who continued3 ,ah6 my beloved bishop1 it was indeed most delicate and superb work6 ,thou must henceforth insert into all the copies of the ,apocrypha ',the ,prophecy of ,gaius of ,chalcis1' but not during the lifetime of the ,emperor ,licinius1 else he would decapitate mankind to reach thy single head6 ,and again the emperor laughed like a boy1 and the bishop joined in his merriment4 ,how hast thou fared in ,egypt1 bishop8 ,and what good tidings hast thou brought me thence8 ,i have explored the position of the controversy between the ,bishop ,alexander and ,arius as thoroughly as possible4 ,i find that ,alexander1 who begins greatly to feel his advanced years1 is no match for the learned1 eloquent1 and powerful presbyter1 and that unless he receive active1 intelligent support1 the controversy in ,egypt and ,syria will ultimately die out for want of opposition to ,arius4 ,the aged bishop hath been raised too much under the influence of the mighty causes which molded the character of ,arius himself1 to be a fit antagonist for him2 and younger blood1 warm with the new age of ,constantine rather than with that of primitive ,christianity1 is imperatively required4 ,thine agents at ,alexandria have been zealous and faithful1 but a remarkable man is needed at that place2 less than genius will accomplish nothing4 ,such men are rare enough1 responded the emperor2 but surely thou must have discovered at least one4 ,i was much troubled to find a fit agent for such a work1 and finally would not decide to fix upon the man of mine own choice without first having given thee an opportunity to see and determine for thyself2 and1 therefore1 ,i brought him hither with me4 ,who is the man8 ,he is a youth1 but little more than twenty years of age1 but1 like many of the nameless orphans whom the ,church hath raised1 he is very thoroughly educated1 especially in the ,scriptures4 ,he hath natural genius for the ministry and for politics4 ,when he was a child1 the ,bishop ,alexander saw him one day baptizing other children in the bay in sport2 but the old bishop was so charmed with the solemn grace and dignity with which the child performed the sacred rite1 that he declared the ceremony valid and took the children into his own church1 and hath raised and educated this boy with loving care and patience4 ,he is now an archdeacon of the bishop's congregation4 ,thou must not despise his youth1 for in ,alexandria1 which is perhaps the most intellectual city of the world1 it is commonly believed that this youth is the most eloquent1 the most intelligent1 and the most beautiful of the sons of men4 ,but ,i would have thee judge for thyself4 ,if he please thee1 ,i advise that thou keep with thee the most wise and learned ,hosius1 and through him instruct the young archdeacon thoroughly4 ,i decline to meddle any further in the business1 for ,i am both the friend of ,arius and a stout believer in his doctrine1 and when the time comes will be upon his side4 ,what is the name of this youthful paragon1 said ,constantine1 who hath so mightily bewitched thee8 ,at ,alexandria they commonly call him the ,christian ,apollo2 but his name is ,athanasius4 ,wilt thou bring him unto me8 ,the bishop quietly withdrew1 and soon returned and introduced to the emperor a youth as perfect as an artist's dream of beauty4 ,he was one of the most perfect specimens of ,egyptian manhood4 ,small of stature1 seeming to one of the emperor's magnificent proportions to be almost a dwarf1 the expression of his face was of angelic beauty4 ,there was a hardly perceptible stoop in his figure which gave him an appearance of native humility2 a hooked nose1 clearly chiseled2 a small1 rosy mouth2 a short1 silky beard spreading away into luxuriant whiskers2 light1 soft auburn hair2 large1 bright1 serene eyes of womanly tenderness and purity2 and limbs and features delicately but exquisitely fashioned--all combined to confer an irresistible charm upon his person and manners4 ,eusebius at once withdrew1 leaving ,constantine alone with the bright and beautiful boy4 ,the splendid youth1 with a movement free alike from shame and from audacity1 but full of matchless ease and grace1 darted forward1 sank lightly down upon one knee1 grasped one of the emperor's hands and kissed it--an act of homage never exacted1 and seldom looked for1 from any ,christian--and lifting his soft1 luminous eyes toward the emperor's face1 said in tones as liquid and mellow as perfect flute-notes3 ,i thank thee1 ,augustus1 that thy kindness satisfieth one great longing of my heart2 for ,i have desired above all things to look upon thy face4 ,the emperor was charmed with the youth's exquisite manner and wonderful beauty1 and gently raising him replied3 ,i give thee back thy thanks1 lad1 for surely thou art far better worth the seeing than am ,i4 ,but why didst thou kneel to me8 ,most ,christians make it a matter of conscience to kneel to none but ,god only1 and ,i have respected their scruples4 ,i crave pardon if mine obeisance hath been offensive unto thee1 the mellifluous voice replied2 for ,i did but offer to thee the homage which my heart hath taught me to be due from raw but hopeful youth to mature and glorious manhood2 from one of the very humblest of the people unto the wisest and greatest ruler of mankind2 from a young but sincere and earnest ,christian to the magnificent protector of the ,church6 ,constantine laid his hand caressingly upon the young man's glorious head1 and1 laughing lightly1 answered3 ,if thy tongue so drippeth honey1 lad1 the bees will settle in thy mouth and some time1 may be1 sting thee4 ,art thou so pleasant to all sorts of men8 ,why not8 responded the melodious voice4 ,i could love all that are good1 pity all that are evil1 forgive their injuries1 despise their hate1 and die1 ,i think1 to do them service if that could benefit mankind4 ,boy1 said ,constantine1 gravely but pleasantly1 thou hast uttered the profoundest secret of all true statesmanship6 ,who taught thee that8 ,i think my teacher hath been ,jesus ,christ4 ,but ,i knew not that this sentiment was statesmanship1 for ,i have learned it as religion4 ,only a few of the most gifted of mankind1 replied ,constantine1 have been wise enough to perceive that true religion and true statesmanship are twins that can never be torn apart without fatal injuries to both of them4 ,and1 therefore1 said ,athanasius1 it follows that the wisest emperor must also be the best2 and hence the people of the ,western ,empire should count themselves the most fortunate of mankind4 ,if thou dost so believe concerning the ,empire of the ,west1 said ,constantine1 perhaps thou wouldst not decline to enter the service of its emperor in thine own country4 ,art thou bound by ties of love or of allegiance to the great ,emperor ,licinius8 ,nay1 replied ,athanasius1 ,i am bound by no human allegiance other than to obey all laws in force in the government under which ,i live that conflict not with conscience4 ,nor have ,i been taught to regard one earthly sovereign as better than another1 except as the policy of the human ruler may affect the ,church favorably or unfavorably4 ,nor could any temporal advantages induce me to abandon the ministry of the ,church in which ,i hold the humble place of an archdeacon1 for ,i would choose even a menial service in the temple of ,god rather than the most exalted position outside of it4 ,then1 said ,constantine1 briefly1 thou dost decline to enter into my service8 ,nay1 answered ,athanasius4 ,thou hast thyself declared that true religion and true statesmanship coincide throughout2 and ,i have been taught to regard thee as both the greatest ruler of mankind and as the strong1 unwavering defender of the faith2 so that in place of declining any services thou mayst require at my hands1 ,i am ready to give my life for thee2 only ,i can not abandon the ministry1 to which conscience1 inclination1 and training have consecrated me2 and verily a ,christian emperor hath need of faithful ministers as much as of faithful generals4 ,the eyes of ,constantine sparkled with pleasure as he answered3 ,thou meanest1 then1 that thou wouldst labor as zealously for the glory of mine empire within the pale of the ,church as my civil officers do in the affairs of government1 or as my generals do in the military campaigns8 ,yea1 verily6 said ,athanasius2 and if it were not presumptuous in a boy to express an opinion in the presence of one so wise and great1 ,i would not hesitate to declare that the victories which thou shalt gain in aiding the ,church shall be less costly1 less bloody1 and more permanent1 than any which thine invincible arms can ever gain by the sword2 for thou shalt win not only provinces1 but hearts6 ,boy1 cried ,constantine1 thy cunning speech unveileth the secret dream of every ruler that nature hath fitted for dominion4 ,for he that swayeth the scepter of empire only to acquire larger means for the gratification of his own lust for wealth1 ostentation1 luxury1 and pride1 is but a tyrant1 however wise and strong he may be4 ,the born ruler lives for his people1 and1 as thou hast said1 can not satisfy his grand ambition unless he shall conquer hearts as well as provinces4 ,thy thought is worthy of thy greatness1 replied ,athanasius1 and showeth me that the welfare of the ,church and of the emperor must be identical in every true and proper government1 so that priest and soldier both may labor for its glory4 ,wilt thou define1 as thou dost understand it1 a true and proper government8 ,a true and proper government1 as ,i conceive it to be1 is the just and wise administration of all civil1 military1 and ecclesiastical authority by one supreme ruler4 ,the splendid face of ,constantine grew bright with pleasure as he heard this concise and luminous reply2 but desiring still further to draw out the young man's views1 to which his use of the word ecclesiastical 7entirely new to the emperor7 gave a particular value1 he answered as follows3 ,and which dost thou think to be of supreme authority1 the civil1 military1 or ecclesiastical power8 ,neither of them separately1 replied ,athanasius4 ,but only the ruler1 that standeth in the place of ,god1 should be supreme4 ,it would be gross tyranny for the military authority to dominate the civil administration2 it would be gross impertinence for the ecclesiastical authority to direct the armies of the empire2 it would be confusion for either of them to interfere with the domain of another4 ,each should operate in its appropriate sphere1 and the ruler whom ,god hath given should direct the movements of them all4 ,for he standeth in the place of ,god4 ,yet1 muttered ,constantine to himself1 the heretic ,arius saith that it is a blasphemy for any man to seek to stand in that high place1 which belongeth unto ,christ alone6 ,but unto ,athanasius he presently made answer3 ,thou hast wisdom far beyond thine age2 but in regard to these things thou dost not agree well with the opinions of the most wise and learned presbyter1 ,arius the ,libyan6 ,athanasius remained silent for some moments1 looking up into the face of the tall emperor1 who was watching his beautiful countenance with interest and curiosity1 and a strange1 almost indefinable expression lighted his sparkling features4 ,the red lips parted and very slightly curled1 but not with scorn or dislike4 ,he had the very same expression1 perhaps1 that the face of some beautiful young girl might wear if a grandmother1 whom she loved and revered1 should begin to lecture her upon the observance of some propriety which the world had outgrown since the ancient dame had been a maiden of her own age4 ,at last he said3 ,nay1 verily4 ,the presbyter ,arius surpasseth all living men in personal holiness2 but his holiness is stern1 ascetic1 forbidding4 ,he surpasseth all men in learning2 but his learning laboreth to blight and destroy all the rare flowers of sentiment wherewith art1 science1 and philosophy seek to adorn and beautify the faith4 ,he is the most earnestly ,christian of all men2 but his religion is hard1 exacting1 exclusive1 and refuseth to blend with the performance of the duties of faith the light and human tenderness that endeareth piety unto the hearts of common men4 ,he saith that the kingdom of heaven is the only government that our ,lord established upon earth2 that the ,christian hath need of no other2 and that to own allegiance to an earthly sovereign1 or blend his laws with our religion1 is to betray the ,christ4 ,he belongeth to a past age and to a vanishing system1 and while he is one of the ablest1 purest1 most admirable ,christians in the world1 he is not1 and never will be1 an ecclesiastic4 ,he hath been reared up in an age of miracles and martyrdoms1 and can not comprehend the world as it is1 nor the ,church as it must be and is fast becoming4 ,constantine regarded the gifted youth with wonder and delight1 and listened with joy and amazement while the fresh and silvery tongue struck out1 in forms of speech as clear and beautiful as the last coins issued from the royal mint1 thoughts which he had himself long cherished and acted upon1 but had never been able to conceive so perspicuously as the young archdeacon uttered them4 ,the emperor then said1 ,thou adoptest the opinions of the most learned and pious ,bishop ,alexander rather than those of the primitive1 inflexible1 and turbulent presbyter1 dost thou not8 ,only to a limited extent1 answered the musical voice of ,athanasius4 ,for our venerable bishop himself is ancient1 and agreeth in many things with the presbyter4 ,truly1 the great advantage that ,arius hath over him consisteth in the fact that they have attended the same councils and witnessed the same events together1 and the presbyter doth continually affirm this thing or that1 and sayeth unto the bishop3 ',thou1 also1 wast then present2 is it true1 or not1 as ,i have stated it8' ,and the bishop answereth1 ',that thing ,i deny not1 for it is true4' ,and then1 as the report of the thunder followeth the lightning's flash1 the fierce presbyter's conclusion striketh and overwhelmeth him4 ,thou canst scarcely understand how all this may be1 unless thou hast seen men and women burned at the stake thyself1 and hast heard their testimony1 sifting through the flames1 that they obeyed ,jesus ,christ1 the only rightful ,king1 whence they were called martyrs1 that is1 witnesses2 but both ,alexander and ,arius have beheld such things1 and the influence thereof abideth with them forever4 ,then answered ,constantine3 ,i thank ,god this day that ,i have seen no such events1 and that no man under mine own government1 or under that of my father1 the most holy ,emperor ,constantius1 hath ever seen them4 ,but whence1 then1 hast thou learned thy views of the relation that ought to subsist between the ,church and the emperor8 ,chiefly from mine own thoughts1 which many circumstances have provoked to activity1 especially the efforts ,i have made to aid our venerable bishop4 ,long ago1 in one of our social gatherings1 when ,arius did press the bishop fiercely upon the point that ,christians must have naught to do with any government except the kingdom of heaven1 which ,jesus ordained for them1 ,i arose and asked permission to put a question1 which being granted1 ,i said1 ',if ,tiberius ,caesar had been a ,christian1 would not our ,lord have rejoiced to see him rule the world8' ,and for some time the fierce man was silent4 ,and what answer did he ever make8 asked ,constantine4 ,he said at last3 ',and if the little foxes that destroy the vines could have asked foolish questions in ,greek1 would ,moses have pronounced the animals unclean8' ,and ,i said3 ',but the foxes never speak in ,greek2 it is contrary to the law of nature4' ,and he said to me3 ',neither can an emperor be a ,christian2 it is contrary to the law of ,christ1 which ordaineth equality1 liberty1 and fraternity for all believers4' ,and those of his party thought the answer to be sufficient4 ,but1 notwithstanding1 ,i did follow the leading of mine own thoughts1 and many things grew out of it4 ,let not thy thoughts change their course1 replied ,constantine2 for thou art altogether right4 ,thou shalt be my friend3 remember that thou art young1 and that the pious ,alexander groweth very old2 so that1 in the course of nature1 thou mayst live to see the episcopal throne at ,alexandria vacant2 or if they have no throne there yet1 one shall some day be established4 ,but thou hast charmed me into the neglect of other duties4 ,go1 now1 and come again on to-morrow at the same hour4 ,then the beautiful boy again glided forward1 lightly kneeled and kissed the emperor's hand1 and smilingly withdrew4 ,and for many months afterward ,constantine kept the young man ,athanasius with him1 and also ,hosius1 the venerable and learned ,bishop of ,cordova2 and daily the youth passed some hours in conversation with the emperor or with the bishop1 or with both of them together2 so that when he returned to ,alexandria his bright and wonderful intelligence was enlarged and enlightened by the foremost thoughts concerning things both royal and ecclesiastical that any men of that age could teach him4 ,and the youth bore with him a most kind and affectionate letter written to the ancient ,bishop ,alexander by ,constantine's own hand1 and also a beautiful communion service of silver for his church4 ,and ,athanasius said unto ,constantine almost at the moment of his departure1 ,shall ,i deliver unto ,arius for thee any message8 ,and ,constantine laughingly answered3 ,if the presbyter inquire of thee1 thou mayst inform him that the emperor said of him1 ',there are no birds in last year's nests4' ,but ,arius the presbyter never asked ,athanasius anything about the emperor4 ,even when the stern old man was told that ,athanasius had been to ,milan1 and had for months abode in the emperor's palace1 he only said3 ,the stature and ,roman strength which enableth ,constantine to cope with ,german1 ,briton1 and ,gaul1 is fitly joined to the subtilty1 beauty1 and intelligence by which ,athanasius typifieth the countless centuries of ,egyptian civilization2 and the two1 like ,herod and ,caiaphas1 combine against our ,lord4 ,from the date of the return of ,athanasius1 men perceived that the ,bishop ,alexander became more open and explicit in his definitions of the ,holy ,trinity1 more pointed in his opposition to the teachings of ,arius1 more eloquent in his praises of any pious emperor whom ,god might raise up to free the ,christians of the ,east and identify his government with the ,church4 ,and ,arius1 having publicly taught that the unity of the ,godhead consisted in the divine nature of ,father1 ,spirit1 and ,son1 and not in any blasphemous and impossible conception of the identity of them1 or of their union in one person1 just as the human family consisteth of father1 mother1 and son2 and having gone so far as to write in a little metrical book of doctrine that ,god was1 when ,christ was not2 that ,god was not always ,father2 and that the words ,father and ,son1 begotten and conceived1 necessarily implied the priority of him that begat1 and of her that conceived--was by the ,bishop ,alexander ordered to suspend the exercises of his functions as presbyter of the ,baucalis church4 ,and1 thereupon1 the ,libyan called his congregation together and said unto them3 ,brethren1 ,alexander the bishop hath issued an order to suspend me from the performance of my duties as presbyter because ,i do not believe1 and have refused to teach1 his impossible1 novel1 ,western1 unscriptural philosophy concerning that which he calleth 'the ,holy ,trinity1' a phrase not found in ,scripture4 ,ye know that the title to the ,baucalis church was placed by the martyr ,theckla1 who caused it to be erected1 in certain trustees of the common ,church1 not in the bishop1 for in those days the bishops owned nothing4 ,ye know that the original members of this community 7many of whom still live7 called me to be the presbyter1 and that ,i have discharged the duties of that place as faithfully as ,i was able to do by the space of nearly thirty years4 ,none but the trustees have authority or right to close the church against me or my community2 and ,i am well advised by diligent searching of the ,scriptures1 and by the ,christian practices of three centuries1 that no bishop hath any authority to suspend a presbyter1 and that the order made by ,brother ,alexander in that behalf is puerile and void4 ,i purpose1 therefore1 to continue the usual ministrations of divine service1 