Note:IsnotthesenseofTertullianrather，ifguiltyofanyotheroffence，behadtherebyceasedtobeaChristian?—M。]
[Footnote*:AndthisblamelessnesswasfullyadmittedbythecandidandenlightenedRoman。—M。]
[Footnote85:Tertullian，Apolog。c。44。Headds，however，withsomedegreeofhesitation，\"Autsialiud，jamnonChristianus。\"
Note:TertulliansayspositivelynoChristian，nemoillicChristianus；fortherest，thelimitationwhichhehimselfsubjoins，andwhichGibbonquotesintheforegoingnote，diminishestheforceofthisassertion，andappearstoprovethatatleastheknewnonesuch。—G。]
[Footnote86:ThephilosopherPeregrinusofwhoselifeanddeathLucianhasleftussoentertaininganaccountimposed，foralongtime，onthecreduloussimplicityoftheChristiansofAsia。]
ItisaveryhonorablecircumstanceforthemoralsoftheprimitiveChristians，thateventheirfaults，orrathererrors，werederivedfromanexcessofvirtue。Thebishopsanddoctorsofthechurch，whoseevidenceattests，andwhoseauthoritymightinfluence，theprofessions，theprinciples，andeventhepracticeoftheircontemporaries，hadstudiedtheScriptureswithlessskillthandevotion；andtheyoftenreceived，inthemostliteralsense，thoserigidpreceptsofChristandtheapostles，towhichtheprudenceofsucceedingcommentatorshasappliedalooserandmorefigurativemodeofinterpretation。Ambitioustoexalttheperfectionofthegospelabovethewisdomofphilosophy，thezealousfathershavecarriedthedutiesofself—mortification，ofpurity，andofpatience，toaheightwhichitisscarcelypossibletoattain，andmuchlesstopreserve，inourpresentstateofweaknessandcorruption。Adoctrinesoextraordinaryandsosublimemustinevitablycommandthevenerationofthepeople；butitwasillcalculatedtoobtainthesuffrageofthoseworldlyphilosophers，who，intheconductofthistransitorylife，consultonlythefeelingsofnatureandtheinterestofsociety。^87
[Footnote87:SeeaveryjudicioustreatiseofBarbeyracsurlaMoraledesPeres。]
Therearetwoverynaturalpropensitieswhichwemaydistinguishinthemostvirtuousandliberaldispositions，theloveofpleasureandtheloveofaction。Iftheformerisrefinedbyartandlearning，improvedbythecharmsofsocialintercourse，andcorrectedbyajustregardtoeconomy，tohealth，andtoreputation，itisproductiveofthegreatestpartofthehappinessofprivatelife。Theloveofactionisaprincipleofamuchstrongerandmoredoubtfulnature。Itoftenleadstoanger，toambition，andtorevenge；butwhenitisguidedbythesenseofproprietyandbenevolence，itbecomestheparentofeveryvirtue，andifthosevirtuesareaccompaniedwithequalabilities，afamily，astate，oranempire，maybeindebtedfortheirsafetyandprosperitytotheundauntedcourageofasingleman。Totheloveofpleasurewemaythereforeascribemostoftheagreeable，totheloveofactionwemayattributemostoftheusefulandrespectable，qualifications。Thecharacterinwhichboththeoneandtheothershouldbeunitedandharmonized，wouldseemtoconstitutethemostperfectideaofhumannature。Theinsensibleandinactivedisposition，whichshouldbesupposedalikedestituteofboth，wouldberejected，bythecommonconsentofmankind，asutterlyincapableofprocuringanyhappinesstotheindividual，oranypublicbenefittotheworld。Butitwasnotinthisworld，thattheprimitiveChristiansweredesirousofmakingthemselveseitheragreeableoruseful。
