Theprospectofimmediatereliefandoffutureprotectionalluredintoitshospitablebosommanyofthoseunhappypersonswhomtheneglectoftheworldwouldhaveabandonedtothemiseriesofwant，ofsickness，andofoldage。Thereissomereasonlikewisetobelievethatgreatnumbersofinfants，who，accordingtotheinhumanpracticeofthetimes，hadbeenexposedbytheirparents，werefrequentlyrescuedfromdeath，baptized，educated，andmaintainedbythepietyoftheChristians，andattheexpenseofthepublictreasure。^144
[Footnote139:Constitut。Apostol。ii。35。]
[Footnote140:CypriandeLapsis，p。89。Epistol。65。Thechargeisconfirmedbythe19thand20thcanonofthecouncilofIlliberis。]
[Footnote141:SeetheapologiesofJustin，Tertullian，&c。]
[Footnote142:ThewealthandliberalityoftheRomanstotheirmostdistantbrethrenisgratefullycelebratedbyDionysiusofCorinth，ap。Euseb。l。iv。c。23。]
[Footnote143:SeeLucianiuPeregrin。JulianEpist。49seemsmortifiedthattheChristiancharitymaintainsnotonlytheirown，butlikewisetheheathenpoor。]
[Footnote144:Such，atleast，hasbeenthelaudableconductofmoremodernmissionaries，underthesamecircumstances。Abovethreethousandnew—borninfantsareannuallyexposedinthestreetsofPekin。SeeLeComte，MemoiressurlaChine，andtheRecherchessurlesChinoisetlesEgyptians，tom。i。p。61。]
II。Itistheundoubtedrightofeverysocietytoexcludefromitscommunionandbenefitssuchamongitsmembersasrejectorviolatethoseregulationswhichhavebeenestablishedbygeneralconsent。Intheexerciseofthispower，thecensuresoftheChristianchurchwerechieflydirectedagainstscandaloussinners，andparticularlythosewhowereguiltyofmurder，offraud，orofincontinence；againsttheauthorsorthefollowersofanyhereticalopinionswhichhadbeencondemnedbythejudgmentoftheepiscopalorder；andagainstthoseunhappypersons，who，whetherfromchoiceorcompulsion，hadpollutedthemselvesaftertheirbaptismbyanyactofidolatrousworship。
Theconsequencesofexcommunicationwereofatemporalaswellasaspiritualnature。TheChristianagainstwhomitwaspronounced，wasdeprivedofanypartintheoblationsofthefaithful。Thetiesbothofreligiousandofprivatefriendshipweredissolved:hefoundhimselfaprofaneobjectofabhorrencetothepersonswhomhethemostesteemed，orbywhomhehadbeenthemosttenderlybeloved；andasfarasanexpulsionfromarespectablesocietycouldimprintonhischaracteramarkofdisgrace，hewasshunnedorsuspectedbythegeneralityofmankind。Thesituationoftheseunfortunateexileswasinitselfverypainfulandmelancholy；but，asitusuallyhappens，theirapprehensionsfarexceededtheirsufferings。ThebenefitsoftheChristiancommunionwerethoseofeternallife；norcouldtheyerasefromtheirmindstheawfulopinion，thattothoseecclesiasticalgovernorsbywhomtheywerecondemned，theDeityhadcommittedthekeysofHellandofParadise。Theheretics，indeed，whomightbesupportedbytheconsciousnessoftheirintentions，andbytheflatteringhopethattheyalonehaddiscoveredthetruepathofsalvation，endeavoredtoregain，intheirseparateassemblies，thosecomforts，temporalaswellasspiritual，whichtheynolongerderivedfromthegreatsocietyofChristians。Butalmostallthosewhohadreluctantlyyieldedtothepowerofviceoridolatryweresensibleoftheirfallencondition，andanxiouslydesirousofbeingrestoredtothebenefitsoftheChristiancommunion。
