CHAPTER LV

CONSTANTINE GIVES GLORY TO GOD, CONFESSES THE EFFICACY OF THE STANDARD OF THE CROSS, AND PRAYS FOR THE CHURCHES AND PEOPLE

“AND now I beseech Thee, most mighty God, to be merciful and gracious to Thine Eastern nations, to Thy people in these provinces, bowed and broken as they are by protracted miseries; and vouchsafe them a remedy through Thy servant. Not without cause, O holy God, do I prefer this prayer to Thee, the Lord of all. Under Thy guidance have I devised and accomplished measures fraught with blessing: preceded by Thy sacred sign I have led Thy armies to victory: and still, on each occasion of public danger, I follow the same symbol of Thy perfections while advancing to meet the foe. Therefore have I dedicated to Thy service a soul duly attempered by love and fear. For Thy name I truly love, while I regard with reverence that power of which Thou hast given abundant proofs, to the confirmation and increase of my faith. I hasten then to devote all my powers to the restoration of that Church which is Thy most holy dwelling-place, and which those profane and impious men have marred by the rude and destroying hand of violence.