ItwasincumbentontheCaesartoprovideforthesubsistence，aswellasforthesafety，oftheinhabitantsandofthegarrisons。Thedesertionoftheformer，andthemutinyofthelatter，musthavebeenthefatalandinevitableconsequencesoffamine。ThetillageoftheprovincesofGaulhadbeeninterruptedbythecalamitiesofwar；butthescantyharvestsofthecontinentweresupplied，byhispaternalcare，fromtheplentyoftheadjacentisland。Sixhundredlargebarks，framedintheforestoftheArdennes，madeseveralvoyagestothecoastofBritain；andreturningfromthence，ladenwithcorn，saileduptheRhine，anddistributedtheircargoestotheseveraltownsandfortressesalongthebanksoftheriver。^87ThearmsofJulianhadrestoredafreeandsecurenavigation，whichConstantiniushadofferedtopurchaseattheexpenseofhisdignity，andofatributarypresentoftwothousandpoundsofsilver。TheemperorparsimoniouslyrefusedtohissoldiersthesumswhichhegrantedwithalavishandtremblinghandtotheBarbarians。Thedexterity，aswellasthefirmness，ofJulianwasputtoaseveretrial，whenhetookthefieldwithadiscontentedarmy，whichhadalreadyservedtwocampaigns，withoutreceivinganyregularpayoranyextraordinarydonative。^88
[Footnote86:Ammian。xviii。2。Libanius，Orat。x。p。279，280。
Ofthesesevenposts，fourareatpresenttownsofsomeconsequence；Bingen，Andernach，Bonn，andNuyss。Theotherthree，Tricesimae，Quadriburgium，andCastraHerculis，orHeraclea，nolongersubsist；butthereisroomtobelieve，thatonthegroundofQuadriburgiumtheDutchhaveconstructedthefortofSchenk，anamesooffensivetothefastidiousdelicacyofBoileau。SeeD\'Anville，Noticedel\'AncienneGaule，p。183。
Boileau，Epitreiv。andthenotes。
Note:Tricesimae，Kellen，Mannert，quotedbyWagner。
Heraclea，ErkeleusinthedistrictofJuliers。St。Martin，ii。
311。—M。]
[Footnote87:WemaycreditJulianhimself，Orat。adS。P。Q。
Atheniensem，p。280，whogivesaveryparticularaccountofthetransaction。Zosimusaddstwohundredvesselsmore，l。iii。p。
145。Ifwecomputethe600cornshipsofJulianatonlyseventytonseach，theywerecapableofexporting120，000quarters，seeArbuthnot\'sWeightsandMeasures，p。237；andthecountrywhichcouldbearsolargeanexportation，mustalreadyhaveattainedanimprovedstateofagriculture。]
[Footnote88:Thetroopsoncebrokeoutintoamutiny，immediatelybeforethesecondpassageoftheRhine。Ammian。
xvii。9。]
Atenderregardforthepeaceandhappinessofhissubjectswastherulingprinciplewhichdirected，orseemedtodirect，theadministrationofJulian。^89Hedevotedtheleisureofhiswinterquarterstotheofficesofcivilgovernment；andaffectedtoassume，withmorepleasure，thecharacterofamagistratethanthatofageneral。Beforehetookthefield，hedevolvedontheprovincialgovernorsmostofthepublicandprivatecauseswhichhadbeenreferredtohistribunal；but，onhisreturn，hecarefullyrevisedtheirproceedings，mitigatedtherigorofthelaw，andpronouncedasecondjudgmentonthejudgesthemselves。
