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

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The hour is come in which I too may have the blessing of that seal which confers immortality; the hour in which I may receive the seal of salvation. I had thought to do this in the waters of the river Jordan, wherein our Saviour, for our example, is recorded to have been baptized: but God, who knows what is expedient for us, is pleased that I should receive this blessing here. Be it so, then, without delay:<sup class="Note" id="fna_iv.vi.iv.lxii-p2.2"><a class="Note" href="#fnf_iv.vi.iv.lxii-p2.2">3359</a></sup><span class="mnote" id="mnf_iv.vi.iv.lxii-p2.2"><sup><a class="NoteRef" href="#fna_iv.vi.iv.lxii-p2.2">3359</a></sup><span class="Footnote"> Or “no hesitation.” On this clause a deal of controversy has hinged. “No hesitation shall longer prevail” is the rendering of <i>Molz.,</i> and Keim (Uebertritt C. p. 1) similarly gives “let all duplicity be banished.” In the view of this translation, Constantine had been hedging all his life, trying to be Christian to Christians and heathen to heathen. The basis of the hypothesis is too slight for it to have any weight in view of the overwhelming documentary evidence of the frequent public professions of Christianity by Constantine, for which see Prolegomena, under <i>Character.</i> Discussion of various points relating to his baptism will be found under <i>Literature,</i> under the names Busæus, Castelli, Dalhus, Frimelius Fuhrmann, Guidi, Halloix, Hynitzsch, Jacobus of Sarug, Nicolai, Polus, Schelstrate, Scultetus, Tentzel, Walther, Withof.</span></span> for should it be his will who is Lord of life and death, that my existence here should be prolonged, and should I be destined henceforth to associate with the people of God, and unite with them in prayer as a member of his Church, I will prescribe to myself from this time such a course of life as befits his service.” After he had thus spoken, the prelates performed the sacred ceremonies in the usual manner, and, having given him the necessary instructions, made him a partaker of the mystic ordinance. Thus was Constantine the first of all sovereigns who was regenerated and perfected in a church dedicated to the martyrs of Christ; thus gifted with the Divine seal of baptism, he rejoiced in spirit, was renewed, and filled with heavenly light: his soul was gladdened by reason of the fervency of his faith, and astonished at the manifestation of the power of God. At the conclusion of the ceremony he arrayed himself in shining imperial vestments, brilliant as the light,<sup class="Note" id="fna_iv.vi.iv.lxii-p3.1"><a class="Note" href="#fnf_iv.vi.iv.lxii-p3.1">3360</a></sup><span class="mnote" id="mnf_iv.vi.iv.lxii-p3.1"><sup><a class="NoteRef" href="#fna_iv.vi.iv.lxii-p3.1">3360</a></sup><span class="Footnote"> [It was customary for neophytes to wear white garments, which they laid aside on the eighth day from their baptism.—<i>Bag.</i>]</span></span> and reclined on a couch of the purest white, refusing to clothe himself with the purple any more. </p> <hr class="footnotes-hr" /> <div class="footnotes"> <div class="footer_note" id="fnf_iv.vi.iv.lxii-p2.2"><sup><a class="NoteRef" href="#fna_iv.vi.iv.lxii-p2.2">3359</a></sup><span class="Footnote"> Or “no hesitation.” On this clause a deal of controversy has hinged. “No hesitation shall longer prevail” is the rendering of <i>Molz.,</i> and Keim (Uebertritt C. p. 1) similarly gives “let all duplicity be banished.” In the view of this translation, Constantine had been hedging all his life, trying to be Christian to Christians and heathen to heathen. The basis of the hypothesis is too slight for it to have any weight in view of the overwhelming documentary evidence of the frequent public professions of Christianity by Constantine, for which see Prolegomena, under <i>Character.</i> Discussion of various points relating to his baptism will be found under <i>Literature,</i> under the names Busæus, Castelli, Dalhus, Frimelius Fuhrmann, Guidi, Halloix, Hynitzsch, Jacobus of Sarug, Nicolai, Polus, Schelstrate, Scultetus, Tentzel, Walther, Withof.</span></div> <div class="footer_note" id="fnf_iv.vi.iv.lxii-p3.1"><sup><a class="NoteRef" href="#fna_iv.vi.iv.lxii-p3.1">3360</a></sup><span class="Footnote"> [It was customary for neophytes to wear white garments, which they laid aside on the eighth day from their baptism.—<i>Bag.</i>]</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.lxi.html">« Prev</a></td> <td class="book_navbar_title">Constantine's Appeal to the Bishops, requesting…</td> <td class="book_navbar_next"><a href="npnf201.iv.vi.iv.lxiii.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