and all my pastoral work among you1 until the ,church shall bid me to abstain2 and ye who may desire so to do1 can continue to attend4 ,the trustees of the ,baucalis church promptly refused to close its doors upon ,arius1 and his entire congregation remained steadfastly devoted to him2 and ,bishop ,alexander and those who followed him denounced the ,libyan as a heretic1 and began to pray for the coming of ,constantine2 and wherever the influence of the ,roman ,empire was dominant1 the ,arian heresy was condemned2 and the flame of controversy grew fiercer and fiercer1 and spread throughout ,christendom4 ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,,the ,,one ,,great ,,battle ,,of ,,christendom6 ,during the progress of these affairs1 ,constantine had thoroughly satisfied himself1 by the reports of his secret political agents in ,nicomedia and elsewhere1 that the assurances which the ,eusebii had given to him that ,licinius would not in any event move his fleet away from the coasts of ,asia were entirely trustworthy4 ,the overthrow of the ,gothic church1 which had been founded and edified by ,ulfilas1 had been followed by a treaty of peace with that splendid people1 whereby they had bound themselves to furnish1 whenever the service of the emperor required it1 forty thousand young men for the imperial army2 these legions had long ago been supplied1 armed1 and thoroughly exercised1 and constituted in themselves a magnificent army4 ,the emperor had been triumphant everywhere4 ,confiding in the superiority of his genius and military power1 saith the historian ,gibbon1 he determined1 without any previous injury1 to exert them for the destruction of ,licinius1 whose advanced age and unpopular vices seemed to promise an easy conquest4 ,but the old emperor1 awakened by the approaching danger1 deceived the expectations of his friends as well as enemies4 ,calling forth that spirit and those abilities by which he had deserved the friendship of ,galerius and the imperial purple1 he prepared himself for the contest1 collected the forces of the ,east1 and soon filled the plains of ,hadrianople with his troops1 and the straits of the ,hellespont with his fleet4 ,the army consisted of one hundred and fifty thousand foot and fifteen thousand horse4 ,the fleet was composed of three hundred and fifty galleys of three ranks of oars4444 ,the troops of ,constantine were ordered to rendezvous at ,thessalonica4 ,they numbered above one hundred and twenty thousand horse and foot4 ,their emperor was satisfied with their martial appearance1 and his army contained more soldiers1 though fewer men1 than that of his eastern competitor4 ,the legions of ,constantine were levied in the warlike provinces of ,europe2 action had confirmed their discipline2 victory had elevated their hopes1 and there were among them a great number of veterans1 who1 after seventeen glorious campaigns under the same leader1 prepared themselves to deserve honorable dismissal by a last effort of their valor4 ,but the naval preparations of ,constantine were in every respect much inferior to those of ,licinius4 ,the maritime cities of ,greece sent their respective quotas of men and ships to the celebrated harbor of ,piraeus1 and their united forces consisted of no more than two hundred small vessels4444 ,it is only surprising that the ,eastern emperor1 who possessed so great a superiority at sea1 should have neglected this opportunity of carrying an offensive war into the center of his rival's dominions4 ,instead of embracing such an active resolution1 which might have changed the whole face of the war1 the prudent ,licinius expected the approach of his rival in a camp near ,hadrianople1 which he fortified with an anxious care that betrayed his apprehensions of the event4 ,constantine directed his march from ,thessalonica toward that part of ,thrace1 till he found himself stopped by the broad and rapid stream of the ,hebrus1 and discovered the numerous army of ,licinius1 which filled the steep ascent of the hill1 from the river to the city of ,hadrianople4 ,many days were spent in doubtful skirmishes2 but at length the obstacles of the passage and of the attack were removed by the intrepid conduct of ,constantine4444 ,the valor and danger of ,constantine are attested by a slight wound which he received in the thigh2 but 444 the victory was obtained no less by the conduct of the general than by the courage of the hero2 for a body of five thousand archers marched round to occupy a thick wood in the rear of the enemy1 whose attention was distracted by the building of the bridge2 and ,licinius1 perplexed by so many artful evolutions1 was reluctantly drawn from his advantageous post to combat on equal terms in the plain4 ,the contest was no longer equal4 ,his confused multitude of new levies was easily vanquished by the veterans of the ,west4 ,thirty-four thousand men are reported to have been slain4 ,the fortified camp of ,licinius was taken by assault the evening of the battle2 the greater part of the fugitives1 who had retired to the mountains1 surrendered themselves the next day to the discretion of the conqueror2 and his rival1 who could no longer keep the field1 confined himself within the walls of ,byzantium4 ,the siege of ,byzantium1 which was immediately undertaken by ,constantine1 was attended with great labor and uncertainty4 ,in the late civil war1 the fortifications of that place1 so justly considered as the key of ,europe and ,asia1 had been repaired and strengthened2 and as long as ,licinius remained master of the sea1 the garrison was much less exposed to the danger of famine than the army of the besiegers4 ,the naval commanders of ,constantine were summoned to his camp1 and received his positive orders to force the passage of the ,hellespont1 as the fleet of ,licinius1 instead of seeking and destroying their feeble enemy1 continued inactive in those narrow straits1 where its superiority of numbers was of little use or advantage4 ,crispus1 the emperor's eldest son1 was intrusted with the execution of this daring enterprise1 which he performed with so much courage and success that he deserved the esteem1 and most probably excited the jealousy1 of his father4 ,the engagement lasted two days2 and in the evening of the first1 the contending fleets1 after considerable mutual loss1 retired to their respective harbors in ,europe and ,asia4 ,the second day1 about noon1 a strong south wind sprang up1 which carried the vessels of ,crispus against the enemy1 and as this casual opportunity was improved by his skillful intrepidity1 he soon obtained a complete victory4 ,for the current always sets out of the ,hellespont1 and1 when it is assisted by a north wind1 no vessel can attempt the passage1 but a south wind renders the force thereof almost imperceptible4 ,one hundred and thirty vessels were destroyed1 five thousand men were slain1 and ,amandus1 the admiral of the fleet1 escaped with the utmost difficulty to the shores of ,chalcedon4 ,as soon as the ,hellespont was open1 a plentiful convoy of provisions flowed into the camp of ,constantine1 who had already advanced the operations of the siege4 ,he constructed artificial mounds of earth of equal height with the ramparts of ,byzantium4 ,the lofty towers which were erected on that foundation galled the besieged with large stones and darts from the military engines1 and the battering-rams had shaken the walls in several places4 ,if ,licinius persisted much longer in the defense1 he exposed himself to be involved in the ruin of the place4 ,before he was surrounded1 he prudently removed his person and his treasures to ,chalcedon1 in ,asia4444 ,such were the resources and such the abilities of ,licinius1 that1 after so many successive defeats1 he collected in ,bithynia a new army of fifty or sixty thousand men1 while the activity of ,constantine was employed in the siege of ,byzantium4 ,the vigilant emperor did not1 however1 neglect the last struggles of his antagonist4 ,a considerable part of his victorious army was transported over the ,bosporus in small vessels1 and the decisive engagement was fought soon after their landing on the heights of ,chrysopolis1 now called ,scutari4 ,the troops of ,licinius1 though they were lately raised1 ill armed1 and worse disciplined1 made head against the conquerors with fruitless but desperate valor1 till a total defeat1 and a slaughter of five-and-twenty thousand men1 irretrievably determined the fate of their leader4 ,he retired to ,nicomedia1 rather with the view of gaining some time for negotiation1 than with the hope of any effectual defense4 ,constantia1 his wife1 the sister of ,constantine1 interceded with her brother in favor of her husband1 and obtained from his policy1 rather than from his compassion1 a solemn promise1 confirmed by an oath1 that1 after the resignation of the purple1 ,licinius should be permitted to pass the remainder of his life in peace and affluence4444 ,by this victory of ,constantine the ,roman world was again united under one emperor1 thirty-seven years after ,diocletian had divided his power and provinces with his associate ,maximian4444 ,the foundation of ,constantinople1 and the legal establishment of the ,christian religion1 were the immediate and memorable consequences of this revolution4 ,if the victory had been otherwise1 the face of history might have been entirely changed3 the ,christian communities might have been permitted to maintain their original communal organization1 at least in the ,eastern ,church1 and ,christ might still have had a kingdom upon earth4 ,if ,licinius had employed his naval superiority in offensive war1 instead of keeping it cooped up under the shores of ,asia1 in those narrow straits where its superiority of numbers was of little use or advantage1 the probabilities are that he might have maintained his power at least in the ,east2 but the ,eusebii had neutralized the mighty fleet by that which ,constantine denominated the prophecy of ,gaius of ,chalcis1 and ,christianity was subverted everywhere1 and the legal establishment of ,constantine usurped its place4 ,almost immediately ,constantine proceeded to mark out the boundaries of the city--,constantinople--which prescient ,john had seen from rocky ,patmos2 and he traced the boundaries thereof1 going on foot with a spear in his hand1 and declared that in so doing he was acting in obedience to the directions of ,god2 and when those who were with him remonstrated against his tracing so vast a space for a city1 the emperor replied3 ,i shall advance till ,he1 the invisible guide who marches before me1 thinks proper to stop4 ,and so he laid off the boundaries of the city upon seven great hills1 which included the ancient site of ,byzantium1 and soon began to lay the foundations1 and to plan and to build the palaces1 theatres1 circus1 amphitheatre1 and churches of ,constantinople4 ,about the same time the emperor became greatly interested in the preparation of new copies of the ,scriptures1 and especially of the epistles of ,john2 and he had learned clerks and skillful writers constantly employed in making copies in the new1 running ,greek text1 which was lately come into use1 and was more easy and beautiful than the uncial letters of an earlier age2 and he distributed them to the bishops throughout the ,roman ,empire4 ,and next he sent letters to all of the bishops1 requesting them to meet in a solemn council of the whole ,christian ,church1 at the city of ,nicea1 upon a designated day1 in order to discuss and settle the disputed questions by which the world was agitated4 ,and in conformity with this royal request1 or order1 in the year #cbe was assembled the most remarkable body of men that the exigencies of political or religious life hath ever convened together in the history of the world2 for it was the first oecumenical council ever called in ,christendom1 those which had preceded it having been assembled by the ,christian bishops1 of their own accord1 and not by the authority of a prince or emperor1 whose power was said to rule the habitable earth 7,greek3 ,oikoumene74 ,the letter which ,constantine addressed to the bishops was as follows3 ,that there is nothing more honorable in my sight than religion is1 ,i believe1 manifest to every man4 ,now1 because the ,synod of ,bishops at ,ancyra1 of ,galatia1 consented formerly that it should be so1 it hath now seemed unto us1 on many accounts1 that it would be well for it to be assembled at ,nice1 a city of ,bithynia2 because the bishops of ,italy1 and of the rest of the countries of ,europe1 are coming1 and because of the excellent temperature of the air1 and because ,i shall be at hand as a spectator and participator of what is done4 ,wherefore ,i signify to you1 my beloved brethren1 that ye1 all of you1 promptly assemble at the city ,i spoke of1 that is ,nice4 ,let every one of you1 therefore1 diligently inquire into that which is profitable1 in order that1 as ,i before said1 without any delay1 we may speedily come to be a present spectator of those things which are done by the same4 ,god keep you1 my beloved brethren6 ,the reasons assigned by the emperor for calling the ,council of ,nicea were first and chiefly that the ,synod of ,ancyra 7which had been called by the bishops without the interference of any secular authority7 had formerly consented to meet in a general council at ,nice1 and that the bishops of ,italy and of ,europe would be there1 and that the air of the place was of an excellent temperature1 and that their coming into ,bithynia would afford the emperor an opportunity to be a spectator of their proceedings4 ,there was no intimation given that the emperor desired to preside over their council1 or to control its action1 or to force its deliberations to assume any political significance whatever1 or to compel it to take such action as must inevitably result in the subversion of the ,christian polity and the establishment of an entirely different church system4 ,the letter was based first upon the consent given by the ,council of ,ancyra and then upon matters of expediency1 and in no respect did it question the absolute right of the bishops to meet where they might please1 and to deliberate without the intermeddling of secular authority4 ,so1 at least1 it seemed to all the bishops of the ,eastern ,church1 except a small number who had been1 to a greater or less degree1 leavened by the leaven of ecclesiasticism4 ,on the face of it the letter was as full a recognition of the freedom of the bishops1 and as full a recognition of the ,christian polity which had for three centuries held all property in common1 as was the celebrated ,edict of ,milan1 in which ,constantine and ,licinius had united in commanding the officers of the ,roman world to restore the property of ,christians as communal property1 the language of that edict being as follows3 ,all of which will be necessary to be delivered up to the body of the ,christians without delay4 ,and since the ,christians themselves are known to have had not only those places where they were accustomed to meet1 but other places also1 belonging not to individuals among them1 but to the right of the whole body of ,christians1 you will also command all these1 by virtue of the law before mentioned1 without any hesitation1 to be restored to the same ,christians1 that is to their body1 and to each conventicle separately4 ,but already the bishops of the ,western ,empire1 with ,hosius and ,eusebius at their head1 had come to understand that while ,constantine cared little about any matter of faith1 he had determined to utterly destroy the ,christian polity1 especially in regard to communism and the refusal of ,christians to bear arms4 ,the regulations by which their journeys were governed prescribed that they should come at the emperor's expense1 and that each bishop should be accompanied by a retinue of two presbyters and three slaves4 ,at and near the appointed time there were bishops and presbyters assembled from the four quarters of the world--from ,persia and from ,gaul1 from ,scythia and from ,africa4 ,there were many who were the victims of pagan persecutions1 and still bore in their own persons the marks of the tortures to which they had been subjected4 ,this one had lost an eye1 gouged out by the torturer's sword or pincers2 that one had the sinews of his leg seared with hot iron to keep him from escaping from the mines1 to which he had been condemned for the crime of being a ,christian2 and the other had had the flesh scraped off his ribs by the instruments of torture4 ,of the whole number present1 it was believed that only the eleven who came from the remotest ,east had escaped mutilation in some ghastly form4 ,arius1 although not a bishop1 was there by the express order of ,constantine1 who could always sleep upon his vengeance1 but never could forget nor forego it4 ,the place of the assembly's sessions was a great hall in the imperial palace of ,nicea4 ,the bishops and presbyters1 assembled upon the emperor's order1 traveling at his expense1 to the immediate vicinity of ,nicomedia1 then the imperial residence1 into a royal palace1 and fed by his bounty1 were from the very first the creatures of ,constantine1 so far as complete control of the political significancy of religion could make them so4 ,the emperor had only two great purposes to accomplish in patronizing the ,church and engineering the council3 one of which was to make the ,eastern ,church as willingly and thoroughly dependent upon the imperial authority as he had already practically made that of the ,west1 and to render it as much a bulwark of his government2 the other was to render this condition of things1 in appearance at least1 the spontaneous and inspired action of a free conclave of bishops4 ,as for the theological verity of their doctrines or practice1 the royal atheist cared not a denarius4 ,his object was to make the ,church as much a part of the imperial power as a legion might be1 its bishops as much his agents and servants as the military officers2 and to uproot and cast out the only essential features of ,christianity which tended to segregate the ,christians into a separate and distinct body in the empire1 by subverting the kingdom of heaven with its communistic organization1 that excluded war1 slavery1 and mammon-worship from the communities of the faithful1 so that no man should feel that because he was a ,christian he was therefore more free1 or less a subject of the empire6 ,this he proposed to do by inducing the council to define the faith and prescribe temporal penalties for heresy1 which were to be enforced by the emperor's authority1 just as were the judgments of the magistrates against violators of the criminal laws3 the action of the council was to make an offense against the ,church a crime against the imperial law4 ,subject to the accomplishment of these purposes1 he really desired that they might reach conclusions as nearly unanimous as possible2 for he was as anxious to avoid the creating of parties and classes in the ,church as he was to avoid sowing discord among his other subjects4 ,upon the assembling of the council1 ,eusebius of ,caesarea1 in metrical prose1 if not in actual verses1 recited an address to the emperor1 and then a hymn of thanksgiving to the ,almighty for the victory over ,licinius4 ,thereupon ,constantine addressed the council in the ,latin language1 which his dragoman immediately interpreted into ,greek1 as follows3 ,it has1 my friends1 been the object of my highest wishes to enjoy your sacred company1 and1 having obtained this1 ,i confess my thankfulness to the ,king of all that1 in addition to all my other blessings1 he has granted to me this greatest of all--,i mean1 to receive you all assembled together1 and to see one1 common1 harmonious opinion of all4 ,let1 then1 no envious enemy injure our happiness1 and1 after the destruction of the impious power of the tyrants by the might of ,god our ,saviour1 let not the spirit of evil overwhelm the divine law with blasphemies3 for to me far worse than any war or battle is the civil war of the ,church of ,god--yea1 far more fearful than the wars which have waged without4 ,as1 then1 by the assent and co-operation of a higher power1 ,i have gained my victories over my enemies1 ,i thought that nothing remained but to give ,god thanks1 and to rejoice with those who have been delivered by me4 ,but since ,i learned of your divisions1 contrary to all expectation1 ,i gave the report my first consideration2 and1 praying that