How He Honored Many with Gifts and Promotions

While he was busy in these many ways furthering the growth and glory of the church of God, and doing everything he could to commend the Savior’s teaching, the emperor was far from neglecting the affairs of the world. Here too he was tireless, conferring benefits of every kind, one after another, on the people of every province. On the one hand he showed a father’s concern for the general welfare of his subjects; on the other he would single out individuals he knew for various marks of honor. In every case he gave his benefits in a truly noble spirit. No one could ask a favor of the emperor and fail to get what he sought; no one hoped for a gift from him and found that hope disappointed. Some received gifts of money, others of land. Some obtained the praetorian prefecture, others the rank of senator, others again the rank of consul. Many were appointed governors of provinces. Others were made counts of the first, second, or third order. In countless cases the title of Most Illustrious and many other distinctions were conferred, for the emperor invented new honors so that he could give the marks of his favor to a larger number of people. [a]