[Footnote44:HabesprofectoaliquidcumillamenteDivinasecretum；quadelegatanostraDiisMinoribuscuraunisetibidignaturostenderePanegyr。Vet。ix。2。]
III。Thephilosopher，whowithcalmsuspicionexaminesthedreamsandomens，themiraclesandprodigies，ofprofaneorevenofecclesiasticalhistory，willprobablyconclude，thatiftheeyesofthespectatorshavesometimesbeendeceivedbyfraud，theunderstandingofthereadershasmuchmorefrequentlybeeninsultedbyfiction。Everyevent，orappearance，oraccident，whichseemstodeviatefromtheordinarycourseofnature，hasbeenrashlyascribedtotheimmediateactionoftheDeity；andtheastonishedfancyofthemultitudehassometimesgivenshapeandcolor，languageandmotion，tothefleetingbutuncommonmeteorsoftheair。^45NazariusandEusebiusarethetwomostcelebratedorators，who，instudiedpanegyrics，havelaboredtoexaltthegloryofConstantine。NineyearsaftertheRomanvictory，Nazarius^46describesanarmyofdivinewarriors，whoseemedtofallfromthesky:hemarkstheirbeauty，theirspirit，theirgiganticforms，thestreamoflightwhichbeamedfromtheircelestialarmor，theirpatienceinsufferingthemselvestobeheard，aswellasseen，bymortals；andtheirdeclarationthattheyweresent，thattheyflew，totheassistanceofthegreatConstantine。Forthetruthofthisprodigy，thePaganoratorappealstothewholeGallicnation，inwhosepresencehewasthenspeaking；andseemstohopethattheancientapparitions^47
wouldnowobtaincreditfromthisrecentandpublicevent。TheChristianfableofEusebius，which，inthespaceoftwenty—sixyears，mightarisefromtheoriginaldream，iscastinamuchmorecorrectandelegantmould。InoneofthemarchesofConstantine，heisreportedtohaveseenwithhisowneyestheluminoustrophyofthecross，placedabovethemeridiansunandinscribedwiththefollowingwords:ByThisConquer。Thisamazingobjectintheskyastonishedthewholearmy，aswellastheemperorhimself，whowasyetundeterminedinthechoiceofareligion:buthisastonishmentwasconvertedintofaithbythevisionoftheensuingnight。Christappearedbeforehiseyes；anddisplayingthesamecelestialsignofthecross，hedirectedConstantinetoframeasimilarstandard，andtomarch，withanassuranceofvictory，againstMaxentiusandallhisenemies。^48
ThelearnedbishopofCaesareaappearstobesensible，thattherecentdiscoveryofthismarvellousanecdotewouldexcitesomesurpriseanddistrustamongthemostpiousofhisreaders。Yet，insteadofascertainingtheprecisecircumstancesoftimeandplace，whichalwaysservetodetectfalsehoodorestablishtruth；
^49insteadofcollectingandrecordingtheevidenceofsomanylivingwitnesseswhomusthavebeenspectatorsofthisstupendousmiracle；^50Eusebiuscontentshimselfwithallegingaverysingulartestimony；thatofthedeceasedConstantine，who，manyyearsaftertheevent，inthefreedomofconversation，hadrelatedtohimthisextraordinaryincidentofhisownlife，andhadattestedthetruthofitbyasolemnoath。Theprudenceandgratitudeofthelearnedprelateforbadehimtosuspecttheveracityofhisvictoriousmaster；butheplainlyintimates，thatinafactofsuchanature，heshouldhaverefusedhisassenttoanymeanerauthority。ThismotiveofcredibilitycouldnotsurvivethepoweroftheFlavianfamily；andthecelestialsign，whichtheInfidelsmightafterwardsderide，^51wasdisregardedbytheChristiansoftheagewhichimmediatelyfollowedtheconversionofConstantine。^52ButtheCatholicchurch，bothoftheEastandoftheWest，hasadoptedaprodigywhichfavors，orseemstofavor，thepopularworshipofthecross。ThevisionofConstantinemaintainedanhonorableplaceinthelegendofsuperstition，tilltheboldandsagaciousspiritofcriticismpresumedtodepreciatethetriumph，andtoarraignthetruth，ofthefirstChristianemperor。^53
