The incomprehensible kindness of our God by no means allows the state of a man to stray too long a time in the darkness.  Nor does it suffer the odius wills of some so to prevail as not to grant men a new opportunity for conversion to the truth by opening up before them through its most glorious light a path to salvation.  Of this indeed I am assured by many examples and I can illustrate the same truth from my own case, For at the first there were in me things which appeared far removed from righteousness and I did not think that there was any heavenly power which could see into the secrets of my heart.  What fortune ought these things which I have mentioned to have brought upon me?  Surely, a person overflowing with every evil!  But, Almighty God, who sits in the watch-tower of Heaven, has bestowed upon me that which I did not deserve, and truly, most holy bishops of the Savior Christ, at this time I can neither describe nor number these gifts which of His heavenly benevolence He granted to me, His servant.

When goddlessness, far and wide, lay heavy upon me, when the State was threatened by deadly pestilence of utter corruption and a radical cure was in urgent need, what a relief, what a Salvation from the mischief did God contrive!…God decreed my service and accounted me fit to execute His decree.  And thus have I, setting out from the sea in Britain and the lands where the sun must set, driven out and scattered the terrors that ruled on every hand by power from on High; that mankind, instructed by my mission, might return to the service of the Holy Law and that our most blessed Faith might also spread abroad, under the mighty direction of the Highest.  Being convicted that this is my glorious task, this God's gracious gift to me, I come now also to the lands of the East, which, in bitter pains, require my earnest need.

What each man, out of conviction, undertakes himself, he shall not try to force on another.  What a man sees and realizes for himself, let him serve his neighbor therewith, if he may; but if he avails not to do so, let him leave it alone.  For it is one thing to undertake of one's own free will the battle for the hereafter, and another to compel men by punishment to do so.  I have stated this and explained it more fully than my grace intended as I would not conceal my Christian faith.  Yet, I have done so because, I am told, some men are saying that the usage of the [pagan] temples have been abolished together with the powers of pagan darkness.  Indeed, I would so counsel every man, were it not that the rebellious might of false doctrines, to the injury of the salvation of us all, has struck its roots so terribly deep.  (Constantine the Great to the Bishops of Arles)