Daphnæus. But the demon that inhabited the temple remained silent through fear of his neighbour Babylas the martyr; for the coffin which contained the body of that saint was close by. When the emperor was informed of this circumstance, he commanded that the coffin should be immediately removed: upon which the Christians of Antioch, including women and children, transported the coffin from Daphne to the city, with solemn rejoicings and chanting of psalms. The psalms were such as cast reproach on the gods of the heathen, and those who put confidence in them and their images.

116

CHAP. XIX.-WRATH OF THE EMPEROR, AND FIRMNESS OF

THEODORE THE CONFESSOR.

THE emperor's real temper and disposition, which he had hitherto kept as much as possible from observation, now became fully manifested: for he who had boasted so much of his philosophy, was no longer able to restrain himself; but being goaded almost to madness by these reproachful hymns, he was ready to inflict the same cruelties on the Christians, with which Diocletian had formerly visited them. Nevertheless his solicitude about the Persian expedition afforded him no leisure for personally executing his wishes; he therefore commanded Sallust the Prætorian prefect to seize those who had been most conspicuous for their zeal in psalm-singing, in order to make examples of them. The prefect, though a Pagan, was far from being pleased with his commission; but since he durst not contravene it, he caused several of the Christians to be apprehended, and some of them were imprisoned. On one young man named Theodore, whom the heathens brought before him, he inflicted a variety of tortures, causing his person to be so lacerated that he was released from further punishment, under the supposition that he could not possibly outlive the torments he had endured: yet God preserved this sufferer, so that he long survived that confession. Rufinus, the author of an "Ecclesiastical History' written in Latin, states that he himself conversed with the same Theodore a considerable time afterwards: and on inquiring of him whether in the process of scourging and rack

ing he had not felt the most agonizing pains, his answer was, that he was but little sensible of the tortures to which he was subjected; and that a young man stood by him who both wiped off the sweat which was produced by the acuteness of the ordeal through which he was passing, and at the same time strengthened his mind, so that he rendered this time of trial a season of rapture rather than of suffering. Such was the testimony of the excellent Theodore. About this time Persian ambassadors came to the emperor, requesting him to terminate the war on certain express conditions. But Julian abruptly dismissed them, saying, "You shall very shortly see us in person, so that there will be no need of an embassy."

CHAP. XX.-THE JEWS BEING INSTIGATED BY THE EMPEROR TO REBUILD THEIR TEMPLE, ARE FRUSTRATED IN THEIR ATTEMPT BY MIRACULOUS INTERPOSITION.

THE superstition of the emperor became still more apparent in his further attempts to molest the Christians. Being fond of sacrificing, he not only himself delighted in the blood of victims, but considered it an indignity offered to him, if others did not manifest a similar taste. And as he found but few persons of this stamp, he sent for the Jews and inquired of them why they abstained from sacrificing, since the law of Moses enjoined it? On their replying that it was not permitted them to do this in any other place than Jerusalem, he immediately ordered them to rebuild Solomon's temple. Meanwhile he himself proceeded on his expedition against the Persians. The Jews, who had been long desirous of obtaining a favourable opportunity for rearing their temple afresh, in order that they might therein offer sacrifice, applied themselves very vigorously to the work; and conducting themselves with great insolence toward the Christians, threatened to do them as much mischief as they had themselves suffered from the Romans. The emperor having ordered that the expenses of this structure should be defrayed out of the public treasury, all things were soon provided; so that they were furnished with timber and stone, burnt brick, clay, lime, and all other materials necessary for building. On this occasion Cyril bishop of

Jerusalem, calling to mind the prophecy of Daniel, which Christ also in the holy Gospels has confirmed, predicted in the presence of many persons that the time would very soon come in which one stone should not be left upon another in that temple, but that the Saviour's prophetic declaration should have its full accomplishment. Such were the bishop's words: and on the night following a mighty earthquake tore up the stones of the old foundations of the temple, and dispersed them all together with the adjacent edifices. This circumstance exceedingly terrified the Jews; and the report of it brought many to the spot who resided at a great distance: when therefore a vast multitude was assembled another prodigy took place. Fire came down from heaven and consumed all the builders' tools: so that for one entire day the flames were seen preying upon mallets, irons to smooth and polish stones, saws, hatchets, adzes, in short all the various implements which the workmen had procured as necessary for the undertaking. The Jews indeed were in the greatest possible alarm, and unwillingly confessed that Christ is God: yet they did not his will; but influenced by inveterate prepossessions they still clung to Judaism. Even a third miracle which afterwards happened failed to induce a belief of the truth. For the next night luminous impressions of a cross appeared imprinted on their garments, which at daybreak they in vain attempted to rub or wash out. They were therefore blinded as the apostle says, and cast away the good which they had in their hands: and thus was the temple, instead of being rebuilt, at that time wholly overthrown.

