A。D。321，No。17censureshisprofaneconductwithtruthandasperity。]
WhateversymptomsofChristianpietymighttranspireinthediscoursesoractionsofConstantine，heperseveredtillhewasnearfortyyearsofageinthepracticeoftheestablishedreligion；^10andthesameconductwhichinthecourtofNicomediamightbeimputedtohisfear，couldbeascribedonlytotheinclinationorpolicyofthesovereignofGaul。Hisliberalityrestoredandenrichedthetemplesofthegods；themedalswhichissuedfromhisImperialmintareimpressedwiththefiguresandattributesofJupiterandApollo，ofMarsandHercules；andhisfilialpietyincreasedthecouncilofOlympusbythesolemnapotheosisofhisfatherConstantius。^11ButthedevotionofConstantinewasmorepeculiarlydirectedtothegeniusoftheSun，theApolloofGreekandRomanmythology；andhewaspleasedtoberepresentedwiththesymbolsoftheGodofLightandPoetry。Theunerringshaftsofthatdeity，thebrightnessofhiseyes，hislaurelwreath，immortalbeauty，andelegantaccomplishments，seemtopointhimoutasthepatronofayounghero。ThealtarsofApollowerecrownedwiththevotiveofferingsofConstantine；andthecredulousmultitudeweretaughttobelieve，thattheemperorwaspermittedtobeholdwithmortaleyesthevisiblemajestyoftheirtutelardeity；andthat，eitherwalkingorinavision，hewasblessedwiththeauspiciousomensofalongandvictoriousreign。TheSunwasuniversallycelebratedastheinvincibleguideandprotectorofConstantine；
andthePagansmightreasonablyexpectthattheinsultedgodwouldpursuewithunrelentingvengeancetheimpietyofhisungratefulfavorite。^12
[Footnote10:Theodoret。l。i。c。18seemstoinsinuatethatHelenagavehersonaChristianeducation；butwemaybeassured，fromthesuperiorauthorityofEusebius，inVit。Constant。l。
iii。c。47，thatsheherselfwasindebtedtoConstantinefortheknowledgeofChristianity。]
[Footnote11:SeethemedalsofConstantineinDucangeandBanduri。Asfewcitieshadretainedtheprivilegeofcoining，almostallthemedalsofthatageissuedfromthemintunderthesanctionoftheImperialauthority。]
[Footnote12:ThepanegyricofEumenius，vii。interPanegyr。
Vet。，whichwaspronouncedafewmonthsbeforetheItalianwar，aboundswiththemostunexceptionableevidenceofthePagansuperstitionofConstantine，andofhisparticularvenerationforApollo，ortheSun；towhichJulianalludes。]
AslongasConstantineexercisedalimitedsovereigntyovertheprovincesofGaul，hisChristiansubjectswereprotectedbytheauthority，andperhapsbythelaws，ofaprince，whowiselylefttothegodsthecareofvindicatingtheirownhonor。IfwemaycredittheassertionofConstantinehimself，hehadbeenanindignantspectatorofthesavagecrueltieswhichwereinflicted，bythehandsofRomansoldiers，onthosecitizenswhosereligionwastheironlycrime。^13IntheEastandintheWest，hehadseenthedifferenteffectsofseverityandindulgence；andastheformerwasrenderedstillmoreodiousbytheexampleofGalerius，hisimplacableenemy，thelatterwasrecommendedtohisimitationbytheauthorityandadviceofadyingfather。ThesonofConstantiusimmediatelysuspendedorrepealedtheedictsofpersecution，andgrantedthefreeexerciseoftheirreligiousceremoniestoallthosewhohadalreadyprofessedthemselvesmembersofthechurch。Theyweresoonencouragedtodependonthefavoraswellasonthejusticeoftheirsovereign，whohadimbibedasecretandsincerereverenceforthenameofChrist，andfortheGodoftheChristians。^14
