Thefirstbloodwhichstainedthenewcapitalwasspiltinthisecclesiasticalcontest；andmanypersonswereslainonbothsides，inthefuriousandobstinateseditionsofthepeople。ThecommissionofenforcingasentenceofbanishmentagainstPaulhadbeenintrustedtoHermogenes，themaster—generalofthecavalry；
buttheexecutionofitwasfataltohimself。TheCatholicsroseinthedefenceoftheirbishop；thepalaceofHermogeneswasconsumed；thefirstmilitaryofficeroftheempirewasdraggedbytheheelsthroughthestreetsofConstantinople，and，afterheexpired，hislifelesscorpsewasexposedtotheirwantoninsults。
^152ThefateofHermogenesinstructedPhilip，thePraetorianpraefect，toactwithmoreprecautiononasimilaroccasion。Inthemostgentleandhonorableterms，herequiredtheattendanceofPaulinthebathsofXeuxippus，whichhadaprivatecommunicationwiththepalaceandthesea。Avessel，whichlayreadyatthegardenstairs，immediatelyhoistedsail；and，whilethepeoplewerestillignorantofthemeditatedsacrilege，theirbishopwasalreadyembarkedonhisvoyagetoThessalonica。Theysoonbeheld，withsurpriseandindignation，thegatesofthepalacethrownopen，andtheusurperMacedoniusseatedbythesideofthepraefectonaloftychariot，whichwassurroundedbytroopsofguardswithdrawnswords。Themilitaryprocessionadvancedtowardsthecathedral；theAriansandtheCatholicseagerlyrushedtooccupythatimportantpost；andthreethousandonehundredandfiftypersonslosttheirlivesintheconfusionofthetumult。Macedonius，whowassupportedbyaregularforce，obtainedadecisivevictory；buthisreignwasdisturbedbyclamorandsedition；andthecauseswhichappearedtheleastconnectedwiththesubjectofdispute，weresufficienttonourishandtokindletheflameofcivildiscord。AsthechapelinwhichthebodyofthegreatConstantinehadbeendepositedwasinaruinouscondition，thebishoptransportedthosevenerableremainsintothechurchofSt。Acacius。ThisprudentandevenpiousmeasurewasrepresentedasawickedprofanationbythewholepartywhichadheredtotheHomoousiandoctrine。Thefactionsimmediatelyflewtoarms，theconsecratedgroundwasusedastheirfieldofbattle；andoneoftheecclesiasticalhistorianshasobserved，asarealfact，notasafigureofrhetoric，thatthewellbeforethechurchoverflowedwithastreamofblood，whichfilledtheporticosandtheadjacentcourts。Thewriterwhoshouldimputethesetumultssolelytoareligiousprinciple，wouldbetrayaveryimperfectknowledgeofhumannature；yetitmustbeconfessedthatthemotivewhichmisledthesincerityofzeal，andthepretencewhichdisguisedthelicentiousnessofpassion，suppressedtheremorsewhich，inanothercause，wouldhavesucceededtotherageoftheChristiansatConstantinople。
^153
[Footnote150:Cucususwasthelaststageofhislifeandsufferings。Thesituationofthatlonelytown，ontheconfinesofCappadocia，Cilicia，andtheLesserArmenia，hasoccasionedsomegeographicalperplexity；butwearedirectedtothetruespotbythecourseoftheRomanroadfromCaesareatoAnazarbus。
SeeCellariiGeograph。tom。ii。p。213。WesselingadItinerar。
p。179，703。]
[Footnote151:Athanasiustom。i。p。703，813，814affirms，inthemostpositiveterms，thatPaulwasmurdered；andappeals，notonlytocommonfame，buteventotheunsuspicioustestimonyofPhilagrius，oneoftheArianpersecutors。YetheacknowledgesthatthehereticsattributedtodiseasethedeathofthebishopofConstantinople。AthanasiusisservilelycopiedbySocrates，l。ii。c。26；butSozomen，whodiscoversamoreliberaltemper。
