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。
Thatweshouldloveandpursuevirtueforherownsake，andnotmerelyforthereward。2。Thatwemaybesurprisedbydeathwithoutanopportunityofbaptism。3。Thatalthoughweshallbeplacedinheaven，weshallonlytwinklelikelittlestars，whencomparedtothesunsofrighteousnesswhohaveruntheirappointedcoursewithlabor，withsuccess，andwithglory。
ChrysostominEpist。adHebraeos，Homil。xiii。apudChardon，Hist。desSacremens，tom。i。p。49。Ibelievethatthisdelayofbaptism，thoughattendedwiththemostperniciousconsequences，wasnevercondemnedbyanygeneralorprovincialcouncil，orbyanypublicactordeclarationofthechurch。Thezealofthebishopswaseasilykindledonmuchslighteroccasion。
Note:ThispassageofChrysostom，thoughnotinhismoreforciblemanner，isnotquitefairlyrepresented。Heisstrongerinotherplaces，inAct。Hom。xxiii。—andHom。i。Compare，likewise，thesermonofGregoryofNyseaonthissubject，andGregoryNazianzen。Afterall，tothosewhobelievedintheefficacyofbaptism，whatargumentcouldbemoreconclusive，thanthedangerofdyingwithoutit?Orat。xl。—M。]
[Footnote69:Zosimus，l。ii。p。104。Forthisdisingenuousfalsehoodhehasdeservedandexperiencedtheharshesttreatmentfromalltheecclesiasticalwriters，exceptCardinalBaronius，A。D。324，No。15—28，whohadoccasiontoemploytheinfidelonaparticularserviceagainsttheArianEusebius。
Note:Heyne，inavaluablenoteonthispassageofZosimus，hasshowndecisivelythatthismaliciouswayofaccountingfortheconversionofConstantinewasnotaninventionofZosimus。
ItappearstohavebeenthecurrentcalumnyeagerlyadoptedandpropagatedbytheexasperatedPaganparty。Reitemeter，alatereditorofZosimus，whosenotesareretainedintherecentedition，inthecollectionoftheByzantinehistorians，hasadisquisitiononthepassage，ascandid，butnotmoreconclusivethansomewhichhaveprecededhim—M。]
[Footnote70:Eusebius，l。iv。c。61，62，63。ThebishopofCaesareasupposesthesalvationofConstantinewiththemostperfectconfidence。]
Thegratitudeofthechurchhasexaltedthevirtuesandexcusedthefailingsofagenerouspatron，whoseatedChristianityonthethroneoftheRomanworld；andtheGreeks，whocelebratethefestivaloftheImperialsaint，seldommentionthenameofConstantinewithoutaddingthetitleofequaltotheApostles。^71Suchacomparison，ifitalludetothecharacterofthosedivinemissionaries，mustbeimputedtotheextravaganceofimpiousflattery。ButiftheparallelbeconfinedtotheextentandnumberoftheirevangelicvictoriesthesuccessofConstantinemightperhapsequalthatoftheApostlesthemselves。
Bytheedictsoftoleration，heremovedthetemporaldisadvantageswhichhadhithertoretardedtheprogressofChristianity；anditsactiveandnumerousministersreceivedafreepermission，aliberalencouragement，torecommendthesalutarytruthsofrevelationbyeveryargumentwhichcouldaffectthereasonorpietyofmankind。Theexactbalanceofthetworeligionscontinuedbutamoment；andthepiercingeyeofambitionandavaricesoondiscovered，thattheprofessionofChristianitymightcontributetotheinterestofthepresent，aswellasofafuturelife。^72Thehopesofwealthandhonors，theexampleofanemperor，hisexhortations，hisirresistiblesmiles，diffusedconvictionamongthevenalandobsequiouscrowdswhichusuallyfilltheapartmentsofapalace。Thecitieswhichsignalizedaforwardzealbythevoluntarydestructionoftheirtemples，weredistinguishedbymunicipalprivileges，andrewardedwithpopulardonatives；andthenewcapitaloftheEastgloriedinthesingularadvantagethatConstantinoplewasneverprofanedbytheworshipofidols。^73Asthelowerranksofsocietyaregovernedbyimitation，theconversionofthosewhopossessedanyeminenceofbirth，ofpower，orofriches，wassoonfollowedbydependentmultitudes。^74Thesalvationofthecommonpeoplewaspurchasedataneasyrate，ifitbetruethat，inoneyear，twelvethousandmenwerebaptizedatRome，besidesaproportionablenumberofwomenandchildren，andthatawhitegarment，withtwentypiecesofgold，hadbeenpromisedbytheemperortoeveryconvert。