[Footnote13:Constantin。Orat。adSanctos，c。25。Butitmighteasilybeshown，thattheGreektranslatorhasimprovedthesenseoftheLatinoriginal；andtheagedemperormightrecollectthepersecutionofDiocletianwithamorelivelyabhorrencethanhehadactuallyfelttothedaysofhisyouthandPaganism。]
[Footnote14:SeeEuseb。Hist。Eccles。l。viii。13，l。ix。9，andinVit。Const。l。i。c。16，17Lactant。Divin。Institut。i。l。
CaeciliusdeMort。Persecut。c。25。]
AboutfivemonthsaftertheconquestofItaly，theemperormadeasolemnandauthenticdeclarationofhissentimentsbythecelebratededictofMilan，whichrestoredpeacetotheCatholicchurch。Inthepersonalinterviewofthetwowesternprinces，Constantine，bytheascendantofgeniusandpower，obtainedthereadyconcurrenceofhiscolleague，Licinius；theunionoftheirnamesandauthoritydisarmedthefuryofMaximin；andafterthedeathofthetyrantoftheEast，theedictofMilanwasreceivedasageneralandfundamentallawoftheRomanworld。^15
[Footnote15:CaeciliusdeMort。Persecut。c。48haspreservedtheLatinoriginal；andEusebiusHist。Eccles。l。x。c。5hasgivenaGreektranslationofthisperpetualedict，whichreferstosomeprovisionalregulations。]
ThewisdomoftheemperorsprovidedfortherestitutionofallthecivilandreligiousrightsofwhichtheChristianshadbeensounjustlydeprived。Itwasenactedthattheplacesofworship，andpubliclands，whichhadbeenconfiscated，shouldberestoredtothechurch，withoutdispute，withoutdelay，andwithoutexpense；andthissevereinjunctionwasaccompaniedwithagraciouspromise，thatifanyofthepurchasershadpaidafairandadequateprice，theyshouldbeindemnifiedfromtheImperialtreasury。Thesalutaryregulationswhichguardthefuturetranquillityofthefaithfulareframedontheprinciplesofenlargedandequaltoleration；andsuchanequalitymusthavebeeninterpretedbyarecentsectasanadvantageousandhonorabledistinction。Thetwoemperorsproclaimtotheworld，thattheyhavegrantedafreeandabsolutepowertotheChristians，andtoallothers，offollowingthereligionwhicheachindividualthinkspropertoprefer，towhichhehasaddictedhismind，andwhichhemaydeemthebestadaptedtohisownuse。
Theycarefullyexplaineveryambiguousword，removeeveryexception，andexactfromthegovernorsoftheprovincesastrictobediencetothetrueandsimplemeaningofanedict，whichwasdesignedtoestablishandsecure，withoutanylimitation，theclaimsofreligiousliberty。Theycondescendtoassigntwoweightyreasonswhichhaveinducedthemtoallowthisuniversaltoleration:thehumaneintentionofconsultingthepeaceandhappinessoftheirpeople；andthepioushope，that，bysuchaconduct，theyshallappeaseandpropitiatetheDeity，whoseseatisinheaven。Theygratefullyacknowledgethemanysignalproofswhichtheyhavereceivedofthedivinefavor；andtheytrustthatthesameProvidencewillforevercontinuetoprotecttheprosperityoftheprinceandpeople。Fromthesevagueandindefiniteexpressionsofpiety，threesuppositionsmaybededuced，ofadifferent，butnotofanincompatiblenature。ThemindofConstantinemightfluctuatebetweenthePaganandtheChristianreligions。AccordingtothelooseandcomplyingnotionsofPolytheism，hemightacknowledgetheGodoftheChristiansasoneofthemanydeitieswhocomposethehierarchyofheaven。Orperhapshemightembracethephilosophicandpleasingidea，that，notwithstandingthevarietyofnames，ofrites，andofopinions，allthesects，andallthenationsofmankind，areunitedintheworshipofthecommonFatherandCreatoroftheuniverse。^16
