164. According to Eusebius (in Vit. Constantin. 1. ii. c.
45) the emperor prohibited, both in cities and in the
country, ****; the abominable acts or parts of idolatry.
Socrates (1. i. c. 18) and Sozomen (1. ii. c. 4, 5) have
represented the conduct of Constantine with a just regard to
truth and history, which has been neglected by Theodoret (1.
v. c. 21) and Orosius (vii. 28). Tum deinde (says the
latter) primus Constantinus 'justo' ordine et pio vicem
vertit edicto; siquidem statuit citra ullam hominum caedem,
paganorum templa claudi.