PartII。
TheassurancethattheelevationofConstantinewasintimatelyconnectedwiththedesignsofProvidence，instilledintothemindsoftheChristianstwoopinions，which，byverydifferentmeans，assistedtheaccomplishmentoftheprophecy。
Theirwarmandactiveloyaltyexhaustedinhisfavoreveryresourceofhumanindustry；andtheyconfidentlyexpectedthattheirstrenuouseffortswouldbesecondedbysomedivineandmiraculousaid。TheenemiesofConstantinehaveimputedtointerestedmotivesthealliancewhichheinsensiblycontractedwiththeCatholicchurch，andwhichapparentlycontributedtothesuccessofhisambition。Inthebeginningofthefourthcentury，theChristiansstillboreaveryinadequateproportiontotheinhabitantsoftheempire；butamongadegeneratepeople，whoviewedthechangeofmasterswiththeindifferenceofslaves，thespiritandunionofareligiouspartymightassistthepopularleader，towhoseservice，fromaprincipleofconscience，theyhaddevotedtheirlivesandfortunes。^25TheexampleofhisfatherhadinstructedConstantinetoesteemandtorewardthemeritoftheChristians；andinthedistributionofpublicoffices，hehadtheadvantageofstrengtheninghisgovernment，bythechoiceofministersorgenerals，inwhosefidelityhecouldreposeajustandunreservedconfidence。Bytheinfluenceofthesedignifiedmissionaries，theproselytesofthenewfaithmusthavemultipliedinthecourtandarmy；theBarbariansofGermany，whofilledtheranksofthelegions，wereofacarelesstemper，whichacquiescedwithoutresistanceinthereligionoftheircommander；andwhentheypassedtheAlps，itmayfairlybepresumed，thatagreatnumberofthesoldiershadalreadyconsecratedtheirswordstotheserviceofChristandofConstantine。^26Thehabitsofmankindandtheinterestsofreligiongraduallyabatedthehorrorofwarandbloodshed，whichhadsolongprevailedamongtheChristians；andinthecouncilswhichwereassembledunderthegraciousprotectionofConstantine，theauthorityofthebishopswasseasonablyemployedtoratifytheobligationofthemilitaryoath，andtoinflictthepenaltyofexcommunicationonthosesoldierswhothrewawaytheirarmsduringthepeaceofthechurch。^27WhileConstantine，inhisowndominions，increasedthenumberandzealofhisfaithfuladherents，hecoulddependonthesupportofapowerfulfactioninthoseprovinceswhichwerestillpossessedorusurpedbyhisrivals。AsecretdisaffectionwasdiffusedamongtheChristiansubjectsofMaxentiusandLicinius；andtheresentment，whichthelatterdidnotattempttoconceal，servedonlytoengagethemstillmoredeeplyintheinterestofhiscompetitor。Theregularcorrespondencewhichconnectedthebishopsofthemostdistantprovinces，enabledthemfreelytocommunicatetheirwishesandtheirdesigns，andtotransmitwithoutdangeranyusefulintelligence，oranypiouscontributions，whichmightpromotetheserviceofConstantine，whopubliclydeclaredthathehadtakenuparmsforthedeliveranceofthechurch。^28
[Footnote25:Inthebeginningofthelastcentury，thePapistsofEnglandwereonlyathirtieth，andtheProtestantsofFranceonlyafifteenth，partoftherespectivenations，towhomtheirspiritandpowerwereaconstantobjectofapprehension。SeetherelationswhichBentivogliowhowasthennuncioatBrussels，andafterwardscardinaltransmittedtothecourtofRome，Relazione，tom。ii。p。211，241。Bentivogliowascurious，wellinformed，butsomewhatpartial。]
[Footnote26:ThiscarelesstemperoftheGermansappearsalmostuniformlyonthehistoryoftheconversionofeachofthetribes。
ThelegionsofConstantinewererecruitedwithGermans，Zosimus，l。ii。p。86；andthecourtevenofhisfatherhadbeenfilledwithChristians。SeethefirstbookoftheLifeofConstantine，byEusebius。]
