andsomeindulgencewasshowntothemeanercriminals，whoassumedthemeritofanearlyrepentance。Ifanycreditcouldbeallowedtoconfessionsextortedbyfearorpain，andtovaguereports，theoffspringofmaliceandcredulity，theheresyofthePriscillianistswouldbefoundtoincludethevariousabominationsofmagic，ofimpiety，andoflewdness。^56
Priscillian，whowanderedabouttheworldinthecompanyofhisspiritualsisters，wasaccusedofprayingstarknakedinthemidstofthecongregation；anditwasconfidentlyasserted，thattheeffectsofhiscriminalintercoursewiththedaughterofEuchrociahadbeensuppressed，bymeansstillmoreodiousandcriminal。Butanaccurate，orratheracandid，inquirywilldiscover，thatifthePriscillianistsviolatedthelawsofnature，itwasnotbythelicentiousness，butbytheausterity，oftheirlives。Theyabsolutelycondemnedtheuseofthemarriage—bed；andthepeaceoffamilieswasoftendisturbedbyindiscreetseparations。Theyenjoyed，orrecommended，atotalabstinencefromallanimafood；andtheircontinualprayers，fasts，andvigils，inculcatedaruleofstrictandperfectdevotion。Thespeculativetenetsofthesect，concerningthepersonofChrist，andthenatureofthehumansoul，werederivedfromtheGnosticandManichaeansystem；andthisvainphilosophy，whichhadbeentransportedfromEgypttoSpain，wasilladaptedtothegrosserspiritsoftheWest。TheobscuredisciplesofPriscilliansufferedlanguished，andgraduallydisappeared:histenetswererejectedbytheclergyandpeople，buthisdeathwasthesubjectofalongandvehementcontroversy；whilesomearraigned，andothersapplauded，thejusticeofhissentence。Itiswithpleasurethatwecanobservethehumaneinconsistencyofthemostillustrioussaintsandbishops，AmbroseofMilan，^57
andMartinofTours，^58who，onthisoccasion，assertedthecauseoftoleration。Theypitiedtheunhappymen，whohadbeenexecutedatTreves；theyrefusedtoholdcommunionwiththeirepiscopalmurderers；andifMartindeviatedfromthatgenerousresolution，hismotiveswerelaudable，andhisrepentancewasexemplary。ThebishopsofToursandMilanpronounced，withouthesitation，theeternaldamnationofheretics；buttheyweresurprised，andshocked，bythebloodyimageoftheirtemporaldeath，andthehonestfeelingsofnatureresistedtheartificialprejudicesoftheology。ThehumanityofAmbroseandMartinwasconfirmedbythescandalousirregularityoftheproceedingsagainstPriscillianandhisadherents。Thecivilandecclesiasticalministershadtransgressedthelimitsoftheirrespectiveprovinces。Thesecularjudgehadpresumedtoreceiveanappeal，andtopronounceadefinitivesentence，inamatteroffaith，andepiscopaljurisdiction。Thebishopshaddisgracedthemselves，byexercisingthefunctionsofaccusersinacriminalprosecution。ThecrueltyofIthacius，^59whobeheldthetortures，andsolicitedthedeath，oftheheretics，provokedthejustindignationofmankind；andthevicesofthatprofligatebishopwereadmittedasaproof，thathiszealwasinstigatedbythesordidmotivesofinterest。SincethedeathofPriscillian，therudeattemptsofpersecutionhavebeenrefinedandmethodizedintheholyoffice，whichassignstheirdistinctpartstotheecclesiasticalandsecularpowers。Thedevotedvictimisregularlydeliveredbythepriesttothemagistrate，andbythemagistratetotheexecutioner；andtheinexorablesentenceofthechurch，whichdeclaresthespiritualguiltoftheoffender，isexpressedinthemildlanguageofpityandintercession。
[Footnote51:SeetheSacredHistoryofSulpiciusSeverus，l。
ii。p。437—452，edit。Ludg。Bat。1647，acorrectandoriginalwriter。Dr。LardnerCredibility，&c。，partii。vol。ix。p。256
—350haslaboredthisarticlewithpurelearning，goodsense，andmoderation。TillemontMem。Eccles。tom。viii。p。491—527
hasrakedtogetherallthedirtofthefathers；ausefulscavenger!]
