1.7.1 Then Constantine, being preserved by his faith against the great exhaustion of war, and not fearing the army from Rome, nobly established his line of battle. But because Maxentius feared the might of Constantine, and, in addition, since he also suspected the hatred of the Romans (for he had put himself at odds with the majority of them on account of his promiscuity), he planned to carry out his strategy through trickery. And the trick was a bridge equipped with some kind of mechanical device of the following sort.

1.7.2 What was visible from above was a place which invited Constantine to cross. But what could not be seen was a trap deceitfully laid for his advance. For when a person was a short way across, since the machine had been loosened, the combatant would come to an unexpected grave, experiencing destruction at that place.

1.7.3 But although he prepared the traps for Constantine’s approach in this way, divine favor entangled the craftsman of evils in his own clever tricks. For before he could catch Constantine, the tyrant himself came first and fell into his own handiwork. And there, he himself became a tyrant-slayer. And so, having prepared an effective plot against himself on the edge of Rome at the Milvian Bridge, the previously mentioned Maxentius himself sank into the river and drowned.”

1.7.4 And so the entire Roman populace cried out, saying, “‘Let us sing to the Lord, for he has been gloriously extolled,’” just as Eusebius Pamphili says. “‘He has cast the horse and horseman into the sea. He has become my assistant and protector for salvation.’ [Exodus 15:1,2] and ‘Who among the gods is like you, LORD? Who is like you—extolled in holiness, wonderful in glory, doer of wonders?’” [Exodus 15:11]

1.7.5 Eusebius also says the following things: “With these things and many other related and similar to them, Constantine sang praises to God, the ruler of all and cause of victory, and to his only begotten Son Jesus Christ for their deeds. Thus he marched into Rome with triumphal songs. Meanwhile everyone from the assembled council and the other eminent people crowded together with the women and children and all the Roman people—all with beaming faces and happy hearts—to welcome him with acclamations and boundless joy as their redeemer, savior, and benefactor.

1.7.6 But since Constantine possessed a deeply rooted reverence towards God, he was totally unmoved by the shouts and not at all flattered by the praises. But rightly perceiving God’s help, he immediately commanded that the trophy of the Savior’s passion be placed in the hand of the statue of himself. Then his servants set up the statue of Constantine, holding the sign of the cross in his right hand, in the most public place in all of Rome. He then commanded that a public notice with this precise wording be written down in the Roman language:

1.7.7 ‘By this saving sign—which is the true proof of manliness—I have set your city free and saved it from the yoke of the tyrant. And furthermore, by freeing them, I have restored The Senate and People of Rome to their ancient fame and splendor.’”

 

Next Chapter – 1.8 The godly Constantine sends Licinius out against the tyrant in the east

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Click here to read Book 1 in its entirety.

 

Created by NJ 4-18-17

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