[Footnote*:Elquemefaitcettehomeliesemi—stoicienne，semi—epicurienne?t\'onjamaisregardel\'amourduplaisircommel\'undesprincipesdelaperfectionmorale?Etdequeldroitfaitesvousdel\'amourdel\'action，etdel\'amourduplaisir，lesseulselemensdel\'etrehumain?Estcequevousfaitesabstractiondelaveriteenelle—meme，delaconscienceetdusentimentdudevoir?Estcequevousnesentezpoint，parexemple，quelesacrificedumoialajusticeetalaverite，estaussidanslecoeurdel\'homme:quetoutn\'estpaspourluiactionouplaisir，etquedanslebiencen\'estpaslemouvement，maislaverite，qu\'ilcherche?Etpuis**ThucydideetTacite。
cesmaitresdel\'histoire，ontilsjamaisintroduitsdansleurrecitsunfragmentdedissertationsurleplaisiretsurl\'action。VillemainCoursdeLit。Francpartii。Leconv。—M。]
Theacquisitionofknowledge，theexerciseofourreasonorfancy，andthecheerfulflowofunguardedconversation，mayemploytheleisureofaliberalmind。Suchamusements，however，wererejectedwithabhorrence，oradmittedwiththeutmostcaution，bytheseverityofthefathers，whodespisedallknowledgethatwasnotusefultosalvation，andwhoconsideredalllevityofdiscourseasacriminalabuseofthegiftofspeech。Inourpresentstateofexistencethebodyissoinseparablyconnectedwiththesoul，thatitseemstobeourinteresttotaste，withinnocenceandmoderation，theenjoymentsofwhichthatfaithfulcompanionissusceptible。Verydifferentwasthereasoningofourdevoutpredecessors；vainlyaspiringtoimitatetheperfectionofangels，theydisdained，ortheyaffectedtodisdain，everyearthlyandcorporealdelight。^88
Someofoursensesindeedarenecessaryforourpreservation，othersforoursubsistence，andothersagainforourinformation；
andthusfaritwasimpossibletorejecttheuseofthem。Thefirstsensationofpleasurewasmarkedasthefirstmomentoftheirabuse。Theunfeelingcandidateforheavenwasinstructed，notonlytoresistthegrosserallurementsofthetasteorsmell，buteventoshuthisearsagainsttheprofaneharmonyofsounds，andtoviewwithindifferencethemostfinishedproductionsofhumanart。Gayapparel，magnificenthouses，andelegantfurniture，weresupposedtounitethedoubleguiltofprideandofsensuality；asimpleandmortifiedappearancewasmoresuitabletotheChristianwhowascertainofhissinsanddoubtfulofhissalvation。Intheircensuresofluxury，thefathersareextremelyminuteandcircumstantial；^89andamongthevariousarticleswhichexcitetheirpiousindignation，wemayenumeratefalsehair，garmentsofanycolorexceptwhite，instrumentsofmusic，vasesofgoldorsilver，downypillows，asJacobreposedhisheadonastone，whitebread，foreignwines，publicsalutations，theuseofwarmbaths，andthepracticeofshavingthebeard，which，accordingtotheexpressionofTertullian，isalieagainstourownfaces，andanimpiousattempttoimprovetheworksoftheCreator。^90WhenChristianitywasintroducedamongtherichandthepolite，theobservationofthesesingularlawswasleft，asitwouldbeatpresent，tothefewwhowereambitiousofsuperiorsanctity。Butitisalwayseasy，aswellasagreeable，fortheinferiorranksofmankindtoclaimameritfromthecontemptofthatpompandpleasurewhichfortunehasplacedbeyondtheirreach。ThevirtueoftheprimitiveChristians，likethatofthefirstRomans，wasveryfrequentlyguardedbypovertyandignorance。
[Footnote88:Lactant。Institut。Divin。l。vi。c。20，21，22。]
[Footnote89:ConsultaworkofClemensofAlexandria，entitledThePaedagogue，whichcontainstherudimentsofethics，astheyweretaughtinthemostcelebratedoftheChristianschools。]