[Footnote52:SeverusSulpiciusmentionsthearch—hereticwithesteemandpityFaelixprofecto，sinonpravostudiocorrupissetoptimumingeniumprorsusmultaineoanimietcorporisbonacerneres。Hist。Sacra，lii。p。439。EvenJeromtom。i。inScript。Eccles。p。302speakswithtemperofPriscillianandLatronian。]
[Footnote53:ThebishopricinOldCastileisnowworth20，000
ducatsayear，Busching\'sGeography，vol。ii。p。308，andisthereforemuchlesslikelytoproducetheauthorofanewheresy。]
[Footnote54:Exprobrabaturmulierividuaenimiareligio，etdiligentiuscultadivinitas，Pacat。inPanegyr。Vet。xii。29。
Suchwastheideaofahumane，thoughignorant，polytheist。]
[Footnote55:OneofthemwassentinSillinaminsulamquaeultraBritannianest。WhatmusthavebeentheancientconditionoftherocksofScilly?Camden\'sBritannia，vol。ii。p。1519。]
[Footnote56:ThescandalouscalumniesofAugustin，PopeLeo，&c。，whichTillemontswallowslikeachild，andLardnerrefuteslikeaman，maysuggestsomecandidsuspicionsinfavoroftheolderGnostics。]
[Footnote57:Ambros。tom。ii。Epist。xxiv。p。891。]
[Footnote58:IntheSacredHistory，andtheLifeofSt。Martin，SulpiciusSeverususessomecaution；buthedeclareshimselfmorefreelyintheDialogues，iii。15。Martinwasreproved，however，byhisownconscience，andbyanangel；norcouldheafterwardsperformmiracleswithsomuchease。]
[Footnote59:TheCatholicPresbyterSulp。Sever。l。ii。p。448
andthePaganOratorPacat。inPanegyr。Vet。xii。29reprobate，withequalindignation，thecharacterandconductofIthacius。]
ChapterXXVII:CivilWars，ReignOfTheodosius。
PartIII。
Amongtheecclesiastics，whoillustratedthereignofTheodosius，GregoryNazianzenwasdistinguishedbythetalentsofaneloquentpreacher；thereputationofmiraculousgiftsaddedweightanddignitytothemonasticvirtuesofMartinofTours；
^60butthepalmofepiscopalvigorandabilitywasjustlyclaimedbytheintrepidAmbrose。^61HewasdescendedfromanoblefamilyofRomans；hisfatherhadexercisedtheimportantofficeofPraetorianpraefectofGaul；andtheson，afterpassingthroughthestudiesofaliberaleducation，attained，intheregulargradationofcivilhonors，thestationofconsularofLiguria，aprovincewhichincludedtheImperialresidenceofMilan。Attheageofthirty—four，andbeforehehadreceivedthesacramentofbaptism，Ambrose，tohisownsurprise，andtothatoftheworld，wassuddenlytransformedfromagovernortoanarchbishop。Withouttheleastmixture，asitissaid，ofartorintrigue，thewholebodyofthepeopleunanimouslysalutedhimwiththeepiscopaltitle；theconcordandperseveranceoftheiracclamationswereascribedtoapraeternaturalimpulse；andthereluctantmagistratewascompelledtoundertakeaspiritualoffice，forwhichhewasnotpreparedbythehabitsandoccupationsofhisformerlife。Buttheactiveforceofhisgeniussoonqualifiedhimtoexercise，withzealandprudence，thedutiesofhisecclesiasticaljurisdiction；andwhilehecheerfullyrenouncedthevainandsplendidtrappingsoftemporalgreatness，hecondescended，forthegoodofthechurch，todirecttheconscienceoftheemperors，andtocontroltheadministrationoftheempire。Gratianlovedandreveredhimasafather；andtheelaboratetreatiseonthefaithoftheTrinitywasdesignedfortheinstructionoftheyoungprince。Afterhistragicdeath，atatimewhentheempressJustinatrembledforherownsafety，andforthatofhersonValentinian，thearchbishopofMilanwasdespatched，ontwodifferentembassies，tothecourtofTreves。
Heexercised，withequalfirmnessanddexterity，thepowersofhisspiritualandpoliticalcharacters；andperhapscontributed，byhisauthorityandeloquence，tochecktheambitionofMaximus，andtoprotectthepeaceofItaly。^62Ambrosehaddevotedhislife，andhisabilities，totheserviceofthechurch。Wealthwastheobjectofhiscontempt；hehadrenouncedhisprivatepatrimony；andhesold，withouthesitation，theconsecratedplate，fortheredemptionofcaptives。TheclergyandpeopleofMilanwereattachedtotheirarchbishop；andhedeservedtheesteem，withoutsolicitingthefavor，orapprehendingthedispleasure，ofhisfeeblesovereigns。
