ThecolossalstatueofSerapis^49wasinvolvedintheruinofhistempleandreligion。Agreatnumberofplatesofdifferentmetals，artificiallyjoinedtogether，composedthemajesticfigureofthedeity，whotouchedoneithersidethewallsofthesanctuary。TheaspectofSerapis，hissittingposture，andthesceptre，whichheboreinhislefthand，wereextremelysimilartotheordinaryrepresentationsofJupiter。HewasdistinguishedfromJupiterbythebasket，orbushel，whichwasplacedonhishead；andbytheemblematicmonsterwhichheheldinhisrighthand；theheadandbodyofaserpentbranchingintothreetails，whichwereagainterminatedbythetripleheadsofadog，alion，andawolf。Itwasconfidentlyaffirmed，thatifanyimpioushandshoulddaretoviolatethemajestyofthegod，theheavensandtheearthwouldinstantlyreturntotheiroriginalchaos。Anintrepidsoldier，animatedbyzeal，andarmedwithaweightybattle—axe，ascendedtheladder；andeventheChristianmultitudeexpected，withsomeanxiety，theeventofthecombat。^50HeaimedavigorousstrokeagainstthecheekofSerapis；thecheekfelltotheground；thethunderwasstillsilent，andboththeheavensandtheearthcontinuedtopreservetheiraccustomedorderandtranquillity。Thevictorioussoldierrepeatedhisblows:thehugeidolwasoverthrown，andbrokeninpieces；andthelimbsofSerapiswereignominiouslydraggedthroughthestreetsofAlexandria。HismangledcarcasswasburntintheAmphitheatre，amidsttheshoutsofthepopulace；andmanypersonsattributedtheirconversiontothisdiscoveryoftheimpotenceoftheirtutelardeity。Thepopularmodesofreligion，thatproposeanyvisibleandmaterialobjectsofworship，havetheadvantageofadaptingandfamiliarizingthemselvestothesensesofmankind:butthisadvantageiscounterbalancedbythevariousandinevitableaccidentstowhichthefaithoftheidolaterisexposed。Itisscarcelypossible，that，ineverydispositionofmind，heshouldpreservehisimplicitreverencefortheidols，ortherelics，whichthenakedeye，andtheprofanehand，areunabletodistinguishfromthemostcommonproductionsofartornature；
andif，inthehourofdanger，theirsecretandmiraculousvirtuedoesnotoperatefortheirownpreservation，hescornsthevainapologiesofhispriests，andjustlyderidestheobject，andthefolly，ofhissuperstitiousattachment。^51AfterthefallofSerapis，somehopeswerestillentertainedbythePagans，thattheNilewouldrefusehisannualsupplytotheimpiousmastersofEgypt；andtheextraordinarydelayoftheinundationseemedtoannouncethedispleasureoftheriver—god。Butthisdelaywassooncompensatedbytherapidswellofthewaters。Theysuddenlyrosetosuchanunusualheight，astocomfortthediscontentedpartywiththepleasingexpectationofadeluge；tillthepeacefulriveragainsubsidedtothewell—knownandfertilizinglevelofsixteencubits，oraboutthirtyEnglishfeet。^52
[Footnote43:WemaychoosebetweenthedateofMarcellinusA。D。
389orthatofProsper，A。D。391。TillemontHist。desEmp。
tom。v。p。310，756preferstheformer，andPagithelatter。]
[Footnote44:Tillemont，Mem。Eccles。tom。xi。p。441—500。TheambiguoussituationofTheophilus—asaint，asthefriendofJeromadevil，astheenemyofChrysostom—producesasortofimpartiality；yet，uponthewhole，thebalanceisjustlyinclinedagainsthim。]
[Footnote*:NodoubtatempleofOsiris。St。Martin，iv398—
M。]
[Footnote45:LardnerHeathenTestimonies，vol。iv。p。411hasallegedbeautifulpassagefromSuidas，orratherfromDamascius，whichshowthedevoutandvirtuousOlympius，notinthelightofawarrior，butofaprophet。]