presumesl。iv。c。2toinsinuateaprudentdoubt。]
[Footnote152:Ammianusxiv。10referstohisownaccountofthistragicevent。Butwenolongerpossessthatpartofhishistory。
Note:ThemurderofHermogenestookplaceatthefirstexpulsionofPaulfromtheseeofConstantinople。—M。]
[Footnote153:SeeSocrates，l。ii。c。6，7，12，13，15，16，26，27，38，andSozomen，l。iii。3，4，7，9，l。iv。c。ii。21。TheactsofSt。PaulofConstantinople，ofwhichPhotiushasmadeanabstract，Phot。Bibliot。p。1419—1430，areanindifferentcopyofthesehistorians；butamodernGreek，whocouldwritethelifeofasaintwithoutaddingfablesandmiracles，isentitledtosomecommendation。]
ChapterXXI:PersecutionOfHeresy，StateOfTheChurch。
PartVII。
ThecruelandarbitrarydispositionofConstantius，whichdidnotalwaysrequiretheprovocationsofguiltandresistance，wasjustlyexasperatedbythetumultsofhiscapital，andthecriminalbehaviorofafaction，whichopposedtheauthorityandreligionoftheirsovereign。Theordinarypunishmentsofdeath，exile，andconfiscation，wereinflictedwithpartialvigor；andtheGreeksstillreveretheholymemoryoftwoclerks，areader，andasub—deacon，whowereaccusedofthemurderofHermogenes，andbeheadedatthegatesofConstantinople。ByanedictofConstantiusagainsttheCatholicswhichhasnotbeenjudgedworthyofaplaceintheTheodosiancode，thosewhorefusedtocommunicatewiththeArianbishops，andparticularlywithMacedonius，weredeprivedoftheimmunitiesofecclesiastics，andoftherightsofChristians；theywerecompelledtorelinquishthepossessionofthechurches；andwerestrictlyprohibitedfromholdingtheirassemblieswithinthewallsofthecity。Theexecutionofthisunjustlaw，intheprovincesofThraceandAsiaMinor，wascommittedtothezealofMacedonius；thecivilandmilitarypowersweredirectedtoobeyhiscommands；andthecrueltiesexercisedbythisSemi—AriantyrantinthesupportoftheHomoiousion，exceededthecommission，anddisgracedthereign，ofConstantius。Thesacramentsofthechurchwereadministeredtothereluctantvictims，whodeniedthevocation，andabhorredtheprinciples，ofMacedonius。Theritesofbaptismwereconferredonwomenandchildren，who，forthatpurpose，hadbeentornfromthearmsoftheirfriendsandparents；themouthsofthecommunicantswereheldopenbyawoodenengine，whiletheconsecratedbreadwasforceddowntheirthroat；thebreastsoftendervirginswereeitherburntwithred—hotegg—shells，orinhumanlycompressedbetweensharpandheavyboards。^154TheNovatiansofConstantinopleandtheadjacentcountry，bytheirfirmattachmenttotheHomoousianstandard，deservedtobeconfoundedwiththeCatholicsthemselves。Macedoniuswasinformed，thatalargedistrictofPaphlagonia^155wasalmostentirelyinhabitedbythosesectaries。Heresolvedeithertoconvertortoextirpatethem；andashedistrusted，onthisoccasion，theefficacyofanecclesiasticalmission，hecommandedabodyoffourthousandlegionariestomarchagainsttherebels，andtoreducetheterritoryofMantiniumunderhisspiritualdominion。TheNovatianpeasants，animatedbydespairandreligiousfury，boldlyencounteredtheinvadersoftheircountry；
