Hepursuedthegreatobjectofhisambitionthroughthedarkandbloodypathsofwarandpolicy；and，afterthevictory，heabandonedhimself，withoutmoderation，totheabuseofhisfortune。InsteadofassertinghisjustsuperiorityabovetheimperfectheroismandprofanephilosophyofTrajanandtheAntonines，thematureageofConstantineforfeitedthereputationwhichhehadacquiredinhisyouth。Ashegraduallyadvancedintheknowledgeoftruth，heproportionallydeclinedinthepracticeofvirtue；andthesameyearofhisreigninwhichheconvenedthecouncilofNice，waspollutedbytheexecution，orrathermurder，ofhiseldestson。ThisdateisalonesufficienttorefutetheignorantandmalicioussuggestionsofZosimus，^69

　　whoaffirms，that，afterthedeathofCrispus，theremorseofhisfatheracceptedfromtheministersofchristianitytheexpiationwhichhehadvainlysolicitedfromthePaganpontiffs。AtthetimeofthedeathofCrispus，theemperorcouldnolongerhesitateinthechoiceofareligion；hecouldnolongerbeignorantthatthechurchwaspossessedofaninfallibleremedy，thoughhechosetodefertheapplicationofittilltheapproachofdeathhadremovedthetemptationanddangerofarelapse。Thebishopswhomhesummoned，inhislastillness，tothepalaceofNicomedia，wereedifiedbythefervorwithwhichherequestedandreceivedthesacramentofbaptism，bythesolemnprotestationthattheremainderofhislifeshouldbeworthyofadiscipleofChrist，andbyhishumblerefusaltoweartheImperialpurpleafterhehadbeenclothedinthewhitegarmentofaNeophyte。

　　TheexampleandreputationofConstantineseemedtocountenancethedelayofbaptism。^70Futuretyrantswereencouragedtobelieve，thattheinnocentbloodwhichtheymightshedinalongreignwouldinstantlybewashedawayinthewatersofregeneration；andtheabuseofreligiondangerouslyunderminedthefoundationsofmoralvirtue。

　　[Footnote67:Thetheoryandpracticeofantiquity，withregardtothesacramentofbaptism，havebeencopiouslyexplainedbyDomChardon，Hist。desSacremens，tom。i。p。3—405；DomMartennedeRitibusEcclesiaeAntiquis，tom。i。；andbyBingham，inthetenthandeleventhbooksofhisChristianAntiquities。Onecircumstancemaybeobserved，inwhichthemodernchurcheshavemateriallydepartedfromtheancientcustom。Thesacramentofbaptismevenwhenitwasadministeredtoinfantswasimmediatelyfollowedbyconfirmationandtheholycommunion。]

　　[Footnote68:TheFathers，whocensuredthiscriminaldelay，couldnotdenythecertainandvictoriousefficacyevenofadeath—bedbaptism。TheingeniousrhetoricofChrysostomcouldfindonlythreeargumentsagainsttheseprudentChristians。1。

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