[Footnote16:ApanegyricofConstantine，pronouncedsevenoreightmonthsaftertheedictofMilan，seeGothofred。Chronolog。
Legum，p。7，andTillemont，Hist。desEmpereurs，tom。iv。p。
246，usesthefollowingremarkableexpression:\"Summererumsator，cujustotnominasant，quotlinguasgentiumessevoluisti，quemenimteipsedicivelin，scirenonpossumus。\"Panegyr。Vet。
ix。26。InexplainingConstantine\'sprogressinthefaith，Mosheimp。971，&c。isingenious，subtle，prolix。]
Butthecounselsofprincesaremorefrequentlyinfluencedbyviewsoftemporaladvantage，thanbyconsiderationsofabstractandspeculativetruth。ThepartialandincreasingfavorofConstantinemaynaturallybereferredtotheesteemwhichheentertainedforthemoralcharacteroftheChristians；andtoapersuasion，thatthepropagationofthegospelwouldinculcatethepracticeofprivateandpublicvirtue。Whateverlatitudeanabsolutemonarchmayassumeinhisownconduct，whateverindulgencehemayclaimforhisownpassions，itisundoubtedlyhisinterestthatallhissubjectsshouldrespectthenaturalandcivilobligationsofsociety。Buttheoperationofthewisestlawsisimperfectandprecarious。Theyseldominspirevirtue，theycannotalwaysrestrainvice。Theirpowerisinsufficienttoprohibitallthattheycondemn，norcantheyalwayspunishtheactionswhichtheyprohibit。Thelegislatorsofantiquityhadsummonedtotheiraidthepowersofeducationandofopinion。
ButeveryprinciplewhichhadoncemaintainedthevigorandpurityofRomeandSparta，waslongsinceextinguishedinadeclininganddespoticempire。Philosophystillexercisedhertemperateswayoverthehumanmind，butthecauseofvirtuederivedveryfeeblesupportfromtheinfluenceofthePagansuperstition。Underthesediscouragingcircumstances，aprudentmagistratemightobservewithpleasuretheprogressofareligionwhichdiffusedamongthepeopleapure，benevolent，anduniversalsystemofethics，adaptedtoeverydutyandeveryconditionoflife；recommendedasthewillandreasonofthesupremeDeity，andenforcedbythesanctionofeternalrewardsorpunishments。
TheexperienceofGreekandRomanhistorycouldnotinformtheworldhowfarthesystemofnationalmannersmightbereformedandimprovedbythepreceptsofadivinerevelation；andConstantinemightlistenwithsomeconfidencetotheflattering，andindeedreasonable，assurancesofLactantius。Theeloquentapologistseemedfirmlytoexpect，andalmostventuredtopromise，thattheestablishmentofChristianitywouldrestoretheinnocenceandfelicityoftheprimitiveage；thattheworshipofthetrueGodwouldextinguishwaranddissensionamongthosewhomutuallyconsideredthemselvesasthechildrenofacommonparent；thateveryimpuredesire，everyangryorselfishpassion，wouldberestrainedbytheknowledgeofthegospel；andthatthemagistratesmightsheaththeswordofjusticeamongapeoplewhowouldbeuniversallyactuatedbythesentimentsoftruthandpiety，ofequityandmoderation，ofharmonyanduniversallove。
^17
[Footnote17:SeetheelegantdescriptionofLactantius，DivinInstitut。v。8，whoismuchmoreperspicuousandpositivethanbecomesadiscreetprophet。]
