The Army Proclaims Constantine Augustus

Nor did the imperial throne remain empty for long. Constantine put on his father’s purple and came out from his father’s palace, showing everyone in his own person a renewal, as it were, of his father’s life and reign. Then he led the funeral procession together with his father’s friends, some going ahead of the procession and others following it, and performed the last rites for the godly dead man with extraordinary magnificence. All joined in honoring this thrice-blessed prince with acclamations and praises. With one mind and voice they glorified the son’s rule as the dead man living again, and they hurried at once to hail their new sovereign with joyful shouts by the titles of Imperial and Worshipful Augustus. So the memory of the dead emperor was honored by the praises given to his son, while the son was called blessed in being the successor of such a father. All the nations under his rule were filled with joy and inexpressible gladness at not being deprived, even for a moment, of the benefits of a well-ordered government. [a]

In the case of the emperor Constantius, God has shown our generation what the end is of those who in their lives have honored and loved him.