[Footnote45:M。FreretMemoiresdel\'AcademiedesInscriptions，tom。iv。p。411—437explains，byphysicalcauses，manyoftheprodigiesofantiquity；andFabricius，whoisabusedbybothparties，vainlytriestointroducethecelestialcrossofConstantineamongthesolarhalos。Bibliothec。Graec。tom。iv。p。
8—29。
Note:Thegreatdifficultyinresolvingitintoanaturalphenomenon，arisesfromtheinscription；eventhemostheatedorawe—struckimaginationwouldhardlydiscoverdistinctandlegiblelettersinasolarhalo。Buttheinscriptionmayhavebeenalaterembellishment，oraninterpretationofthemeaningwhichthesignwasconstruedtoconvey。CompareHeirichen，ExcurinlocumEusebii，andtheauthorsquoted。]
[Footnote46:NazariusinterPanegyr。Vet。x。14，15。Itisunnecessarytonamethemoderns，whoseundistinguishingandravenousappetitehasswallowedeventhePaganbaitofNazarius。]
[Footnote47:TheapparitionsofCastorandPollux，particularlytoannouncetheMacedonianvictory，areattestedbyhistoriansandpublicmonuments。SeeCicerodeNaturaDeorum，ii。2，iii。
5，6。Florus，ii。12。ValeriusMaximus，l。i。c。8，No。1。Yetthemostrecentofthesemiraclesisomitted，andindirectlydenied，byLivy，xlv。i。]
[Footnote48:Eusebius，l。i。c。28，29，30。ThesilenceofthesameEusebius，inhisEcclesiasticalHistory，isdeeplyfeltbythoseadvocatesforthemiraclewhoarenotabsolutelycallous。]
[Footnote49:ThenarrativeofConstantineseemstoindicate，thathesawthecrossintheskybeforehepassedtheAlpsagainstMaxentius。ThescenehasbeenfixedbyprovincialvanityatTreves，Besancon，&c。SeeTillemont，Hist。desEmpereurs，tom。iv。p。573。]
[Footnote50:ThepiousTillemontMem。Eccles。tom。vii。p。
1317rejectswithasightheusefulActsofArtemius，aveteranandamartyr，whoattestsasaneye—witnesstothevisionofConstantine。]
[Footnote51:GelasiusCyzic。inAct。Concil。Nicen。l。i。c。4。]
[Footnote52:TheadvocatesforthevisionareunabletoproduceasingletestimonyfromtheFathersofthefourthandfifthcenturies，who，intheirvoluminouswritings，repeatedlycelebratethetriumphofthechurchandofConstantine。Asthesevenerablemenhadnotanydisliketoamiracle，wemaysuspect，andthesuspicionisconfirmedbytheignoranceofJerom，thattheywereallunacquaintedwiththelifeofConstantinebyEusebius。ThistractwasrecoveredbythediligenceofthosewhotranslatedorcontinuedhisEcclesiasticalHistory，andwhohaverepresentedinvariouscolorsthevisionofthecross。]
[Footnote53:Godefroywasthefirst，who，intheyear1643，NotadPhilostorgium，l。i。c。6，p。16，expressedanydoubtofamiraclewhichhadbeensupportedwithequalzealbyCardinalBaronius，andtheCenturiatorsofMagdeburgh。Sincethattime，manyoftheProtestantcriticshaveinclinedtowardsdoubtanddisbelief。Theobjectionsareurged，withgreatforce，byM。
Chauffepie，DictionnaireCritique，tom。iv。p。6—11；and，intheyear1774，adoctorofSorbonne，theAbbeduVeisinpublishedanapology，whichdeservesthepraiseoflearningandmoderation。
Note:ThefirstExcursusofHeinicheninVitamConstantini，p。507containsafullsummaryoftheopinionsandargumentsofthelaterwriterswhohavediscussedthisinterminablesubject。
Astohisconversion，whereinterestandinclination，statepolicy，and，ifnotasincereconvictionofitstruth，atleastarespect，anesteem，anaweofChristianity，thuscoincided，Constantinehimselfwouldprobablyhavebeenunabletotracetheactualhistoryoftheworkingsofhisownmind，ortoassignitsrealinfluencetoeachconcurrentmotive。—M]