Superiortothelasttemptationofvirtuousminds，anindiscreetandintemperatezealforjustice，herestrained，withcalmnessanddignity，thewarmthofanadvocate，whoprosecuted，forextortion，thepresidentoftheNarbonneseprovince。\"Whowilleverbefoundguilty，\"exclaimedthevehementDelphidius，\"ifitbeenoughtodeny?\"\"Andwho，\"repliedJulian，\"willeverbeinnocent，ifitbesufficienttoaffirm?\"Inthegeneraladministrationofpeaceandwar，theinterestofthesovereigniscommonlythesameasthatofhispeople；butConstantiuswouldhavethoughthimselfdeeplyinjured，ifthevirtuesofJulianhaddefraudedhimofanypartofthetributewhichheextortedfromanoppressedandexhaustedcountry。Theprincewhowasinvestedwiththeensignsofroyalty，mightsometimespresumetocorrecttherapaciousinsolenceofhisinferioragents，toexposetheircorruptarts，andtointroduceanequalandeasiermodeofcollection。ButthemanagementofthefinanceswasmoresafelyintrustedtoFlorentius，praetorianpraefectofGaul，aneffeminatetyrant，incapableofpityorremorse:andthehaughtyministercomplainedofthemostdecentandgentleopposition，whileJulianhimselfwasratherinclinedtocensuretheweaknessofhisownbehavior。TheCaesarhadrejected，withabhorrence，amandateforthelevyofanextraordinarytax；anewsuperindiction，whichthepraefecthadofferedforhissignature；
andthefaithfulpictureofthepublicmisery，bywhichhehadbeenobligedtojustifyhisrefusal，offendedthecourtofConstantius。WemayenjoythepleasureofreadingthesentimentsofJulian，asheexpressesthemwithwarmthandfreedominalettertooneofhismostintimatefriends。Afterstatinghisownconduct，heproceedsinthefollowingterms:\"WasitpossibleforthediscipleofPlatoandAristotletoactotherwisethanI
havedone?CouldIabandontheunhappysubjectsintrustedtomycare?WasInotcalledupontodefendthemfromtherepeatedinjuriesoftheseunfeelingrobbers?Atribunewhodesertshispostispunishedwithdeath，anddeprivedofthehonorsofburial。WithwhatjusticecouldIpronouncehissentence，if，inthehourofdanger，Imyselfneglectedadutyfarmoresacredandfarmoreimportant?Godhasplacedmeinthiselevatedpost；hisprovidencewillguardandsupportme。ShouldIbecondemnedtosuffer，Ishallderivecomfortfromthetestimonyofapureanduprightconscience。WouldtoHeaventhatIstillpossessedacounsellorlikeSallust!Iftheythinkpropertosendmeasuccessor，Ishallsubmitwithoutreluctance；andhadmuchratherimprovetheshortopportunityofdoinggood，thanenjoyalongandlastingimpunityofevil。\"^90TheprecariousanddependentsituationofJuliandisplayedhisvirtuesandconcealedhisdefects。Theyoungherowhosupported，inGaul，thethroneofConstantius，wasnotpermittedtoreformthevicesofthegovernment；buthehadcouragetoalleviateortopitythedistressofthepeople。UnlesshehadbeenabletorevivethemartialspiritoftheRomans，ortointroducetheartsofindustryandrefinementamongtheirsavageenemies，hecouldnotentertainanyrationalhopesofsecuringthepublictranquillity，eitherbythepeaceorconquestofGermany。YetthevictoriesofJuliansuspended，forashorttime，theinroadsoftheBarbarians，anddelayedtheruinoftheWesternEmpire。
[Footnote89:Ammian。xvi。5，xviii。1。MamertinusinPanegyr。
Vet。xi。4]
[Footnote90:Ammian。xvii。3。Julian。Epistol。xv。edit。
Spanheim。SuchaconductalmostjustifiestheencomiumofMamertinus。Itailliannispatiadivisasunt，utautBarbarosdomitet，autcivibusjurarestituat，perpetuumprofessus，autcontrahostem，autcontravitia，certamen。]