andthoughmanyofthePaphlagonianswereslain，theRomanlegionswerevanquishedbyanirregularmultitude，armedonlywithscythesandaxes；and，exceptafewwhoescapedbyanignominiousflight，fourthousandsoldierswereleftdeadonthefieldofbattle。ThesuccessorofConstantiushasexpressed，inaconcisebutlivelymanner，someofthetheologicalcalamitieswhichafflictedtheempire，andmoreespeciallytheEast，inthereignofaprincewhowastheslaveofhisownpassions，andofthoseofhiseunuchs:\"Manywereimprisoned，andpersecuted，anddrivenintoexile。Wholetroopsofthosewhoarestyledheretics，weremassacred，particularlyatCyzicus，andatSamosata。InPaphlagonia，Bithynia，Galatia，andinmanyotherprovinces，townsandvillageswerelaidwaste，andutterlydestroyed。^156
[Footnote154:Socrates，l。ii。c。27，38。Sozomen，l。iv。c。
21。TheprincipalassistantsofMacedonius，intheworkofpersecution，werethetwobishopsofNicomediaandCyzicus，whowereesteemedfortheirvirtues，andespeciallyfortheircharity。Icannotforbearremindingthereader，thatthedifferencebetweentheHomoousionandHomoiousion，isalmostinvisibletothenicesttheologicaleye。]
[Footnote155:WeareignorantoftheprecisesituationofMantinium。Inspeakingofthesefourbandsoflegionaries，Socrates，Sozomen，andtheauthoroftheactsofSt。Paul，usetheindefinitetermsof，whichNicephorusveryproperlytranslatesthousands。Vales。adSocrat。l。ii。c。38。]
[Footnote156:Julian。Epist。lii。p。436，edit。Spanheim。]
WhiletheflamesoftheAriancontroversyconsumedthevitalsoftheempire，theAfricanprovinceswereinfestedbytheirpeculiarenemies，thesavagefanatics，who，underthenameofCircumcellions，formedthestrengthandscandaloftheDonatistparty。^157ThesevereexecutionofthelawsofConstantinehadexcitedaspiritofdiscontentandresistance，thestrenuouseffortsofhissonConstans，torestoretheunityofthechurch，exasperatedthesentimentsofmutualhatred，whichhadfirstoccasionedtheseparation；andthemethodsofforceandcorruptionemployedbythetwoImperialcommissioners，PaulandMacarius，furnishedtheschismaticswithaspeciouscontrastbetweenthemaximsoftheapostlesandtheconductoftheirpretendedsuccessors。^158ThepeasantswhoinhabitedthevillagesofNumidiaandMauritania，wereaferociousrace，whohadbeenimperfectlyreducedundertheauthorityoftheRomanlaws；whowereimperfectlyconvertedtotheChristianfaith；butwhowereactuatedbyablindandfuriousenthusiasminthecauseoftheirDonatistteachers。Theyindignantlysupportedtheexileoftheirbishops，thedemolitionoftheirchurches，andtheinterruptionoftheirsecretassemblies。Theviolenceoftheofficersofjustice，whowereusuallysustainedbyamilitaryguard，wassometimesrepelledwithequalviolence；andthebloodofsomepopularecclesiastics，whichhadbeenshedinthequarrel，inflamedtheirrudefollowerswithaneagerdesireofrevengingthedeathoftheseholymartyrs。Bytheirowncrueltyandrashness，theministersofpersecutionsometimesprovokedtheirfate；andtheguiltofanaccidentaltumultprecipitatedthecriminalsintodespairandrebellion。Drivenfromtheirnativevillages，theDonatistpeasantsassembledinformidablegangsontheedgeoftheGetuliandesert；andreadilyexchangedthehabitsoflaborforalifeofidlenessandrapine，whichwasconsecratedbythenameofreligion，andfaintlycondemnedbythedoctorsofthesect。TheleadersoftheCircumcellionsassumedthetitleofcaptainsofthesaints；theirprincipalweapon，astheywereindifferentlyprovidedwithswordsandspears，wasahugeandweightyclub，whichtheytermedanIsraelite；andthewell—knownsoundof\"PraisebetoGod，\"whichtheyusedastheircryofwar，diffusedconsternationovertheunarmedprovincesofAfrica。