TheProtestantandphilosophicreadersofthepresentagewillinclinetobelieve，thatintheaccountofhisownconversion，Constantineattestedawilfulfalsehoodbyasolemnanddeliberateperjury。Theymaynothesitatetopronounce，thatinthechoiceofareligion，hismindwasdeterminedonlybyasenseofinterest；andthataccordingtotheexpressionofaprofanepoet^54heusedthealtarsofthechurchasaconvenientfootstooltothethroneoftheempire。Aconclusionsoharshandsoabsoluteisnot，however，warrantedbyourknowledgeofhumannature，ofConstantine，orofChristianity。
Inanageofreligiousfervor，themostartfulstatesmenareobservedtofeelsomepartoftheenthusiasmwhichtheyinspire，andthemostorthodoxsaintsassumethedangerousprivilegeofdefendingthecauseoftruthbythearmsofdeceitandfalsehood。
Personalinterestisoftenthestandardofourbelief，aswellasofourpractice；andthesamemotivesoftemporaladvantagewhichmightinfluencethepublicconductandprofessionsofConstantine，wouldinsensiblydisposehismindtoembraceareligionsopropitioustohisfameandfortunes。Hisvanitywasgratifiedbytheflatteringassurance，thathehadbeenchosenbyHeaventoreignovertheearth；successhadjustifiedhisdivinetitletothethrone，andthattitlewasfoundedonthetruthoftheChristianrevelation。Asrealvirtueissometimesexcitedbyundeservedapplause，thespeciouspietyofConstantine，ifatfirstitwasonlyspecious，mightgradually，bytheinfluenceofpraise，ofhabit，andofexample，bematuredintoseriousfaithandferventdevotion。Thebishopsandteachersofthenewsect，whosedressandmannershadnotqualifiedthemfortheresidenceofacourt，wereadmittedtotheImperialtable；theyaccompaniedthemonarchinhisexpeditions；andtheascendantwhichoneofthem，anEgyptianoraSpaniard，^55acquiredoverhismind，wasimputedbythePaganstotheeffectofmagic。^56Lactantius，whohasadornedthepreceptsofthegospelwiththeeloquenceofCicero，^57andEusebius，whohasconsecratedthelearningandphilosophyoftheGreekstotheserviceofreligion，^58werebothreceivedintothefriendshipandfamiliarityoftheirsovereign；andthoseablemastersofcontroversycouldpatientlywatchthesoftandyieldingmomentsofpersuasion，anddexterouslyapplytheargumentswhichwerethebestadaptedtohischaracterandunderstanding。WhateveradvantagesmightbederivedfromtheacquisitionofanImperialproselyte，hewasdistinguishedbythesplendorofhispurple，ratherthanbythesuperiorityofwisdom，orvirtue，fromthemanythousandsofhissubjectswhohadembracedthedoctrinesofChristianity。Norcanitbedeemedincredible，thatthemindofanunletteredsoldiershouldhaveyieldedtotheweightofevidence，which，inamoreenlightenedage，hassatisfiedorsubduedthereasonofaGrotius，aPascal，oraLocke。Inthemidstoftheincessantlaborsofhisgreatoffice，thissoldieremployed，oraffectedtoemploy，thehoursofthenightinthediligentstudyoftheScriptures，andthecompositionoftheologicaldiscourses；whichheafterwardspronouncedinthepresenceofanumerousandapplaudingaudience。Inaverylongdiscourse，whichisstillextant，theroyalpreacherexpatiatesonthevariousproofsstillextant，theroyalpreacherexpatiatesonthevariousproofsofreligion；buthedwellswithpeculiarcomplacencyontheSibyllineverses，^59andthefourtheclogueofVirgil。^60FortyyearsbeforethebirthofChrist，theMantuanbard，asifinspiredbythecelestialmuseofIsaiah，hadcelebrated，withallthepompoforientalmetaphor，thereturnoftheVirgin，thefalloftheserpent，theapproachingbirthofagodlikechild，theoffspringofthegreatJupiter，whoshouldexpiatetheguiltofhumankind，andgovernthepeacefuluniversewiththevirtuesofhisfather；theriseandappearanceofaheavenlyrace，primitivenationthroughouttheworld；andthegradualrestorationoftheinnocenceandfelicityofthegoldenage。Thepoetwasperhapsunconsciousofthesecretsenseandobjectofthesesublimepredictions，whichhavebeensounworthilyappliedtotheinfantsonofaconsul，oratriumvir；^61butifamoresplendid，andindeedspeciousinterpretationofthefourthecloguecontributedtotheconversionofthefirstChristianemperor，Virgilmaydeservetoberankedamongthemostsuccessfulmissionariesofthegospel。^62