Thepassiveandunresistingobedience，whichbowsundertheyokeofauthority，orevenofoppression，musthaveappeared，intheeyesofanabsolutemonarch，themostconspicuousandusefuloftheevangelicvirtues。^18TheprimitiveChristiansderivedtheinstitutionofcivilgovernment，notfromtheconsentofthepeople，butfromthedecreesofHeaven。Thereigningemperor，thoughhehadusurpedthesceptrebytreasonandmurder，immediatelyassumedthesacredcharacterofvicegerentoftheDeity。TotheDeityalonehewasaccountablefortheabuseofhispower；andhissubjectswereindissolublybound，bytheiroathoffidelity，toatyrant，whohadviolatedeverylawofnatureandsociety。ThehumbleChristiansweresentintotheworldassheepamongwolves；andsincetheywerenotpermittedtoemployforceeveninthedefenceoftheirreligion，theyshouldbestillmorecriminaliftheyweretemptedtoshedthebloodoftheirfellow—creaturesindisputingthevainprivileges，orthesordidpossessions，ofthistransitorylife。Faithfultothedoctrineoftheapostle，whointhereignofNerohadpreachedthedutyofunconditionalsubmission，theChristiansofthethreefirstcenturiespreservedtheirconsciencepureandinnocentoftheguiltofsecretconspiracy，oropenrebellion。Whiletheyexperiencedtherigorofpersecution，theywereneverprovokedeithertomeettheirtyrantsinthefield，orindignantlytowithdrawthemselvesintosomeremoteandsequesteredcorneroftheglobe。^19TheProtestantsofFrance，ofGermany，andofBritain，whoassertedwithsuchintrepidcouragetheircivilandreligiousfreedom，havebeeninsultedbytheinvidiouscomparisonbetweentheconductoftheprimitiveandofthereformedChristians。^20Perhaps，insteadofcensure，someapplausemaybeduetothesuperiorsenseandspiritofourancestors，whohadconvincedthemselvesthatreligioncannotabolishtheunalienablerightsofhumannature。^21Perhapsthepatienceoftheprimitivechurchmaybeascribedtoitsweakness，aswellastoitsvirtue。
Asectofunwarlikeplebeians，withoutleaders，withoutarms，withoutfortifications，musthaveencounteredinevitabledestructioninarashandfruitlessresistancetothemasteroftheRomanlegions。ButtheChristians，whentheydeprecatedthewrathofDiocletian，orsolicitedthefavorofConstantine，couldallege，withtruthandconfidence，thattheyheldtheprincipleofpassiveobedience，andthat，inthespaceofthreecenturies，theirconducthadalwaysbeenconformabletotheirprinciples。
Theymightadd，thatthethroneoftheemperorswouldbeestablishedonafixedandpermanentbasis，ifalltheirsubjects，embracingtheChristiandoctrine，shouldlearntosufferandtoobey。
[Footnote18:ThepoliticalsystemoftheChristiansisexplainedbyGrotius，deJureBellietPacis，l。i。c。3，4。Grotiuswasarepublicanandanexile，butthemildnessofhistemperinclinedhimtosupporttheestablishedpowers。]
[Footnote19:Tertullian。Apolog。c。32，34，35，36。TamennunquamAlbiniani，necNigrianivelCassianiinveniripotueruntChristiani。AdScapulam，c。2。Ifthisassertionbestrictlytrue，itexcludestheChristiansofthatagefromallcivilandmilitaryemployments，whichwouldhavecompelledthemtotakeanactivepartintheserviceoftheirrespectivegovernors。SeeMoyle\'sWorks，vol。ii。p。349。]
[Footnote20:SeetheartfulBossuet，Hist。desVariationsdesEglisesProtestantes，tom。iii。p。210—258。andthemaliciousBayle，tomii。p。820。InameBayle，forhewascertainlytheauthoroftheAvisauxRefugies；consulttheDictionnaireCritiquedeChauffepie，tom。i。partii。p。145。]
[Footnote21:Buchananistheearliest，oratleastthemostcelebrated，ofthereformers，whohasjustifiedthetheoryofresistance。SeehisDialoguedeJureRegniapudScotos，tom。ii。