[Footnote60:TheLifeofSt。Martin，andtheDialoguesconcerninghismiraclescontainfactsadaptedtothegrossestbarbarism，inastylenotunworthyoftheAugustanage。Sonaturalisthealliancebetweengoodtasteandgoodsense，thatI
amalwaysastonishedbythiscontrast。]
[Footnote61:TheshortandsuperficialLifeofSt。Ambrose，byhisdeaconPaulinus，Appendixadedit。Benedict。p。i。—xv。，
hasthemeritoforiginalevidence。TillemontMem。Eccles。tom。
x。p。78—306andtheBenedictineeditorsp。xxxi。—lxiii。
havelaboredwiththeirusualdiligence。]
[Footnote62:Ambrosehimselftom。ii。Epist。xxiv。p。888—
891givestheemperoraveryspiritedaccountofhisownembassy。]
ThegovernmentofItaly，andoftheyoungemperor，naturallydevolvedtohismotherJustina，awomanofbeautyandspirit，butwho，inthemidstofanorthodoxpeople，hadthemisfortuneofprofessingtheArianheresy，whichsheendeavoredtoinstilintothemindofherson。Justinawaspersuaded，thataRomanemperormightclaim，inhisowndominions，thepublicexerciseofhisreligion；andsheproposedtothearchbishop，asamoderateandreasonableconcession，thatheshouldresigntheuseofasinglechurch，eitherinthecityorthesuburbsofMilan。ButtheconductofAmbrosewasgovernedbyverydifferentprinciples。^63
ThepalacesoftheearthmightindeedbelongtoCaesar；butthechurcheswerethehousesofGod；and，withinthelimitsofhisdiocese，hehimself，asthelawfulsuccessoroftheapostles，wastheonlyministerofGod。TheprivilegesofChristianity，temporalaswellasspiritual，wereconfinedtothetruebelievers；andthemindofAmbrosewassatisfied，thathisowntheologicalopinionswerethestandardoftruthandorthodoxy。
Thearchbishop，whorefusedtoholdanyconference，ornegotiation，withtheinstrumentsofSatan，declared，withmodestfirmness，hisresolutiontodieamartyr，ratherthantoyieldtotheimpioussacrilege；andJustina，whoresentedtherefusalasanactofinsolenceandrebellion，hastilydeterminedtoexerttheImperialprerogativeofherson。AsshedesiredtoperformherpublicdevotionsontheapproachingfestivalofEaster，Ambrosewasorderedtoappearbeforethecouncil。Heobeyedthesummonswiththerespectofafaithfulsubject，buthewasfollowed，withouthisconsent，byaninnumerablepeopletheypressed，withimpetuouszeal，againstthegatesofthepalace；
andtheaffrightedministersofValentinian，insteadofpronouncingasentenceofexileonthearchbishopofMilan，humblyrequestedthathewouldinterposehisauthority，toprotectthepersonoftheemperor，andtorestorethetranquilityofthecapital。ButthepromiseswhichAmbrosereceivedandcommunicatedweresoonviolatedbyaperfidiouscourt；and，duringsixofthemostsolemndays，whichChristianpietyhadsetapartfortheexerciseofreligion，thecitywasagitatedbytheirregularconvulsionsoftumultandfanaticism。Theofficersofthehouseholdweredirectedtoprepare，first，thePortian，andafterwards，thenew，Basilica，fortheimmediatereceptionoftheemperorandhismother。Thesplendidcanopyandhangingsoftheroyalseatwerearrangedinthecustomarymanner；butitwasfoundnecessarytodefendthem。byastrongguard，fromtheinsultsofthepopulace。TheArianecclesiastics，whoventuredtoshowthemselvesinthestreets，wereexposedtothemostimminentdangeroftheirlives；andAmbroseenjoyedthemeritandreputationofrescuinghispersonalenemiesfromthehandsoftheenragedmultitude。