^75ThepowerfulinfluenceofConstantinewasnotcircumscribedbythenarrowlimitsofhislife，orofhisdominions。Theeducationwhichhebestowedonhissonsandnephewssecuredtotheempirearaceofprinces，whosefaithwasstillmorelivelyandsincere，astheyimbibed，intheirearliestinfancy，thespirit，oratleastthedoctrine，ofChristianity。WarandcommercehadspreadtheknowledgeofthegospelbeyondtheconfinesoftheRomanprovinces；andtheBarbarians，whohaddisdainedashumbleandproscribedsect，soonlearnedtoesteemareligionwhichhadbeensolatelyembracedbythegreatestmonarch，andthemostcivilizednation，oftheglobe。^76TheGothsandGermans，whoenlistedunderthestandardofRome，reveredthecrosswhichglitteredattheheadofthelegions，andtheirfiercecountrymenreceivedatthesametimethelessonsoffaithandofhumanity。ThekingsofIberiaandArmeniaworshippedthegodoftheirprotector；andtheirsubjects，whohaveinvariablypreservedthenameofChristians，soonformedasacredandperpetualconnectionwiththeirRomanbrethren。TheChristiansofPersiaweresuspected，intimeofwar，ofpreferringtheirreligiontotheircountry；butaslongaspeacesubsistedbetweenthetwoempires，thepersecutingspiritoftheMagiwaseffectuallyrestrainedbytheinterpositionofConstantine。^77TheraysofthegospelilluminatedthecoastofIndia。ThecoloniesofJews，whohadpenetratedintoArabiaandEthiopia，^78opposedtheprogressofChristianity；butthelaborofthemissionarieswasinsomemeasurefacilitatedbyapreviousknowledgeoftheMosaicrevelation；andAbyssiniastillreveresthememoryofFrumentius，who，inthetimeofConstantine，devotedhislifetotheconversionofthosesequesteredregions。UnderthereignofhissonConstantius，Theophilus，^79whowashimselfofIndianextraction，wasinvestedwiththedoublecharacterofambassadorandbishop。HeembarkedontheRedSeawithtwohundredhorsesofthepurestbreedofCappadocia，whichweresentbytheemperortotheprinceoftheSabaeans，orHomerites。Theophiluswasintrustedwithmanyotherusefulorcuriouspresents，whichmightraisetheadmiration，andconciliatethefriendship，oftheBarbarians；andhesuccessfullyemployedseveralyearsinapastoralvisittothechurchesofthetorridzone。^80
[Footnote71:SeeTillemont，Hist。desEmpereurs，tom。iv。p。
429。TheGreeks，theRussians，and，inthedarkerages，theLatinsthemselves，havebeendesirousofplacingConstantineinthecatalogueofsaints。]
[Footnote72:Seethethirdandfourthbooksofhislife。Hewasaccustomedtosay，thatwhetherChristwaspreachedinpretence，orintruth，heshouldstillrejoice，l。iii。c。58。]
[Footnote73:M。deTillemontHist。desEmpereurs，tom。iv。p。
374，616hasdefended，withstrengthandspirit，thevirginpurityofConstantinopleagainstsomemalevolentinsinuationsofthePaganZosimus。]
[Footnote74:TheauthoroftheHistoirePolitiqueetPhilosophiquedesdeuxIndestom。i。p。9condemnsalawofConstantine，whichgavefreedomtoalltheslaveswhoshouldembraceChristianity。Theemperordidindeedpublishalaw，whichrestrainedtheJewsfromcircumcising，perhapsfromkeeping，anyChristianslave。SeeEuseb。inVit。Constant。l。
iv。c。27，andCod。Theod。l。xvi。tit。ix。，withGodefroy\'sCommentary，tom。vi。p。247。ButthisimperfectexceptionrelatedonlytotheJews，andthegreatbodyofslaves，whowerethepropertyofChristianorPaganmasters，couldnotimprovetheirtemporalconditionbychangingtheirreligion。IamignorantbywhatguidestheAbbeRaynalwasdeceived；asthetotalabsenceofquotationsistheunpardonableblemishofhisentertaininghistory。]
[Footnote75:SeeActaSSilvestri，andHist。Eccles。Nicephor。
Callist。l。vii。c。34，ap。BaroniumAnnal。Eccles。A。D。324，No。67，74。Suchevidenceiscontemptibleenough；butthesecircumstancesareinthemselvessoprobable，thatthelearnedDr。
HowellHistoryoftheWorld，vol。iii。p。14hasnotscrupledtoadoptthem。]
