CHAPTER XXII

AFTER THE BURIAL OF CONSTANTIUS, CONSTANTINE IS PROCLAIMED AUGUSTUS BY THE ARMY

NOR did the imperial throne remain long unoccupied: for Constantine invested himself with his father’s purple, and proceeded from the palace, presenting to all a renewal, as it were, in his own person, of his father’s life and reign. He then conducted the funeral procession in company with his father’s friends, some preceding, others following the train, and performed the last offices for the pious deceased with an extraordinary degree of magnificence.

Meantime all united in honouring this thrice blessed prince with acclamations and praises, and while with one common feeling they regarded the rule of the son as the restoration of the departed parent to life, they hastened at once to hail their new sovereign by the titles of Imperial and Worshipful Augustus, with joyful shouts. Thus the memory of the deceased emperor received honour from the praises bestowed upon his son, while the latter was pronounced blessed in being the successor of such a father. All the nations also under his dominion were filled with inexpressible joy and gladness at not being even for a moment deprived of the benefits of imperial government.

In the instance of the emperor Constantius, God has made manifest to our generation what the end of those is who in their lives have honoured and loved Him.