[Footnote46:Nosvidimusarmarialibrorum，quibusdireptis，exinanitaeaanostrishominibus，nostristemporibusmemorant。
Orosius，l。vi。c。15，p。421，edit。Havercamp。Thoughabigot，andacontroversialwriter。Orosiusseemstoblush。]
[Footnote47:Eunapius，intheLivesofAntoninusandAedesius，execratesthesacrilegiousrapineofTheophilus。TillemontMem。
Eccles。tom。xiii。p。453quotesanepistleofIsidoreofPelusium，whichreproachestheprimatewiththeidolatrousworshipofgold，theaurisacrafames。]
[Footnote*:AnEnglishtraveller，Mr。Wilkinson，hasdiscoveredthesecretofthevocalMemnon。Therewasacavityinwhichapersonwasconcealed，andstruckastone，whichgavearingingsoundlikebrass。TheArabs，whostoodbelowwhenMr。Wilkinsonperformedthemiracle，describedsoundjustastheauthoroftheepigram。—M。]
[Footnote48:RufinusnamesthepriestofSaturn，who，inthecharacterofthegod，familiarlyconversedwithmanypiousladiesofquality，tillhebetrayedhimself，inamomentoftransport，whenhecouldnotdisguisethetoneofhisvoice。TheauthenticandimpartialnarrativeofAeschines，seeBayle，DictionnaireCritique，Scamandre，andtheadventureofMudus，Joseph。
Antiquitat。Judaic。l。xviii。c。3，p。877edit。Havercamp，mayprovethatsuchamorousfraudshavebeenpractisedwithsuccess。]
[Footnote49:SeetheimagesofSerapis，inMontfaucon，tom。ii。
p。297:butthedescriptionofMacrobiusSaturnal。l。i。c。20
ismuchmorepicturesqueandsatisfactory。]
[Footnote50:Sedfortestremueremanus，motiqueverendaMajestateloci，siroborasacraferirentInsuacredebantrediturasmembrasecures。
Lucan。iii。429。\"Isittrue，\"saidAugustustoaveteranofItaly，atwhosehousehesupped\"thatthemanwhogavethefirstblowtothegoldenstatueofAnaitis，wasinstantlydeprivedofhiseyes，andofhislife?\"—\"Iwasthatman，repliedtheclear—sightedveteran，andyounowsupononeofthelegsofthegoddess。\"Plin。Hist。Natur。xxxiii。24]
[Footnote51:Thehistoryofthereformationaffordsfrequentexamplesofthesuddenchangefromsuperstitiontocontempt。]
[Footnote52:Sozomen，l。vii。c。20。Ihavesuppliedthemeasure。Thesamestandard，oftheinundation，andconsequentlyofthecubit，hasuniformlysubsistedsincethetimeofHerodotus。SeeFreret，intheMem。del\'AcademiedesInscriptions，tom。xvi。p。344—353。Greaves\'sMiscellaneousWorks，vol。i。p。233。TheEgyptiancubitisabouttwenty—twoinchesoftheEnglishmeasure。
Note:CompareWilkinson\'sThebesandEgypt，p。313。—M。]
ThetemplesoftheRomanempireweredeserted，ordestroyed；
buttheingenioussuperstitionofthePagansstillattemptedtoeludethelawsofTheodosius，bywhichallsacrificeshadbeenseverelyprohibited。Theinhabitantsofthecountry，whoseconductwaslessopposedtotheeyeofmaliciouscuriosity，disguisedtheirreligious，undertheappearanceofconvivial，meetings。Onthedaysofsolemnfestivals，theyassembledingreatnumbersunderthespreadingshadeofsomeconsecratedtrees；sheepandoxenwereslaughteredandroasted；andthisruralentertainmentwassanctifiedbytheuseofincense，andbythehymnswhichweresunginhonorofthegods。Butitwasalleged，that，asnopartoftheanimalwasmadeaburnt—offering，asnoaltarwasprovidedtoreceivetheblood，andasthepreviousoblationofsaltcakes，andtheconcludingceremonyoflibations，werecarefullyomitted，thesefestalmeetingsdidnotinvolvetheguestsintheguilt，orpenalty，ofanillegalsacrifice。^53Whatevermightbethetruthofthefacts，orthemeritofthedistinction，^54thesevainpretencesweresweptawaybythelastedictofTheodosius，whichinflictedadeadlywoundonthesuperstitionofthePagans。