Read the so-called _Ecclesiastical History_ by Philostorgius[114]
the Arian, the spirit of which is different from that of nearly all
other ecclesiastical historians. He extols all Arians, but abuses and
insults all the orthodox, so that his work is not so much a history
as a panegyric of the heretics, and nothing but a barefaced attack
upon the orthodox. His style is elegant, his diction often poetical,
though not to such an extent as to be tedious or disagreeable. His
figurative use of words is very expressive and makes the work both
pleasant and agreeable to read; sometimes, however, these figures
are overbold and far-fetched, and create an impression of being
frigid and ill-timed. The language is variously embellished even to
excess, so that the reader imperceptibly finds himself involved in
a disagreeable obscurity. In many instances the author introduces
appropriate moral reflections of his own. He starts from the devotion
of Arius to the heresy and its first beginnings, and ends with the
recall of the impious Aëtius.[115] This Aëtius was removed from his
office by his brother heretics, since he outdid them in wickedness,
as Philostorgius himself unwillingly confesses. He was recalled and
welcomed by the impious Julian. The history, in one book and six
volumes, goes down to this period. The author is a liar and the
narrative often fictitious. He chiefly extols Aëtius and Eunomius
for their learning, as having alone cleansed the doctrines of faith
overlaid by time, therein showing himself a monstrous liar. He
also praises Eusebius of Nicomedia[116] (whom he calls the Great),
Theophilus the Indian,[117] and several others, for their lives and
wonderful works. He severely attacks Acacius, bishop of Caesarea[118]
in Palestine, for his extreme severity and invincible craftiness,
in which, he declares, Acacius surpassed all his fellow-heretics,
however filled they were with hatred of one another, as well as those
who held different religious opinions.
This was the extent of our reading. Soon afterwards six other
books were found in another volume, so that the whole appears to
have filled twelve books. The initial letters of each book are so
arranged that they form the name of the author. The work goes down
to the time of Theodosius the Younger, when, after the death of
Honorius, Theodosius handed over the throne of the West to his cousin
Valentinian the Younger, the son of Constantius and Placidia.
Notwithstanding his rage against the orthodox, Philostorgius does
not venture to attack Gregory the Theologian,[119] but unwillingly
accepts his doctrines. His attempt to slander Basil the Great only
had the effect of increasing his reputation. He was forced to admit
the vigour and beauty of his sermons from actual knowledge, although
he timidly calls Basil overbold and inexperienced in controversy,
because he ventured to attack the writings of Eunomius.