HissalutaryinfluencerestoredthecitiesofGaul，whichhadbeensolongexposedtotheevilsofcivildiscord，Barbarianwar，anddomestictyranny；andthespiritofindustrywasrevivedwiththehopesofenjoyment。Agriculture，manufactures，andcommerce，againflourishedundertheprotectionofthelaws；andthecurioe，orcivilcorporations，wereagainfilledwithusefulandrespectablemembers:theyouthwerenolongerapprehensiveofmarriage；andmarriedpersonswerenolongerapprehensiveofposterity:thepublicandprivatefestivalswerecelebratedwithcustomarypomp；andthefrequentandsecureintercourseoftheprovincesdisplayedtheimageofnationalprosperity。^91AmindlikethatofJulianmusthavefeltthegeneralhappinessofwhichhewastheauthor；butheviewed，withparticularsatisfactionandcomplacency，thecityofParis；theseatofhiswinterresidence，andtheobjectevenofhispartialaffection。^92Thatsplendidcapital，whichnowembracesanampleterritoryoneithersideoftheSeine，wasoriginallyconfinedtothesmallislandinthemidstoftheriver，fromwhencetheinhabitantsderivedasupplyofpureandsalubriouswater。Theriverbathedthefootofthewalls；andthetownwasaccessibleonlybytwowoodenbridges。AforestoverspreadthenorthernsideoftheSeine，butonthesouth，theground，whichnowbearsthenameoftheUniversity，wasinsensiblycoveredwithhouses，andadornedwithapalaceandamphitheatre，baths，anaqueduct，andafieldofMarsfortheexerciseoftheRomantroops。Theseverityoftheclimatewastemperedbytheneighborhoodoftheocean；andwithsomeprecautions，whichexperiencehadtaught，thevineandfig—treeweresuccessfullycultivated。Butinremarkablewinters，theSeinewasdeeplyfrozen；andthehugepiecesoficethatfloateddownthestream，mightbecompared，byanAsiatic，totheblocksofwhitemarblewhichwereextractedfromthequarriesofPhrygia。ThelicentiousnessandcorruptionofAntiochrecalledtothememoryofJulianthesevereandsimplemannersofhisbelovedLutetia；^93wheretheamusementsofthetheatrewereunknownordespised。HeindignantlycontrastedtheeffeminateSyrianswiththebraveandhonestsimplicityoftheGauls，andalmostforgavetheintemperance，whichwastheonlystainoftheCelticcharacter。^94IfJuliancouldnowrevisitthecapitalofFrance，hemightconversewithmenofscienceandgenius，capableofunderstandingandofinstructingadiscipleoftheGreeks；hemightexcusethelivelyandgracefulfolliesofanation，whosemartialspirithasneverbeenenervatedbytheindulgenceofluxury；andhemustapplaudtheperfectionofthatinestimableart，whichsoftensandrefinesandembellishestheintercourseofsociallife。
[Footnote91:Libanius，Orat。Parental。inImp。Julian。c。38，inFabriciusBibliothec。Graec。tom。vii。p。263，264。]
[Footnote92:SeeJulian。inMisopogon，p。340，341。TheprimitivestateofParisisillustratedbyHenryValesius，adAmmian。xx。4，hisbrotherHadrianValesius，ordeValois，andM。D\'Anville，intheirrespectiveNotitiasofancientGaul，theAbbedeLonguerue，DescriptiondelaFrance，tom。i。p。12，13，
andM。Bonamy，intheMem。del\'AcademiedesInscriptions，tom。
xv。p。656—691。]
[Footnote93:Julian，inMisopogon，p。340。Leucetia，orLutetia，wastheancientnameofthecity，which，accordingtothefashionofthefourthcentury，assumedtheterritorialappellationofParisii。]
[Footnote94:JulianinMisopogon，p。359，360。]
ChapterXX:ConversionOfConstantine。
PartI。
TheMotives，Progress，AndEffectsOfTheConversionOfConstantine。—LegalEstablishmentAndConstitutionOfTheChristianOrCatholicChurch。