^55Thisprohibitorylawisexpressedinthemostabsoluteandcomprehensiveterms。\"Itisourwillandpleasure，\"saystheemperor，\"thatnoneofoursubjects，whethermagistratesorprivatecitizens，howeverexaltedorhoweverhumblemaybetheirrankandcondition，shallpresume，inanycityorinanyplace，toworshipaninanimateidol，bythesacrificeofaguiltlessvictim。\"Theactofsacrificing，andthepracticeofdivinationbytheentrailsofthevictim，aredeclaredwithoutanyregardtotheobjectoftheinquiryacrimeofhightreasonagainstthestate，whichcanbeexpiatedonlybythedeathoftheguilty。
TheritesofPagansuperstition，whichmightseemlessbloodyandatrocious，areabolished，ashighlyinjurioustothetruthandhonorofreligion；luminaries，garlands，frankincense，andlibationsofwine，arespeciallyenumeratedandcondemned；andtheharmlessclaimsofthedomesticgenius，ofthehouseholdgods，areincludedinthisrigorousproscription。Theuseofanyoftheseprofaneandillegalceremonies，subjectstheoffendertotheforfeitureofthehouseorestate，wheretheyhavebeenperformed；andifhehasartfullychosenthepropertyofanotherforthesceneofhisimpiety，heiscompelledtodischarge，withoutdelay，aheavyfineoftwenty—fivepoundsofgold，ormorethanonethousandpoundssterling。Afine，notlessconsiderable，isimposedontheconnivanceofthesecretenemiesofreligion，whoshallneglectthedutyoftheirrespectivestations，eithertoreveal，ortopunish，theguiltofidolatry。
SuchwasthepersecutingspiritofthelawsofTheodosius，whichwererepeatedlyenforcedbyhissonsandgrandsons，withtheloudandunanimousapplauseoftheChristianworld。^56
[Footnote53:LibaniusproTemplis，p。15，16，17pleadstheircausewithgentleandinsinuatingrhetoric。Fromtheearliestage，suchfeastshadenlivenedthecountry:andthoseofBacchusGeorgic。ii。380hadproducedthetheatreofAthens。SeeGodefroy，adloc。Liban。andCodexTheodos。tom。vi。p。284。]
[Footnote54:Honoriustoleratedtheserusticfestivals，A。D。
399。\"Absqueullosacrificio，atqueullasuperstitionedamnabili。\"Butnineyearsafterwardshefounditnecessarytoreiterateandenforcethesameproviso，CodexTheodos。l。xvi。
tit。x。leg。17，19。]
[Footnote55:Cod。Theodos。l。xvi。tit。x。leg。12。JortinRemarksonEccles。History，vol。iv。p。134censures，withbecomingasperity，thestyleandsentimentsofthisintolerantlaw。]
[Footnote*:Paganismmaintaineditsgroundforaconsiderabletimeintheruraldistricts。Endelechius，apoetwholivedatthebeginningofthefifthcentury，speaksofthecrossasSignumquodperhibentessecrucisDei，Magnisquicolitursolusinurbibus。
Inthemiddleofthesamecentury，Maximus，bishopofTurin，writesagainsttheheathendeitiesasiftheirworshipwasstillinfullvigorintheneighborhoodofhiscity。AugustinecomplainsoftheencouragementofthePaganritesbyheathenlandowners；andZenoofVerona，stilllater，reprovestheapathyoftheChristianproprietorsinconnivingatthisabuse。
CompareNeander，ii。p。169。M。BeugnotshowsthatthiswasthecasethroughoutthenorthandcentreofItalyandinSicily。Butneitheroftheseauthorshasadvertedtoonefact，whichmusthavetendedgreatlytoretardtheprogressofChristianityinthesequarters。Itwasstillchieflyaslavepopulationwhichcultivatedthesoil；andhowever，inthetowns，thebetterclassofChristiansmightbeeagertocommunicate\"theblessedlibertyofthegospel\"tothisclassofmankind；howevertheirconditioncouldnotbutbesilentlyamelioratedbythehumanizinginfluenceofChristianity；yet，onthewhole，nodoubttheservileclasswouldbetheleastfittedtoreceivethegospel；anditsgeneralpropagationamongthemwouldbeembarrassedbymanypeculiardifficulties。Theruralpopulationwasprobablynotentirelyconvertedbeforethegeneralestablishmentofthemonasticinstitutions。CompareQuarterlyReviewofBeugnot。vollvii。p。