this also might be healed through my assistance1 ,i called you all together without delay4 ,i rejoice at the mere sight of your assembly3 but the moment that ,i shall consider the chief fulfillment of my prayers will be when ,i see you all joined together in heart and soul1 and determining on one peaceful harmony for all1 which it should well become you1 who are consecrated to ,god1 to preach to others4 ,do not1 then1 delay1 my friends2 do not delay1 ministers of ,god1 and good servants of our common ,lord and ,saviour1 to remove all grounds of difference1 and to wind up1 by laws of peace1 every link of controversy4 ,thus will you have done what is most pleasing to the ,god who is over all1 and you will render the greatest boon to me your fellow-servant4 ,the council was now formally opened1 and the emperor gave permission to the presidents of the assembly to commence their proceedings2 and the ,bishops of ,alexandria1 ,cordova1 ,antioch1 and ,caesarea1 were chosen to preside over their deliberations3 of whom ,hosius1 ,alexander1 and ,eusebius1 were politicians thoroughly imbued with the ecclesiastical spirit and purposes of the emperor1 although the last-named bishop was the warm personal friend of ,arius1 and a follower of his theological tenets4 ,constantine himself assumed the functions of a bishop1 and participated in all their debates1 directing all his energies to that one point which he himself described as his aim--a unanimity of decision as to all merely theological disputes4 ,for1 even before the council had met1 innumerable complaints of one bishop against another had been placed in his hands2 so that he was satisfied that one great design he had in view was already accomplished3 for this fact showed that already they regarded him as the ultimate judge--the real source of all authority in the ,church 7instead of ,christ71 as truly as he was in the state4 ,all of these complaints1 therefore1 he publicly burned in their presence1 with a solemn oath that he had not read any of them1 and he said1 ,it is the command of ,christ that he who desires to be himself forgiven1 must first forgive his brother4 ,but the very strongest proof that the emperor was lying1 was the fact that he made oath to his statement2 and perhaps there was not a thing named in any of the complaints1 that could give him a hold upon any bishop1 that was not carefully preserved4 ,the first matter which came before this august assembly was the question whether the ,christian passover 7,easter7 should be celebrated on the same day with the ,jewish 7the fourteenth day of the month ,nisan71 or on the following ,sunday4 ,and the bitter feeling of many of the ,christians that the celebration of it on the same day that was kept by the wicked race that put the ,saviour to death was an impious absurdity1 on one side1 and the reverence on the other side for a custom which had come down from the apostles1 gave rise to a long controversy on the subject2 but it was finally determined by common consent that the ancient custom should be set aside1 and the more recent ,christian practice established4 ,during these proceedings1 ,arius the ,libyan took no part whatever in the discussions or business of the council1 but sat as a quiet and attentive spectator of their deliberations4 ,many of them1 knowing his great erudition and holy character1 consulted him privately1 and he fully gave them the benefit of his learning and opinions4 ,arius was now sixty years of age1 and was greatly changed from the bright and happy youth whom we knew at ,baucalis2 greatly changed even from the broken-hearted but ever-diligent1 earnest1 and eloquent presbyter of the earlier years of his ministry at ,alexandria4 ,he is tall and thin1 apparently unable to support his stature2 he has an odd way of contorting and twisting himself1 which his enemies compare to the wrigglings of a snake4 ,he would be handsome1 but for the emaciation and deadly pallor of his face1 and a downcast look imparted by a weakness of eye-sight4 ,at times his veins throb and swell1 and his limbs tremble1 as if suffering from some violent internal complaint1 the same1 perhaps1 that will terminate one day in his sudden and frightful death4 ,there is a wild look about him1 that is at first sight startling4 ,his dress and demeanor are those of a rigid ascetic4 ,he wears a long coat with short sleeves1 such as the monks wore to indicate that their hands were not made for injury1 and a scarf of only half size1 such as was the mark of an austere life2 and his hair hangs in tangled masses about his head4 ,he is usually silent1 but at times breaks out into fierce excitement1 such as will give the impression of madness4 ,yet with all this there is a sweetness in his voice1 and a winning1 earnest manner1 which fascinate those who come across him4 ,among the religious ladies of ,alexandria he is said to have had from the first a following of not less than seven hundred4 ,this strange1 captivating1 moon-struck giant is the heretic ,arius1 or1 as his adversaries call him1 the madman of ,ares1 or ,mars3 and the description given here of him is not that of a partisan of his own1 but of a ,trinitarian ecclesiastic4 ,many sittings of the council passed1 day after day1 in which the paschal controversy1 the ,melitian schism1 and other matters of a theological character1 were discussed and determined1 but the heretic remained utterly silent4 ,he was ever ready to give aid1 advice1 counsel1 and furnish references to authorities1 to those who applied to him1 but not once did he open his lips to speak to the assembly4 ,but the purpose of ,constantine to crush him wavered not1 and the emperor had one rare quality--he knew how to wait4 ,one evening1 after the close of the council's daily session1 the ancient ,bishop ,alexander1 accompanied by his young ,archdeacon ,athanasius1 was proceeding toward his lodgings1 when ,marcellus1 the ,bishop of ,ancyra1 accosted him3 ,hail1 bishop6 ,from what thou didst tell me of his fierce1 aggressive nature1 ,i am astonished to find that the ,libyan madman continueth so quiet4 ,how is it that thou hast called him vehement1 fierce1 eloquent1 and controversial8 ,he hath some secret end in view1 replied the bishop1 and ,i can not fathom his purposes4 ,but on to-morrow1 ,athanasius1 who speaketh for me in the council1 shall provoke him to some reply1 and thou mayst then judge of his quiet disposition for thyself4 ,good enough1 said ,marcellus4 ,no man can pick a quarrel with an oyster that keepeth its shell closed4 ,,chapter ,,vii4 ,,the ,,subversion ,,of ,,the ,,primitive ,,church4 ,on the next meeting of the council1 ,hosius1 ,bishop of ,cordova1 offered a resolution that the ,church should make a decree requiring all the married clergy to separate from their wives and lead lives of celibacy4 ,some objected to this1 on the ground that the practice of the ,church had never prohibited the marriage of clergymen of any rank2 others insisted on adopting the rule1 because clerical marriages1 besides other inconveniences1 would tend to make the office of bishop an hereditary one1 and so elevate improper persons to that sacred place4 ,but the chief opposition came from a most unexpected quarter4 ,from among the ,egyptian bishops stepped out into the midst1 looking out of his one remaining eye1 and halting on his paralyzed leg1 the old hermit-confessor1 ,paphnutius4 ,with a roar of indignation rather than a speech1 he broke into the debate3 ',lay not this heavy yoke on the clergy4 ,marriage is honorable in all1 and the bed undefiled4 ,by exaggerated strictness you will do the ,church more harm than good4 ,all can not bear such an ascetic rule4 ,the wives themselves will suffer from it4 ,marriage itself is continence4 ,it is enough for a man to keep from marriage after he has been ordained1 according to the ancient custom1 but do not separate him from the wife whom once for all he married when he was a layman6' ,his speech produced a profound impression4 ,his own austere life and unblemished celibacy gave force to every word he uttered4 ,the resolution1 or proposition1 was voted down1 but the discussion of it gave ,athanasius the opportunity he wanted4 ,having arisen with that almost irresistible grace and suavity which distinguished him1 the beautiful young man1 in a light1 musical1 mocking tone1 that must have been terribly irritating to a grave and reverend presbyter like ,arius1 spoke as follows3 ,i greatly marvel1 brethren1 that we have not enjoyed the benefit of that princely readiness and strength in debate for which the very learned presbyter ,arius hath so great reputation1 upon this important question4 ,surely a minister who is reputed to have at his beck and call1 day or night1 rain or shine1 more than seven hundred virgins and widows in our good city of ,alexandria1 ought to be able1 from his own experience1 to give us wise counsel concerning the celibacy of the clergy4 ,i hope that he will do so4 ,the brilliant1 smiling youth resumed his seat1 and every eye was turned upon the ,libyan1 but he neither rose nor answered4 ,the grand1 shaggy head bent slightly forward1 and a momentary gleam shone in the somber eyes2 while a peculiar shiver passed over his whole frame1 the python's idiopathic legacy1 and a weary sigh exhaled through the ashy lips2 but he took not even the slightest notice of ,athanasius1 nor of his flippant speech4 ,it was manifest that all of them expected him to say something1 knowing the readiness and splendor of his oratory1 but he was utterly silent2 and this silence1 following the young archdeacon's sally against him1 seemed to indicate an unpleasant state of feeling--or what did it indicate8 ,he could browbeat his bishop in ,alexandria1 whispered a bishop to ,eusebius of ,nicomedia1 but he quaileth in the presence of the emperor4 ,but ,eusebius answered3 ,he quaileth not for any man2 but he answereth not1 because to do so might be to recognize this assembly as a council of the ,church1 and that he hath not yet done by speech or act4 ,then the headstrong and violent ,marcellus1 ,bishop of ,ancyra1 cried out in fierce1 defiant tones3 ,hearest thou not the friendly utterances of ,athanasius1 who speaketh for ,alexander1 thy bishop8 or dost thou carry thyself so high as to treat with contempt thy learned and venerable bishop1 thou iron-hearted heretic1 that thou answerest nothing8 ,the ,libyan turned his head slightly1 and1 fixing his sad eyes upon ,marcellus1 gazed upon him steadily1 quietly1 compassionately1 but did not utter a word2 and immediately there was a clamor throughout the assembly1 some condemning the intemperate words and manner of the ,bishop of ,ancyra1 and some the seeming insolence of ,arius4 ,then the ,emperor ,constantine arose1 and forthwith the clamor subsided1 and the emperor said3 ,i have often and earnestly desired that peace and ,christian charity might characterize our deliberations4 ,the remarks and the manner of the ,bishop of ,ancyra are hasty and uncalled for2 but the obstinate silence of the presbyter indicateth a proud and scornful mind--for it is known to all that the young archdeacon speaketh for the holy ,bishop ,alexander because of his age and feebleness2 and if thou dost decline to notice the brilliant ,athanasius because of his youth1 thou must not despise thy venerable superior who speaketh through him4 ,i command thee1 therefore1 to answer as if ,alexander himself had addressed thee4 ,the emperor sat down1 and a murmur of admiration and applause ran through the entire assembly4 ,then the mighty heretic arose1 and in his sweet1 incisive1 penetrating voice1 answered3 ,by command of ,augustus1 the emperor1 whose legal subject ,i have become by the defeat and death of the late ,emperor ,licinius1 ,i arise to declare that if any one supposeth ,i did fail to notice the remarks of the young1 learned1 and eloquent archdeacon1 because of any feeling of scorn for his youth1 or for his office1 or because of any uncharity toward him1 or any one else in this assembly1 he doeth me much injustice4 ,this1 it seemeth to me1 is well proved by the fact1 which ye all do know1 that during the weeks that ye have been assembled1 ,i have taken no part in any discussion1 ecclesiastical or political1 in which ye have engaged4 ,because ,i am not an officer of the ,roman government1 civil1 military1 or judicial1 and have not thought it to be consistent with the position and duties of a presbyter of the ,church of ,jesus ,christ to assume the right to take part in the business of a royal council1 seeing that my life hath been devoted to religious affairs which belong to our ,lord1 and not to civil1 military1 or judicial functions which pertain unto the emperor1 ,i supposed that it would be as indecent and presumptuous for me to meddle with the business of the empire1 by virtue of my office1 as it would be for a ,roman judge1 or centurion1 to intrude into my church and preach the gospel by virtue of his judicial or military rank4 ,if it had been otherwise1 ,i might have had something to say when ,i perceived that the royal authority offered a gross insult to ,christ and to his ,church by making ,elia ,capitolina1 the ancient ,jerusalem1 the oldest and most honored see in ,christendom1 secondary to new ,nicomedia1 in order to accommodate ecclesiastical departments to the other political divisions of the empire2 nor would ,i speak at all except at the command of the emperor4 ,having thus spoken1 ,arius took his seat4 ,the words opened up plainly and unmistakably the vast difference that separated the ,christianity of the first three centuries from the imperial ,church of ,constantine3 the allegiance that belonged to ,jesus alone was in process of being transferred to the emperor4 ,it was to extirpate this very freedom of conscience1 this very liberty of the gospel that acknowledged no master but ,christ1 that ,constantine had convened the council2 and although he had known that the question must come up1 and must be met1 and although he had been for years1 and especially since the summoning of the bishops1 using every artifice1 argument1 and influence1 and urging his ablest agents1 to be prepared for it when it might come1 he and his partisans had determined that it should be raised out of proceedings to be instituted against ,arius upon charges of heresy2 but the wonderful adroitness with which the great presbyter had changed the face of the whole matter1 and had actually put both the emperor and his council on the defensive1 took ,constantine utterly by surprise1 and for a moment he lost even his marvelous self-control1 and cried out in a voice of thunder1 ,then why art thou here8 ,and ,arius1 with scintillant eyes1 but in placid1 melodious tones1 responded3 ,i came hither upon the written order of the emperor1 as ,i supposed it to be the duty of a law-abiding subject to do2 but certainly not as an officer of the ,roman government1 entitled to participate in royal businesses4 ,this calm and dignified reply still more clearly revealed to all the assembly the fact that their enthusiastic love for ,constantine had too much blinded their eyes to the undeniable truth that the council was oecumenical1 not apostolical--the affair of the emperor1 not of the ,christ4 ,this reply was not ostensibly connected with any heretical teachings of ,arius1 or of any one else1 and raised no question of orthodoxy at all2 it struck at the very tap-roots of the whole movement4 ,whose council is this8 was the question that each involuntarily asked himself1 and it was manifest that the simple1 unobjectionable words of the ,libyan produced a profound impression upon many hearts that began to consider whether the fact that the council was royal did not imply in itself the fact that it was not ,christian1 but was really treasonable toward ,christ2 and in the midst of the solemn silence caused by such anxious meditation1 the virulent and incautious ,bishop of ,ancyra cried out3 ,who art thou that censurest the victorious and holy emperor1 and condemnest the oecumenical council of the ,church with thy sly1 serpentine wriggle and speech8 ,art thou not ,arius the heretic8 ,arius the defamer of the ,son of ,god8 thou bold scorner of the ,holy ,trinity6 thou cunning madman6 ,but ,arius only looked upon the furious bishop with a sad and pitying smile4 ,then ,constantine cried out3 ,answer thou the bishop6 ,then1 still quietly and pleasantly1 with a peculiar1 mesmeric light in his somber eyes1 and strange1 thrilling sibilation in his penetrating voice1 ,arius arose and said3 ,by the command of ,augustus ,i answer that ,i have not censured the emperor1 nor condemned the council4 ,as to my being a heretic1 ,i only reply that1 if this thing be true1 it is no concern of the emperor's1 who hath never been ordained to be the keeper of my conscience4 ,it is an affair entirely between the ,master--,christ--and his servant ,arius4 ,for ye all do know that there is no ,roman law prescribing what we must believe or disbelieve1 since the persecutors lost power to enforce obedience to their laws prescribing faith in false gods1 by the infliction of tortures and death1 against those who for conscience' sake refused to obey4 ,but ye know that neither ,jesus nor his apostles ever denounced1 nor authorized any human being to denounce1 a temporal penalty for heresy2 for the ,church only prescribes that ye should refuse to fellowship the obdurate heretic1 or disobedient person2 and ,i trust you far enough to believe that if any pagan emperor1 or any human authority1 should enact laws requiring you to believe1 or to do1 anything contrary to good conscience1 ye would be faithful ,christians enough to refuse obedience to such laws1 as our fathers from the beginning have gloriously done4 ,for this is a matter between each man and his ,god only2 not between him and the government which exercises dominion over him4 ,this the ,church hath held from the beginning2 and when the heathen laws did prescribe that ye who are here assembled should do and believe things contrary to ,christ and to conscience1 ye did refuse1 so that every bishop here1 except those eleven who come from the remotest ,east1 hath endured tortures rather than obey the human laws4 ,if1 therefore1 ,i be a heretic1 as brother ,marcellus of ,ancyra ignorantly supposeth1 what have the empire or its laws to do with that8 ,why speak ye of orthodoxy1 or of heterodoxy1 in a great royal1 political assembly like this2 unless1 perhaps1 some of ye are willing to believe that the great and powerful emperor is also a god1 having charge of your faith and conscience1 as well as of your political condition2 so that what the law of ,constantine shall prescribe as right to be believed and done shall be your rule of faith and practice1 and not what our ,lord ,christ hath prescribed8 ,for me1 a poor presbyter of the ,christian ,church1 to assume the right to deliberate upon and prescribe laws for the empire would be gross impudence and arrogance2 for any human authority to usurp the right to make laws controlling the faith of ,christ's ,church1 would be as gross a sacrilege4 ,was ,constantine crucified for you8 ,or were ye baptized into his name8 ,and do ye hope for salvation by faith in and obedience to him8 ,i was not4 ,i have come1 therefore1 hither in obedience to the imperial mandate1 and have spoken by the emperor's command4 ,as to the empire1 ,i have no authority and no desire to make laws for it2 as to my ,christian faith1 no man nor angel hath right or power to meddle therewith1 or to prescribe laws for it4 ,it is a thing between my soul and its ,saviour1 whom ,i have served all my life long in spite of imperial laws1 and whom ,i will continue to serve1 no matter what laws may be enacted4 ,brethren1 will ye do likewise8 or will ye now deny the ,christ8 ,for an instant the old man raised his tall form upright1 the shaggy head sprang forward upon the long1 peculiar neck1 and the somber1 sad eyes rested upon almost every face4 ,then quietly he resumed his seat4 ,athanasius1 ,hosius1 ,constantine1 and others1 saw at the same instant that against the impregnable position taken by ,arius no assault could prosper4 ,they knew that constant and almost imperceptible steps had been necessary for years to seduce any large section of the ,western ,church from that very position1 and that the church which ,ulfilas had planted among the ,goths had only been driven therefrom by the merciless use of fire and sword4 ,they knew well that the line of demarkation between all earthly kingdoms and