[Footnote54:LorsConstantinditcespropresparoles:
J\'airenverselecultedesidoles:
SurlesdebrisdeleurstemplesfumansAuDieuduCielj\'aiprodiguel\'encens。
MaistousmessoinspoursagrandeursupremeN\'eurentjamaisd\'autreobjetquemoi—meme；
Lessaintsautelsn\'etoientamesregardsQu\'unmarchepiedutronedesCesars。
L\'ambition，lafureur，lesdelicesEtoientmesDieux，avoientmessacrifices。
L\'ordesChretiens，leurintrigues，leursangOntcimentemafortuneetmonrang。
Thepoemwhichcontainstheselinesmaybereadwithpleasure，butcannotbenamedwithdecency。]
[Footnote55:ThisfavoritewasprobablythegreatOsius，bishopofCordova，whopreferredthepastoralcareofthewholechurchtothegovernmentofaparticulardiocese。Hischaracterismagnificently，thoughconcisely，expressedbyAthanasius，tom。
i。p。703。SeeTillemont，Mem。Eccles。tom。vii。p。524—561。
Osiuswasaccused，perhapsunjustly，ofretiringfromcourtwithaveryamplefortune。]
[Footnote56:SeeEusebiusinVit。Constant。passimandZosimus，l。ii。p。104。]
[Footnote57:TheChristianityofLactantiuswasofamoralratherthanofamysteriouscast。\"EratpaenerudissaystheorthodoxBulldisciplinaeChristianae，etinrhetoricameliusquamintheologiaversatus。\"DefensioFideiNicenae，sect。ii。c。
14。]
[Footnote58:Fabricius，withhisusualdiligence，hascollectedalistofbetweenthreeandfourhundredauthorsquotedintheEvangelicalPreparationofEusebius。SeeBibl。Graec。l。v。c。
4，tom。vi。p。37—56。]
[Footnote59:SeeConstantin。Orat。adSanctos，c。1920。Hechieflydependsonamysteriousacrostic，composedinthesixthageaftertheDeluge，bytheErythraeanSibyl，andtranslatedbyCicerointoLatin。Theinitiallettersofthethirty—fourGreekversesformthispropheticsentence:JesusChrist，SonofGod，SavioroftheWorld。]
[Footnote60:InhisparaphraseofVirgil，theemperorhasfrequentlyassistedandimprovedtheliteralsenseoftheLatinext。SeeBlondeldesSibylles，l。i。c。14，15，16。]
[Footnote61:ThedifferentclaimsofanelderandyoungersonofPollio，ofJulia，ofDrusus，ofMarcellus，arefoundtobeincompatiblewithchronology，history，andthegoodsenseofVirgil。]
[Footnote62:SeeLowthdeSacraPoesiHebraeorumPraelect。xxi。
p。289—293。Intheexaminationofthefourtheclogue，therespectablebishopofLondonhasdisplayedlearning，taste，ingenuity，andatemperateenthusiasm，whichexaltshisfancywithoutdegradinghisjudgment。]
ChapterXX:ConversionOfConstantine。
PartIII。
TheawfulmysteriesoftheChristianfaithandworshipwereconcealedfromtheeyesofstrangers，andevenofcatechumens，withanaffectedsecrecy，whichservedtoexcitetheirwonderandcuriosity。^63Butthesevererulesofdisciplinewhichtheprudenceofthebishopshadinstituted，wererelaxedbythesameprudenceinfavorofanImperialproselyte，whomitwassoimportanttoallure，byeverygentlecondescension，intothepaleofthechurch；andConstantinewaspermitted，atleastbyatacitdispensation，toenjoymostoftheprivileges，beforehehadcontractedanyoftheobligations，ofaChristian。Insteadofretiringfromthecongregation，whenthevoiceofthedeacondismissedtheprofanemultitude，heprayedwiththefaithful，disputedwiththebishops，preachedonthemostsublimeandintricatesubjectsoftheology，celebratedwithsacredritesthevigilofEaster，andpubliclydeclaredhimself，notonlyapartaker，but，insomemeasure，apriestandhierophantoftheChristianmysteries。^64TheprideofConstantinemightassume，andhisserviceshaddeserved，someextraordinarydistinction:
andill—timedrigormighthaveblastedtheunripenedfruitsofhisconversion；andifthedoorsofthechurchhadbeenstrictlyclosedagainstaprincewhohaddesertedthealtarsofthegods，themasteroftheempirewouldhavebeenleftdestituteofanyformofreligiousworship。InhislastvisittoRome，hepiouslydisclaimedandinsultedthesuperstitionofhisancestors，byrefusingtoleadthemilitaryprocessionoftheequestrianorder，andtoofferthepublicvowstotheJupiteroftheCapitolineHill。^65Manyyearsbeforehisbaptismanddeath，Constantinehadproclaimedtotheworld，thatneitherhispersonnorhisimageshouldevermorebeseenwithinthewallsofanidolatroustemple；whilehedistributedthroughtheprovincesavarietyofmedalsandpictures，whichrepresentedtheemperorinanhumbleandsuppliantpostureofChristiandevotion。^66
[Footnote63:Thedistinctionbetweenthepublicandthesecretpartsofdivineservice，themissacatechumenorumandthemissafidelium，andthemysteriousveilwhichpietyorpolicyhadcastoverthelatter，areveryjudiciouslyexplainedbyThiers，ExpositionduSaintSacrament，l。i。c。8—12，p。59—91:butas，onthissubject，thePapistsmayreasonablybesuspected，aProtestantreaderwilldependwithmoreconfidenceonthelearnedBingham，Antiquities，l。x。c。5。]
[Footnote64:SeeEusebiusinVit。Const。l。iv。c。15—32，andthewholetenorofConstantine\'sSermon。ThefaithanddevotionoftheemperorhasfurnishedBatonicswithaspeciousargumentinfavorofhisearlybaptism。
Note:CompareHeinichen，Excursusiv。etv。，wherethesequestionsareexaminedwithcandorandacuteness，andwithconstantreferencetotheopinionsofmoremodernwriters。—M。]
[Footnote65:Zosimus，l。ii。p。105。]
[Footnote66:EusebiusinVit。Constant。l。iv。c。15，16。]
TheprideofConstantine，whorefusedtheprivilegesofacatechumen，cannoteasilybeexplainedorexcused；butthedelayofhisbaptismmaybejustifiedbythemaximsandthepracticeofecclesiasticalantiquity。Thesacramentofbaptism^67wasregularlyadministeredbythebishophimself，withhisassistantclergy，inthecathedralchurchofthediocese，duringthefiftydaysbetweenthesolemnfestivalsofEasterandPentecost；andthisholytermadmittedanumerousbandofinfantsandadultpersonsintothebosomofthechurch。Thediscretionofparentsoftensuspendedthebaptismoftheirchildrentilltheycouldunderstandtheobligationswhichtheycontracted:theseverityofancientbishopsexactedfromthenewconvertsanovitiateoftwoorthreeyears；andthecatechumensthemselves，fromdifferentmotivesofatemporaloraspiritualnature，wereseldomimpatienttoassumethecharacterofperfectandinitiatedChristians。Thesacramentofbaptismwassupposedtocontainafullandabsoluteexpiationofsin；andthesoulwasinstantlyrestoredtoitsoriginalpurity，andentitledtothepromiseofeternalsalvation。AmongtheproselytesofChristianity，therearemanywhojudgeditimprudenttoprecipitateasalutaryrite，whichcouldnotberepeated；tothrowawayaninestimableprivilege，whichcouldneverberecovered。Bythedelayoftheirbaptism，theycouldventurefreelytoindulgetheirpassionsintheenjoymentsofthisworld，whiletheystillretainedintheirownhandsthemeansofasureandeasyabsolution。^68ThesublimetheoryofthegospelhadmadeamuchfainterimpressionontheheartthanontheunderstandingofConstantinehimself。