Withregardtothetreatmentofthesepenitents，twooppositeopinions，theoneofjustice，theotherofmercy，dividedtheprimitivechurch。Themorerigidandinflexiblecasuistsrefusedthemforever，andwithoutexception，themeanestplaceintheholycommunity，whichtheyhaddisgracedordeserted；andleavingthemtotheremorseofaguiltyconscience，indulgedthemonlywithafaintrayofhopethatthecontritionoftheirlifeanddeathmightpossiblybeacceptedbytheSupremeBeing。^145Amildersentimentwasembracedinpracticeaswellasintheory，bythepurestandmostrespectableoftheChristianchurches。^146Thegatesofreconciliationandofheavenwereseldomshutagainstthereturningpenitent；butasevereandsolemnformofdisciplinewasinstituted，which，whileitservedtoexpiatehiscrime，mightpowerfullydeterthespectatorsfromtheimitationofhisexample。Humbledbyapublicconfession，emaciatedbyfastingandclothedinsackcloth，thepenitentlayprostrateatthedooroftheassembly，imploringwithtearsthepardonofhisoffences，andsolicitingtheprayersofthefaithful。^147Ifthefaultwasofaveryheinousnature，wholeyearsofpenancewereesteemedaninadequatesatisfactiontothedivinejustice；anditwasalwaysbyslowandpainfulgradationsthatthesinner，theheretic，ortheapostate，wasreadmittedintothebosomofthechurch。Asentenceofperpetualexcommunicationwas，however，reservedforsomecrimesofanextraordinarymagnitude，andparticularlyfortheinexcusablerelapsesofthosepenitentswhohadalreadyexperiencedandabusedtheclemencyoftheirecclesiasticalsuperiors。Accordingtothecircumstancesorthenumberoftheguilty，theexerciseoftheChristiandisciplinewasvariedbythediscretionofthebishops。ThecouncilsofAncyraandIlliberiswereheldaboutthesametime，theoneinGalatia，theotherinSpain；buttheirrespectivecanons，whicharestillextant，seemtobreatheaverydifferentspirit。TheGalatian，whoafterhisbaptismhadrepeatedlysacrificedtoidols，mightobtainhispardonbyapenanceofsevenyears；andifhehadseducedotherstoimitatehisexample，onlythreeyearsmorewereaddedtothetermofhisexile。ButtheunhappySpaniard，whohadcommittedthesameoffence，wasdeprivedofthehopeofreconciliation，eveninthearticleofdeath；andhisidolatrywasplacedattheheadofalistofseventeenothercrimes，againstwhichasentencenolessterriblewaspronounced。Amongthesewemaydistinguishtheinexpiableguiltofcalumniatingabishop，apresbyter，orevenadeacon。^148
[Footnote145:TheMontanistsandtheNovatians，whoadheredtothisopinionwiththegreatestrigorandobstinacy，foundthemselvesatlastinthenumberofexcommunicatedheretics。SeethelearnedandcopiousMosheim，Secul。ii。andiii。]
[Footnote146:Dionysiusap。Euseb。iv。23。Cyprian，deLapsis。]
[Footnote147:Cave\'sPrimitiveChristianity，partiii。c。5。
Theadmirersofantiquityregretthelossofthispublicpenance。]
[Footnote148:SeeinDupin，BibliothequeEcclesiastique，tom。
ii。p。304—313，ashortbutrationalexpositionofthecanonsofthosecouncils，whichwereassembledinthefirstmomentsoftranquillity，afterthepersecutionofDiocletian。ThispersecutionhadbeenmuchlessseverelyfeltinSpainthaninGalatia；adifferencewhichmay，insomemeasureaccountforthecontrastoftheirregulations。]
Thewell—temperedmixtureofliberalityandrigor，thejudiciousdispensationofrewardsandpunishments，accordingtothemaximsofpolicyaswellasjustice，constitutedthehumanstrengthofthechurch。TheBishops，whosepaternalcareextendeditselftothegovernmentofbothworlds，weresensibleoftheimportanceoftheseprerogatives；andcoveringtheirambitionwiththefairpretenceoftheloveoforder，theywerejealousofanyrivalintheexerciseofadisciplinesonecessarytopreventthedesertionofthosetroopswhichhadenlistedthemselvesunderthebannerofthecross，andwhosenumberseverydaybecamemoreconsiderable。FromtheimperiousdeclamationsofCyprian，weshouldnaturallyconcludethatthedoctrinesofexcommunicationandpenanceformedthemostessentialpartofreligion；andthatitwasmuchlessdangerousforthedisciplesofChristtoneglecttheobservanceofthemoralduties，thantodespisethecensuresandauthorityoftheirbishops。