the kingdom of ,christ in the world was clearly and unmistakably drawn1 consisting not alone in faith and sentiment1 but in a social and political policy which had been for three centuries the glory of ,christianity1 and had been so fearfully illustrated by recent persecutions under ,licinius in the ,east1 that the council could not be deluded in reference thereto2 and they were seeking with anxious solicitude to find some way to avoid further discussion upon the matter1 which might arouse an interest in it that would dissolve the council upon the point which the ,libyan urged1 that the ,church could not meet in oecumenical council at the order of an emperor1 and make decrees to be forced by imperial law1 without forsaking ,christ4 ,long before the bold presbyter had ceased to speak1 the emperor had determined in his own mind that it was necessary to gain time for consultation and for concerted action1 and especially necessary to stop the discussion of this dangerous question as to the right of a royal council to legislate for the ,church of ,christ--the tendency of which was obviously to separate the ,church from imperialism altogether1 rather than to accomplish his determined purpose of blending the ,church with imperial law and make himself head of both4 ,as soon1 therefore1 as the heretic sat down1 at a sign from the emperor1 ,alexander and ,hosius adjourned the council until the following day4 ,,chapter ,,viii4 ,,the ,,abdication ,,of ,,constantine4 ,there is little doubt but upon that night so many of the council favored the views of the ,libyan1 that if a vote had been taken upon the point urged by him1 the council would have resolved that its own organization was contrary to ,christ2 was an effort thoughtlessly made to put ,constantine in place of ,jesus at the head of the ,church1 and would have dissolved itself1 until summoned to convene by the agreement of the bishops only4 ,almost the whole night was spent in anxious consultation between those bishops who were ready to maintain the freedom of the ,church at any hazard1 and the great heresiarch1 whom they instinctively recognized as leader of the struggle in favor of religious liberty1 as to the most available path of escape from the dangerous and unchristian position into which they had been led by their zeal and love for the emperor who protected the ,church from persecution4 ,arius told them plainly that if the ,church of ,christ was to be governed by an oecumenical or royal council1 its independence was gone2 and in place of being the kingdom of heaven upon earth1 which our ,lord had organized1 the ,church must become a human institution--part of the empire of ,constantine1 or of any other prince or power to whom its members might be subject2 its faith and policy dictated by ,roman law1 not by the word of ,god2 its doctrines dependent upon the mutations of government1 not upon the teachings of ,jesus3 a thing by which the cause of ,christ is verily betrayed4 ,there were none in the council who did not perceive this truth1 although there were some who were for ,constantine1 even against ,jesus himself4 ,during nearly the whole night1 also1 ,hosius1 ,athanasius1 ,eustatius1 ,marcellus1 ,constantine1 and others1 were engaged in eager consultation1 but seemed unable to find any solution of the difficulty4 ,and the next morning ,athanasius reported to the emperor that the more they had considered the matter1 the more difficult and dangerous it had appeared2 and that the only way to avoid serious risk of dissolving the council was to avoid all discussion upon its right to sit for the ,church1 and to let ,arius alone as long as he might appear disposed to remain quiet4 ,many hearts were burdened with anxiety1 and ,eusebius of ,caesarea was especially oppressed with deep concern4 ,and if the council when assembled shall sustain the views of ,arius1 he had once asked ,constantine1 what then8 and the emperor had answered1 ,a religious war1 perhaps1 or a return to paganism6 ,but to ,athanasius and others who urged the necessity of temporizing with ,arius1 and avoiding all discussion of the vital points which the heretic lost no opportunity of forcing upon them1 ,constantine finally said3 ,i will make no compromise with the ,libyan2 it is necessary to crush that serpent's head1 and ,i will do it6 ,he hath certainly evinced marvelous skill1 intelligence1 and daring1 in forcing an issue upon us which we do not desire to determine2 he would have made a magnificent general2 but ,i will ruin him to-day4 ,rest ye all in peace4 ,and when the council assembled1 all of them filled with anxiety as to what might occur1 and many of them determined1 even at the risk of martyrdom1 not to take any further part in the deliberations of an imperial conclave such as they clearly perceived that one to be1 the emperor arose first of all1 and1 with wonderful grace and ease1 addressed them as follows3 ,ye know my love for all of you1 my friends1 and my zeal for the cause of ,christ4 ,but some among you have taken offense1 and have even doubted the propriety or binding force of your own decrees upon the conscience of ,christians1 because it hath appeared to you that the emperor hath assumed authority over you in regard to matters of faith4 ,this is surely a grave mistake4 ,to correct this false and injurious impression1 ,i here commit to your presiding bishops my ring1 my sword1 and my scepter2 and unto you ,i give power this day over mine empire1 to do in it whatever you think fit for the promotion of religion and for the advantage of the faithful4 ,ye are the law-makers of the ,church of ,christ1 and not him whom ,god hath made ,emperor of ,rome4 ,proceed with your sacred business in your own time and way4 ,if ye shall deem it to be necessary to remove even the most intangible objection of the cavilers to do so1 ye can dissolve the council1 return to your homes1 and let the bishops reassemble when and where ye will4 ,but if1 being already assembled at some expense of time and trouble1 ye deem it more expedient now to constitute yourselves into a church council1 do so in your own time and manner4 ,farewell6 ,and1 having so spoken1 the emperor bowed gracefully to the admiring assembly and withdrew4 ,but almost immediately ,hosius1 ,bishop of ,cordova1 proposed1 and without a dissenting voice the council voted1 that a deputation of bishops be appointed to inform the emperor that the ,church had met in council1 and to request him to return and bestow upon them the benefit of his great wisdom and ,christian zeal1 in aid of their deliberations2 and smilingly the emperor returned4 ,the action of the emperor was just that of the pre-eminently greatest politician2 and ,arius1 then first fully realizing the vast intellectual resources of the most consummate statesman whom the world has seen1 murmured unto himself1 ,again is ,christ betrayed into the hands of wicked men6 ,and thenceforward calmly1 almost indifferently1 he looked forward to what he supposed to be his own impending doom2 for he well knew that ,constantine spared no human life that1 even by chance1 might seem to stand in the way of his self-aggrandizement3 and if his marvelous sagacity could conceive and execute such an act as he had just accomplished1 what was there of which he could be incapable8 ,then the bishop ,hosius of ,cordova said3 ,brethren1 it is manifest that the technical objections which found place in the consciences of some among us1 based upon the seeming authority of our most glorious and ,christian emperor over us1 have been thoroughly eradicated by his own most wise1 pious1 and unsolicited condescension1 and that we sit now as an absolutely independent body for the consideration of the business and doctrines of the ,church of ,christ1 as much as if we had come of our own motion originally from the ends of the earth1 without the generous and ,christian liberality of our royal friend and protector4 ,let us1 therefore1 proceed with our deliberations to secure the prosperity of the ,church of our blessed ,lord6 ,in this sentiment all concurred2 and even the dullest among them immediately perceived that the crafty act of ,constantine had cut out from under the great heretic the only sure foundation upon which he might have builded1 and had left him at the mercy of the emperor4 ,for many days the great council proceeded with its business1 and sometimes their differences gave rise to excited and earnest debate1 in which the easy1 marvelous1 persuasive eloquence and irresistible manners of ,athanasius raised the brilliant youth to the highest place in the opinions of all2 in which the magnificent ,spaniard ,hosius fully maintained the almost apostolic reverence that had long been given to his great age1 vast erudition1 and grand character2 and in which both the ,eusebii added to their former wide-spread reputation for learning1 piety1 and influence4 ,many other names1 before that time almost unknown beyond the local limits of their own churches and bishoprics1 became celebrated throughout ,christendom for various excellences or for striking characteristics4 ,only the sad-eyed and seemingly broken-hearted presbyter ,arius appeared to be indifferent to the course of business1 and silent during the discussion of questions upon which all knew he might have brought to bear an unequaled mass of erudition1 illumined by the strong light of genius1 if he had cared to do so4 ,gradually1 little by little1 no one knew how1 the conviction spread throughout the great assembly that the man ,arius was doomed1 and that there was no possibility of escape for him2 and day by day they were awaiting the institution of proceedings against him which would be the beginning of the end anticipated4 ,none knew whence this weird impression arose1 and few ever spoke of it3 for no man that ever ruled on earth knew better how to create or how to guide for his own purposes that intangible1 remorseless1 and murderous influence to which in later times we have applied the expression public opinion than did the wonderful ,emperor ,constantine1 ages before other statesmen recognized even the existence of such a force4 ,and through the more gifted agents1 lay and clerical1 who were devoted to him heart and soul1 the impression that the ,libyan must be condemned grew imperceptibly but unceasingly stronger4 ,without knowing why1 the enemies of the great presbyter became daily more self-confident and aggressive2 without knowing why1 the lukewarm and undecided souls that form a considerable segment of every large assembly1 insensibly withdrew themselves from his support1 and drifted more and more into the sentiment of his foes2 and1 without knowing why1 the few1 strong1 brave1 earnest men1 who decidedly clung to his opinions and unswervingly loved the man1 began to concentrate their forces and husband their resources for some desperate and decisive struggle which they instinctively felt to be approaching4 ,the ,libyan himself had long regarded his fate as decisively settled4 ,he had interpreted the ,apocalypse as referring to ,constantine1 and did not doubt either the temporary overthrow of ,christianity by the emperor1 or the fact that he would be involved in its ruin4 ,he looked without fear1 perhaps more with a feeling of curiosity than anything else1 for signs which might enable him to form a conjecture as to how long the kingdom of heaven might be banished out of the world3 its ultimate restoration and final triumph over human governments he never doubted2 but he would hardly have turned his hand1 or raised his head1 to avoid the death which he supposed ,constantine had determined to bring upon him4 ,if1 he said unto his intimate friends1 the emperor's council carry out his wishes1 ,i desire ye all to remember1 in the future1 that no ,christian council hath1 or hath ever attempted1 to exercise authority to put any man to death for heresy4 ,the only punishments the ,church hath ever imposed stop with the refusal to fellowship an unbeliever or a wrong-doer4 ,if ,constantine condemn me1 remember that he is not a bishop1 hath never even been baptized1 and hath no authority to decide upon what is or what is not heretical2 and the ,roman law hath never1 so far at least1 attempted to define what a ,christian may lawfully believe4 ,ye see1 therefore1 that the fact of my destruction illustrateth well the character of the council1 and showeth that even the magnificent spectacle of his resignation which he so well enacted can not convert ,constantine's meeting into a council of the ,christian ,church4 ,and ,i suppose that this will more plainly appear as the matter proceedeth further4 ,then answered the ,bishop of ,nicomedia1 saying3 ,brother1 if thou must perish for the cause of ,christ1 ,i perish also with thee4 ,i am an ,arian1 and shall claim the right to die with thee if any murder shall be done4 ,and ,i also6 said ,eusebius of ,caesarea4 ,and ,i also6 said ,maris of ,chalcedon2 and ,theognis of ,nicea2 and ,menophantes of ,ephesus2 and a score of other bishops1 each in his turn pressing the old presbyter's hand4 ,then said the presbyter3 ,if your resolution hold1 either the policy and craft of ,constantine will deny us a death so glorious1 or our martyrdom will of itself reinstate the kingdom of heaven in spite of the emperor4 ,let us rejoice1 then1 in hope of the triumph of the truth6 ,and having thus quietly but unflinchingly made a covenant that1 if the matter should be prosecuted to extremities against ,arius1 they would share his fate1 and thereby furnish to the whole body of ,christians throughout the world a most terrible and unanswerable protest against the council and the emperor1 these devoted men calmly awaited the beginning of the struggle which they knew to be steadily approaching1 although they were unable to determine from what quarter it would come4 ,,chapter ,,ix4 ,i ,,have ,,no ,,superior ,,but ,,christ4 ,when the council met one morning1 ,athanasius produced and laughingly read a song1 or hymn1 which had been written and set to music by the ,libyan1 for the use of uneducated ,christians at ,alexandria1 in order to enable them to memorize and keep in mind the doctrines of ,christianity as he had understood them4 ,this song was part of a little book entitled ,thalia1 or ,songs of ,joy1 which the presbyter had written for sailors and others who had no certain means of attending regular religious services1 and in it occurred the following expressions3 ,god was not always ,father2 once he was not ,father2 afterward he became ,father2 and his only-begotten is ,jesus ,christ our ,lord4 ,and thereupon ,marcellus1 ,bishop of ,ancyra1 moved the council to declare that this sentiment was heretical2 and that the man who wrote it should be expelled from the ,church of ,christ2 and ,arius and his friends perceived that the struggle for the destruction of the presbyter had begun4 ,for a while the council-hall was filled with clamorous and bitter denunciations of ,arius3 ,the heretic6 ,the atheist6 ,the defamer of ,christ6 ,the polytheist6 ,the pagan6 ,the ,libyan serpent6 ,the ram of ,baucalis6 and almost every other term of reproach which the vocabulary of ecclesiasticism could furnish1 were shouted throughout the hall by the partisans of ,constantine4 ,finally1 the clamor seemed to wear itself out1 and1 order having been partially restored1 ,potammon of ,hierapolis1 a confessor whom the pagans had left blind and lame1 straightened up himself and with great awkwardness and earnestness cried out3 ,brethren1 ,i was reared up in ,central ,africa1 and know nothing of philosophy1 but do try to serve the ,lord1 and to avoid all heresy and false doctrine4 ,i have often sung this song1 not knowing it was heresy1 with my people6 ,what is there wrong about the song1 then8 ,do any of you deny that ,jesus ,christ is the only-begotten ,son of ,god8 or that he is our ,lord and ,saviour8 or will some of you now pretend to believe that the ,son is older than the ,father8 ,what is wrong about the song8 ,to the same effect spoke many of the friends of ,arius2 and ,maris of ,chalcedon said3 ,the ,gospels uniformly call ,jesus ,christ the only-begotten ,son of the ,father1 and ,i have never believed it necessary or proper to go any further than the simple1 direct scriptural statement4 ,finally1 ,eusebius of ,nicomedia obtained a hearing1 and1 speaking calmly and soothingly1 he said3 ,brethren1 the song which ye have heard read seems to be merely a metrical composition formed to aid the memory of those who were unable to read and write1 and those who had no copy of the ,scriptures1 in keeping in mind certain scriptural phrases and doctrines2 and ,i could not be led to suspect a great and pious presbyter of heresy upon such a cause as that4 ,let us proceed1 then1 decently and in order2 and if ye would know truly what ,arius hath taught as religion1 call upon him to declare what he hath so taught4 ,this seemeth to me to be the only fair and honorable course1 worthy of a ,christian assembly1 if any one think there is cause to suppose that he hath taught anything contrary to ,scripture4 ,this reasonable counsel at once prevailed with the greater number1 and by a large vote they requested ,arius to declare his teachings4 ,thereupon the old heretic arose1 and in his strange1 peculiar1 fascinating tone and manner1 spoke as follows3 ,brethren1 ,i have never taught anything concerning our ,lord as religion1 except that which is expressly laid down in the ,scriptures2 to wit1 that ,jesus is the only-begotten ,son of ,god1 the ,saviour of the world4 ,i do not know anything1 and have never taught as articles of faith necessary to be believed1 anything except what is thus expressly and definitively stated in the ,gospels4 ,of course1 like every man who thinks at all1 ,i have meditated often and earnestly about the philosophy of the facts stated1 and have formed in my own mind certain speculations in relation thereto which are satisfactory to mine own understanding1 and ,i have not hesitated to declare these opinions in all proper times and places2 but ,i have never said1 at any time or place1 that these merely philosophical speculations upon the nature of ,deity were binding upon any man's conscience1 or that they should be taught and believed as the rule of any man's faith and practice2 because they have not been revealed or declared as such by the word of ,god4 ,if any man allege that ,i have done otherwise1 let him make the charge in writing and produce the proof1 as was the custom at every ,christian council in such cases that hath ever been held upon the motion of the bishops authorized to call a council1 as at ,jerusalem1 ,antioch1 ,rome1 in ,pontus1 ,gaul1 ,mesopotamia1 and ,ephesus4 ,the presbyter said no more1 but quietly resumed his seat1 and the calm1 grave1 and reasonable manner in which he had met and disposed of the vociferations which had assailed him1 in the opinion of nearly all1 left no course to be pursued with decency except to present written charges against him1 and offer proofs thereof4 ,but such a course did not by any means suit the purposes of those who were resolved upon his ruin2 and ,athanasius1 who at all times was able to command a respectful hearing at the hands of the assembly1 without seeming to notice the challenge thrown down by the ,libyan1 said in his own winning and seemingly respectful way3 ,hast thou not publicly and customarily1 in thy ,baucalis church1 in ,alexandria1 preached things that were contrary to the views of the ,bishop ,alexander--contrary to his interpretation of the ,scriptures1 for which he did order that thou be suspended from thy ministry2 and didst not thou pertinaciously refuse to obey his episcopal order1 and obstinately persevere in proclaiming thine abominable heresies8 ,wilt thou now deny this8 ,then with an effort to preserve his self-control that sent a strange shiver creeping over his gaunt and mighty frame1 the presbyter made answer3 ,it appeareth1 brethren1 that this gifted youth hath been taught to believe that it is heresy to differ in opinion with the learned and pious brother1 ,alexander6 ,it is very true that ,i and my brother ,alexander have somewhat differed in opinion1 but ,i am not advised that he hath any more authority to dictate my opinions than have ,i to dictate his2 and ,i am very certain that1 wherein the bishop hath differed with me1 he is in error4 ,but ,constantine cried out1 ,answer thou whether thou hast preached in spite of the order of suspension made against thee by thy superior6 ,and the old