52—M。]
[Footnote56:Suchachargeshouldnotbelightlymade；butitmaysurelybejustifiedbytheauthorityofSt。Augustin，whothusaddressestheDonatists:\"Quisnostrum，quisvestrumnonlaudatlegesabImperatoribusdatasadversussacrificiaPaganorum?Etcertelongeibipoeraseveriorconstitutaest；
illiusquippeimpietatiscapitalesuppliciumest。\"Epist。xciii。
No。10，quotedbyLeClerc，BibliothequeChoisie，tom。viii。p。
277，whoaddssomejudiciousreflectionsontheintoleranceofthevictoriousChristians。
Note:YetAugustine，withlaudableinconsistency，disapprovedoftheforcibledemolitionofthetemples。\"Letusfirstextirpatetheidolatryoftheheartsoftheheathen，andtheywilleitherthemselvesinviteusoranticipateusintheexecutionofthisgoodwork，\"tom。v。p。62。CompareNeander，ii。169，and，inp。155，abeautifulpassagefromChrysostomagainstallviolentmeansofpropagatingChristianity。—M。]
ChapterXXVIII:DestructionOfPaganism。
PartIII。
InthecruelreignsofDeciusandDioclesian，Christianityhadbeenproscribed，asarevoltfromtheancientandhereditaryreligionoftheempire；andtheunjustsuspicionswhichwereentertainedofadarkanddangerousfaction，were，insomemeasure，countenancedbytheinseparableunionandrapidconquestsoftheCatholicchurch。ButthesameexcusesoffearandignorancecannotbeappliedtotheChristianemperorswhoviolatedthepreceptsofhumanityandoftheGospel。Theexperienceofageshadbetrayedtheweakness，aswellasfolly，ofPaganism；thelightofreasonandoffaithhadalreadyexposed，tothegreatestpartofmankind，thevanityofidols；
andthedecliningsect，whichstilladheredtotheirworship，mighthavebeenpermittedtoenjoy，inpeaceandobscurity，thereligiouscostumesoftheirancestors。HadthePagansbeenanimatedbytheundauntedzealwhichpossessedthemindsoftheprimitivebelievers，thetriumphoftheChurchmusthavebeenstainedwithblood；andthemartyrsofJupiterandApollomighthaveembracedthegloriousopportunityofdevotingtheirlivesandfortunesatthefootoftheiraltars。ButsuchobstinatezealwasnotcongenialtothelooseandcarelesstemperofPolytheism。Theviolentandrepeatedstrokesoftheorthodoxprinceswerebrokenbythesoftandyieldingsubstanceagainstwhichtheyweredirected；andthereadyobedienceofthePagansprotectedthemfromthepainsandpenaltiesoftheTheodosianCode。^57Insteadofasserting，thattheauthorityofthegodswassuperiortothatoftheemperor，theydesisted，withaplaintivemurmur，fromtheuseofthosesacredriteswhichtheirsovereignhadcondemned。Iftheyweresometimestemptedbyasallyofpassion，orbythehopesofconcealment，toindulgetheirfavoritesuperstition，theirhumblerepentancedisarmedtheseverityoftheChristianmagistrate，andtheyseldomrefusedtoatonefortheirrashness，bysubmitting，withsomesecretreluctance，totheyokeoftheGospel。Thechurcheswerefilledwiththeincreasingmultitudeoftheseunworthyproselytes，whohadconformed，fromtemporalmotives，tothereigningreligion；