[Footnote27:Dehisquiarmaprojiciuntinpace，placuiteosabstinereacommunione。Council。Arelat。Canon。iii。Thebestcriticsapplythesewordstothepeaceofthechurch。]
[Footnote28:EusebiusalwaysconsidersthesecondcivilwaragainstLiciniusasasortofreligiouscrusade。Attheinvitationofthetyrant，someChristianofficershadresumedtheirzones；or，inotherwords，hadreturnedtothemilitaryservice。TheirconductwasafterwardscensuredbythetwelfthcanonoftheCouncilofNice；ifthisparticularapplicationmaybereceived，insteadoftheloseandgeneralsenseoftheGreekinterpreters，BalsamorZonaras，andAlexisAristenus。SeeBeveridge，Pandect。Eccles。Graec。tom。i。p。72，tom。ii。p。73
Annotation。]
Theenthusiasmwhichinspiredthetroops，andperhapstheemperorhimself，hadsharpenedtheirswordswhileitsatisfiedtheirconscience。Theymarchedtobattlewiththefullassurance，thatthesameGod，whohadformerlyopenedapassagetotheIsraelitesthroughthewatersofJordan，andhadthrowndownthewallsofJerichoatthesoundofthetrumpetsofJoshua，woulddisplayhisvisiblemajestyandpowerinthevictoryofConstantine。Theevidenceofecclesiasticalhistoryispreparedtoaffirm，thattheirexpectationswerejustifiedbytheconspicuousmiracletowhichtheconversionofthefirstChristianemperorhasbeenalmostunanimouslyascribed。Therealorimaginarycauseofsoimportantanevent，deservesanddemandstheattentionofposterity；andIshallendeavortoformajustestimateofthefamousvisionofConstantine，byadistinctconsiderationofthestandard，thedream，andthecelestialsign；
byseparatingthehistorical，thenatural，andthemarvellouspartsofthisextraordinarystory，which，inthecompositionofaspeciousargument，havebeenartfullyconfoundedinonesplendidandbrittlemass。
I。Aninstrumentofthetortureswhichwereinflictedonlyonslavesandstrangers，becameonobjectofhorrorintheeyesofaRomancitizen；andtheideasofguilt，ofpain，andofignominy，werecloselyunitedwiththeideaofthecross。^29Thepiety，ratherthanthehumanity，ofConstantinesoonabolishedinhisdominionsthepunishmentwhichtheSaviorofmankindhadcondescendedtosuffer；^30buttheemperorhadalreadylearnedtodespisetheprejudicesofhiseducation，andofhispeople，beforehecoulderectinthemidstofRomehisownstatue，bearingacrossinitsrighthand；withaninscriptionwhichreferredthevictoryofhisarms，andthedeliveranceofRome，tothevirtueofthatsalutarysign，thetruesymbolofforceandcourage。^31ThesamesymbolsanctifiedthearmsofthesoldiersofConstantine；thecrossglitteredontheirhelmet，wasengravedontheirshields，wasinterwovenintotheirbanners；andtheconsecratedemblemswhichadornedthepersonoftheemperorhimself，weredistinguishedonlybyrichermaterialsandmoreexquisiteworkmanship。^32ButtheprincipalstandardwhichdisplayedthetriumphofthecrosswasstyledtheLabarum，^33anobscure，thoughcelebratedname，whichhasbeenvainlyderivedfromalmostallthelanguagesoftheworld。Itisdescribed^34