ThepublicestablishmentofChristianitymaybeconsideredasoneofthoseimportantanddomesticrevolutionswhichexcitethemostlivelycuriosity，andaffordthemostvaluableinstruction。ThevictoriesandthecivilpolicyofConstantinenolongerinfluencethestateofEurope；butaconsiderableportionoftheglobestillretainstheimpressionwhichitreceivedfromtheconversionofthatmonarch；andtheecclesiasticalinstitutionsofhisreignarestillconnected，byanindissolublechain，withtheopinions，thepassions，andtheinterestsofthepresentgeneration。
Intheconsiderationofasubjectwhichmaybeexaminedwithimpartiality，butcannotbeviewedwithindifference，adifficultyimmediatelyarisesofaveryunexpectednature；thatofascertainingtherealandprecisedateoftheconversionofConstantine。TheeloquentLactantius，inthemidstofhiscourt，seemsimpatient^1toproclaimtotheworldthegloriousexampleofthesovereignofGaul；who，inthefirstmomentsofhisreign，acknowledgedandadoredthemajestyofthetrueandonlyGod。^2
ThelearnedEusebiushasascribedthefaithofConstantinetothemiraculoussignwhichwasdisplayedintheheavenswhilsthemeditatedandpreparedtheItalianexpedition。^3ThehistorianZosimusmaliciouslyasserts，thattheemperorhadimbruedhishandsinthebloodofhiseldestson，beforehepubliclyrenouncedthegodsofRomeandofhisancestors。^4TheperplexityproducedbythesediscordantauthoritiesisderivedfromthebehaviorofConstantinehimself。Accordingtothestrictnessofecclesiasticallanguage，thefirstoftheChristianemperorswasunworthyofthatname，tillthemomentofhisdeath；
sinceitwasonlyduringhislastillnessthathereceived，asacatechumen，theimpositionofhands，^5andwasafterwardsadmitted，bytheinitiatoryritesofbaptism，intothenumberofthefaithful。^6TheChristianityofConstantinemustbeallowedinamuchmorevagueandqualifiedsense；andthenicestaccuracyisrequiredintracingtheslowandalmostimperceptiblegradationsbywhichthemonarchdeclaredhimselftheprotector，andatlengththeproselyte，ofthechurch。Itwasanarduoustasktoeradicatethehabitsandprejudicesofhiseducation，toacknowledgethedivinepowerofChrist，andtounderstandthatthetruthofhisrevelationwasincompatiblewiththeworshipofthegods。Theobstacleswhichhehadprobablyexperiencedinhisownmind，instructedhimtoproceedwithcautioninthemomentouschangeofanationalreligion；andheinsensiblydiscoveredhisnewopinions，asfarashecouldenforcethemwithsafetyandwitheffect。Duringthewholecourseofhisreign，thestreamofChristianityflowedwithagentle，thoughaccelerated，motion:
butitsgeneraldirectionwassometimeschecked，andsometimesdiverted，bytheaccidentalcircumstancesofthetimes，andbytheprudence，orpossiblybythecaprice，ofthemonarch。Hisministerswerepermittedtosignifytheintentionsoftheirmasterinthevariouslanguagewhichwasbestadaptedtotheirrespectiveprinciples；^7andheartfullybalancedthehopesandfearsofhissubjects，bypublishinginthesameyeartwoedicts；
thefirstofwhichenjoinedthesolemnobservanceofSunday，^8