SometimeswemightimaginethatwewerelisteningtothevoiceofMoses，whenhecommandedtheearthtoopen，andtoswallowup，inconsumingflames，therebelliousracewhichrefusedobediencetothepriesthoodofAaron；andweshouldsometimessupposethatwehearaRomanconsulassertingthemajestyoftherepublic，anddeclaringhisinflexibleresolutiontoenforcetherigorofthelaws。\"Ifsuchirregularitiesaresufferedwithimpunity，\"itisthusthatthebishopofCarthagechidesthelenityofhiscolleague，\"ifsuchirregularitiesaresuffered，thereisanendofEpiscopalVigor；^149anendofthesublimeanddivinepowerofgoverningtheChurch，anendofChristianityitself。\"Cyprianhadrenouncedthosetemporalhonors，whichitisprobablehewouldneverhaveobtained；buttheacquisitionofsuchabsolutecommandovertheconsciencesandunderstandingofacongregation，howeverobscureordespisedbytheworld，ismoretrulygratefultotheprideofthehumanheart，thanthepossessionofthemostdespoticpower，imposedbyarmsandconquestonareluctantpeople。
[Footnote*:GibbonhasbeenaccusedofinjusticetothecharacterofCyprian，asexaltingthe\"censuresandauthorityofthechurchabovetheobservanceofthemoralduties。\"
Felicissimushadbeencondemnedbyasynodofbishops，nontantummea，sedplurimorumcoepiscorum，sententiacondemnatum，
onthechargenotonlyofschism，butofembezzlementofpublicmoney，thedebauchingofvirgins，andfrequentactsofadultery。
Hisviolentmenaceshadextortedhisreadmissionintothechurch，againstwhichCyprianprotestswithmuchvehemence:nepecuniaecommissaesibifraudator，nestupratorvirginum，nematrimoniorummultorumdepopulatoretcorruptor，ultraadhucsponsamChristiincorruptampraesentiaesuaededecore，etimpudicaatqueincestacontagione，violaret。SeeChelsum\'sRemarks，p。134。IfthesechargesagainstFelicissimusweretrue，theyweresomethingmorethan\"irregularities，\"ARomancensorwouldhavebeenafairersubjectofcomparisonthanaconsul。Ontheotherhand，itmustbeadmittedthatthechargeofadulterydeepensveryrapidlyasthecontroversybecomesmoreviolent。Itisfirstrepresentedasasingleact，recentlydetected，andwhichmenofcharacterwerepreparedtosubstantiate:adulteriietiamcrimenaccedit。quodpatresnostrigravesvirideprehendissesenuntiaverunt，etprobaturosseasseverarunt。Epist。xxxviii。Theheretichasnowdarkenedintoamanofnotoriousandgeneralprofligacy。Norcanitbedeniedthatofthewholelongepistle，veryfarthelargerandthemorepassionatepartdwellsonthebreachofecclesiasticalunityratherthanontheviolationofChristianholiness。—M。]
[Footnote149:CyprianEpist。69。]
[Footnote*:Thissuppositionappearsunfounded:thebirthandthetalentsofCyprianmightmakeuspresumethecontrary。
ThasciusCaeciliusCyprianus，Carthaginensis，artisoratoriaeprofessioneclarus，magnamsibigloriam，opes，honoresacquisivit，epularibuscaenisetlargisdapibusassuetus，pretiosavesteconspicuus，auroatquepurpurafulgens，fascibusoblectatusethonoribus，stipatusclientiumcuneis，frequentiorecomitatuofficiiagminishonestatus，utipsedeseloquiturinEpistolaadDonatum。SeeDeCave，Hist。Liter。b。i。p。87。—G。
CavehasratherembellishedCyprian\'slanguage。—M。]
Inthecourseofthisimportant，thoughperhapstediousinquiry，IhaveattemptedtodisplaythesecondarycauseswhichsoefficaciouslyassistedthetruthoftheChristianreligion。