[Footnote90:Tertullian，deSpectaculis，c。23。ClemensAlexandrin。Paedagog。l。iii。c。8。]
Thechasteseverityofthefathers，inwhateverrelatedtothecommerceofthetwosexes，flowedfromthesameprinciple；
theirabhorrenceofeveryenjoymentwhichmightgratifythesensual，anddegradethespiritual，natureofman。Itwastheirfavoriteopinion，thatifAdamhadpreservedhisobediencetotheCreator，hewouldhavelivedforeverinastateofvirginpurity，andthatsomeharmlessmodeofvegetationmighthavepeopledparadisewitharaceofinnocentandimmortalbeings。^91Theuseofmarriagewaspermittedonlytohisfallenposterity，asanecessaryexpedienttocontinuethehumanspecies，andasarestraint，howeverimperfect，onthenaturallicentiousnessofdesire。Thehesitationoftheorthodoxcasuistsonthisinterestingsubject，betraystheperplexityofmen，unwillingtoapproveaninstitutionwhichtheywerecompelledtotolerate。^92
Theenumerationoftheverywhimsicallaws，whichtheymostcircumstantiallyimposedonthemarriage—bed，wouldforceasmilefromtheyoungandablushfromthefair。Itwastheirunanimoussentiment，thatafirstmarriagewasadequatetoallthepurposesofnatureandofsociety。ThesensualconnectionwasrefinedintoaresemblanceofthemysticunionofChristwithhischurch，andwaspronouncedtobeindissolubleeitherbydivorceorbydeath。Thepracticeofsecondnuptialswasbrandedwiththenameofaegaladultery；andthepersonswhowereguiltyofsoscandalousanoffenceagainstChristianpurity，weresoonexcludedfromthehonors，andevenfromthealms，ofthechurch。
^93Sincedesirewasimputedasacrime，andmarriagewastoleratedasadefect，itwasconsistentwiththesameprinciplestoconsiderastateofcelibacyasthenearestapproachtothedivineperfection。ItwaswiththeutmostdifficultythatancientRomecouldsupporttheinstitutionofsixvestals；^94
buttheprimitivechurchwasfilledwithagreatnumberofpersonsofeithersex，whohaddevotedthemselvestotheprofessionofperpetualchastity。^95Afewofthese，amongwhomwemayreckonthelearnedOrigen，judgeditthemostprudenttodisarmthetempter。^96Somewereinsensibleandsomewereinvincibleagainsttheassaultsoftheflesh。Disdaininganignominiousflight，thevirginsofthewarmclimateofAfricaencounteredtheenemyintheclosestengagement；theypermittedpriestsanddeaconstosharetheirbed，andgloriedamidsttheflamesintheirunsulliedpurity。ButinsultedNaturesometimesvindicatedherrights，andthisnewspeciesofmartyrdomservedonlytointroduceanewscandalintothechurch。^97AmongtheChristianascetics，however，anamewhichtheysoonacquiredfromtheirpainfulexercise，many，astheywerelesspresumptuous，wereprobablymoresuccessful。Thelossofsensualpleasurewassuppliedandcompensatedbyspiritualpride。EventhemultitudeofPaganswereinclinedtoestimatethemeritofthesacrificebyitsapparentdifficulty；anditwasinthepraiseofthesechastespousesofChristthatthefathershavepouredforththetroubledstreamoftheireloquence。^98Sucharetheearlytracesofmonasticprinciplesandinstitutions，which，inasubsequentage，havecounterbalancedallthetemporaladvantagesofChristianity。^99
[Footnote91:Beausobro，Hist。CritiqueduManicheisme，l。vii。
c。3。Justin，GregoryofNyssa，Augustin，&c。，stronglyinclinetothisopinion。
Note:ButthesewereGnosticorManicheanopinions。
BeausobredistinctlydescribesAutustine\'sbiastohisrecentescapefromManicheism；andaddsthatbeafterwardschangedhisviews。—M。]