andtheseconddirectedtheregularconsultationoftheAruspices。^9Whilethisimportantrevolutionyetremainedinsuspense，theChristiansandthePaganswatchedtheconductoftheirsovereignwiththesameanxiety，butwithveryoppositesentiments。Theformerwerepromptedbyeverymotiveofzeal，aswellasvanity，toexaggeratethemarksofhisfavor，andtheevidencesofhisfaith。Thelatter，tilltheirjustapprehensionswerechangedintodespairandresentment，attemptedtoconcealfromtheworld，andfromthemselves，thatthegodsofRomecouldnolongerreckontheemperorinthenumberoftheirvotaries。ThesamepassionsandprejudiceshaveengagedthepartialwritersofthetimestoconnectthepublicprofessionofChristianitywiththemostgloriousorthemostignominiousaeraofthereignofConstantine。
[Footnote1:ThedateoftheDivineInstitutionsofLactantiushasbeenaccuratelydiscussed，difficultieshavebeenstarted，solutionsproposed，andanexpedientimaginedoftwooriginaleditions；theformerpublishedduringthepersecutionofDiocletian，thelatterunderthatofLicinius。SeeDufresnoy，Prefat。p。v。Tillemont，Mem。Ecclesiast。tom。vi。p。465—470。
Lardner\'sCredibility，partii。vol。vii。p。78—86。Formyownpart，IamalmostconvincedthatLactantiusdedicatedhisInstitutionstothesovereignofGaul，atatimewhenGalerius，Maximin，andevenLicinius，persecutedtheChristians；thatis，betweentheyears306and311。]
[Footnote2:Lactant。Divin。Instit。i。l。vii。27。Thefirstandmostimportantofthesepassagesisindeedwantingintwenty—eightmanuscripts；butitisfoundinnineteen。Ifweweighthecomparativevalueofthesemanuscripts，oneof900
yearsold，inthekingofFrance\'slibrarymaybeallegedinitsfavor；butthepassageisomittedinthecorrectmanuscriptofBologna，whichtheP。deMontfauconascribestothesixthorseventhcenturyDiariumItalic。p。489。ThetasteofmostoftheeditorsexceptIsaeus；seeLactant。edit。Dufresnoy，tom。i。
p。596hasfeltthegenuinestyleofLactantius。]
[Footnote3:Euseb。inVit。Constant。l。i。c。27—32。]
[Footnote4:Zosimus，l。ii。p。104。]
[Footnote5:Thatritewasalwaysusedinmakingacatechumen，seeBingham\'sAntiquities。l。x。c。i。p。419。DomChardon，Hist。desSacramens，tom。i。p。62，andConstantinereceiveditforthefirsttimeEuseb。inVitConstant。l。iv。c。61
immediatelybeforehisbaptismanddeath。Fromtheconnectionofthesetwofacts，Valesiusadloc。Euseb。hasdrawntheconclusionwhichisreluctantlyadmittedbyTillemont，Hist。desEmpereurs，tom。iv。p。628，andopposedwithfeebleargumentsbyMosheim，p。968。]
[Footnote6:Euseb。inVit。Constant。l。iv。c。61，62，63。ThelegendofConstantine\'sbaptismatRome，thirteenyearsbeforehisdeath，wasinventedintheeighthcentury，asapropermotiveforhisdonation。Suchhasbeenthegradualprogressofknowledge，thatastory，ofwhichCardinalBaroniusAnnualEcclesiast。A。D。324，No。43—49declaredhimselftheunblushingadvocate，isnowfeeblysupported，evenwithinthevergeoftheVatican。SeetheAntiquitatesChristianae，tom。ii。p。232；aworkpublishedwithsixapprobationsatRome，intheyear1751byFatherMamachi，alearnedDominican。]
[Footnote7:Thequaestor，orsecretary，whocomposedthelawoftheTheodosianCode，makeshismastersaywithindifference，\"hominibussupradictaereligionis，\"l。xvi。tit。ii。leg。1。
Theministerofecclesiasticalaffairswasallowedamoredevoutandrespectfulstyle，thelegal，mostholy，andCatholicworship。]
[Footnote8:Cod。Theodos。l。ii。viii。tit。leg。1。Cod。
Justinian。l。iii。tit。xii。leg。3。ConstantinestylestheLord\'sdaydiessolis，anamewhichcouldnotoffendtheearsofhispagansubjects。]
[Footnote9:Cod。Theodos。l。xvi。tit。x。leg。l。Godefroy，inthecharacterofacommentator，endeavorstom。vi。p。257toexcuseConstantine；butthemorezealousBaroniusAnnal。Eccles。