CHAP. XXI.-THE EMPEROR'S IRRUPTION INTO PERSIA,

AND DEATH.

JULIAN having learnt that the Persians were greatly enfeebled and totally spiritless in winter, and that from their inability to endure cold, and abstaining from military service at that season, it became a proverb that a Mede will not then draw his hand from underneath his cloak, marched his army into the Persian territories a little before spring; well know1 Rom. xi. 25.

ing that the Romans were inured to brave all the rigours of the atmosphere. After devastating a considerable tract of country, including numerous villages and fortresses, they next assailed the cities; and having invested the great city Ctesiphon, the king of the Persians was reduced to such straits that he sent repeated embassies to the emperor, offering to surrender a portion of his dominions, on condition of his quitting the country, and putting an end to the war. But Julian was unaffected by these submissions, and showed no compassion to a suppliant foe: forgetful of the adage, To conquer is honourable, but to be more than conqueror is odious. Giving credit to the divinations of the philosopher Maximus, with whom he was in continual intercourse, he was deluded into the belief that his exploits would not only equal, but exceed those of Alexander of Macedon; so that he spurned with contempt the entreaties of the Persian monarch. Nay, so imposed on was he by the absurd notions of Pythagoras and Plato on the transmigration of souls,2 that he imagined himself to be possessed of Alexander's soul, or rather that he himself was Alexander in another body. These ridiculous fancies preventing his listening to any negotiations for peace, the king of the Persians was constrained to prepare for conflict, and therefore on the next day after the rejection of his embassy, he drew out in order of battle all the forces he had. The Romans indeed censured their prince for not avoiding an engagement when he might have done so with advantage: nevertheless they attacked those who opposed them, and again put the enemy to flight. The emperor was present on horseback, and encouraged his soldiers in battle; but confiding in his hope of success, he wore no armour. In this defenceless state, a dart cast by some one unknown pierced through his arm and entered his side, making a wound that caused his death. Some say that a certain Persian hurled the javelin, and then fled; others assert that one of his own men was the author of the deed, which indeed is the best corroborated and most current report. But Callistus, one of his body-guards, who celebrated this emperor's deeds in heroic verse, says, in narrating the particulars of this war, that the wound of which

1 'Yπερшāν, the same expression as is used in Rom. viii. 37, though with a slight difference of meaning.

2

· Μετενσωμάτωσις, as nearly as possible equivalent to μετεμψύχωσις.

he died was inflicted by a demon. This is possibly a mere poetical fiction, or perhaps it was really the fact; for vengeful furies have undoubtedly destroyed many persons. Be the

case however as it may, this is certain, that the ardour of his natural temperament rendered him incautious, his learning made him vain, and his affectation of clemency exposed him to contempt. Thus Julian's existence was terminated in 117 Persia, as we have said, in his fourth consulate, which he bore with Sallust his colleague. This event occurred on the 26th of June, in the third year of his reign, and the seventh from his having been created Cæsar by Constantius, he being at that time in the thirty-first year of his age.

CHAP. XXII.-JOVIAN IS PROCLAIMED EMPEROR.

THE soldiery, in extreme perplexity at an event so unexpected, on the following day proclaim Jovian emperor, a person alike distinguished by his courage and birth. He was a military tribune when Julian put forth an edict giving his officers the option of either sacrificing or resigning their rank in the army, and chose rather to lay down his commission,1 than to obey the mandate of an impious prince. Julian however being pressed by the urgency of the war which was before him, would not accept his resignation, but continued him among his generals. On being saluted emperor, he positively declined to accept the sovereign power: and when the soldiers brought him forward by force, he declared that, being a Christian, he did not wish to reign over a people devoted to idolatrous superstitions. They all then with one voice answered that they also were Christians: upon which he allowed himself to be invested with the imperial dignity. Perceiving himself suddenly left in very difficult circumstances, in the heart of a hostile country, where his army was in danger of perishing for want of necessaries, he agreed to terminate the war, even on terms by no means honourable to the glory of the Roman name; although the exigencies of the present crisis obliged him to accede to them. Submitting therefore

1 See above, chap. xiii.