Page:History of the First Council of Nice.djvu/125

Rh "The emperor, therefore, invited the bishops to the festival [to which they all came ], and he presented suitable gifts to them; and when they were prepared to return home, he called them all together, and exhorted them to be of one mind, and at peace among themselves, so that no dissensions might henceforth creep in among them. After many other similar exhortations, he concluded by commanding them to be diligent in prayer for himself, his children, and the empire, and then bade them farewell."

"When matters were arranged, the emperor gave them permission to return to their own dioceses. They returned with great joy, and have ever since continued to be of one mind, lacing so firmly united, as to form, as it were, but one body. Constantine, rejoicing in the success of his efforts, made known these happy results, by letter, to those who were at a distance. He ordered large sums of money to be liberally distributed, both among the inhabitants of the provinces and of the cities in order that the twentieth anniversary of his reign might be celebrated with public festivities."