p。28，30，edit。fol。Rudiman。]
InthegeneralorderofProvidence，princesandtyrantsareconsideredastheministersofHeaven，appointedtoruleortochastisethenationsoftheearth。ButsacredhistoryaffordsmanyillustriousexamplesofthemoreimmediateinterpositionoftheDeityinthegovernmentofhischosenpeople。ThesceptreandtheswordwerecommittedtothehandsofMoses，ofJoshua，ofGideon，ofDavid，oftheMaccabees；thevirtuesofthoseheroeswerethemotiveortheeffectofthedivinefavor，thesuccessoftheirarmswasdestinedtoachievethedeliveranceorthetriumphofthechurch。IfthejudgesofIsraelwereoccasionalandtemporarymagistrates，thekingsofJudahderivedfromtheroyalunctionoftheirgreatancestoranhereditaryandindefeasibleright，whichcouldnotbeforfeitedbytheirownvices，norrecalledbythecapriceoftheirsubjects。Thesameextraordinaryprovidence，whichwasnolongerconfinedtotheJewishpeople，mightelectConstantineandhisfamilyastheprotectorsoftheChristianworld；andthedevoutLactantiusannounces，inaprophetictone，thefuturegloriesofhislonganduniversalreign。^22GaleriusandMaximin，MaxentiusandLicinius，weretherivalswhosharedwiththefavoriteofheaventheprovincesoftheempire。ThetragicdeathsofGaleriusandMaximinsoongratifiedtheresentment，andfulfilledthesanguineexpectations，oftheChristians。ThesuccessofConstantineagainstMaxentiusandLiciniusremovedthetwoformidablecompetitorswhostillopposedthetriumphofthesecondDavid，andhiscausemightseemtoclaimthepeculiarinterpositionofProvidence。ThecharacteroftheRomantyrantdisgracedthepurpleandhumannature；andthoughtheChristiansmightenjoyhisprecariousfavor，theywereexposed，withtherestofhissubjects，totheeffectsofhiswantonandcapriciouscruelty。
TheconductofLiciniussoonbetrayedthereluctancewithwhichhehadconsentedtothewiseandhumaneregulationsoftheedictofMilan。Theconvocationofprovincialsynodswasprohibitedinhisdominions；hisChristianofficerswereignominiouslydismissed；andifheavoidedtheguilt，orratherdanger，ofageneralpersecution，hispartialoppressionswererenderedstillmoreodiousbytheviolationofasolemnandvoluntaryengagement。^23WhiletheEast，accordingtothelivelyexpressionofEusebius，wasinvolvedintheshadesofinfernaldarkness，theauspiciousraysofcelestiallightwarmedandilluminatedtheprovincesoftheWest。ThepietyofConstantinewasadmittedasanunexceptionableproofofthejusticeofhisarms；andhisuseofvictoryconfirmedtheopinionoftheChristians，thattheirherowasinspired，andconducted，bytheLordofHosts。TheconquestofItalyproducedageneraledictoftoleration；andassoonasthedefeatofLiciniushadinvestedConstantinewiththesoledominionoftheRomanworld，heimmediately，bycircularletters，exhortedallhissubjectstoimitate，withoutdelay，theexampleoftheirsovereign，andtoembracethedivinetruthofChristianity。^24
[Footnote22:LactantDivin。Institut。i。l。Eusebiusinthecourseofhishistory，hislife，andhisoration，repeatedlyinculcatesthedivinerightofConstantinetotheempire。]
[Footnote23:OurimperfectknowledgeofthepersecutionofLiciniusisderivedfromEusebius，Hist。l。x。c。8。Vit。
Constantin。l。i。c。49—56，l。ii。c。1，2。AureliusVictormentionshiscrueltyingeneralterms。]
[Footnote24:Euseb。inVit。Constant。l。ii。c。24—4248—60。]
ChapterXX:ConversionOfConstantine。