II.
(Canonical Epistle, p. 279.)
The judgment of Dupin is so exceptionally eulogistic touching these canons, that I quote it, as follows: 1 --
"Of all the canons of antiquity concerning the discipline of the lapsed, there are none more judicious or more equitable than those we have now described. There appear in them a wisdom and prudence altogether singular in tempering the rigours of punishment by a reasonable moderation, without which justice would be weakened. He examines carefully all the circumstances which might augment or diminish the quality of the crime; and as he does not lengthen out penance by methods too severe, so neither does he deceive the sinner by a facility too remiss."
Like the famous Canonical Epistles of St. Basil, however, these are compilations of canons accepted by the churches of his jurisdiction. Dupin says of those of Basil 2 (To Amphilochius), "They are not to be considered as the particular opinions of St. Basil, but as the laws of the Church in his time; and therefore they are not written in the form of personal letters, but after the manner of synodical decisions."
The Roman Emperors.
In the study of these volumes a table is useful, such as I find it convenient to place here, showing the Ante-Nicene succession of Caesars.
a.d.
-
Augustus--1
-
Tiberius--14
-
Caligula--37
-
Claudius--41
-
Nero--54
-
Galba--68
-
Otho--69
-
Vitellius--69
-
Vespasian--69
-
Titus--79
-
Domitian--81
-
Nerva--96
-
Trajan--98
-
Hadrian--117
-
Antoninus Pius--138
-
Marcus Aurelius--161
-
Commodus--180
-
Pertinax--192
-
Didius Julianus (Niger)--193
-
Septimius Severus--193
-
Caracalla (Geta)--211
-
Macrinus--217
-
Heliogabalus--218
-
Alexander Severus--222
-
Maximinus--235
-
Gordian--235
-
Pupienus (Balbinus)--235
-
Gordian the Younger--238
-
Philip--244
-
Decuis--249
-
Gallus (Volusianus)--251
-
Valerian--254
-
Gallienus--260
-
Claudius II--268
-
Aurelian--270
-
Tacitus (Probus)--275
-
Florian--276
-
Carus (Carinus, Numerian)--282
-
Diocletian--284
-
Maximian (Galerius)--286
-
Constantius Chlorus--292
-
Maximin--306
-
Constantine the Great (Licinius, Etc.)--307
Suetonius includes Julius, and therefore his Twelve Caesars end with Domitian, the last of the Flavian family. With Nerva the "five good emperors" (so called) begin, but the "good Aurelius" was a persecutor. St. John, surviving the cruelty of Domitian, lived and died under Trajan.
The "vision of Constantine" is dated, at Treves, a.d. 312.
The Labarum became the Roman standard thenceforth.
The Dominical ordinance dates from Milan, June 2, a.d. 321.
He founds the city of Constantinople a.d. 324, convokes the Council of Nicaea a.d. 325.