asalongpikeintersectedbyatransversalbeam。Thesilkenveil，whichhungdownfromthebeam，wascuriouslyinwroughtwiththeimagesofthereigningmonarchandhischildren。Thesummitofthepikesupportedacrownofgoldwhichenclosedthemysteriousmonogram，atonceexpressiveofthefigureofthecross，andtheinitialletters，ofthenameofChrist。^35Thesafetyofthelabarumwasintrustedtofiftyguards，ofapprovedvalorandfidelity；theirstationwasmarkedbyhonorsandemoluments；andsomefortunateaccidentssoonintroducedanopinion，thataslongastheguardsofthelabarumwereengagedintheexecutionoftheiroffice，theyweresecureandinvulnerableamidstthedartsoftheenemy。Inthesecondcivilwar，Liciniusfeltanddreadedthepowerofthisconsecratedbanner，thesightofwhich，inthedistressofbattle，animatedthesoldiersofConstantinewithaninvincibleenthusiasm，andscatteredterroranddismaythroughtheranksoftheadverselegions。^36TheChristianemperors，whorespectedtheexampleofConstantine，displayedinalltheirmilitaryexpeditionsthestandardofthecross；butwhenthedegeneratesuccessorsofTheodosiushadceasedtoappearinpersonattheheadoftheirarmies，thelabarumwasdepositedasavenerablebutuselessrelicinthepalaceofConstantinople。^37ItshonorsarestillpreservedonthemedalsoftheFlavianfamily。TheirgratefuldevotionhasplacedthemonogramofChristinthemidstoftheensignsofRome。Thesolemnepithetsof，safetyoftherepublic，gloryofthearmy，restorationofpublichappiness，areequallyappliedtothereligiousandmilitarytrophies；andthereisstillextantamedaloftheemperorConstantius，wherethestandardofthelabarumisaccompaniedwiththesememorablewords，ByThisSignThouShaltConquer。^38
[Footnote29:NomenipsumcrucisabsitnonmodoacorporeciviumRomanorum，sedetiamacogitatione，oculis，auribus。CiceroproRaberio，c。5。TheChristianwriters，Justin，MinuciusFelix，Tertullian，Jerom，andMaximusofTurin，haveinvestigatedwithtolerablesuccessthefigureorlikenessofacrossinalmosteveryobjectofnatureorart；intheintersectionofthemeridianandequator，thehumanface，abirdflying，amanswimming，amastandyard，aplough，astandard，&c。，&c。，&c。
SeeLipsiusdeCruce，l。i。c。9。]
[Footnote30:SeeAureliusVictor，whoconsidersthislawasoneoftheexamplesofConstantine\'spiety。AnedictsohonorabletoChristianitydeservedaplaceintheTheodosianCode，insteadoftheindirectmentionofit，whichseemstoresultfromthecomparisonofthefifthandeighteenthtitlesoftheninthbook。]
[Footnote31:Eusebius，inVit。Constantin。l。i。c。40。Thisstatue，oratleastthecrossandinscription，maybeascribedwithmoreprobabilitytothesecond，oreventhird，visitofConstantinetoRome。ImmediatelyafterthedefeatofMaxentius，themindsofthesenateandpeoplewerescarcelyripeforthispublicmonument。]
[Footnote32:Agnoscas，regina，libensmeasignanecesseest；
InquibuseffigiescrucisautgemmatarefulgetAutlongissolidoexauropraeferturinhastis。
Hocsignoinvictus，transmissisAlpibusUltorServitiumsolvitmiserabileConstantinus。
ChristuspurpureumgemmantitextusinauroSignabatLabarum，clypeoruminsigniaChristusScripserat；ardebatsummiscruxadditacristis。
Prudent。inSymmachum，l。ii。464，486。]
[Footnote33:ThederivationandmeaningofthewordLabarumorLaborum，whichisemployedbyGregoryNazianzen，Ambrose，Prudentius，&c。，stillremaintotallyunknown，inspiteoftheeffortsofthecritics，whohaveineffectuallytorturedtheLatin，Greek，Spanish，Celtic，Teutonic，Illyric，Armenian，&c。，insearchofanetymology。SeeDucange，inGloss。Med。etinfim。
Latinitat。subvoceLabarum，andGodefroy，adCod。Theodos。tom。
ii。p。143。]
[Footnote34:Euseb。inVit。Constantin。l。i。c。30，31。
BaroniusAnnal。Eccles。A。D。312，No。26hasengravedarepresentationoftheLabarum。]
[Footnote35:TransversaXlitera，summocapitecircumflexo，Christuminscutisnotat。CaeciliusdeM。P。c。44，Cuper，adM。P。inedit。Lactant。tom。ii。p。500，andBaroniusA。D。
312，No。25haveengravedfromancientmonumentsseveralspecimensasthusofthesemonogramswhichbecameextremelyfashionableintheChristianworld。]
