Philip Schaff: NPNF2-01. Eusebius Pamphilius: Church History, Life of Constantine, Oration in Praise of Constantine

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after which he added these words. “Now I know that I am truly blessed: now I feel assured that I am accounted worthy of immortality, and am made a partaker of Divine light.” He further expressed his compassion for the unhappy condition of those who were strangers to such blessings as he enjoyed: and when the tribunes and generals of his army appeared in his presence with lamentations and tears at the prospect of their bereavement, and with prayers that his days might yet be prolonged, he assured them in reply that he was now in possession of true life; that none but himself could know the value of the blessings he had received; so that he was anxious rather to hasten than to defer his departure to God. He then proceeded to complete the needful arrangement of his affairs, bequeathing an annual donation to the Roman inhabitants of his imperial city; apportioning the inheritance of the empire, like a patrimonial estate, among his own children; in short, making every disposition according to his own pleasure.<sup class="Note" id="fna_iv.vi.iv.lxiii-p2.2"><a class="Note" href="#fnf_iv.vi.iv.lxiii-p2.2">3361</a></sup><span class="mnote" id="mnf_iv.vi.iv.lxiii-p2.2"><sup><a class="NoteRef" href="#fna_iv.vi.iv.lxiii-p2.2">3361</a></sup><span class="Footnote"> The idea of ownership in empire which seems so strange in these days of republics, and is disallowed even by theoretical monarchists, seems to have been a most matter-of-course one in the mind of Constantine, and Eusebius was a true imperialist regarding “tyranies” and “republics” as in the same category. Whether it was by “divine right” or “natural right” they were quite sure it was a “right,” and one to be freely exercised.</span></span></p> <hr class="footnotes-hr" /> <div class="footnotes"> <div class="footer_note" id="fnf_iv.vi.iv.lxiii-p2.2"><sup><a class="NoteRef" href="#fna_iv.vi.iv.lxiii-p2.2">3361</a></sup><span class="Footnote"> The idea of ownership in empire which seems so strange in these days of republics, and is disallowed even by theoretical monarchists, seems to have been a most matter-of-course one in the mind of Constantine, and Eusebius was a true imperialist regarding “tyranies” and “republics” as in the same category. Whether it was by “divine right” or “natural right” they were quite sure it was a “right,” and one to be freely exercised.</span></div> </div> </div> <table xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" class="book_navbar" id="book_navbar_bottom"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="book_navbar_prev"><a href="npnf201.iv.vi.iv.lxii.html">« Prev</a></td> <td class="book_navbar_title">How after his Baptism he rendered Thanks to God.</td> <td class="book_navbar_next"><a href="npnf201.iv.vi.iv.lxiv.html">Next »</a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </div> </div> <div class="popover selection-popup no-select pt-2 pl-2 fade bs-popover-bottom show" role="tooltip" x-placement="top" style="display: none;"> <div class="arrow"></div> <div class="popover-body"> <button class="btn btn-warning mr-2 mb-2" title="Highlight selected text in yellow" data-annotation-action="highlight" data-annotation-color="yellow"> <i class="fa fa-fw fa-highlighter"></i> </button> <button class="btn btn-primary mr-2 mb-2" title="Highlight selected text in blue" data-annotation-action="highlight" data-annotation-color="blue"> <i class="fa fa-fw fa-highlighter"></i> </button> <button class="btn btn-success mr-2 mb-2" title="Highlight selected text in green" data-annotation-action="highlight" data-annotation-color="green"> <i class="fa fa-fw fa-highlighter"></i> </button> <button class="btn btn-danger position-relative mr-2 mb-2" data-annotation-action="remove" title="Remove highlighting from selected text"> <i class="fa fa-fw fa-highlighter"></i> <i class="fa fa-fw fa-times text-light position-absolute" style="bottom: 6px; right: 4px; text-shadow: 0 0 2px #000, 0 0 2px #000"></i></button> <div> Please <a href="/login">login</a> or <a href="/register">register</a> to save highlights and make annotations. </div> </div> </div> <span style="display:none;">VIEWNAME is <q> workSection </q></span> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://ccel.org/js/dru_themes_ccel2010/navbarMenu.js"> </script> <div id="content-foot" class="content-foot"> </div> </div> <br clear="both"> </div> </div> </div> </body> </html>

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Philip Schaff: NPNF2-01. Eusebius Pamphilius: Church History, Life of Constantine, Oration in Praise of Constantine - Christian Classics Ethereal Library