[Footnote76:TheconversionoftheBarbariansunderthereignofConstantineiscelebratedbytheecclesiasticalhistorians。SeeSozomen，l。ii。c。6，andTheodoret，l。i。c。23，24。ButRufinus，theLatintranslatorofEusebius，deservestobeconsideredasanoriginalauthority。HisinformationwascuriouslycollectedfromoneofthecompanionsoftheApostleofAethiopia，andfromBacurius，anIberianprince，whowascountofthedomestics。FatherMamachihasgivenanamplecompilationontheprogressofChristianity，inthefirstandsecondvolumesofhisgreatbutimperfectwork。]
[Footnote*:AccordingtotheGeorgianchronicles，IberiaGeorgiawasconvertedbythevirginNino，whoeffectedanextraordinarycureonthewifeofthekingMihran。ThetempleofthegodAramazt，orArmaz，notfarfromthecapitalMtskitha，wasdestroyed，andthecrosserectedinitsplace。LeBeau，i。202，withSt。Martin\'sNotes。
St。MartinhaslikewiseclearlyshownSt。Martin，Add。toLeBeau，i。291ArmeniawasthefirstnationwhichembracedChristianity，AdditiontoLeBeau，i。76。andMemoiresurl\'Armenie，i。305。Gibbonhimselfsuspectedthistruth。—
\"InsteadofmaintainingthattheconversionofArmeniawasnotattemptedwithanydegreeofsuccess，tillthesceptrewasinthehandsofanorthodoxemperor，\"Ioughttohavesaid，thattheseedsofthefaithweredeeplysownduringtheseasonofthelastandgreatestpersecution，thatmanyRomanexilesmightassistthelaborsofGregory，andthattherenownedTiridates，theherooftheEast，maydisputewithConstantinethehonorofbeingthefirstsovereignwhoembracedtheChristianreligionVindication]
[Footnote77:See，inEusebius，inVit。l。iv。c。9，thepressingandpatheticepistleofConstantineinfavorofhisChristianbrethrenofPersia。]
[Footnote78:SeeBasnage，Hist。desJuifs，tom。vii。p。182，tom。viii。p。333，tom。ix。p。810。ThecuriousdiligenceofthiswriterpursuestheJewishexilestotheextremitiesoftheglobe。]
[Footnote*:AbbaSalama，orFremonatus，ismentionedintheTareekNegushti，chronicleofthekingsofAbyssinia。Salt\'sTravels，vol。ii。p。464。—M。]
[Footnote79:TheophilushadbeengiveninhisinfancyasahostagebyhiscountrymenoftheIsleofDiva，andwaseducatedbytheRomansinlearningandpiety。TheMaldives，ofwhichMale，orDiva，maybethecapital，areaclusterof1900or2000
minuteislandsintheIndianOcean。TheancientswereimperfectlyacquaintedwiththeMaldives；buttheyaredescribedinthetwoMahometantravellersoftheninthcentury，publishedbyRenaudot，Geograph。Nubiensis，p。30，31D\'Herbelot，BibliothequeOrientalep。704。Hist。GeneraledesVoyages，tom。
viii。]
[Footnote!:SeethedissertationofM。Letronneonthisquestion。HeconceivesthatTheophiluswasbornintheislandofDahlak，intheArabianGulf。HisembassywastoAbyssiniaratherthantoIndia。Letronne，Materiauxpourl\'Hist。duChristianismeenEgypteIndie，etAbyssinie。Paris，18323dDissert。—M。]
[Footnote80:Philostorgius，l。iii。c。4，5，6，withGodefroy\'slearnedobservations。ThehistoricalnarrativeissoonlostinaninquiryconcerningtheseatofParadise，strangemonsters，&c。]
TheirresistiblepoweroftheRomanemperorswasdisplayedintheimportantanddangerouschangeofthenationalreligion。
TheterrorsofamilitaryforcesilencedthefaintandunsupportedmurmursofthePagans，andtherewasreasontoexpect，thatthecheerfulsubmissionoftheChristianclergy，aswellaspeople，wouldbetheresultofconscienceandgratitude。
Itwaslongsinceestablished，asafundamentalmaximoftheRomanconstitution，thateveryrankofcitizenswasalikesubjecttothelaws，andthatthecareofreligionwastherightaswellasdutyofthecivilmagistrate。Constantineandhissuccessorscouldnoteasilypersuadethemselvesthattheyhadforfeited，bytheirconversion，anybranchoftheImperialprerogatives，orthattheywereincapableofgivinglawstoareligionwhichtheyhadprotectedandembraced。Theemperorsstillcontinuedtoexerciseasupremejurisdictionovertheecclesiasticalorder，andthesixteenthbookoftheTheodosiancoderepresents，underavarietyoftitles，theauthoritywhichtheyassumedinthegovernmentoftheCatholicchurch。
