T HE SOURCE OF THE N IX E. 509; 



flation and profellion. He ordained Frumentius bifhop of 

 that country, who inftantly returned and. found the young 

 king liis pupil in the fame good difpofition as formerly ; 

 he embraced. Chriiiianity ; the greatefl part of Abyflinia fol- 

 lowed liis example, and the church of Ethiopia continued 

 with this biihop in perfect unity and friendship till his 

 death; and though great troubles arofe from herelics being 

 propagated in the Eaft, that church, and the fountain whence 

 it derived its faith (Alexandria,) remained uncontaminated.by 

 any falfe doctrine.. 



But it was not long after this, that Arianifm broke out 

 under Conftantius the Emperor, and was ftrongly favoured 

 by him. We have indeed a letter of St Athanafius to that 

 Emperor, who had applied to him to depofe Frumentius from, 

 his See for ref ufmg to embrace that herefy, or admit it im 

 to his diocefe. . 



It mould feem, that this converfion of Abyflinia was> 

 quietly conducted, and without blood; and this is the more, 

 remarkable, that it was the fecond radical change of reli- 

 gion, effected in the fame manner, and with the fame faci- 

 lity and moderation. No fanatic preachers, no warm faints, 

 or madmen, ambitious to make or to be made martyrs, dU 

 fturbed either of thefe happy events, in this wife, though 

 barbarous nation, fo as to involve them in bloodfhed : no 

 persecution was the confequence of this difference of te- 

 nets, and if wars did follow, it was from matters merely 

 temporal. 



z, CHAR 