[Footnote36:Euseb。inVit。Constantin。l。ii。c。7，8，9。HeintroducestheLabarumbeforetheItalianexpedition；buthisnarrativeseemstoindicatethatitwasnevershownattheheadofanarmytillConstantineabovetenyearsafterwards，declaredhimselftheenemyofLicinius，andthedelivererofthechurch。]
[Footnote37:SeeCod。Theod。l。vi。tit。xxv。Sozomen，l。i。c。
2。Theophan。Chronograph。p。11。Theophaneslivedtowardstheendoftheeighthcentury，almostfivehundredyearsafterConstantine。ThemodernGreekswerenotinclinedtodisplayinthefieldthestandardoftheempireandofChristianity；andthoughtheydependedoneverysuperstitioushopeofdefence，thepromiseofvictorywouldhaveappearedtooboldafiction。]
[Footnote38:TheAbbeduVoisin，p。103，&c。，allegesseveralofthesemedals，andquotesaparticulardissertationofaJesuitthePeredeGrainville，onthissubject。]
II。Inalloccasionsofdangeranddistress，itwasthepracticeoftheprimitiveChristianstofortifytheirmindsandbodiesbythesignofthecross，whichtheyused，inalltheirecclesiasticalrites，inallthedailyoccurrencesoflife，asaninfalliblepreservativeagainsteveryspeciesofspiritualortemporalevil。^39TheauthorityofthechurchmightalonehavehadsufficientweighttojustifythedevotionofConstantine，whointhesameprudentandgradualprogressacknowledgedthetruth，andassumedthesymbol，ofChristianity。Butthetestimonyofacontemporarywriter，whoinaformaltreatisehasavengedthecauseofreligion，bestowsonthepietyoftheemperoramoreawfulandsublimecharacter。Heaffirms，withthemostperfectconfidence，thatinthenightwhichprecededthelastbattleagainstMaxentius，ConstantinewasadmonishedinadreamtoinscribetheshieldsofhissoldierswiththecelestialsignofGod，thesacredmonogramofthenameofChrist；thatheexecutedthecommandsofHeaven，andthathisvalorandobediencewererewardedbythedecisivevictoryoftheMilvianBridge。Someconsiderationsmightperhapsinclineascepticalmindtosuspectthejudgmentortheveracityoftherhetorician，whosepen，eitherfromzealorinterest，wasdevotedtothecauseoftheprevailingfaction。^40HeappearstohavepublishedhisdeathsofthepersecutorsatNicomediaaboutthreeyearsaftertheRomanvictory；buttheintervalofathousandmiles，andathousanddays，willallowanamplelatitudefortheinventionofdeclaimers，thecredulityofparty，andthetacitapprobationoftheemperorhimselfwhomightlistenwithoutindignationtoamarvelloustale，whichexaltedhisfame，andpromotedhisdesigns。InfavorofLicinius，whostilldissembledhisanimositytotheChristians，thesameauthorhasprovidedasimilarvision，ofaformofprayer，whichwascommunicatedbyanangel，andrepeatedbythewholearmybeforetheyengagedthelegionsofthetyrantMaximin。Thefrequentrepetitionofmiraclesservestoprovoke，whereitdoesnotsubdue，thereasonofmankind；^41butifthedreamofConstantineisseparatelyconsidered，itmaybenaturallyexplainedeitherbythepolicyortheenthusiasmoftheemperor。Whilsthisanxietyfortheapproachingday，whichmustdecidethefateoftheempire，wassuspendedbyashortandinterruptedslumber，thevenerableformofChrist，andthewell—knownsymbolofhisreligion，mightforciblyofferthemselvestotheactivefancyofaprincewhoreverencedthename，andhadperhapssecretlyimploredthepower，oftheGodoftheChristians。Asreadilymightaconsummatestatesmanindulgehimselfintheuseofoneofthosemilitarystratagems，oneofthosepiousfrauds，whichPhilipandSertoriushademployedwithsuchartandeffect。^42Thepraeternaturaloriginofdreamswasuniversallyadmittedbythenationsofantiquity，andaconsiderablepartoftheGallicarmywasalreadypreparedtoplacetheirconfidenceinthesalutarysignoftheChristianreligion。