_Liberius_ was chosen on the 22d of _May_ 352. in the room of _Julius_[717]. He had trampled under-foot (to use his own Terms) all worldly things, to observe the Gospel, and obey the Dictates of his Faith. He had been employed, before his Election, in several Ecclesiastical Ministries, and discharged them with Reputation, though he was not conscious to himself of having ever done the least Thing for the sake of Praise and Glory. He was at last raised to the Episcopal Dignity, but much against his Will, as he calls God and the Church to witness. He protests, that it was his ardent and only Wish, that he might keep himself pure and undefiled in the Administration of his new Dignity, that he might inviolably maintain and defend the Faith, which he had received from his illustrious Predecessors, among whom were many Martyrs[718]. [Sidenote: _No easy Matter to form a true Idea of his Character._] Were we to judge of his Conduct from his Words, we should equal him to the best of his Predecessors; but there appears, throughout his whole Administration, such an odd Mixture of opposite Qualities, that it is no easy Matter to form a true Idea of his Character: at one time we shall find him bold, intrepid, and inflexible; at another timorous, faint-hearted, and compliant; insomuch that one can hardly conceive him to be the same Man. The latter Qualities he betrayed in the very Beginning of his Pontificate, by separating himself from the Communion of _Athanasius_. _Constans_, the great Support of the Orthodox Party, being murdered, and _Constantius_ upon the Point of becoming Master of _Rome_, by a complete Victory he had gained over the Two Brothers _Magnentius_ and _Decentius_, the _Eusebians_ thought this a proper Juncture to try whether the Fear of that Prince had not rendered _Julius_ somewhat more tractable. For _Constantius_ was more incensed than ever against _Athanasius_, being assured by the _Eusebians_, to whom he gave an intire Credit, that he had influenced his Brother to threaten him with a Civil War[719]. [Sidenote: _The_ Eusebians _write a second Letter to_ Julius _against_ Athanasius:] They writ therefore to _Julius_ a second Letter, filled with new Complaints and Calumnies against _Athanasius_; but _Julius_ dying in the mean time, their Letter, together with another to the same Purpose from the _Arians_ of _Alexandria_, was delivered to _Liberius_, who caused them both to be publicly read in a full Assembly of the People, and in the Council, which was then sitting at _Rome_[720]. [Sidenote: _which is answered by_ Liberius:] His Answer to these Letters has not reached our Times; but a Copy of the Letter, which he writ on that Occasion to _Athanasius_, has, to his eternal Disgrace, been transmitted to us, among the Fragments of _Hilarius_ Bishop of _Poitiers_. [Sidenote: _who summons_ Athanasius _to_ Rome.] In that Letter he summons him to appear forthwith at _Rome_, to clear himself there of the heavy Accusations brought against him; and