digg'd out of the-Earth a representation of the Citty of Constantinople on the top wherof Constantin had caused the Crosse to be fixed, to denote the felicity of that New Citty. And his custome was both in words and Writing to object to Christians, by way of ignominy, their Veneration of the Holy Crosse. For this speech of his is quoted by S. Cyrill of Ale∣xandria, O wretched Christians, said he, you have left off to adore and worship those sheilds (Ancilia) which the great God Iupiter Father of Mars lett fall from heaven, to be a reall, not verball pledge of his perpetuall protection to our Citty, and which are still kepd in it: Instead of which you adore the wood of the Crosse, painting images of it on your foreheads and before your dores. Thus Iulian censures the Rite of the Ancient Church, and of all the faithfull in his time, who on all occasions express'd their Veneration of that blessed sign and instru∣ment of our Redemption.
5. With the same malignity he sought to abolish all other Sacred images and Statues erected in severall places to preserve the memory of past Divine benefits, as likewise the Relicks of former Saints and Martyrs.
Thus Sozomen relates how he caused to be thrown down the miraculous Statue of our Saviour, which the devout woman, who had been curd by him of an issue of blood, had rais'd at Caesaréa Philippi: in the place wherof the impious Apostat erected his own. But immediatly fire from heaven divided his Satue in the mid'st, throwing to the ground the upper half, which re∣main'd till the Historians days all black, as things strook with lightning use to be.
5. The same Authour likewise recounts how the same Impious Emperour consulting a certain Oracle at Daphne neer Antioch, and the Devill which used to speak in it remai∣ning mute, only being able to signify that the Body of the holy Martyr Babylas hindred his speech: Iulian caused the Sacred body to be removed from thence into the Citty: which the Christians perform'd with great solemnity, singing Psalms all the way, spe∣cially those wherin Idolatry is derided, to the infinit indignation of the Emperour, who thereupon caused many of them to be tortu∣red, but by the intercession of the Holy Martyr their torments were miraculously converted into pleasure. The same Story is confirm'd likewise by S. Chrysostom.
7. But a war against the Persians interrupted his rage against Christians, who at his first setting forth threatned that when that Expe∣dition was finish'd, he would destroy all who profess'd the name of Christi: A threatning very acceptable to the Pagans, but greivous to the afflicted Christians. Whilst he was busy in the prosecution of this war, Li∣banius a Heathen Sophister, in derision of Christ ask'd a certain Christian, What the Car∣penters Son was then doing? Who answerd, He is preparing a Coffin for Iulian. And the event made these words propheticall, for the wicked Emperour receiv'd from an unknown hand a wound mortall to him self, but healthfull to all the world beside.
8. In his place the Army chose Iovian Em∣perour, though he refus'd that honour, pro∣fessing that being a Christian he neither would nor could govern an Army poysond with heathenish Idolatry. Whereupon all the soldiers cryed out that they also were Chri∣stians: those who were ancient among them having been train'd up in the piety of Con∣stantin, and the younger imbued with the precepts of Constantius. So that the two years raign of Iulian could not extirpate the good seeds sown in their hearts.
9. Iovian thus chosen, restored the Christian Faith, reducing the Church to its former splendour. He also publish'd a Law by which in all Citties a certain proportion of Wheat was contributed to Sacred Virgins by vow consecrated to God: And another which inflicted death on any who should ravish, or but attempt their Chastity. He likewise ordain'd that all Catholick Bishops who had been formerly banish'd should re∣turn to their Sees. There is extant an Epistle of S. Athanasius in answer to one from the Emperour, who had desir'd to be inform'd by him who among the divided Sects of Chri∣stians, retain'd the Orthodox Faith. Which Epistle challenges a mention in this History, because among the severall Nations con∣stantly persevering in the Faith of our Saviours Divinity, establish'd in the Councill of Nicéa, he expressly names Brittany. Whence appears that hitherto the Brittish Churches were pure in their Faith, however some par∣ticular persons there might have been infe∣cted.
10. This pious Emperour lived but one year: to whom succeeded Valentinian a Prince equally Orthodox: But who unhappily made partner in his Empire his Brother Valens, infe∣cted with the Arian Heresy, and impiously zealous in the promoting of it.