ThesecretvisionofConstantinecouldbedisprovedonlybytheevent；andtheintrepidherowhohadpassedtheAlpsandtheApennine，mightviewwithcarelessdespairtheconsequencesofadefeatunderthewallsofRome。Thesenateandpeople，exultingintheirowndeliverancefromanodioustyrant，acknowledgedthatthevictoryofConstantinesurpassedthepowersofman，withoutdaringtoinsinuatethatithadbeenobtainedbytheprotectionofthegods。Thetriumphalarch，whichwaserectedaboutthreeyearsaftertheevent，proclaims，inambiguouslanguage，thatbythegreatnessofhisownmind，andbyaninstinctorimpulseoftheDivinity，hehadsavedandavengedtheRomanrepublic。^43ThePaganorator，whohadseizedanearlieropportunityofcelebratingthevirtuesoftheconqueror，supposesthathealoneenjoyedasecretandintimatecommercewiththeSupremeBeing，whodelegatedthecareofmortalstohissubordinatedeities；andthusassignsaveryplausiblereasonwhythesubjectsofConstantineshouldnotpresumetoembracethenewreligionoftheirsovereign。^44
[Footnote39:TertulliandeCorona，c。3。Athanasius，tom。i。p。
101。ThelearnedJesuitPetaviusDogmataTheolog。l。xv。c。9，10hascollectedmanysimilarpassagesonthevirtuesofthecross，whichinthelastageembarrassedourProtestantdisputants。]
[Footnote*:Mansohasobserved，thatGibbonoughtnottohaveseparatedthevisionofConstantinefromthewonderfulapparitioninthesky，asthetwowondersarecloselyconnectedinEusebius。
Manso，LebenConstantine，p。82—M。]
[Footnote40:CaeciliusdeM。P。c。44。Itiscertain，thatthishistoricaldeclamationwascomposedandpublishedwhileLicinius，sovereignoftheEast，stillpreservedthefriendshipofConstantineandoftheChristians。EveryreaderoftastemustperceivethatthestyleisofaverydifferentandinferiorcharactertothatofLactantius；andsuchindeedisthejudgmentofLeClercandLardner，BibliothequeAncienneetModerne，tom。
iii。p。438。CredibilityoftheGospel，&c。，partii。vol。vii。
p。94。Threeargumentsfromthetitleofthebook，andfromthenamesofDonatusandCaecilius，areproducedbytheadvocatesforLactantius。SeetheP。Lestocq，tom。ii。p。46—60。Eachoftheseproofsissinglyweakanddefective；buttheirconcurrencehasgreatweight。Ihaveoftenfluctuated，andshalltamelyfollowtheColbertMs。incallingtheauthorwhoeverhewas
Caecilius。]
[Footnote41:CaeciliusdeM。P。c。46。ThereseemstobesomereasonintheobservationofM。deVoltaire，Euvres，tom。xiv。
p。307。whoascribestothesuccessofConstantinethesuperiorfameofhisLabarumabovetheangelofLicinius。YeteventhisangelisfavorablyentertainedbyPagi，Tillemont，Fleury，&c。，whoarefondofincreasingtheirstockofmiracles。]
[Footnote42:Besidesthesewell—knownexamples，TolliusPrefacetoBoileau\'stranslationofLonginushasdiscoveredavisionofAntigonus，whoassuredhistroopsthathehadseenapentagonthesymbolofsafetywiththesewords，\"Inthisconquer。\"ButTolliushasmostinexcusablyomittedtoproducehisauthority，andhisowncharacter，literaryaswellasmoral，isnotfreefromreproach。SeeChauffepie，DictionnaireCritique，tom。iv。
p。460。WithoutinsistingonthesilenceofDiodorusPlutarch，Justin，&c。，itmaybeobservedthatPolyaenus，whoinaseparatechapterl。iv。c。6hascollectednineteenmilitarystratagemsofAntigonus，istotallyignorantofthisremarkablevision。]
[Footnote43:InstinctuDivinitatis，mentismagnitudine。TheinscriptiononthetriumphalarchofConstantine，whichhasbeencopiedbyBaronius，Gruter，&c。，maystillbeperusedbyeverycurioustraveller。]