[Footnote63:Hisownrepresentationofhisprinciplesandconducttom。ii。Epist。xxxxi。xxii。p。852—880isoneofthecuriousmonumentsofecclesiasticalantiquity。ItcontainstwoletterstohissisterMarcellina，withapetitiontoValentinianandthesermondeBasilicisnonmadendis。]
Butwhilehelaboredtorestraintheeffectsoftheirzeal，thepatheticvehemenceofhissermonscontinuallyinflamedtheangryandseditioustemperofthepeopleofMilan。ThecharactersofEve，ofthewifeofJob，ofJezebel，ofHerodias，wereindecentlyappliedtothemotheroftheemperor；andherdesiretoobtainachurchfortheArianswascomparedtothemostcruelpersecutionswhichChristianityhadenduredunderthereignofPaganism。Themeasuresofthecourtservedonlytoexposethemagnitudeoftheevil。Afineoftwohundredpoundsofgoldwasimposedonthecorporatebodyofmerchantsandmanufacturers:anorderwassignified，inthenameoftheemperor，toalltheofficers，andinferiorservants，ofthecourtsofjustice，that，duringthecontinuanceofthepublicdisorders，theyshouldstrictlyconfinethemselvestotheirhouses；andtheministersofValentinianimprudentlyconfessed，thatthemostrespectablepartofthecitizensofMilanwasattachedtothecauseoftheirarchbishop。Hewasagainsolicitedtorestorepeacetohiscountry，bytimelycompliancewiththewillofhissovereign。
ThereplyofAmbrosewascouchedinthemosthumbleandrespectfulterms，whichmight，however，beinterpretedasaseriousdeclarationofcivilwar。\"Hislifeandfortunewereinthehandsoftheemperor；buthewouldneverbetraythechurchofChrist，ordegradethedignityoftheepiscopalcharacter。Insuchacausehewaspreparedtosufferwhateverthemaliceofthedaemoncouldinflict；andheonlywishedtodieinthepresenceofhisfaithfulflock，andatthefootofthealtar；hehadnotcontributedtoexcite，butitwasinthepowerofGodalonetoappease，therageofthepeople:hedeprecatedthescenesofbloodandconfusionwhichwerelikelytoensue；anditwashisferventprayer，thathemightnotsurvivetobeholdtheruinofaflourishingcity，andperhapsthedesolationofallItaly。\"^64
TheobstinatebigotryofJustinawouldhaveendangeredtheempireofherson，if，inthiscontestwiththechurchandpeopleofMilan，shecouldhavedependedontheactiveobedienceofthetroopsofthepalace。AlargebodyofGothshadmarchedtooccupytheBasilica，whichwastheobjectofthedispute:anditmightbeexpectedfromtheArianprinciples，andbarbarousmanners，oftheseforeignmercenaries，thattheywouldnotentertainanyscruplesintheexecutionofthemostsanguinaryorders。Theywereencountered，onthesacredthreshold，bythearchbishop，who，thunderingagainstthemasentenceofexcommunication，askedthem，inthetoneofafatherandamaster，whetheritwastoinvadethehouseofGod，thattheyhadimploredthehospitableprotectionoftherepublic。ThesuspenseoftheBarbariansallowedsomehoursforamoreeffectualnegotiation；andtheempresswaspersuaded，bytheadviceofherwisestcounsellors，toleavetheCatholicsinpossessionofallthechurchesofMilan；andtodissemble，tillamoreconvenientseason，herintentionsofrevenge。ThemotherofValentiniancouldneverforgivethetriumphofAmbrose；andtheroyalyouthutteredapassionateexclamation，thathisownservantswerereadytobetrayhimintothehandsofaninsolentpriest。
[Footnote64:Retzhadasimilarmessagefromthequeen，torequestthathewouldappeasethetumultofParis。Itwasnolongerinhispower，&c。Aquoij\'ajoutaitoutcequevouspouvezvousimaginerderespectdedouleur，deregret，etdesoumission，&c。Memoires，tom。i。p。140。CertainlyIdonotcompareeitherthecausesorthemenyetthecoadjutorhimselfhadsomeideap。84ofimitatingSt。Ambrose]
