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DEATH OF CONSTANTIUS.
campaigns against the Germans, gained brilliant victories over
the Franks and Alemannians, and repeatedly crossed the
Bhine, but never penetrated far into Germany. At the end
of the war, he had recovered the limes, from Helvetia to the
Lower Rhine; but he was obliged to leave the Franks in
Belgium. They recognised the sovereignty of Rome, and fur-
nished troops for which they were paid by the empire.
After these brilliant successes, by which Julian had gained
the attachment of the soldiers and provincials, the intrigues
at the court were revived against him: it was intended to
take from him the most important part of his army, the
soldiers composing which were to be directed to march towards
the East. But they had become domiciled in the province,
and had formed family connections there; for on the whole
the armies rarely changed their stations: hence when they
were ordered to march they were seized with despair, and,
according to the statement of Julian and his followers, in-
fluenced by this feeling, they renounced Constantius, and
proclaimed Julian emperor. Now, it is certainly possible
that the movement may have originated with the soldiers, the
contrary at least is not stated anywhere ; but I cannot believe
that he was so excessively conscientious as he himself pretends
to have been, especially as, notwithstanding his other great
qualities, Julian was very ostentatious. It is certain, however,
that he made overtures to Constantius, and wanted to be his
colleague as Augustus. Constantius was foolish enough not to
accept the proposal, although he had no children ; but preferred
engaging in a civil war, while Sapor had already taken
Singara and Amida, and was threatening the whole of the
Eastern empire. Blood would have been shed, had not the
opportune death of Constantius prevented it. He often
resided with his court at Antioch : and while he was following
his army on the march from that city to Constantinople,
he died in Cilicia, before he encountered the approaching
army of Julian. The reign of Constantius is chiefly re-
markable for the Arian persecution of the homoousii and the
orthodox party, especially of the great bishop, Athanasius, who,
on that occasion, shewed extraordinary strength of character,
and exercised the greatest influence upon the minds of a large
population. The details of these events may be read in the
ecclesiastical history of the truth-loving Abbe Fleury. His
EEIGN OF JULIAN.
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reign is also remarkable for the Arian council of Eimini,
which was directed against the council of Nice ; but other
councils, especially under Julian, soon overturned its decisions.
LECTURE CXXXII.
The name of Julian will ever be memorable. IIe has some-
times been immensely overrated, and, on the other hand, most
undeservedly depreciated. Distinguished men of very different
characters have, within the last fifty years, been occupied with
Julian’s history : the first was Gibbon, who, notwithstanding
his anti-christian sentiments, did not allow himself to be mis-
guided, but clearly perceived Julian’s weaknesses. Next
came Eckhel, who, in his work on coins, shews such candour
of judgment, that I can with confidence refer you to him.
The last is Neander, whose treatise on Julian is excellent.
Julianwas a man of extraordinary mind, as every one must
feel who reads his writings. He was a true Attic, and since the
time of Dion Chrysostomus, Greece had not produced such an
elegant author; he stands far above Libanius. He was unques-
tionably a distinguished general, and a humane and fatherly
governor of Gaul. His ability was also shewn in the manner in
which he protracted his campaigns against Constantius, while
he continued to fight against the barbarians, in order to pre-
vent an Openrupturebetween himself and his rival. His moral
character was of the highest purity ; he entirely subdued any
sensual disposition; and his only happiness was to live in the
world of thought. We must, however, acknowledge that his
attempt to restore the pagan religion was a senseless underta-
king, even irrespectively of the truth of Christianity. The
pagan religion, in its truth, that is its popular belief, had long
since become extinct. New Platonism, which properly aimed
at monotheism, and was artificially decked out with oriental
demonology and theology, with theurgy and theumaturgy,had
taken its place : the ancient mythological fables were allego-
rised ; people saw in Homer and the other ancient writers
every thing except what the Greeks themselves had seen in