CHAPTER XXIII

PREDICTION OF A SCHOOLMASTER

THERE was in Antioch a very illustrious man, who held the office of public teacher, and who, possessing much more erudition than the generality of schoolmasters, was received on terms of intimacy by Libanus, a celebrated sophist and one of the most learned men of the time. This latter was a Pagan, and expecting from the threats of Julian that idolatry would speedily become triumphant over Christianity, asked the schoolmaster, in derision of our religion, what the son of the carpenter was doing. The other, filled by the grace of God, predicted what would shortly happen. “The Creator of the universe,” said he, “whom you deride, and call the son of the carpenter, is now preparing a bier.” A few days after, the death of the tyrant was announced, and his body was carried to the city on a bier. Thus his threats were made vain, and God was glorified.