Thelawsoftheempire，someofwhichwereinscribedwiththenameofValentinian，stillcondemnedtheArianheresy，andseemedtoexcusetheresistanceoftheCatholics。BytheinfluenceofJustina，anedictoftolerationwaspromulgatedinalltheprovinceswhichweresubjecttothecourtofMilan；thefreeexerciseoftheirreligionwasgrantedtothosewhoprofessedthefaithofRimini；andtheemperordeclared，thatallpersonswhoshouldinfringethissacredandsalutaryconstitution，shouldbecapitallypunished，astheenemiesofthepublicpeace。^65ThecharacterandlanguageofthearchbishopofMilanmayjustifythesuspicion，thathisconductsoonaffordedareasonableground，oratleastaspeciouspretence，totheArianministers；whowatchedtheopportunityofsurprisinghiminsomeactofdisobediencetoalawwhichhestrangelyrepresentsasalawofbloodandtyranny。Asentenceofeasyandhonorablebanishmentwaspronounced，whichenjoinedAmbrosetodepartfromMilanwithoutdelay；whilstitpermittedhimtochoosetheplaceofhisexile，andthenumberofhiscompanions。Buttheauthorityofthesaints，whohavepreachedandpractisedthemaximsofpassiveloyalty，appearedtoAmbroseoflessmomentthantheextremeandpressingdangerofthechurch。Heboldlyrefusedtoobey；andhisrefusalwassupportedbytheunanimousconsentofhisfaithfulpeople。^66Theyguardedbyturnsthepersonoftheirarchbishop；thegatesofthecathedralandtheepiscopalpalacewerestronglysecured；andtheImperialtroops，whohadformedtheblockade，wereunwillingtorisktheattack，ofthatimpregnablefortress。Thenumerouspoor，whohadbeenrelievedbytheliberalityofAmbrose，embracedthefairoccasionofsignalizingtheirzealandgratitude；andasthepatienceofthemultitudemighthavebeenexhaustedbythelengthanduniformityofnocturnalvigils，heprudentlyintroducedintothechurchofMilantheusefulinstitutionofaloudandregularpsalmody。Whilehemaintainedthisarduouscontest，hewasinstructed，byadream，toopentheearthinaplacewheretheremainsoftwomartyrs，GervasiusandProtasius，^67hadbeendepositedabovethreehundredyears。Immediatelyunderthepavementofthechurchtwoperfectskeletonswerefound，^68withtheheadsseparatedfromtheirbodies，andaplentifuleffusionofblood。Theholyrelicswerepresented，insolemnpomp，tothevenerationofthepeople；andeverycircumstanceofthisfortunatediscoverywasadmirablyadaptedtopromotethedesignsofAmbrose。Thebonesofthemartyrs，theirblood，theirgarments，weresupposedtocontainahealingpower；andthepraeternaturalinfluencewascommunicatedtothemostdistantobjects，withoutlosinganypartofitsoriginalvirtue。Theextraordinarycureofablindman，^69andthereluctantconfessionsofseveraldaemoniacs，appearedtojustifythefaithandsanctityofAmbrose；andthetruthofthosemiraclesisattestedbyAmbrosehimself，byhissecretaryPaulinus，andbyhisproselyte，thecelebratedAugustin，who，atthattime，professedtheartofrhetoricinMilan。ThereasonofthepresentagemaypossiblyapprovetheincredulityofJustinaandherAriancourt；whoderidedthetheatricalrepresentationswhichwereexhibitedbythecontrivance，andattheexpense，ofthearchbishop。^70Theireffect，however，onthemindsofthepeople，wasrapidandirresistible；andthefeeblesovereignofItalyfoundhimselfunabletocontendwiththefavoriteofHeaven。ThepowerslikewiseoftheearthinterposedinthedefenceofAmbrose:thedisinterestedadviceofTheodosiuswasthegenuineresultofpietyandfriendship；andthemaskofreligiouszealconcealedthehostileandambitiousdesignsofthetyrantofGaul。^71
[Footnote65:Sozomenalonel。vii。c。13throwsthisluminousfactintoadarkandperplexednarrative。]
[Footnote66:Excubabatpiaplebsinecclesia，moriparatacumepiscoposuo……Nos，adhucfrigidi，excitabamurtamencivitateattonitaatquecurbata。Augustin。Confession。l。ix。c。7]
[Footnote67:Tillemont，Mem。Eccles。tom。ii。p。78，498。ManychurchesinItaly，Gaul，&c。，werededicatedtotheseunknownmartyrs，ofwhomSt。Gervaiseseemstohavebeenmorefortunatethanhiscompanion。]