heretic arose again1 and answered3 ,i had supposed that the answer already made would be sufficient for any bishop1 but being commanded by an unbaptized emperor to answer yet further1 ,i have to say that ,i have no 'superior' but ,christ2 as for the order of brother ,alexander 'suspending' me from the exercise of the functions of a presbyter1 all the clergy here assembled well know that it is void4 ,the day hath not yet come when any one brother in the ,church can 'suspend' another4 ,i suppose that1 under the legal religion which is to replace the gospel of ,christ1 a bishop will have some such authority over a presbyter as a legionary hath over a centurion1 or a centurion over a soldier2 but we have not quite reached that condition6 ,as to the differences of opinion between myself and the brother ,alexander and others1 ,i will simply state that our good city of ,alexandria hath a population marvelously intellectual1 and greatly addicted to the study of philosophy4 ,hence it hath happened that many of the brethren1 and some even of the bishops and presbyters1 have added1 unconsciously perhaps1 to their faith in the facts set forth in the ,gospels certain philosophical notions intended for the explanation of these facts1 which notions they have derived from many teachers--chiefly from the great heathen ,plato1 and from his followers1 the neo-,platonists1 and from the school of ,philo the ,egyptian4 ,the learned and pious ,bishop ,alexander derived from some such source 7,i know not what7 certain philosophical views which seemed to deny utterly the separate existence of the ,son of ,god2 and which savored strongly of the heresy of ,sabellius that had been condemned by more than one ,christian council1 and which did tend directly to the subversion of the primitive ,christian communities1 and to the overthrow of 'the kingdom of heaven' which ,jesus did ordain1 and to the substitution therefor of some such ecclesiastical system as ,i am told the emperor hath established in the ,western ,empire1 in which the emperor1 not ,christ1 is head of the ,church1 and in which the law prescribes what a man may believe or not believe 7just as the pagan laws have always done71 instead of the ,scriptures4 ,so long as brother ,alexander held these erroneous opinions privately1 ,i meddled not with them2 but when he afterward saw proper to come and preach these heresies to mine own congregation1 ,i guarded my community against this pernicious philosophy2 for the ,gospels and the ,acts furnish the only authority concerning ,christ and faith in him2 and not the opinions of ,sabellius1 ,alexander1 ,hosius1 or ,constantine4 ,as for mine own philosophical opinions concerning ,deity1 ,i never learned them of ,plato1 nor of ,philo1 nor of ,sabellius1 but of the most wise and pious ,am-nem-hat1 who was for many years high-priest of the pagan temple at ,ombos1 holding there the same position which the ,emperor ,constantine as ,pontifex ,maximus hath so long held at ,rome2 but ,am-nem-hat was afterward a glorious ,christian1 and a holy martyr1 at our city of ,alexandria1 as many of you know4 ,but no man hath ever heard me claim that these philosophical opinions constituted any rule of faith or practice1 or were binding upon any man's conscience2 although ,i doubt not that the theological opinions of a most ancient and learned ,egyptian high-priest are entitled to as much respect as those of the flamen of ,jupiter1 at ,rome1 who is now the ,emperor ,constantine4 ,and again the old heretic resumed his seat1 having created a strong impression in his favor in the minds of all who were not committed to the task of destroying him1 although many of them trembled for his safety on hearing his bold and ingenious assault upon the emperor4 ,but ,marcellus1 ,bishop of ,ancyra1 sprang to his feet1 and in loud and threatening tones cried out3 ,o thou most insolent and abusive heretic1 darest thou to call the most ,christian emperor a pagan8 ,but ,maris1 ,bishop of ,chalcedon1 stretched forth his hand and answered3 ,the presbyter ,arius hath said that the great emperor is yet unbaptized1 and that he is1 by the law of the ,roman ,empire1 ,pontifex ,maximus1 and flamen of ,jupiter6 ,i understand that all this is true2 and1 if it be not true1 no man will more rejoice than ,i would to hear the emperor now declare that he hath been baptized into the faith of ,christ1 and that he is no longer high-priest of pagan ,rome4 ,the bishop sat down1 and every eye was at once turned upon ,constantine4 ,but the emperor neither spake nor moved2 and almost immediately his partisans began to cry out that ,arius should declare to the council what were those philosophical opinions to which he referred1 which thing they did to cover up the failure of the emperor to respond to ,maris the bishop2 and the friends of the ,libyan joined in the same cry1 because they did believe that the philosophy of ,arius would be found to be correct1 and not heretical4 ,and thereupon1 being pressed upon all sides at once1 the presbyter again arose and spoke in the following manner3 ,i suppose1 brethren1 that there hath never been any difficulty in the mind of any ,christian as to the simple declarations of the gospel concerning our ,lord2 and that the faith of all ,christians in the divinity of our common ,saviour is founded upon the gospel narrative4 ,the difficulties arise only when the mind passes on beyond the plain teachings of the gospel1 and attempts to comprehend how these things may be1 and to formulate for itself some creed upon the nature of the ,deity4 ,in this regard there have been maintained three great philosophical opinions1 as ye do know1 which may be very briefly stated as follows3 #a4 ,that the ,son of ,god must be a dependent and spontaneous being1 created from nothing by the will of the ,father1 by whom also all things were made4 #b4 ,that the ,son possessed all of the inherent1 incommunicable perfections which religion and philosophy appropriate to the supreme ,god4 ,so that there are in the ,godhead three distinct and infinite minds or substances1 three co-equal and co-eternal beings1 composing the divine essence1 three independent ,deities as to whom an effort is made to preserve the unity of the first cause by assuming the perpetual concord of their administration1 the essential agreement of their will2 and this ,i understand to be the philosophy of ,hosius1 ,alexander1 the emperor1 and others for whom ,athanasius is spokesman4 #c4 ,three beings who1 by the self-derived necessity of their existence1 possess divine attributes in perfect degree1 who are eternal in duration1 infinite in space1 intimately present to each other and to the universe2 and are yet one and the same being1 manifesting himself in different forms1 and considered in different aspects3 so that the ,trinity becomes a trinity of names and abstract manifestations existing only in the mind2 they are not persons at all1 but only attributes4 ,this is the heresy of ,sabellius1 which ,christian councils have condemned4 ,it differeth from ,athanasius in degree1 but not1 ,i think1 in kind4 ,not one of these three opinions satisfieth my mind and heart4 ,the martyr ,am-nem-hat taught me when ,i was a boy that the original faith1 which long ages ago preceded the polytheism of ,egypt1 ,assyria1 ,india1 ,china1 ,greece1 ,rome1 and all other heathen nations1 uniformly represented the one ,god to be a dual1 spiritual ,being1 and that the ,divine nature must be a ,triad1 or ,trinity1 completed by the birth of a son of this double-natured spiritual ,god4 ,in the gospels ,i read that ,christ is 'the only-begotten ,son of ,god'3 a ,father begets4 ,he was 'conceived' of the ,holy ,ghost3 a ,mother conceives4 ,he was 'born' of a virgin1 and for our salvation did live among men4 ,the same holy martyr called my attention to the fact1 which ,i have since carefully verified1 that while the ,scriptures in no place apply the word 'mother' to the ,holy ,ghost1 the words ',holy ,ghost' are used in them two hundred and twelve times1 and were uniformly in the ,greek neuter gender1 which affirmeth nothing as to sex4 ,he also showed me that ,moses called the one ,god by a name which is the plural number of a ,hebrew noun4 ,it hath1 therefore1 appeared to me to be true that1 as far as anything concerning ,deity can be expressed in human language1 the sacred use of the words ',father1' ',son1' ',holy ,ghost1' 'begotten1' 'conceived1' were intended to convey to our minds the idea that in some spiritual sense of sexhood the nature of ,deity is that in the likeness and image whereof man was created2 and signify a divine family1 so far as earthly things can typify spiritual truth4 ,hence1 as ,i did set forth in my letter to ,eusebius of ,nicomedia1 and to ,alexander of ,alexandria1 as the ,church knoweth1 ,i have always taught that the ,son is not unoriginate1 nor part of the unoriginate1 nor made of things previously existing2 but that by the will and purpose of ,god he was in being before time1 perfectly divine1 the only-begotten2 that before his generation he was not2 that we believe in one ,god alone without birth1 alone everlasting1 alone unoriginate4 ,we believe that ,god gave birth to the only-begotten ,son1 before eternal periods1 making the divine family a ,triad1 through whom he made these periods and all else that was made2 that he gave birth to the ,son1 not in semblance1 not in idea1 but in truth giving unto him a real existence2 and we have refused to profess faith in the teachings of ,bishop ,alexander1 that 'as ,god is eternal1 so is his ,son'2 'where the ,father1 there the ,son'2 'the ,son is present in ,god without birth'2 'ever-begotten'2 'an ,eternal ,god1 an ,eternal ,son'2 'the ,son is your ,god himself4' ,but ,i have never taught this philosophy as an article of faith1 binding upon the conscience of believers2 and have required of them to profess faith in nothing except what the gospels declare4 ,the philosophy of ,arius struck many as a novel thing4 ,to some of them it seemed to be a rational and beautiful solution of problems which they had pondered long and regarded as insoluble1 and had abandoned in despair4 ,to none of them did it seem to be at all tainted with heresy4 ,but ,athanasius had a definite end in view1 which closed his ears to any statement the presbyter might make1 although he waited courteously until ,arius had concluded his remarks1 and then exclaimed1 ,hast thou not taught that the ,son of ,god was created out of things not existing8 ,never1 said ,arius4 ,thou knowest ,i have taught that he was not 'created' at all1 but 'begotten'2 'conceived1' not made4 ,hast thou not taught that there was a time when the ,son was not8 ,nay1 verily6 ,the word 'time' is thine own1 not mine4 ,but ,i have said ',god was1 when he was not4' ,i have said that 'before he was begotten he was not4' ,else how could ,god beget him8 ,but this was in the beginning1 before 'time' was4 ,hast thou not taught that the ,father was superior to the ,son1 and the ,son inferior to the ,father8 ,nay1 verily6 ,i can not conceive of the words 'superior' and 'inferior' as applicable to the divine nature1 or family1 any more than ,i can conceive of thy word 'time' as applied to the divine existence4 ,if thou canst do so1 ,o ,athanasius1 thou or thy friends1 and furnish a definition of the ,trinity that does not deny the separate existence of the ,son2 nor imply identity of person in ,father1 ,son1 and ,holy ,ghost2 or which does not set up three distinct1 co-equal ,gods1 or which does not degrade the ,son to the condition of a created ,being1 made1 not begotten1 except the definition which ,i quoted from the philosophy of ,am-nem-hat the martyr1 and have adopted as mine own1 announce thou now1 or when thou wilt1 such a definition of the ,trinity1 and1 if ,i can at all comprehend it1 ,i will follow thee to death1 if need be1 in defense thereof3 for lo6 these many years have ,i sought for such a definition and found it not1 except in ,am-nem-hat's profound aphorism that the true and only idea of ,trinity subsisteth in family--,father1 ,mother1 ,son3 the ,father-,ghost1 and ,christ6 ,then answered ,athanasius3 ,verily ,i would not dare to utter a formula of faith upon so high a theme in any hasty or inconsiderate manner4 ,so for the present let that question rest1 and ,i doubt not that the learned bishops who defend the deity of ,christ will soon frame out of the ,scriptures a definition of the ,catholic faith which shall both satisfy all orthodox souls and bring thine own ,god-dishonoring heresies to light4 ,if it come out of the ,scriptures1 friend ,athanasius1 they must omit therefrom thy newly-coined word ',catholic1' for that word is not scriptural1 nor is the idea which thou signifiest by it therein4 ,the ,scriptures speak not of the ',catholic' ,church at all1 but of 'the common church1' 'the common faith1' 'the common salvation1' 'the common hope1' 'the common ,saviour'2 and thou well knowest that 'common' pertaineth only to the common or communal organization of ,christ's kingdom4 ,yet1 perhaps1 it is natural that one so young1 so beautiful1 so gifted as thou art1 should prefer the imperial and aristocratic designation which hath been recently adopted in the ,western ,empire1 and despise the plebeian1 scriptural name 'common' or 'communal4' ,for two ,christians might both belong to thy ',catholic' ,church1 while one of them might be a prince and the other a pauper2 but the two ,christians who belong to the primitive 'common' church must be brethren1 equal1 free1 fraternal2 and the difference1 friend ,athanasius1 between 'common' 7,greek3 koinos7 and 'catholic' 7,greek3 kata holos7 is just the difference between the ,christian ,church and that of ,constantine4 ,i know not what the martyrs would have said of it1 nor what the steadfast confessors here present may think of it2 but ,i prefer the ancient1 scriptural term 'common1' 'communal1' 'communistic' church of which ,jesus ,christ only is ,king1 and in which all men are brethren1 to the new ',catholic' establishment which has come in with our unbaptized emperor4 ,there was not a confessor present but what would have applauded these bold and truthful sentiments1 the force of which we can at this day with difficulty realize2 but ,constantine bit his lip to restrain a terrible oath1 and his face darkened ominously as he glared upon the audacious presbyter4 ,hosius1 ,marcellus1 ,alexander1 and others of the same party1 seemed to have been stricken dumb by the clear1 incisive1 fearless1 and uncompromising declarations of ,arius4 ,only ,athanasius seemed to preserve his marvelous self-possession1 and laughed musically1 while1 in order to distract attention from the dangerous question which the old heretic seemed determined to bring up at every possible turn of the discussion1 he cried aloud3 ,but hast thou not commonly taught that the ,father1 ,son1 and ,holy ,ghost are three1 and not one ,god1 and thereby made thy heresy assume the complexion of polytheism8 ,hast thou not done that8 ,i have taught1 answered ,arius1 and ,i think that the ,scriptures teach1 that the three are not one person1 but three persons2 and that the ,trinity is one family1 in likeness whereof man was created4 ,eve1 the first mother1 was not created out of things not existing1 but she proceeded out of the first man's side2 not above him1 not below him--equal with him1 bone of his bone1 flesh of his flesh2 and the first human son was born of them4 ,this to my mind in some way typifies the divine family1 except that the idea of creation applies not to it4 ,this ,i have stated as mine own conception of the matter1 not as an article of faith4 ,if thou knowest any better idea1 state it plainly1 ,i pray thee3 ,i am not yet too old to learn4 ,then said ,athanasius1 triumphantly1 ,i supposed1 indeed1 that ,god would presently lay bare thy heresy2 for thou dost deny the express words of ,scripture that these three are one2 and thus thou art convicted6 ,once more the dangerous light gleamed in the old man's somber eyes1 and that nervous twitching1 which his enemies likened to the wriggling of a serpent1 passed over him2 but he controlled himself wonderfully1 and calmly enough inquired3 ,what scripture1 then8 ,wilt thou read it2 or tell us in what place it may be found8 ,then said ,athanasius3 ,i read from the first letter of ,john as follows3 ',for there are three that bear record in heaven1 the ,father1 the ,word1 and the ,holy ,ghost3 and these three are one4 ,and there are three that bear witness in earth1 the spirit1 and the water1 and the blood3 and these three agree in one4' ,how1 then1 sayest thou that the ,father1 the ,word1 and the ,holy ,ghost are not one1 in the very teeth of the ,scriptures1 ,o thou subtle heretic8 ,the reading of this scripture produced a profound sensation in the council4 ,many turned to their copy of ,john's letter to read the words for themselves1 the greater number using the new and beautiful manuscripts which the munificent liberality of the emperor had caused to be transcribed and distributed among the bishops some time before2 but many also had ancient copies written in the uncial text4 ,but ,arius said unto ,athanasius1 ,wilt thou give to me thy book8 ,and ,athanasius sent it to him by one of the pages in attendance4 ,the grim old presbyter received the parchment1 and looked at it1 and handled it1 and turned it over and over in his hands with a strange1 sarcastic smile1 and then said in that peculiar1 sibilant tone which cut and tingled like a serpent's hiss3 ,i perceive1 brethren1 that this beautiful manuscript is one of those copies which hath been supplied to many bishops and presbyters by the zeal and benevolence of our most ,christian1 but unbaptized1 emperor2 and the book is beautifully written in the new1 running ,greek text which hath lately come into use4 ,i have but one objection to it1 brethren2 and the objection is1 that the words 'in heaven1 the ,father1 the ,word1 and the ,holy ,ghost3 and these three are one4 ,and there are three that bear witness in earth'--these words were never written by ,john1 but by some one else2 they have been added to the text within the last ten years6 ,and then the tall form reared itself to the full height of its gigantic stature2 the long1 thin right hand swayed to and fro with a strange rhythmic motion1 the huge1 rough1 noble head seemed to start forward upon the long1 bony neck1 as a cobra thrusts it forward2 the strange1 mesmeric light burned in the somber eyes1 and1 fastening his gaze full upon the emperor1 he cried out in tones that rang through every corner and crevice of the vast hall1 shrill1 incisive1 penetrating3 ,these words are forgeries--every one of them6 ,what ,john wrote was this3 ',for there are three that bear record1 the spirit1 the water1 and the blood3 and these three agree in one4' ,the effect was electrical4 ,many trembled for the bold and eloquent man whose words and manner seemed to charge upon the emperor himself the guilt of sacrilege in forging the sacred writings2 although1 perhaps1 none doubted that the words were forged4 ,but ,athanasius gazed upon him haughtily1 and demanded3 ,who art thou1 madman1 that dost so boldly assail the genuineness of a scripture that suiteth not with thy notorious heresy8 ,how knowest thou that the words were never written by ,john8 ,the presbyter's fierce excitement had almost immediately faded away1 and he quietly answered3 ,brethren1 ,i know that the words are forgeries1 because the rank ,sabellianism which they teach is contrary to ,john's spirit1 and would better suit the views of certain persons who desire to confound the ,son with the ,father in order to abolish the sovereignty of ,christ over his earthly kingdom by placing some one else in his rightful place4 ,secondly1 because ye can not find the words in any copy written in the uncial text1 before the recent1 running ,greek text came into common use4 ,ye have many uncial copies here3 see whether any of them contain the words4 ,thirdly1 because1 more than thirty years ago1 the learned martyr ,am-nem-hat1 in our city of ,alexandria1 had in his possession the original letter of ,john2 and1 with tremulous and mournful cadence that brought tears into the eyes of all who knew his history1 he continued3 ,am-nem-hat abode in the house of his great-grand-niece1 the holy1 the beautiful1 the martyred ,theckla4 ,this blessed virgin did carefully copy the letter upon vellum1 and sent it to ,antioch as a gift even unto me1 by the hands of ,bishop ,peter4 ,taking the book from a cedar box on the seat beside him1 he continued3 ,here is the copy of ,john's letter1 written by the hand of one martyr1 under the supervision of another1 and delivered by a third martyr unto me1 that am ready to follow them upon the glorious way whenever ,god so will6 ,search and see whether ye can find these forged words in this thrice-sacred book6 ,a moment of profound silence followed4 ,constantine1 ,athanasius1 ,hosius1 and all of their faction1 perceived that this assault also had not only failed1 but had left the powerful heretic in full possession of the field of battle2 and1 at a sign from the emperor1 the bishops immediately adjourned the council until the following day4 ,,chapter ,x4 ,,the ,,communion ,,of ,,the ,,saints4 ,as soon as the great council assembled on the following day1 ,eusebius of ,caesarea addressed them1 saying3 ,brethren1 the controversy concerning the nature of ,deity provoketh much uncharity1 and leadeth to no result4 ,i have1 therefore1 drawn up1 and now offer for your consideration1 a ,confession of ,faith1 which is no new form of doctrine1 but is the same which ,i learned in my childhood1 and during the time ,i was a catechumen1 and at the time ,i was baptized1 from my predecessors in the bishopric of ,nicomedia2 and the same which ,i have taught for many years while ,i was presbyter and bishop1 before this great dispute had arisen4 ,this confession hath been read and approved by the emperor1 the beloved of ,heaven1 and it seemeth to me to be the truth as nearly as divine things can be expressed in human language4 ,i have a hope1 therefore1 that it may be accepted by all as a sufficient declaration of our ,christian faith4 ,it is as follows3 ',i believe in one ,god1 the ,father ,almighty1 ,maker of all things both visible and invisible1 and in one ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 the ,word of ,god1 ,god of ,god1 ,light of ,light1 ,life of ,life1 the only-begotten ,son1 the first-born of every creature2 begotten of the ,father before all worlds1 by whom1 also1 all things were made2 who for our salvation was made flesh and lived among men1 and suffered1 and rose again on the third day1 and ascended to the ,father1 and shall come in glory to judge the quick and the dead4 ,and we believe in one ,holy ,ghost4 ,as also our ,lord1 sending forth his own disciples to preach1 said3 ',go and teach all nations1 baptizing them into the name of the ,father1 and of the ,son1 and of the ,holy ,ghost4' ,concerning which things we affirm that this is so1 and that we think so1 and that it hath long been so held2 and that we remain steadfast to death for this faith1 anathematizing every godless heresy2 that we have taught these things from our heart and soul1 from the time that we have known ourselves2 and that we now think and say them in truth1 we testify in the name of ,almighty ,god1 and of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 being able to prove even by demonstration1 and to persuade you that in past times also this we believed and preached4' ,this creed seemed to be acceptable to nearly all the members of the council1 and ,hosius said unto ,arius1 ,wilt thou subscribe this creed8 ,and the heretic answered3 ,certainly4 ,i can cheerfully subscribe to all that is contained in this confession of faith2 for ,eusebius hath only made a formal statement of what ,i have taught and believed1 and what the ancient ,church hath held from the beginning4 ,yet ,i like not the creed4 ,for the bishops all know that while never before did a council draw up any written confession of faith1 yet at every council the bishops did repeat and affirm the creed received from the apostles2 and the most important item therein1 next to the profession of faith in ,christ1 was this3 ',i believe in the communion of saints'2 by which the ,church constantly affirmed its faith in the divine wisdom of the communal organization of 'the kingdom of heaven4' ,ye have mutilated the confession by omitting this vital article in order to accommodate the faith to the imperial laws regarding war1 slavery1 and mammon-worship4 ,let the great article be restored to its proper place1 and ,i will subscribe the creed4 ,then there was a terrible clamor1 greater than all that had preceded it--the partisans of ,constantine boldly declaring that the day had gone by forever for maintaining the communal organization of the ,church2 that this primitive community of rights and property was only a temporary arrangement1 not designed to be permanent1 and had faded away2 and1 finally1 that the emperor would not permit the creed to contain an article which cut off not only the emperor and all his officers1 but also every 'rich man1' from admission to the ,church4 ,but those who were determined to maintain the apostolic organization which ,jesus himself had ordained were equally clamorous in shouting that to omit the article of communion of the saints was to adopt the ,roman law1 and betray the ,church into the hands of the enemies of ,jesus4 ,then ,constantine ordered in the imperial guards and commanded them to clear the hall1 and the bishops adjourned the council in the midst of an uproar in which the struggle was not always confined to words1 but some severe blows were given and received upon both sides4 ,the voice of the bishops adjourning the council had failed to designate any day or hour at which it should reassemble1 and for some days no session at all was held2 and during these days all the weight of the imperial authority was brought to bear upon the unhappy bishops to force them to adopt a creed omitting the article concerning the communion of saints which from the very days of ,jesus had been the sacred symbol of the social and political organization of the ,christian ,church4 ,constantine declared that bishops who made it a matter of conscience to do so might continue to teach and to preach it1 but that the article must be omitted from the creed2 and gradually all of them were brought over to the making of this kind of a compromise with their consciences4 ,when this result had been attained1 the bishops gave out that the council would be reassembled upon the following day4 ,on that evening1 ,constantine called unto him ,hosius1 ,alexander1 ,athanasius1 and others of his adherents1 and said unto them3 ,it is not expedient for me that ,arius1 or any other man1 should be condemned for refusing to subscribe a confession of faith that omits the article concerning community of the saints4 ,i wish that thing to be forgotten as soon as possible1 and that the condemnation of this man should be founded upon some other accusation4 ,i desire ye1 therefore1 to seek for some scriptural word or other which may not be repugnant to the majority of the council1 but which ,arius can not subscribe4 ,he is a man that would manifestly die and count it great gain rather than make even the slightest concession in any matter of conscience4 ,ye must1 therefore1 insert in the creed some word or phrase that he will not subscribe1 but to which the majority shall not make any strenuous objection4 ,it must not appear to the ,church that 'the communion of saints' hath caused trouble4 ,there is no such word or expression in any gospel1 answered ,hosius1 sententiously4 ,then ye must seek for it elsewhere1 said ,constantine4 ,the creed must contain some word which he will refuse to subscribe1 and it must appear that the controversy with him is concerning that word1 and not concerning the abandonment of the primitive ,church polity4 ,there is a word that hath lately come into use at ,alexandria1 said ,athanasius1 which ,i feel certain would prevent the presbyter from signing any creed that contains it1 but ,i do not think that either the ,latin language or the ,latin brain is delicate enough to grasp that peculiar signification of the ,greek expression which would make it repugnant to ,arius1 so that the ,western churchmen would not object to the use of it1 but it is not exactly a scriptural phrase4 ,what is the word8 asked the emperor4 ,it is the new compound1 'consubstantial' 7,greek3 homoousios71 which admitteth of an interpretation that would shock the fine ,egyptian thought of the presbyter1 but many might not be subtile enough to perceive it4 ,it suiteth well the majority of the bishops in the sense in which they understand it4 ,i do well remember the word1 said ,constantine4 ,for1 when ,i was upon the study of this controversy1 ,i first heard it2 and it occurreth either in some memoranda which ,i made of a conversation with ,eusebius1 or in a letter written unto him by his brother of ,nicomedia4 ,let me get those papers4 ,so saying1 the emperor opened a drawer in his bureau and took therefrom a bundle of manuscript1 and after a short examination he said3 ,here is the letter4 ,eusebius of ,nicomedia saith here that 'to assert the ,son of ,god to be of one substance with the ,father is a proposition evidently absurd4' ,the beautiful eyes of ,athanasius sparkled with delight1 and he cried out3 ,that is the very word and letter that we want6 ,it cometh1 like all good things1 from the emperor1 and is like an inspiration to our cause6 ,yea1 said ,hosius4 ,the majority will receive the word well--holding that it does not necessarily imply the identity of persons2 but will ,arius certainly reject it8 ,yea1 replied ,athanasius2 ,i have heard his comments on the word1 and ,i am certain that his stubborn1 inflexible spirit will not bend enough to make him subscribe a creed containing it4 ,press thou not the matter too vehemently1 arch-deacon1 said ,constantine1 lest thou drive many to support him4 ,be mild and persuasive1 for there is time enough4 ,so1 when the council had assembled on the following day1 ,athanasius said3 ,the learned and venerable ,bishops ,alexander and ,hosius1 and many others with them1 have carefully examined the form of the ,confession of ,faith offered by the learned ,bishop ,eusebius1 and they make no objection thereto3 but fear that it may leave open some advantages for entrance of heresy1 as is shown by this letter of ,eusebius of ,nicomedia1 wherein he declareth that to say that the ,son is consubstantial 7,greek3 homoousios7 with the ,father is absurd4 ,they therefore desire1 in order to cut off all heretical interpretation of the creed1 and vindicate the divinity of our ,lord1 to offer a creed containing the declaration that ,son and ,father are of one substance4 ,immediately there was a clamor of the ,arians against the use of the word2 but they1 and many who were undecided1 looked to ,arius for advice and direction1 and ,athanasius said1 ,the bishops desire to know whether the learned presbyter ,arius will subscribe the creed containing this word1 the bulwark against all heresy8 ,and ,arius arose1 and1 looking upon ,athanasius with a gentle smile1 said unto him3 ,i perceive that thy master ,constantine hath at last reached the fulfillment of his desires against the ,church and kingdom of my master ,christ4 ,brethren1 ,i have already declared to you that ,i would subscribe no confession of faith which omitted to set forth the article of the communion of saints2 and ,i perceive well that the insertion of this new ecclesiastical term is resorted to only in order to avoid making notorious the fact that the emperor hath commanded that the primitive organization of the ,church shall be abandoned4 ,as to this word 'consubstantial1' ,i have no objection to it in the only sense in which ,i can conscientiously use it1 as implying that the ,father and ,son 7like every other father and son7 are beings of the same nature2 yet ,i would not subscribe a creed containing this word1 because it is unscriptural4 ,in the sense in which it will come to be used hereafter 7if not1 indeed1 already71 it denies the separate existence of the ,son2 it will imply an almost physical adhesion of the persons of the ,divine ,family1 and the actual identity of ,father and ,son4 ,it hath before this time been used by incautious or heretical persons1 and hath already been condemned as heretical by councils which no prince or emperor controlled1 and whose voice was the free utterance of the unsecularized but persecuted ,church4 ,i will never subscribe a creed containing such a word2 and have never found it necessary to go outside of the ,scriptures to find words wherewith to define the ,christian faith4 ,and ,athanasius answered3 ,what if the word1 in the exact form of it1 is not in the ,scriptures8 ,surely its derivatives and compounds are found therein2 nor is it any more unscriptural than the songs of ,arius written in his book ',thalia4' ,what if it hath been used by heretics and condemned as heretical8 ,that was only because it hath been used in some heretical sense1 and not as we use it now4 ,what if the use of the word might be tortured into the support of ,sabellianism by some who wrest even the ,scriptures to their own destruction8 ,the rejection of it argues far more strongly in favor of polytheism--the ancient paganism from which the ,church hath so long suffered2 and the word must be used1 because it is the only safeguard against the very heresy of which ,arius hath been suspected or accused4 ,and the question was long debated by others1 and the council adjourned2 but there were not many that stood out firmly against the use of this celebrated word4 ,at the next meeting of the council1 ,hosius of ,cordova announced that1 following the sentiments of the great majority1 they had prepared another declaration of the faith1 upon which he hoped all might agree2 and thereupon the same was read3 ,we believe in one ,god1 the ,father ,almighty1 ,maker of all things1 both visible and invisible4 ,and in one ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 the ,son of ,god1 begotten of the ,father1 only begotten1 that is to say1 of the substance of the ,father1 ,god of ,god1 ,light of ,light1 very ,god of very ,god1 begotten1 not made1 being of one substance with the ,father1 by whom all things were made1 both things in heaven and things in earth2 who for us men and for our salvation came down and was made man1 suffered1 and rose again on the third day2 went up into the heavens1 and is to come again to judge the quick and the dead4 ,and in the ,holy ,ghost4 ,but those who say1 ',there was when he was not1' and ',before he was begotten he was not1' and that ',he came into existence from what was not1' or who profess that the ,son of ,god is a different 'person' or 'substance1' or that he is created1 or changeable1 or variable1 are anathematized by the ,catholic ,church4 ,a great many members refused to sign the creed1 and especially the anathema with which it concluded2 because they thought that the presbyter ,arius1 at whom it was aimed1 neither taught nor held the views thereby imputed to him4 ,eusebius of ,caesarea asked for time to consider the matter1 and to consult with the emperor who had imposed it upon them--a course which others also followed4 ,constantine professed to believe that this last creed was delivered by an inspiration of the bishops directly given from heaven2 and he at once issued a decree of banishment against all who might refuse to subscribe to it4 ,he denounced ,arius and his disciples as impious1 and ordered that he and his books should follow the fate of the pagan ,porphyry2 and that he and his school should be called ,porphyrians1 and his books burned under penalty of death to any one who perused them4 ,but he gave them time to reflect upon the matter2 and on the next day many stood resolved not to sign1 notwithstanding the terrible threats of the emperor4 ,in this state of fear and perplexity1 when no man knew to what extremities his brutal threats to extort their compliance might be carried1 and when a moody silence1 born of their terror and distress1 had settled upon the council1 to the surprise of all1 ,arius the ,libyan arose and addressed them as follows3 ,brethren1 ,i am well persuaded that no other opportunity will ever be given unto me to address any assembly of ,christians2 being persuaded that the condemnation denounced against me ariseth not from any mistaken zeal on the part of the unbaptized emperor concerning religion1 but only from a political necessity that springeth from his godless and insatiable thirst for universal and unhindered power2 for verily ,i think he knoweth little1 and careth less1 for any confession of faith1 except as it affecteth his imperial ambition4 ,as a man1 therefore1 already doomed1 and soon1 perhaps1 to die1 ,i desire to stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance concerning the primitive ,church1 which now fadeth out of the world1 as it hath already faded out of the ,western ,empire4 ,brethren1 centuries ago1 the great ,greek philosopher1 ,plato1 in his ',republic1' did declare that 'any ordinary city is in fact two cities1 one the city of the rich1 the other that of the poor1 at war with one another'2 and this statement is verily true everywhere on earth4 ,for the religion of mankind hath been1 in some shape1 the worship of mammon1 and the warfare1 of which ,plato speaketh1 a warfare for property--for property in offices1 prerogatives1 lands1 houses1 wealth1 slaves1 and every shape that property can take4 ,ye know that the law was a schoolmaster to lead us to ,christ2 and that1 to prevent the universal and hopeless oppression of the poor1 ,god by ,moses did ordain the statute of the year of jubilee1 and the statute of the seventh year2 and ye know that the prophet ,isaiah did make these statutes1 which secured a certain blessing for the poor every 'seventh year' and every 'fiftieth year1' typical of the continuous state of believers1 in the kingdom of heaven1 declaring it to be the gospel preached to the poor2 and ye know that our ,lord did solemnly declare that this prophecy was fulfilled in him1 wherefore the wealthy and aristocratic ,scribes and ,pharisees1 who were 'covetous1' persecuted him even unto death2 even as the ruling classes at ,rome1 and throughout the world1 have done until the triumph of ,constantine over ,maxentius at the ,milvian ,bridge4 ,ye know that our ,lord set up a kingdom that was good news1 a gospel1 to the poor of the earth1 because its purpose and effect were to abolish war1 slavery1 polygamy1 and all unjust distinctions between men and classes of men1 based upon the idolatry of mammon4 ,ye know that all of these parables were spoken with reference to this kingdom in which communion of saints1 partnership of all believers1 should secure liberty1 equality1 fraternity1 for all ,christians4 ,ye know that1 while the apostles remained on earth1 the believers had all things common1 except wives and children1 disowned all government except that of ,jesus1 obeyed all laws for the sake of peace except such as conflicted with conscience1 and so builded up the ,christian communes that governed themselves by the laws of ,christ alone1 inflicting no temporal punishment except that they refused to fellowship the obdurately wicked4 ,ye know that they commonly wrought miracles to prove the divinity of ,jesus and the right of the ,church to preach and to teach in his name4 ,we learn from ,philo the ,egyptian1 and from many others1 that 'those who entered upon the ,christian life divested themselves of their property1 and gave it to those legally entitled thereto or to the common ,church1' and that 'the disciples of that time1 animated by more ardent love of the divine word1 first fulfilled the ,saviour's precept by distributing their substance to the needy2 and that the ,holy ,spirit wrought many wonders through them1 so that1 as soon as the gospel was heard1 men voluntarily and in crowds eagerly embraced the true faith4' ,ye know that three bishops were ordained by the apostles1 even ,lucius1 ,evodius1 and ,polycarp1 all of whom consecrated their property to the common ,church1 as did the apostolical fathers ,clemens1 ,ignatius1 ,barnabas1 ,hermas1 as also did ,paulinas1 ,cyprian1 ,hilary1 and countless other well-known and notable ,christians2 and ye know that such were the law and the practice of the ,church until very recent times6 ,ye know that thaumaturgy remained with the ,church until this divine ordinance was neglected4 ,ye know1 brethren1 that there were no slaves1 no war1 no rich1 no poor1 no kings1 no rulers1 in the kingdom of our ,lord1 but liberty1 fraternity1 equality for all2 and that war1 slavery1 mammon-worship1 which had ever been the curse of human life1 were abolished by the gospel of ,christ4 ,brethren1 already