Ifamongthesecauseswehavediscoveredanyartificialornaments，anyaccidentalcircumstances，oranymixtureoferrorandpassion，itcannotappearsurprisingthatmankindshouldbethemostsensiblyaffectedbysuchmotivesasweresuitedtotheirimperfectnature。Itwasbytheaidofthesecauses，exclusivezeal，theimmediateexpectationofanotherworld，theclaimofmiracles，thepracticeofrigidvirtue，andtheconstitutionoftheprimitivechurch，thatChristianityspreaditselfwithsomuchsuccessintheRomanempire。TothefirstofthesetheChristianswereindebtedfortheirinvinciblevalor，whichdisdainedtocapitulatewiththeenemywhomtheywereresolvedtovanquish。Thethreesucceedingcausessuppliedtheirvalorwiththemostformidablearms。Thelastofthesecausesunitedtheircourage，directedtheirarms，andgavetheireffortsthatirresistibleweight，whichevenasmallbandofwell—trainedandintrepidvolunteershassooftenpossessedoveranundisciplinedmultitude，ignorantofthesubject，andcarelessoftheeventofthewar。InthevariousreligionsofPolytheism，somewanderingfanaticsofEgyptandSyria，whoaddressedthemselvestothecreduloussuperstitionofthepopulace，wereperhapstheonlyorderofpriests^150thatderivedtheirwholesupportandcreditfromtheirsacerdotalprofession，andwereverydeeplyaffectedbyapersonalconcernforthesafetyorprosperityoftheirtutelardeities。TheministersofPolytheism，bothinRomeandintheprovinces，were，forthemostpart，menofanoblebirth，andofanaffluentfortune，whoreceived，asanhonorabledistinction，thecareofacelebratedtemple，orofapublicsacrifice，exhibited，veryfrequentlyattheirownexpense，thesacredgames，^151andwithcoldindifferenceperformedtheancientrites，accordingtothelawsandfashionoftheircountry。Astheywereengagedintheordinaryoccupationsoflife，theirzealanddevotionwereseldomanimatedbyasenseofinterest，orbythehabitsofanecclesiasticalcharacter。Confinedtotheirrespectivetemplesandcities，theyremainedwithoutanyconnectionofdisciplineorgovernment；andwhilsttheyacknowledgedthesupremejurisdictionofthesenate，ofthecollegeofpontiffs，andoftheemperor，thosecivilmagistratescontentedthemselveswiththeeasytaskofmaintaininginpeaceanddignitythegeneralworshipofmankind。Wehavealreadyseenhowvarious，howloose，andhowuncertainwerethereligioussentimentsofPolytheists。Theywereabandoned，almostwithoutcontrol，tothenaturalworkingsofasuperstitiousfancy。Theaccidentalcircumstancesoftheirlifeandsituationdeterminedtheobjectaswellasthedegreeoftheirdevotion；andaslongastheiradorationwassuccessivelyprostitutedtoathousanddeities，itwasscarcelypossiblethattheirheartscouldbesusceptibleofaverysincereorlivelypassionforanyofthem。
[Footnote150:Thearts，themanners，andthevicesofthepriestsoftheSyriangoddessareveryhumorouslydescribedbyApuleius，intheeighthbookofhisMetamorphosis。]
[Footnote151:TheofficeofAsiarchwasofthisnature，anditisfrequentlymentionedinAristides，theInscriptions，&c。Itwasannualandelective。Nonebutthevainestcitizenscoulddesirethehonor；nonebutthemostwealthycouldsupporttheexpense。See，inthePatresApostol。tom。ii。p。200，withhowmuchindifferencePhiliptheAsiarchconductedhimselfinthemartyrdomofPolycarp。TherewerelikewiseBithyniarchs，Lyciarchs，&c。]
WhenChristianityappearedintheworld，eventhesefaintandimperfectimpressionshadlostmuchoftheiroriginalpower。
Humanreason，whichbyitsunassistedstrengthisincapableofperceivingthemysteriesoffaith，hadalreadyobtainedaneasytriumphoverthefollyofPaganism；andwhenTertullianorLactantiusemploytheirlaborsinexposingitsfalsehoodandextravagance，theyareobligedtotranscribetheeloquenceofCiceroorthewitofLucian。Thecontagionofthesescepticalwritingshadbeendiffusedfarbeyondthenumberoftheirreaders。Thefashionofincredulitywascommunicatedfromthephilosophertothemanofpleasureorbusiness，fromthenobletotheplebeian，andfromthemastertothemenialslavewhowaitedathistable，andwhoeagerlylistenedtothefreedomofhisconversation。