[Footnote92:SomeoftheGnostichereticsweremoreconsistent；
theyrejectedtheuseofmarriage。]
[Footnote93:Seeachainoftradition，fromJustinMartyrtoJerome，intheMoraledesPeres，c。iv。6—26。]
[Footnote94:SeeaverycuriousDissertationontheVestals，intheMemoiresdel\'AcademiedesInscriptions，tom。iv。p。161—
227。Notwithstandingthehonorsandrewardswhichwerebestowedonthosevirgins，itwasdifficulttoprocureasufficientnumber；norcouldthedreadofthemosthorribledeathalwaysrestraintheirincontinence。]
[Footnote95:Cupiditatemprocreandiautunamscimusautnullam。
MinutiusFaelix，c。31。Justin。Apolog。Major。AthenagorasinLegat。c28。TertulliandeCultuFoemin。l。ii。]
[Footnote96:Eusebius，l。vi。8。BeforethefameofOrigenhadexcitedenvyandpersecution，thisextraordinaryactionwasratheradmiredthancensured。AsitwashisgeneralpracticetoallegorizeScripture，itseemsunfortunatethatinthisinstanceonly，heshouldhaveadoptedtheliteralsense。]
[Footnote97:Cyprian。Epist。4，andDodwell，Dissertat。
Cyprianic。iii。SomethinglikethisrashattemptwaslongafterwardsimputedtothefounderoftheorderofFontevrault。
Baylehasamusedhimselfandhisreadersonthatverydelicatesubject。]
[Footnote98:DupinBibliothequeEcclesiastique，tom。i。p。195
givesaparticularaccountofthedialogueofthetenvirgins，asitwascomposedbyMethodius，BishopofTyre。Thepraisesofvirginityareexcessive。]
[Footnote99:TheAsceticsasearlyasthesecondcenturymadeapublicprofessionofmortifyingtheirbodies，andofabstainingfromtheuseoffleshandwine。Mosheim，p。310。]
TheChristianswerenotlessaversetothebusinessthantothepleasuresofthisworld。Thedefenceofourpersonsandpropertytheyknewnothowtoreconcilewiththepatientdoctrinewhichenjoinedanunlimitedforgivenessofpastinjuries，andcommandedthemtoinvitetherepetitionoffreshinsults。Theirsimplicitywasoffendedbytheuseofoaths，bythepompofmagistracy，andbytheactivecontentionofpubliclife；norcouldtheirhumaneignorancebeconvincedthatitwaslawfulonanyoccasiontoshedthebloodofourfellow—creatures，eitherbytheswordofjustice，orbythatofwar；eventhoughtheircriminalorhostileattemptsshouldthreatenthepeaceandsafetyofthewholecommunity。^100Itwasacknowledged，that，underalessperfectlaw，thepowersoftheJewishconstitutionhadbeenexercised，withtheapprobationofHeaven，byinspiredprophetsandbyanointedkings。TheChristiansfeltandconfessedthatsuchinstitutionsmightbenecessaryforthepresentsystemoftheworld，andtheycheerfullysubmittedtotheauthorityoftheirPagangovernors。Butwhiletheyinculcatedthemaximsofpassiveobedience，theyrefusedtotakeanyactivepartintheciviladministrationorthemilitarydefenceoftheempire。Someindulgencemight，perhaps，beallowedtothosepersonswho，beforetheirconversion，werealreadyengagedinsuchviolentandsanguinaryoccupations；^101butitwasimpossiblethattheChristians，withoutrenouncingamoresacredduty，couldassumethecharacterofsoldiers，ofmagistrates，orofprinces。^102
