But，asiftheconductoftheemperorhadbeenguidedbypassioninsteadofprinciple，threeyearsfromthecouncilofNicewerescarcelyelapsedbeforehediscoveredsomesymptomsofmercy，andevenofindulgence，towardstheproscribedsect，whichwassecretlyprotectedbyhisfavoritesister。Theexileswererecalled，andEusebius，whograduallyresumedhisinfluenceoverthemindofConstantine，wasrestoredtotheepiscopalthrone，fromwhichhehadbeenignominiouslydegraded。Ariushimselfwastreatedbythewholecourtwiththerespectwhichwouldhavebeenduetoaninnocentandoppressedman。HisfaithwasapprovedbythesynodofJerusalem；andtheemperorseemedimpatienttorepairhisinjustice，byissuinganabsolutecommand，thatheshouldbesolemnlyadmittedtothecommunioninthecathedralofConstantinople。Onthesameday，whichhadbeenfixedforthetriumphofArius，heexpired；andthestrangeandhorridcircumstancesofhisdeathmightexciteasuspicion，thattheorthodoxsaintshadcontributedmoreefficaciouslythanbytheirprayers，todeliverthechurchfromthemostformidableofherenemies。^83ThethreeprincipalleadersoftheCatholics，AthanasiusofAlexandria，EustathiusofAntioch，andPaulofConstantinopleweredeposedonvariousfaccusations，bythesentenceofnumerouscouncils；andwereafterwardsbanishedintodistantprovincesbythefirstoftheChristianemperors，who，inthelastmomentsofhislife，receivedtheritesofbaptismfromtheArianbishopofNicomedia。TheecclesiasticalgovernmentofConstantinecannotbejustifiedfromthereproachoflevityandweakness。Butthecredulousmonarch，unskilledinthestratagemsoftheologicalwarfare，mightbedeceivedbythemodestandspeciousprofessionsoftheheretics，whosesentimentsheneverperfectlyunderstood；andwhileheprotectedArius，andpersecutedAthanasius，hestillconsideredthecouncilofNiceasthebulwarkoftheChristianfaith，andthepeculiargloryofhisownreign。^84
[Footnote83:WederivetheoriginalstoryfromAthanasius，tom。
i。p。670，whoexpressessomereluctancetostigmatizethememoryofthedead。Hemightexaggerate；buttheperpetualcommerceofAlexandriaandConstantinoplewouldhaverendereditdangeroustoinvent。ThosewhopresstheliteralnarrativeofthedeathofAriushisbowelssuddenlyburstoutinaprivy
mustmaketheiroptionbetweenpoisonandmiracle。]
[Footnote84:Thechangeinthesentiments，oratleastintheconduct，ofConstantine，maybetracedinEusebius，inVit。