Onpublicoccasionsthephilosophicpartofmankindaffectedtotreatwithrespectanddecencythereligiousinstitutionsoftheircountry；buttheirsecretcontemptpenetratedthroughthethinandawkwarddisguise；andeventhepeople，whentheydiscoveredthattheirdeitieswererejectedandderidedbythosewhoserankorunderstandingtheywereaccustomedtoreverence，werefilledwithdoubtsandapprehensionsconcerningthetruthofthosedoctrines，towhichtheyhadyieldedthemostimplicitbelief。Thedeclineofancientprejudiceexposedaverynumerousportionofhumankindtothedangerofapainfulandcomfortlesssituation。Astateofscepticismandsuspensemayamuseafewinquisitiveminds。Butthepracticeofsuperstitionissocongenialtothemultitude，thatiftheyareforciblyawakened，theystillregretthelossoftheirpleasingvision。Theirloveofthemarvellousandsupernatural，theircuriositywithregardtofutureevents，andtheirstrongpropensitytoextendtheirhopesandfearsbeyondthelimitsofthevisibleworld，weretheprincipalcauseswhichfavoredtheestablishmentofPolytheism。Sourgentonthevulgaristhenecessityofbelieving，thatthefallofanysystemofmythologywillmostprobablybesucceededbytheintroductionofsomeothermodeofsuperstition。SomedeitiesofamorerecentandfashionablecastmightsoonhaveoccupiedthedesertedtemplesofJupiterandApollo，if，inthedecisivemoment，thewisdomofProvidencehadnotinterposedagenuinerevelation，fittedtoinspirethemostrationalesteemandconviction，whilst，atthesametime，itwasadornedwithallthatcouldattractthecuriosity，thewonder，andthevenerationofthepeople。Intheiractualdisposition，asmanywerealmostdisengagedfromtheirartificialprejudices，butequallysusceptibleanddesirousofadevoutattachment；anobjectmuchlessdeservingwouldhavebeensufficienttofillthevacantplaceintheirhearts，andtogratifytheuncertaineagernessoftheirpassions。Thosewhoareinclinedtopursuethisreflection，insteadofviewingwithastonishmenttherapidprogressofChristianity，willperhapsbesurprisedthatitssuccesswasnotstillmorerapidandstillmoreuniversal。
Ithasbeenobserved，withtruthaswellaspropriety，thattheconquestsofRomepreparedandfacilitatedthoseofChristianity。InthesecondchapterofthisworkwehaveattemptedtoexplaininwhatmannerthemostcivilizedprovincesofEurope，Asia，andAfricawereunitedunderthedominionofonesovereign，andgraduallyconnectedbythemostintimatetiesoflaws，ofmanners，andoflanguage。TheJewsofPalestine，whohadfondlyexpectedatemporaldeliverer，gavesocoldareceptiontothemiraclesofthedivineprophet，thatitwasfoundunnecessarytopublish，oratleasttopreserve，anyHebrewgospel。^152TheauthentichistoriesoftheactionsofChristwerecomposedintheGreeklanguage，ataconsiderabledistancefromJerusalem，andaftertheGentileconvertsweregrownextremelynumerous。^153AssoonasthosehistoriesweretranslatedintotheLatintongue，theywereperfectlyintelligibletoallthesubjectsofRome，exceptingonlytothepeasantsofSyriaandEgypt，forwhosebenefitparticularversionswereafterwardsmade。Thepublichighways，whichhadbeenconstructedfortheuseofthelegions，openedaneasypassagefortheChristianmissionariesfromDamascustoCorinth，andfromItalytotheextremityofSpainorBritain；nordidthosespiritualconquerorsencounteranyoftheobstacleswhichusuallyretardorpreventtheintroductionofaforeignreligionintoadistantcountry。Thereisthestrongestreasontobelieve，thatbeforethereignsofDiocletianandConstantine，thefaithofChristhadbeenpreachedineveryprovince，andinallthegreatcitiesoftheempire；butthefoundationoftheseveralcongregations，thenumbersofthefaithfulwhocomposedthem，andtheirproportiontotheunbelievingmultitude，arenowburiedinobscurity，ordisguisedbyfictionanddeclamation。