Thisindolent，orevencriminaldisregardtothepublicwelfare，exposedthemtothecontemptandreproachesofthePaganswhoveryfrequentlyasked，whatmustbethefateoftheempire，attackedoneverysidebythebarbarians，ifallmankindshouldadoptthepusillanimoussentimentsofthenewsect。^103TothisinsultingquestiontheChristianapologistsreturnedobscureandambiguousanswers，astheywereunwillingtorevealthesecretcauseoftheirsecurity；theexpectationthat，beforetheconversionofmankindwasaccomplished，war，government，theRomanempire，andtheworlditself，wouldbenomore。Itmaybeobserved，that，inthisinstancelikewise，thesituationofthefirstChristianscoincidedveryhappilywiththeirreligiousscruples，andthattheiraversiontoanactivelifecontributedrathertoexcusethemfromtheservice，thantoexcludethemfromthehonors，ofthestateandarmy。
[Footnote100:SeetheMoraledesPeres。ThesamepatientprincipleshavebeenrevivedsincetheReformationbytheSocinians，themodernAnabaptists，andtheQuakers。Barclay，theApologistoftheQuakers，hasprotectedhisbrethrenbytheauthorityoftheprimitiveChristian；p。542—549]
[Footnote101:Tertullian，Apolog。c。21。DeIdololatria，c。17，18。OrigencontraCelsum，l。v。p。253，l。vii。p。348，l。viii。
p。423—428。]
[Footnote102:TertulliandeCoronaMilitis，c。11suggestedtothemtheexpedientofdeserting；acounselwhich，ifithadbeengenerallyknown，wasnotverypropertoconciliatethefavoroftheemperorstowardstheChristiansect。
Note:ThereisnothingwhichoughttoastonishusintherefusaloftheprimitiveChristianstotakepartinpublicaffairs；itwasthenaturalconsequenceofthecontrarietyoftheirprinciplestothecustoms，laws，andactivelifeofthePaganworld。AsChristians，theycouldnotenterintothesenate，which，accordingtoGibbonhimself，alwaysassembledinatempleorconsecratedplace，andwhereeachsenator，beforehetookhisseat，madealibationofafewdropsofwine，andburntincenseonthealtar；asChristians，theycouldnotassistatfestivalsandbanquets，whichalwaysterminatedwithlibations，&c。；finally，as\"theinnumerabledeitiesandritesofpolytheismwerecloselyinterwovenwitheverycircumstanceofpublicandprivatelife，\"theChristianscouldnotparticipateinthemwithoutincurring，accordingtotheirprinciples，theguiltofimpiety。Itwasthenmuchlessbyaneffectoftheirdoctrine，thanbytheconsequenceoftheirsituation，thattheystoodalooffrompublicbusiness。Wheneverthissituationofferednoimpediment，theyshowedasmuchactivityasthePagans。Proinde，saysJustinMartyr，Apol。c。17，nossolumDeumadoramus，etvobisinrebusaliislaetiinservimus。—G。
Thislatterpassage，M。GuizotquotesinLatin；ifhehadconsultedtheoriginal，hewouldhavefoundittobealtogetherirrelevant:itmerelyrelatestothepaymentoftaxes。—M。
Tertulliandoesnotsuggesttothesoldierstheexpedientofdeserting；hesaysthattheyoughttobeconstantlyontheirguardtodonothingduringtheirservicecontrarytothelawofGod，andtoresolvetosuffermartyrdomratherthansubmittoabasecompliance，oropenlytorenouncetheservice。DeCor。Mil。
ii。p。127。HedoesnotpositivelydecidethatthemilitaryserviceisnotpermittedtoChristians；heends，indeed，bysaying，Putadeniqueliceremilitiamusqueadcausamcoronae。—
G。
M。Guizotis。Ithink，againunfortunateinhisdefenceofTertullian。Thatfathersays，thatmanyChristiansoldiershaddeserted，autdeserendumstatimsit，utamultisactum。Thelattersentence，Puta，&c，&c。，isaconcessionforthesakeofargument:whafollowsismoretothepurpose。—M。
ManyotherpassagesofTertullianprovethatthearmywasfullofChristians，Hesternisumusetvestraomniaimplevimus，urbes，insulas，castella，municipia，conciliabula，castraipsa。
Apol。c。37。Navigamusetnotvobiscumetmilitamus。c。42。