Atfirsttheirdepredationswerecoloredbythepleaofnecessity；buttheysoonexceededthemeasureofsubsistence，indulgedwithoutcontroltheirintemperanceandavarice，burntthevillageswhichtheyhadpillaged，andreignedthelicentioustyrantsoftheopencountry。Theoccupationsofhusbandry，andtheadministrationofjustice，wereinterrupted；andastheCircumcellionspretendedtorestoretheprimitiveequalityofmankind，andtoreformtheabusesofcivilsociety，theyopenedasecureasylumfortheslavesanddebtors，whoflockedincrowdstotheirholystandard。Whentheywerenotresisted，theyusuallycontentedthemselveswithplunder，buttheslightestoppositionprovokedthemtoactsofviolenceandmurder；andsomeCatholicpriests，whohadimprudentlysignalizedtheirzeal，weretorturedbythefanaticswiththemostrefinedandwantonbarbarity。ThespiritoftheCircumcellionswasnotalwaysexertedagainsttheirdefencelessenemies；theyengaged，andsometimesdefeated，thetroopsoftheprovince；andinthebloodyactionofBagai，theyattackedintheopenfield，butwithunsuccessfulvalor，anadvancedguardoftheImperialcavalry。
TheDonatistswhoweretakeninarms，received，andtheysoondeserved，thesametreatmentwhichmighthavebeenshowntothewildbeastsofthedesert。Thecaptivesdied，withoutamurmur，eitherbythesword，theaxe，orthefire；andthemeasuresofretaliationweremultipliedinarapidproportion，whichaggravatedthehorrorsofrebellion，andexcludedthehopeofmutualforgiveness。Inthebeginningofthepresentcentury，theexampleoftheCircumcellionshasbeenrenewedinthepersecution，theboldness，thecrimes，andtheenthusiasmoftheCamisards；andifthefanaticsofLanguedocsurpassedthoseofNumidia，bytheirmilitaryachievements，theAfricansmaintainedtheirfierceindependencewithmoreresolutionandperseverance。
^159
[Footnote157:SeeOptatusMilevitanus，particularlyiii。4，
withtheDonatishistory，byM。Dupin，andtheoriginalpiecesattheendofhisedition。ThenumerouscircumstanceswhichAugustinhasmentioned，ofthefuryoftheCircumcellionsagainstothers，andagainstthemselves，havebeenlaboriouslycollectedbyTillemont，Mem。Eccles。tom。vi。p。147—165；andhehasoften，thoughwithoutdesign，exposedinjurieswhichhadprovokedthosefanatics。]
[Footnote158:Itisamusingenoughtoobservethelanguageofoppositeparties，whentheyspeakofthesamemenandthings。
Gratus，bishopofCarthage，beginstheacclamationsofanorthodoxsynod，\"GratiasDeoomnipotentietChristuJesu……
quiimperavitreligiosissimoConstantiImperatori，utvotumgereretunitatis，etmitteretministrossanctioperisfamulosDeiPaulumetMacarium。\"Monument。Vet。adCalcemOptati，p。313。
\"Eccesubito，\"saystheDonatistauthorofthePassionofMarculus，\"deConstantisregiftyrannicadomo……pollutumMacarianaepersecutionismurmurincrepuit，etduabusbestiisadAfricammissis，eodemscilicetMacarioetPaulo，execrandumprorsusacdirumecclesiaecertamenindictumest；utpopulusChristianusadunionemcumtraditoribusfaciendam，nudatismilitumgladiisetdraconumpraesentibussignis，ettubarumvocibuscogeretur。Monument。p。304。]
[Footnote159:TheHistoiredesCamisards，in3vols。12mo。
Villefranche，1760mayberecommendedasaccurateandimpartial。
Itrequiressomeattentiontodiscoverthereligionoftheauthor。]
