CHAPTER IX. 



THE CHURCH IN THE DAYS OF CONSTAN- 



TINE. 



CONSTANTINE's CONVERSION CHANGES IN THE RE* 



LIGION OF THE EMPIRE — NICE — CONSTANTINOPLE. 



Dates. 



A, D. 312. CONVERSION OF CONSTANTINE. 

 325. COUNCIL AT NICE. 



A very marvellous change in the external affairs 

 of the Church took place when Constantine became 

 the Emperor ot Rome, about a.d. 323. The father 

 of Constantine had treated the Christians with com- 

 parative kindness, but still paganism was the religion 

 of the empire, until Constantine ascended the throne. 

 His conversion to Christianity took place while he 

 was at the head of his armies, marching against 

 Maxentius, who had seized the government of Italy. 

 It is said that while greatly discouraged by the 

 rebellion against him, which was led by Maxentius, 

 he saw a vision of a cross in the sky, with the words 

 " In hoc signo, vimts" meaning, "By this sign, 

 thou shalt conquer." 