in the ,western ,empire 7and from this day in the ,east7 all this is changed4 ',the kingdom of heaven' is utterly subverted4 ,even the bishops came hither with slaves2 many of you are 'rich men1' that could not enter into the kingdom of heaven4 ,the ,church conformeth in all things to the imperial laws3 for that man ,constantine hath such unbounded ambition and unbelief that he suffereth not the ,church of ,christ to exist in the world1 and hath so founded the ,church of ,constantine1 subverting all of ,christianity except its spiritual truth4 ,but ye can plainly see what things shall come to pass4 ,that man whom ye love because it hath suited the purposes of his atheistic ambition to protect the ,church against other tyrants1 hath established an imperial legal religion for the world1 and declares that he will persecute all who conform not thereto4 ,so did the ,scribes and ,pharisees2 so did ,tiberius ,caesar1 ,nero1 ,diocletian1 and the rest of his predecessors2 but so ,jesus and his apostles never did4 ,i know not whether that man who doeth these things1 and hath begun to found his capital1 called by his own name of blasphemy1 upon seven hills above the sea1 be he of whom ,john in the ,apocalypse did speak1 but he suiteth well in many respects with what ,john did prophesy4 ,hear me yet a little further4 ,ye will all1 or nearly all1 subscribe this creed6 ,ye will be forced so to do6 ,for the ,holy ,spirit cometh upon no council of an earthly emperor1 but only of ,christ's ,church4 ,henceforth1 therefore1 thaumaturgy shall be lost unto the ,church6 ,henceforth1 therefore1 ,christianity shall be a human institution6 ,and the faith of ,christians will be first one thing1 then another1 as successive emperors may determine to be best4 ,those who now are orthodox will be proscribed as heretics1 and those who now are heretics will be called orthodox2 and ,christian emperors will seek to exterminate ,christian heretics with fire and sword throughout the world4 ,for the millions of ,armenia1 and many more throughout ,egypt1 ,syria1 and ,africa1 and the whole nation of the ,goths1 are as ,i am--what ye call ,arian4 ,so is the brave1 the successful1 the popular ,crispus ,caesar4 ,so is ,ulfilas1 whom ,constantine calleth the ,moses of the ,goths1 whom he now proposes to ordain a bishop over the people whom he converted1 and upon whom ,constantine made war to force them to accommodate their religion to imperial law4 ,so is ,constantia1 the sister of the emperor1 the widow of ,licinius2 and so is the young ,licinius1 her son1 and others perhaps of the same imperial family1 concerning whom ,i do not know4 ,see ye not that when ,constantine shall die1 and his sons shall succeed to empire1 the faith of ,christ which is now condemned shall be established by the imperial law as true8--,and even thou1 ,athanasius1 next ,bishop of ,alexandria1 mayst find thyself a fugitive from thine episcopal palace 7which the emperor shall give unto thee71 a vagabond upon the friendless earth1 a martyr for1 or a renegade from1 what thou now maintainest to be true6 ,brethren1 ,i go hence to death1 or banishment1 or both4 ,i care not for it4 ,for ,i live in the steadfast faith and hope that1 although the kingdom of heaven be now subverted by the man of sin1 yet again some time1 somehow1 somewhere1 it shall be re-established upon the foundation of faith and communism which our ,lord did lay1 and shall prevail2 and war1 slavery1 and mammon-worship1 shall all cease to curse the world2 for all people that love liberty and hate tyrants shall be ,arians1 and mankind shall yet realize the promise of our ,lord which he confirmed by his life1 by his miracles and parables1 and by his death and resurrection1 of universal liberty1 equality1 and fraternity4 ,brethren1 farewell6 and the peace of ,god be with you6 ,then the gaunt1 sad1 immovable1 and irreconcilable heretic walked calmly out of the hall4 ,during the utterance of this terrible oration1 many seemed awed by the solemn grandeur and prophetic earnestness of the speaker2 many were terrified at his fearless denunciation of the plans1 atheism1 and hypocrisy of the emperor2 and some secretly rejoiced because they supposed that his boldness irrevocably sealed his doom4 ,constantine himself1 convulsed with suppressed wrath1 grew pale with passion1 and bit his lips to restrain some indiscreet expression of his jealousy1 doubt1 and fear1 as ,arius declared the numbers and strength of the ,arian party in ,armenia1 ,egypt1 ,syria1 and among the ,goths1 and eulogized the gallant ,crispus ,caesar1 his popular and splendid son4 ,,chapter ,,xi4 ,,one ,,jot ,,that ,,passed ,,from ,,the ,,law4 ,on that very night the grand1 lonely1 immovable presbyter disappeared1 and in that council was seen no more4 ,but the next day came the emperor's sister ,constantia1 the widow of ,licinius1 and ,licinius1 her son1 and ,crispus ,caesar1 the eldest son of ,constantine1 born of his first wife ,minervina1 and the emperor's mother1 ,helena1 and all1 casting themselves at the feet of ,constantine1 with tears and supplications besought him that the great1 learned1 and holy ,arius might not be put to death4 ,and they so vehemently urged this petition that ,constantine finally seemed to give way thereto1 and promised1 confirming his promise with an awful oath1 that he would spare the life of the presbyter4 ,in truth1 he supposed that to execute ,arius would be impolitic1 because it would forever alienate a very large number of his subjects1 and he wished to avoid it1 and also to win praises for his clemency4 ,he therefore ordered that ,arius be banished to1 and closely guarded in1 a strong fortress in the wildest portion of ,illyricum1 until1 in the opinion of the emperor1 the ,arians of ,armenia1 ,egypt1 and ,syria1 and the ,goths1 might have become reconciled unto the creed of ,nicea4 ,crispus ,caesar boldly declared that he indorsed the opinions of ,arius1 and regarded the great heretic with larger love and reverence than any other man had ever gained from him2 and the emperor heard this declaration with gloom and hatred1 but in ominous silence4 ,and one by one1 under the influence of the threats of ,constantine1 who still held the bishops together1 determined to extort the unanimous consent of all to the acts of the council1 under the specious and continuous arguments and forced interpretations of the creed1 used by his partisans both lay and clerical1 and under the benumbing and stupefying effects of protracted weariness and hopelessness all of them finally subscribed the creed1 except ,arius and six others--,eusebius of ,caesarea1 ,eusebius of ,nicomedia1 ,theonas1 ,bishop of ,marmarica1 ,secundus1 ,bishop of ,theuchira1 ,euzoius the deacon1 ,achillas the reader1 and ,saras1 a presbyter--against all of whom the emperor made a decree of perpetual banishment1 but gave not orders for the enforcement thereof4 ,he was not satisfied2 especially he was dissatisfied because he was unable to extort the signatures of the ,eusebii2 and he still waited1 determined in some way to obtain these signatures4 ,finally1 he caused ,eusebius of ,caesarea to be brought before him1 and1 assuming an air of great friendliness and concern toward him1 he said3 ,dear bishop1 ,i did tell thee long ago that our differences about the ,arian heresy must never be a cause of quarrel between thee and me4 ,i wish to know what difficulty thou hast 7and thy brother7 in subscribing the creed8 ,and ,eusebius answered3 ,the difficulty truly is not a very large one2 it is just the size and shape of an 'iota' of the ,greek alphabet4 ,if it is as insignificant as that1 answered the emperor1 let us quietly remove it and be friends again4 ,tell me1 therefore1 what thou dost mean4 ,hast thou here the creed8 asked ,eusebius4 ,constantine handed the parchment to him1 and ,eusebius said3 ,this word ,greek3 homoousios is one which ,arius condemneth as implying the identity of ,father and ,son1 and my conscience suffereth not me to sign it2 but the word ,greek3 homoiousios1 which differeth therefrom only by the one small ,greek3 iota therein1 expresses exactly what ,i believe1 that ,father and ,son are of like divine nature4 ,and wouldst thou sign it if this letter had been written therein8 and thy brother8 and the others who are sentenced to banishment8 ,assuredly6 ,it shall never be said1 laughed ,constantine1 that ,i have lost my friend and bishop for such a trifle6 ,then he pointed out the fact that a small ,greek3 i had been dexterously inserted between ,greek3 homo and ,greek3 ousios in both the places where the word occurred in the creed1 making it the ,arian ,greek3 homoiousios1 instead of the ,trinitarian ,greek3 homoousios4 ,now1 bishop1 give me thy signature1 and communicate this arrangement confidentially unto the others1 and let them come and sign also1 that the creed may be unanimously signed1 and all of these unseemly dissensions banished out of the established ,church4 ,the bishop laughed lightly1 but signed the confession of faith1 and not long afterward all the others did so1 except ,arius1 who was already far upon the road to the heart of ,illyricum4 ,constantine had now completed his long-cherished design of subverting the social and political organization of the primitive ,church1 and establishing a state religion1 of which he might be the head in place of ,jesus ,christ1 in whose name he founded a system that was in open rebellion against the ,saviour's whole life and teachings4 ,it remained only for him to have the action of the ,o,ecumenical ,council confirmed by some miraculous circumstances1 and the imperial ingenuity was fully equal to the occasion2 for two members of the council had died at ,nicea during its protracted session1 and were buried in the church3 ,with a grand and ostentatious procession by torch-light1 the sacred roll of parchment was taken to their tomb and left there through the night1 the emperor himself having prayed publicly that1 if the departed bishops approved the action of the council1 they might in some way signify their assent to the decrees and creed thereof2 and early the next morning the signatures of the dead bishops were found upon the parchment6 ,their endorsement was unequivocal3 ,we1 ,chrysanthus and ,mysonius1 fully concurring with the first ,holy and ,o,ecumenical ,synod1 although removed from earth1 have signed the volume with our own hands4 ,still1 the emperor did not dissolve the assembly1 and1 in order to gain over the personal affection even of those who had most stubbornly resisted his sacrilegious domination of the council1 he provided a magnificent banquet for the members thereof1 and lavished upon them every mark of love and honor4 ,he lodged the one-eyed1 hamstrung old ,paphnutius in his own palace1 and often sent for him to hear the story of his persecutions2 and now it was remarked how he would throw his arms round the old man1 and put his lips to his eyeless socket as if to suck out with his reverential kiss the blessing which1 as it were1 lurked in the sacred cavity1 and stroked down with his imperial hand the frightful wound2 how he pressed his legs and arms1 and the royal purple1 to the paralyzed limbs1 and put his own eyeball into the socket4 ,and1 because those maimed and tortured members of the council who had been confessors enjoyed the reputation of especial sanctity and honor throughout the ,church1 ,constantine used the same disgusting demagogy in his dealings with them all1 and fawned upon and flattered them in the name of ,jesus1 until he believed he had stolen for himself their influence in aiding him to eradicate primitive ,christianity out of the ,east1 as he had already done in the ,west1 and so banishing the kingdom of heaven from the face of the earth2 and so nourishing in the very bosom of the ,church1 maintained and governed by imperial authority1 the ancient crimes of war1 slavery1 and mammon-worship1 perpetuating the bondage of the people unto the ruling classes1 and giving the sanction of religion to class distinctions between men and families1 based upon this idolatry1 which had been always the curse of human life4 ,and for a whole year ,constantine pursued his purpose quietly1 unceasingly1 intelligently1 by the use of a thousand different means and agencies1 to reduce the ,east to a condition of ecclesiastical serfdom to his authority1 and to confirm1 popularize1 and consolidate his power4 ,but the slow1 doubtful1 hesitating adoption of the imperial church by the ,christians of ,armenia1 and to a less degree by those of ,syria1 ,egypt1 and the ,gothic provinces along the ,danube1 to whom he had sent back their teacher ,ulfilas after ordaining him to be a royal bishop1 inspired the emperor with misgivings of the future1 and with an almost unreasoning jealousy and hatred of ,crispus ,caesar1 his son1 who was the favorite of all those regions1 and of ,licinius1 who represented the family of the legitimate sovereign thereof1 whom ,constantine had dethroned and destroyed4 ,and the next year the emperor went to ,rome to celebrate the ,ides of ,quintilis1 the anniversary of the battle of ,lake ,regillus1 in which1 according to the chronicles of pagan ,rome1 the twin-gods ,castor and ,pollux had fought in defense of the ,eternal ,city1 and brought thereto the welcome news of victory4 ,it was esteemed to be the most sacred ceremony known to the ,roman people4 ,during the grand festival1 ,constantine1 believing that after the ,council of ,nicea his own ecclesiastical system was so powerful and so securely established that he need not longer patronize the heathen1 refused to take his proper place in the ancient ritual appropriate to the occasion1 and even exhibited his contempt for the empty pageantry of a legion of knights passing in solemn procession1 by commenting upon their appearance with that caustic1 epigrammatic wit of which few men were more thoroughly master4 ,that large portion of the ,romans who yet openly adhered to the ancient religion were insulted and furious at the conduct of the emperor1 and there was a fierce riot in the streets1 during which stones were hurled at the statues of the emperor1 and attempts made to overthrow them4 ,his wife ,fausta1 the daughter of the fierce old emperor ,maximian1 inherited much of her father's cruel nature and imperious ambition4 ,she and ,constantine had three sons--,constantine1 ,constantius1 and ,constans4 ,she had always envied ,crispus ,caesar the superiority which his primogenial rights gave to him as the first-born of ,constantine over her own sons1 and especially had her jealousy been inflamed by the splendid reputation which young ,caesar had gained by the skill and courage wherewith he had defeated the vastly superior navy of ,licinius in the straits of the ,hellespont4 ,next to the great emperor himself stood ,crispus ,caesar1 not only in official station1 but in the love and admiration of the world2 and her own sons occupied a far less conspicuous position1 which was rendered more galling to her pride by the very prominence derived from the fact that they also were the sons of the emperor4 ,fausta had remarked with secret joy the open aid and friendship showed by ,crispus ,caesar for ,arius1 which fact had aroused the suspicions1 as much as the victory of ,crispus had excited the jealousy1 of the emperor4 ,she failed not1 also1 to perceive that the devotion of ,constantia1 the widow of ,licinius1 and of the ,empress ,helena1 ,constantine's mother1 to this same ,arius1 had created a common interest and friendship between ,caesar1 ,helena1 and ,constantia1 while ,eusebius of ,nicomedia was the trusted friend and adviser of all of them1 and the tutor of young ,licinius4 ,fausta herself1 the daughter of a pagan and the wife of an atheist1 was as nearly devoid of religious sentiment as it was ever possible for a woman to become2 and1 like her husband1 thought that all faith is only superstition1 which may be advantageously used by a wise ruler for the government of men2 and understanding better than any one else that ,constantine regarded the free ,arian spirit as the most dangerous element in the political future of the empire1 she had cunningly employed every artifice and innuendo that could tend to inflame his personal hatred of these religious dissenters4 ,she affected to regard the riot in the streets of ,rome as arising from the machinations of the ,arian recusants4 ,knowing that ,constantine had only once visited ,rome since the overthrow of ,maxentius1 and that he disliked the place1 she pretended to desire that he should fix his imperial residence at ,rome1 on the ground that ,milan was inconveniently situated1 and that both ,nicomedia and ,constantinople1 being in the midst of vast ,arian communities1 were unsafe for him4 ,she thought that the rioting in ,rome gave her the opportunity to take some decisive step in accomplishing her long-cherished designs1 and began more vehemently to press her insidious suggestions upon the gloomy soul of the atheist whom she knew to worship only himself4 ,if the stone wherewith these ,arian strangers who are in the city marred the head of thy statue on the ,via ,sacra had smitten thee1 thou wouldst have been slain at once4 ,but1 said the emperor1 dryly1 passing his hand over his forehead1 ,i feel not the slightest pain from the blow4 ,the undirected mob is powerless against thee1 she said2 but this infamous act is but the unguarded expression of a sentiment common to the millions of ,armenia1 and to large numbers of the ,egyptians and ,syrians1 and to nearly all of the ,goths4 ,what hath caused thee so much uneasiness from such a trifle as the throwing of a stone or two8 ,the royal blood should despise such visionary fears4 ,but the guardsman1 ,pilus1 who hath lately come from ,illyricum1 informeth me that in the garrison it is commonly reported that the heretic ,arius saith that1 if ,christians could lawfully bear arms1 the ,arians of ,armenia and the ,goths alone could seat ,licinius upon the throne of his father1 and ,crispus ,caesar upon thine4 ,but neither ,licinius1 nor ,crispus1 nor the ,arians1 cherish any such treasonable designs1 said ,constantine4 ,i fear lest thou art lulled into a false security4 ,ever anxious for thy safety and for thy glory1 ,i have consulted auguries and oracles1 and1 although these things have no great weight with thee or with me as matters of religious faith1 the oracles were always valuable portents to show the drift of popular opinion and desire2 and no great statesman can afford to despise them1 for that which the multitude long after doth sooner or later come to pass2 and all the divinations portend calamity to thee and thy house from the ,arians4 ,but ,licinius is a boy1 and ,crispus ,caesar is quiet1 modest1 temperate1 and unostentatious4 ,he hath neither vices nor ambitions that require him to aspire higher than he already standeth4 ,thou wouldst rather cease to be than cease to rule the empire4 ,dominion is the dominant passion of thy lofty soul4 ,it is the marked characteristic of thy race4 ,there are other men mastered by similar ambition4 ,the quiet1 orderly life of ,caesar may blind the eyes of mankind to an ambition that would hesitate at nothing4 ,thy father was such a temperate youth that he sacrificed all common lusts and appetites to win the sovereignty of ,rome1 and he would not have been contented long with that if he had lived4 ,thou didst inherit his nature with his military genius1 and thou hast lived moderately in order to gain the sovereignty of the world4 ,crispus hath inherited from thee the great abilities which enabled him to triumph on the ,hellespont and share thy glory1 or rather take to himself the greater share4 ,he would not forego the pleasures of youth and the advantages of his great position unless he were constantly meditating upon some great design4 ,look to thyself1 ,augustus4 ,such insidious counsels she constantly offered to the jealous and cruel emperor1 and they bore a deadly fruit4 ,suddenly the gallant young ,caesar was seized1 transported to the gloomy fortress of ,pola1 imprisoned1 and then murdered1 by order of the most ,christian ,emperor ,constantine1 the favorite of ,god1 the defender of the faith1 his father6 ,almost immediately the young ,licinius was snatched from the arms of his mother1 and put to death by the order of his uncle1 ,constantine1 the first ,christian ,emperor of ,rome4 ,i have fortified my throne against all danger from ,crispus ,caesar and the ,arians1 said ,constantine unto himself4 ,the