Suchdisordersarethenaturaleffectsofreligioustyranny，buttherageoftheDonatistswasinflamedbyafrenzyofaveryextraordinarykind；andwhich，ifitreallyprevailedamongtheminsoextravagantadegree，cannotsurelybeparalleledinanycountryorinanyage。Manyofthesefanaticswerepossessedwiththehorroroflife，andthedesireofmartyrdom；andtheydeemeditoflittlemomentbywhatmeans，orbywhathands，theyperished，iftheirconductwassanctifiedbytheintentionofdevotingthemselvestothegloryofthetruefaith，andthehopeofeternalhappiness。^160Sometimestheyrudelydisturbedthefestivals，andprofanedthetemplesofPaganism，withthedesignofexcitingthemostzealousoftheidolaterstorevengetheinsultedhonoroftheirgods。Theysometimesforcedtheirwayintothecourtsofjustice，andcompelledtheaffrightedjudgetogiveordersfortheirimmediateexecution。Theyfrequentlystoppedtravellersonthepublichighways，andobligedthemtoinflictthestrokeofmartyrdom，bythepromiseofareward，iftheyconsented，andbythethreatofinstantdeath，iftheyrefusedtograntsoverysingularafavor。Whentheyweredisappointedofeveryotherresource，theyannouncedthedayonwhich，inthepresenceoftheirfriendsandbrethren，theyshouldeastthemselvesheadlongfromsomeloftyrock；andmanyprecipiceswereshown，whichhadacquiredfamebythenumberofreligioussuicides。Intheactionsofthesedesperateenthusiasts，whowereadmiredbyonepartyasthemartyrsofGod，andabhorredbytheotherasthevictimsofSatan，animpartialphilosophermaydiscovertheinfluenceandthelastabuseofthatinflexiblespiritwhichwasoriginallyderivedfromthecharacterandprinciplesoftheJewishnation。
[Footnote160:TheDonatistsuicidesallegedintheirjustificationtheexampleofRazias，whichisrelatedinthe14thchapterofthesecondbookoftheMaccabees。]
Thesimplenarrativeoftheintestinedivisions，whichdistractedthepeace，anddishonoredthetriumph，ofthechurch，willconfirmtheremarkofaPaganhistorian，andjustifythecomplaintofavenerablebishop。TheexperienceofAmmianushadconvincedhim，thattheenmityoftheChristianstowardseachother，surpassedthefuryofsavagebeastsagainstman；^161andGregoryNazianzenmostpatheticallylaments，thatthekingdomofheavenwasconverted，bydiscord，intotheimageofchaos，ofanocturnaltempest，andofhellitself。^162Thefierceandpartialwritersofthetimes，ascribingallvirtuetothemselves，andimputingallguilttotheiradversaries，havepaintedthebattleoftheangelsanddaemons。Ourcalmerreasonwillrejectsuchpureandperfectmonstersofviceorsanctity，andwillimputeanequal，oratleastanindiscriminate，measureofgoodandeviltothehostilesectaries，whoassumedandbestowedtheappellationsoforthodoxandheretics。Theyhadbeeneducatedinthesamereligionandthesamecivilsociety。Theirhopesandfearsinthepresent，orinafuturelife，werebalancedinthesameproportion。Oneitherside，theerrormightbeinnocent，thefaithsincere，thepracticemeritoriousorcorrupt。Theirpassionswereexcitedbysimilarobjects；andtheymightalternatelyabusethefavorofthecourt，orofthepeople。ThemetaphysicalopinionsoftheAthanasiansandtheArianscouldnotinfluencetheirmoralcharacter；andtheywerealikeactuatedbytheintolerantspiritwhichhasbeenextractedfromthepureandsimplemaximsofthegospel。
[Footnote161:Nullusinfestashominibusbestias，utsuntsibiferalespleriqueChristianorum，expertus。Ammian。xxii。5。]