Butthedistinctionofthespiritualandtemporalpowers，^81whichhadneverbeenimposedonthefreespiritofGreeceandRome，wasintroducedandconfirmedbythelegalestablishmentofChristianity。Theofficeofsupremepontiff，which，fromthetimeofNumatothatofAugustus，hadalwaysbeenexercisedbyoneofthemosteminentofthesenators，wasatlengthunitedtotheImperialdignity。Thefirstmagistrateofthestate，asoftenashewaspromptedbysuperstitionorpolicy，performedwithhisownhandsthesacerdotalfunctions；^82norwasthereanyorderofpriests，eitheratRomeorintheprovinces，whoclaimedamoresacredcharacteramongmen，oramoreintimatecommunicationwiththegods。ButintheChristianchurch，whichinstruststheserviceofthealtartoaperpetualsuccessionofconsecratedministers，themonarch，whosespiritualrankislesshonorablethanthatofthemeanestdeacon，wasseatedbelowtherailsofthesanctuary，andconfoundedwiththerestofthefaithfulmultitude。^83Theemperormightbesalutedasthefatherofhispeople，butheowedafilialdutyandreverencetothefathersofthechurch；andthesamemarksofrespect，whichConstantinehadpaidtothepersonsofsaintsandconfessors，weresoonexactedbytheprideoftheepiscopalorder。^84A
secretconflictbetweenthecivilandecclesiasticaljurisdictionsembarrassedtheoperationoftheRomangovernment；
andapiousemperorwasalarmedbytheguiltanddangeroftouchingwithaprofanehandthearkofthecovenant。Theseparationofmenintothetwoordersoftheclergyandofthelaitywas，indeed，familiartomanynationsofantiquity；andthepriestsofIndia，ofPersia，ofAssyria，ofJudea，ofAethiopia，ofEgypt，andofGaul，derivedfromacelestialoriginthetemporalpowerandpossessionswhichtheyhadacquired。Thesevenerableinstitutionshadgraduallyassimilatedthemselvestothemannersandgovernmentoftheirrespectivecountries；^85buttheoppositionorcontemptofthecivilpowerservedtocementthedisciplineoftheprimitivechurch。TheChristianshadbeenobligedtoelecttheirownmagistrates，toraiseanddistributeapeculiarrevenue，andtoregulatetheinternalpolicyoftheirrepublicbyacodeoflaws，whichwereratifiedbytheconsentofthepeopleandthepracticeofthreehundredyears。WhenConstantineembracedthefaithoftheChristians，heseemedtocontractaperpetualalliancewithadistinctandindependentsociety；andtheprivilegesgrantedorconfirmedbythatemperor，orbyhissuccessors，wereaccepted，notastheprecariousfavorsofthecourt，butasthejustandinalienablerightsoftheecclesiasticalorder。
[Footnote81:SeetheepistleofOsius，ap。Athanasium，vol。i。
p。840。ThepublicremonstrancewhichOsiuswasforcedtoaddresstotheson，containedthesameprinciplesofecclesiasticalandcivilgovernmentwhichhehadsecretlyinstilledintothemindofthefather。]
[Footnote82:M。delaBastielhasevidentlyproved，thatAugustusandhissuccessorsexercisedinpersonallthesacredfunctionsofpontifexmaximus，ofhighpriest，oftheRomanempire。]
[Footnote83:SomethingofacontrarypracticehadinsensiblyprevailedinthechurchofConstantinople；buttherigidAmbrosecommandedTheodosiustoretirebelowtherails，andtaughthimtoknowthedifferencebetweenakingandapriest。SeeTheodoret，l。v。c。18。]
[Footnote84:AtthetableoftheemperorMaximus，Martin，bishopofTours，receivedthecupfromanattendant，andgaveittothepresbyter，hiscompanion，beforeheallowedtheemperortodrink；
theempresswaitedonMartinattable。SulpiciusSeverus，inVit。SMartin，c。23，andDialogueii。7。Yetitmaybedoubted，whethertheseextraordinarycomplimentswerepaidtothebishoporthesaint。ThehonorsusuallygrantedtotheformercharactermaybeseeninBingham\'sAntiquities，l。ii。c。9，andValesadTheodoret，l。iv。c。6。SeethehaughtyceremonialwhichLeontius，bishopofTripoli，imposedontheempress。Tillemont，Hist。desEmpereurs，tom。iv。p。754。PatresApostol。tom。ii。
p。179。]
[Footnote85:Plutarch，inhistreatiseofIsisandOsiris，informsusthatthekingsofEgypt，whowerenotalreadypriests，wereinitiated，aftertheirelection，intothesacerdotalorder。]