THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 509* 



ilation and profemon. He ordained Frumentius bifhop of 

 that country, who inftantly returned and found the young 8 

 king his pupil in the fame good difpofition as formerly; 

 he embraced Chriflianity ; the greatefl part of Abyfllnia fol- 

 lowed his example, and the church of Ethiopia continued 

 with this bifhop in perfect unity 'and friendfliip till his 

 death; and. though great troubles arofe from herefies being, 

 propagated in the Eafl, 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 refilling to embrace that herefy, or admit it in- 

 to his diocefe.. 



It mould feem, that this converfion of Abymnia 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, di- 

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

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

 perfecution was the confequence of this difference of te- 

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

 temporal. 



* CHAP; 