[Footnote162:Gregor，Nazianzen，Orav。i。p。33。SeeTillemont，tomvi。p。501，quatoedit。]
Amodernwriter，who，withajustconfidence，hasprefixedtohisownhistorythehonorableepithetsofpoliticalandphilosophical，^163accusesthetimidprudenceofMontesquieu，forneglectingtoenumerate，amongthecausesofthedeclineoftheempire，alawofConstantine，bywhichtheexerciseofthePaganworshipwasabsolutelysuppressed，andaconsiderablepartofhissubjectswasleftdestituteofpriests，oftemples，andofanypublicreligion。Thezealofthephilosophichistorianfortherightsofmankind，hasinducedhimtoacquiesceintheambiguoustestimonyofthoseecclesiastics，whohavetoolightlyascribedtotheirfavoriteherothemeritofageneralpersecution。^164Insteadofallegingthisimaginarylaw，whichwouldhaveblazedinthefrontoftheImperialcodes，wemaysafelyappealtotheoriginalepistle，whichConstantineaddressedtothefollowersoftheancientreligion；atatimewhenhenolongerdisguisedhisconversion，nordreadedtherivalsofhisthrone。Heinvitesandexhorts，inthemostpressingterms，thesubjectsoftheRomanempiretoimitatetheexampleoftheirmaster；buthedeclares，thatthosewhostillrefusetoopentheireyestothecelestiallight，mayfreelyenjoytheirtemplesandtheirfanciedgods。Areport，thattheceremoniesofpaganismweresuppressed，isformallycontradictedbytheemperorhimself，whowiselyassigns，astheprincipleofhismoderation，theinvincibleforceofhabit，ofprejudice，andofsuperstition。^165Withoutviolatingthesanctityofhispromise，withoutalarmingthefearsofthePagans，theartfulmonarchadvanced，byslowandcautioussteps，tounderminetheirregularanddecayedfabricofpolytheism。Thepartialactsofseveritywhichheoccasionallyexercised，thoughtheyweresecretlypromotedbyaChristianzeal，werecoloredbythefairestpretencesofjusticeandthepublicgood；andwhileConstantinedesignedtoruinthefoundations，heseemedtoreformtheabuses，oftheancientreligion。Aftertheexampleofthewisestofhispredecessors，hecondemned，underthemostrigorouspenalties，theoccultandimpiousartsofdivination；whichexcitedthevainhopes，andsometimesthecriminalattempts，ofthosewhowerediscontentedwiththeirpresentcondition。Anignominioussilencewasimposedontheoracles，whichhadbeenpubliclyconvictedoffraudandfalsehood；theeffeminatepriestsoftheNilewereabolished；andConstantinedischargedthedutiesofaRomancensor，whenhegaveordersforthedemolitionofseveraltemplesofPhoenicia；inwhicheverymodeofprostitutionwasdevoutlypractisedinthefaceofday，andtothehonorofVenus。^166TheImperialcityofConstantinoplewas，insomemeasure，raisedattheexpense，andwasadornedwiththespoils，oftheopulenttemplesofGreeceandAsia；thesacredpropertywasconfiscated；thestatuesofgodsandheroesweretransported，withrudefamiliarity，amongapeoplewhoconsideredthemasobjects，notofadoration，butofcuriosity；thegoldandsilverwererestoredtocirculation；andthemagistrates，thebishops，andtheeunuchs，improvedthefortunateoccasionofgratifying，atonce，theirzeal，theiravarice，andtheirresentment。ButthesedepredationswereconfinedtoasmallpartoftheRomanworld；andtheprovinceshadbeenlongsinceaccustomedtoendurethesamesacrilegiousrapine，fromthetyrannyofprincesandproconsuls，whocouldnotbesuspectedofanydesigntosubverttheestablishedreligion。^167