road to royal favor and to future power is opened for my splendid brood of ,caesars1 murmured ,fausta under her breath4 ,the ,empress ,fausta hath plotted against and murdered my gallant son ,crispus1 and my grandson ,licinius1 whom ,i loved4 ,i will be revenged upon the cruel murderess or die6 was the unuttered comment of the ,empress-mother ,helena2 and from that hour1 with the slow1 settled1 and deliberate hatred of old age and hopeless sorrow1 she sought for the life of ,fausta4 ,the world held its breath in horror at these fearful crimes1 and hardly did the historians of that age dare to commit any account thereof unto posterity4 ,but it was impossible for the officers of the ,illyrian fortress1 where ,arius was imprisoned1 to speak of such atrocities without some knowledge thereof coming to their quiet1 intelligent prisoner4 ,when he heard of the assassination of ,crispus ,caesar and of ,licinius1 the only comment made by the stern1 inflexible1 incorruptible old heretic was this3 ,a council of ,christ's ,church ought not to be oecumenical and barren2 and the first one already beareth terrible but legitimate fruits4 ,the empress-mother1 old ,helena1 continually and skillfully directed the suspicions of her dark-souled1 bloody son against the ,empress ,fausta herself2 and1 when she had prepared her vengeance so that she thought it could not fail1 she accused ,fausta of infidelity to the emperor1 with that same ,pilus1 of the imperial guardsmen4 ,many craftily prepared circumstances corroborated the infamous and degrading accusation1 and quickly and secretly the emperor put his wife to death4 ,small recompense for my great wrong1 murmured ,helena1 but all that ,i can take2 for the woman's beautiful sons are also mine own grandchildren4 ,i have no friend on earth1 mused ,constantine1 except my mother and ,eusebius of ,caesarea4 ,when the gloomy old prisoner of the ,illyrian fortress heard of the murder of ,fausta1 upon this disgraceful charge of adultery with a guardsman1 he said3 ,the grand name of ,constantine is soaked with domestic blood and draggled in domestic filth4 ,the royal oecumenical council beareth such strange and deadly fruit4 ,the officers of the fortress were held to be accountable with their lives for the heretic's safe-keeping1 and vigilant spies reported to ,constantine almost every word he uttered1 and stole and transmitted to the emperor almost every line he wrote1 and the old man's gloomy comments upon the condition of the ,church1 and his strange and seemingly inspired interpretations of prophecy1 which he supposed to relate to ,constantine and his new city of ,constantinople1 built upon seven hills1 above the narrow straits whereto the commerce of the world resorted1 doubtless aided ,fausta's and ,helena's conspiracies to lead him into the commission of those horrible crimes which shocked the moral sense of the world1 and justified the pagans in breathless wonder as to what new atrocities would follow the legal establishment of the ,christian faith--atrocities that perhaps afterward drove ,julian the ,apostate to struggle for the restoration of paganism4 ,and doubtless ,arius himself would long ago have perished1 if the emperor had not hoped to obtain from his manuscripts and prophecies warning of every coming danger4 ,,chapter ,,xii4 ,,an ,,imperial ,,repentance4 ,but1 although these secret horrors1 which degraded the noblest family of the empire1 were kept as still as private crimes1 and men dared scarcely speak of them except in terrified whispers1 the knowledge thereof spread abroad1 until enough was known to fill the ,christian world with detestation of the emperor2 and he whose governing passion had been to rule mankind1 and to command their respect and reverence at any cost1 found himself to be held by the popular verdict as an outcast from virtue and decency4 ,his iron soul was proof against every shaft except this1 but the wound it inflicted upon his boundless self-love was bitter and incurable4 ,realizing that he had outraged the moral sentiment of ,christendom by these atrocious crimes1 the emperor determined to overthrow what he called ,christianity1 and re-establish the pagan religion1 charging his crimes to the blinding influences of the superstition and strong magic of the ,church1 and thereby win for himself the love and confidence of that large portion of his subjects who still adhered to the ancient idolatries4 ,in pursuance of this design1 ,constantine applied to the flamens at ,rome for purification from his domestic crimes1 as the first step toward the rehabilitation of his moral nakedness and deformity2 but the priests1 who knew his crafty1 unscrupulous1 cruel1 and atheistic nature1 and who already had in training the young and gifted ,julian1 seized this opportunity to gratify their theological hate1 by boldly declaring that the ancient rituals of paganism did not know any form of expiation for such fearful and unnecessary crimes as his4 ,then ,constantine turned away forever from heathenism1 and sent for ,hosius1 ,bishop of ,cordova1 who assured him that in ,christianity all sin1 however great1 may find forgiveness3 for ,he saveth unto the uttermost all that come unto ,god by him4 ,and what method must ,i use to secure this forgiveness8 asked the emperor4 ,only true repentance toward ,god1 and humble1 sincere faith in ,jesus ,christ1 said the bishop4 ,then1 with a singular smile1 ,constantine looked at the bishop and answered3 ,bishop1 thou dost forget that thou art not now talking to a woman taken in adultery1 nor to a thief upon the cross4 ,farewell6 ,and with a wave of the hand the emperor contemptuously dismissed him4 ,but ,constantine could not endure the popular detestation of which he knew himself to be justly the object1 and as a last resort he sent for ,eusebius of ,caesarea4 ,eusebius knew the emperor fully as well as the emperor knew him1 and1 of course1 knew that he might as well chant psalms to a deaf ass as to recommend faith and repentance to the imperial atheist1 as ,hosius of ,cordova had innocently endeavored to do4 ,when ,eusebius came before the emperor1 ,constantine spoke to him in a light1 bantering tone1 saying3 ,bishop1 ,crispus ,caesar became infatuated with the idea that he was great enough to wear my sandals and to wield my spear even while ,i live2 and the young man met with a fatal accident4 ,the youth ,licinius1 and the woman ,fausta1 exposed themselves to some unwholesome atmosphere1 and the results of their indiscretion were deleterious to their health4 ,these events have happened unfortunately for me1 and ,i require thine unfailing aid in avoiding further inconvenience from them4 ,what canst thou do for me8 ,could not the flamens of ,jupiter give thy burdened conscience rest8 said the bishop1 quietly1 but with malicious pleasure4 ,no1 answered ,constantine1 laughing4 ,the priests are good haters--somewhat too demonstrative1 perhaps1 but steady and reliable in their antipathies2 and so they took out their spite upon me the first time ,fate gave them an opportunity4 ,could not the most learned and holy ,hosius point out to thee the road to peace8 ,no1 indeed4 ,that respectable idiot began some sort of mummery concerning faith and repentance2 but ,i cut him short4 ,bishop1 thou wert not wont to be so difficult4 ,i confess that1 since the ,council of ,nicea1 ,i have not done justice to thy superior merit1 and have even felt somewhat estranged from thee4 ,forget all that1 and let us once more be friends4 ,augustus1 said the bishop1 ,i have keenly felt the withdrawal of thy favor1 although ,i have complained to no one4 ,i think that1 if it had been otherwise1 ,i could have showed thee sufficient reasons for avoiding some terrible mistakes4 ,what is the exact difficulty which these mistakes have led thee upon8 ,the ,arians are rejoiced by any occurrence that gives them a pretext for railing at me2 the orthodox ,christians have the unblushing impudence to attempt to sit in judgment upon the actions of the emperor that rescued them from persecutions1 and affect to be shocked thereby1 just as if they were fit to judge his deeds or comprehend his policy2 the implacable flamens hope to make such use of these accidents as to lead the world back to paganism without my aid4 ,the ,arians hate me because ,i would not permit them to establish a kingdom in the empire of which ,i was not to be the king4 ,thou must find some way to conciliate the fools1 for the hearts of all men are estranged from me2 and1 as thou hast always known1 ,i would rather rule by love than by terror4 ,but rule ,i will1 while ,i shall live4 ,now1 how can ,i regain my former hold upon either the pagan or the ,christian world8 ,thou must first of all definitely abandon the idea that the empire can ever return to paganism1 said ,eusebius4 ,the amazing progress of ,christianity among the people and the rapid decline of heathenism demonstrate that the old religion hath almost ceased to be a political force1 and any emperor who would seek to re-establish it is foredoomed to certain failure4 ,let that pass4 ,ye bishops always regard the ,church as the first thing to be considered4 ,i concede that thou art right4 ,what then8 ,thou must also understand1 said ,eusebius1 with malicious pleasure1 that1 while the will of the emperor is the law of the land1 it is no longer the standard of right and wrong for ,christians4 ,thy statutes may control political life1 and prescribe the external forms of worship for the ,church3 its conscience hath passed even beyond thy control4 ,constantine turned white with wrath4 ,the impudent beggars6 he cried1 whom ,i redeemed from tortures and from death6 ,where1 then1 was their 'conscience' when the council subverted the kingdom of heaven upon earth1 and they all signed the decree which abolished the earthly sovereignty of ,christ8 ,but1 checking his furious anger with a mighty effort1 what next8 ,if a man hath done a crime1 said ,eusebius1 no matter how cruel and unnatural1 the ,christians understand that he may obtain forgiveness for his sin by repentance and faith1 even as ,king ,david did in the matter of ,bath-sheba4 ,well6 said ,constantine1 impatiently4 ,the ,christian world will never pardon thee without this repentance and faith1 or the appearance of it1 said ,eusebius1 and he uttered the last few words in a low1 peculiar tone4 ,and what shape might 'the appearance of it' assume8 asked the emperor1 with a laugh4 ,thou mightst go in sackcloth and ashes unto the church and publicly pray to ,god and man for pardon6 ,and ,i might far sooner hang up a bishop and exterminate a sect that would seriously insist upon any such degrading terms6 ,so ,i supposed1 said ,eusebius1 and even then such a course would only be 'the appearance' of faith and repentance1 not the things themselves4 ,but thou mightst build a church and dedicate it unto the memory of ,caesar2 or set up his statue1 with an inscription intimating that he was the victim of a mistake1 and the object of affectionate and sorrowful remembrance4 ,either of these 'appearances of it' might be sufficient4 ,that will answer1 cried ,constantine4 ,crispus ,caesar was a handsome man1 and an excellent subject for a statue4 ,the statue shall be of gold1 and the inscription shall be1 ',to ,crispus1 mine injured and innocent son4' ,will that1 think you1 reconcile the orthodox8 ,or what else dost thou advise8 ,the ,empress-mother ,helena should exhibit some similar token of repentance for her hatred of the ,empress ,fausta4 ,and what 'appearance of it' should her faith and repentance assume8 said ,constantine1 laughing merrily4 ,recently1 replied ,eusebius1 a lively interest hath sprung up throughout the ,church in the 'holy places' in ,palestine4 ,if the empress should make a pilgrimage to the ,holy ,land1 and found there a handsome church and some sacred shrines1 she would cease to annoy thee1 amuse herself1 and do a great work toward restoring the love and confidence of ,christians to thyself and her4 ,thou art a true and glorious bishop1 laughed the emperor1 and thou dost never forget the welfare of the ,church4 ,the empress-mother shall go quickly on her sacred pilgrimage1 and all the holy places shall rejoice4 ,is not that enough8 ,or is there yet something more8 ,this would suffice for the orthodox1 said ,eusebius2 but years have passed since the ,council of ,nicea4 ,time hath assuaged the bitterness of former days1 which would1 perhaps1 have faded out altogether but that the banishment of ,arius keepeth it alive4 ,if thou wouldst reconcile the whole ,church unto thyself1 recall and even show some special honor to the ,libyan4 ,thou hast reserved thy bitterest medicine for the last6 ,but it is necessary1 ,augustus4 ,for days past thy sister ,constantia1 who is even now upon the bed of death1 hath entreated me that ,i would come unto thee and ask thee to visit her1 that she might make it her dying request that thou recall ,arius and restore his church to him4 ,of course ,i could not come till thou didst order it4 ,and then the bishop1 fixing his eyes firmly upon the face of ,constantine1 with his right hand extended1 said with inexpressible dignity3 ,augustus1 thy sister's husband1 ,licinius1 the ,emperor of the ,east1 and her only son1 ,licinius1 both perished by thine own order2 yet her devotion unto thee hath never faltered4 ,surely thou canst not refuse her dying supplications6 ,constantine's face for once grew soft with a genuine emotion of humanity1 and he replied3 ,surely not1 bishop6 ,i always loved ,constantia4 ,i will visit her1 and do whatever she desires4 ,go to-day1 then1 said ,eusebius1 for she hath but few hours more to live4 ,and ,constantine went2 and the long and sorely tried and deeply injured1 but still faithful and loving sister1 with her dying breath besought him to recall the great and holy ,arius1 and restore the peace and unity of the ,church and of the empire2 and with a mighty oath 7as usual7 he promised so to do4 ,,chapter ,,xiii4 ,,well ,,done1 ,,good ,,and ,,faithful ,,servant4 ,during the slow lapse of all the years which had passed away since the date of the ,nicene ,council1 ,arius the ,libyan was almost as much dead unto the world as if he had indeed departed from this life4 ,none1 except the emperor and a few trusted officers1 knew anything more of him than that he was kept a close prisoner somewhere in ,illyricum1 none knew precisely where2 and so carefully was the secret guarded1 that even unto this day the precise place and manner of his imprisonment remain entirely unknown4 ,for a few years after he had disappeared so suddenly1 there were now and then vague rumors in circulation that some of his devoted adherents had discovered the location of his prison1 and were plotting to deliver him therefrom2 and the same rumors indefinitely connected the names of ,crispus ,caesar and of young ,licinius with these revolutionary designs2 and cunning ,fausta had used these rumors1 with remorseless skill and intelligence1 to the destruction of them both4 ,but whether these were merely vague and idle surmises1 whether there was some foundation in fact for them1 or whether the crafty emperor himself had invented and floated them1 in order to justify the murders upon which he had already determined1 will forever be unknown4 ,for1 upon the perpetration of these enormous crimes1 a mist of horror overspread the empire that hid the name and memory of the ,libyan from the popular gaze1 and thenceforth absolutely nothing was known of him until he suddenly and unexpectedly appeared at ,constantinople4 ,a few days after the funeral of ,constantia1 ,constantine summoned ,eusebius and said unto him3 ,bishop1 ,i swore unto ,constantia that ,i would recall ,arius speedily1 and ,i will keep mine oath2 for reflection convinceth me that piety in this regard is true policy also4 ,in what manner dost thou deem it most fitting to effectuate this purpose8 ,do it like a ,christian1 like a statesman1 like an emperor1 said ,eusebius1 with a whole heart1 generously6 ,and let there be nothing small1 or niggardly1 or mean1 in thine action4 ,a few narrow-minded ones among the orthodox may for a while murmur at it2 but the ,arians will rejoice1 and all ,christians and all men will say it was a noble thing to do6 ,therefore1 let it be done in a grand and princely way6 ,particularize the programme which thou thinkest to be 'grand' and 'princely4' ,let free pardon be granted unto ,arius1 without conditions of any kind whatever4 ,let proclamation be made that the presbyter will be received into communion again1 in thine own city and in thine own church1 and then transferred to his old pastoral charge1 the ,baucalis church in ,alexandria1 and so recompense his sufferings with a triumphant return1 and receive him at the church-door in thine own person6 ,it shall so be done at once1 answered ,constantine4 ,no apologies or explanations to be demanded or received4 ,do thou immediately set a day1 and carefully arrange all the details of the ceremony as thou wilt4 ,i will have the old heretic here at the appointed time4 ,and ,eusebius with a glad heart set to work to carry the emperor's design into effect4 ,some among the orthodox murmured1 and on the evening before the day appointed1 ,alexander1 the ,bishop of ,constantinople1 was heard to exclaim1 ,let me1 or ,arius1 die before tomorrow6 ,but the emperor's will could not be resisted2 and1 although the orthodox shuddered to acknowledge as a brother beloved and equal one whom they had always branded as a heretic1 the secularized1 imperial ,church must commit treason or obey2 for the royal oecumenical council had borne1 along with other fruit1 this1 that a difference of religious faith and action might very easily constitute the crime of treason against the emperor4 ,on the day which had been set apart for the solemn pageantry1 ,arius was brought by chosen officers to the lodgings where the ,eusebii abode when in the city2 but1 designing to prepare for the long-imprisoned ,libyan all the delightful surprise which a sudden realization of the great change in his condition might afford1 the ,eusebii had not permitted any one to inform him fully of the matters contemplated4 ,they even doubted1 also1 whether the grand1 ascetic1 incorruptible old man would enter an imperial church to receive honor at the hands of an earthly sovereign unless he should be taken by surprise4 ,when1 therefore1 the next morning1 at the appointed hour1 they took places upon each side of him1 and invited him to walk with them and view the grand and beautiful metropolitan church1 the ancient man went forth not knowing what special purpose was contemplated4 ,and as they drew nearer unto the church1 and beheld a vast concourse of people in holiday attire1 and ranks of soldiers in magnificent array1 with banners flying1 and heard the mighty shouts that seemed to rend the heavens1 ,glory to ,constantine1 the favorite of ,god6 ,long live ,arius1 the great and faithful presbyter6 the ,libyan paused1 and1 gazing upon the ,eusebii1 inquired1 ,bishops1 beloved1 what mean these mighty clamors1 and these salutations of ,constantine and ,arius8 ,and they answered1 ,father1 come on with us and thou shalt gladly see4 ,not a step more1 until ye have told me all6 ,it meaneth that thou art recalled1 not only to ,constantinople1 but to the very bosom of the ,church1 subject to no conditions whatever6 ,and the emperor himself waits at the door yonder to welcome and to honor thee4 ,then brake the strong heart within him of a hopeless sorrow1 and1 faintly murmuring these words1 ',the ,antichrist hath triumphed here where ,satan hath his seat6' a convulsion seized upon him1 and1 as the two steadfast friends strove to hold him up1 the gigantic form of the grand old man glided slowly down between them1 and lay prone upon the pavement1 as if the spirit had gone out of him forever4 ,and presently a slight contortion swept over the great1 gaunt frame2 the bony right hand extended itself upward1 waving gently from side to side2 the rough and noble head darted forward upon the long1 lithe neck2 a tender smile1 ineffably soft and sweet1 played around the weary1 patient mouth1 and lighted up the somber eyes and haggard countenance with joy and beauty2 and gazing far away1 as if his sight could pierce the bending heavens1 he sweetly murmured1 ',jesus1 and ,theckla also6' ,then darkness fell upon the weary face and eyes2 the mighty limbs relaxed once more2 and he lay still upon the rocky way4 ,arius the ,libyan was dead6 ,,the ,,end4