andwhilsttheydevoutlyimitatedthepostures，andrecitedtheprayers，ofthefaithful，theysatisfiedtheirconsciencebythesilentandsincereinvocationofthegodsofantiquity。^58IfthePaganswantedpatiencetosuffertheywantedspirittoresist；andthescatteredmyriads，whodeploredtheruinofthetemples，yielded，withoutacontest，tothefortuneoftheiradversaries。Thedisorderlyopposition^59ofthepeasantsofSyria，andthepopulaceofAlexandria，totherageofprivatefanaticism，wassilencedbythenameandauthorityoftheemperor。ThePagansoftheWest，withoutcontributingtotheelevationofEugenius，disgraced，bytheirpartialattachment，thecauseandcharacteroftheusurper。Theclergyvehementlyexclaimed，thatheaggravatedthecrimeofrebellionbytheguiltofapostasy；that，byhispermission，thealtarofvictorywasagainrestored；andthattheidolatroussymbolsofJupiterandHerculesweredisplayedinthefield，againsttheinvinciblestandardofthecross。ButthevainhopesofthePagansweresoonannihilatedbythedefeatofEugenius；andtheywereleftexposedtotheresentmentoftheconqueror，wholaboredtodeservethefavorofHeavenbytheextirpationofidolatry。^60
[Footnote57:Orosius，l。vii。c。28，p。537。AugustinEnarrat。
inPsalmcxlapudLardner，HeathenTestimonies，vol。iv。p。458
insultstheircowardice。\"Quiseorumcomprehensusestinsacrificiocumhislegibusstaprohiberenturetnonnegavit?\"]
[Footnote58:LibaniusproTemplis，p。17，18mentions，withoutcensuretheoccasionalconformity，andasitweretheatricalplay，ofthesehypocrites。]
[Footnote59:Libaniusconcludeshisapologyp。32bydeclaringtotheemperor，thatunlessheexpresslywarrantsthedestructionofthetemples，theproprietorswilldefendthemselvesandthelaws。]
[Footnote60:Paulinus，inVit。Ambros。c。26。AugustindeCivitat。Dei，l。v。c。26。Theodoret，l。v。c。24。]
Anationofslavesisalwayspreparedtoapplaudtheclemencyoftheirmaster，who，intheabuseofabsolutepower，doesnotproceedtothelastextremesofinjusticeandoppression。TheodosiusmightundoubtedlyhaveproposedtohisPagansubjectsthealternativeofbaptismorofdeath；andtheeloquentLibaniushaspraisedthemoderationofaprince，whoneverenacted，byanypositivelaw，thatallhissubjectsshouldimmediatelyembraceandpractisethereligionoftheirsovereign。
^61TheprofessionofChristianitywasnotmadeanessentialqualificationfortheenjoymentofthecivilrightsofsociety，norwereanypeculiarhardshipsimposedonthesectaries，whocredulouslyreceivedthefablesofOvid，andobstinatelyrejectedthemiraclesoftheGospel。Thepalace，theschools，thearmy，andthesenate，werefilledwithdeclaredanddevoutPagans；theyobtained，withoutdistinction，thecivilandmilitaryhonorsoftheempire。Theodosiusdistinguishedhisliberalregardforvirtueandgeniusbytheconsulardignity，whichhebestowedonSymmachus；^62andbythepersonalfriendshipwhichheexpressedtoLibanius；^63andthetwoeloquentapologistsofPaganismwereneverrequiredeithertochangeortodissembletheirreligiousopinions。ThePaganswereindulgedinthemostlicentiousfreedomofspeechandwriting；thehistoricalandphilosophicremainsofEunapius，Zosimus，^64andthefanaticteachersoftheschoolofPlato，betraythemostfuriousanimosity，andcontainthesharpestinvectives，againstthesentimentsandconductoftheirvictoriousadversaries。Iftheseaudaciouslibelswerepubliclyknown，wemustapplaudthegoodsenseoftheChristianprinces，whoviewed，withasmileofcontempt，thelaststrugglesofsuperstitionanddespair。^65ButtheImperiallaws，whichprohibitedthesacrificesandceremoniesofPaganism，wererigidlyexecuted；andeveryhourcontributedtodestroytheinfluenceofareligion，whichwassupportedbycustom，ratherthanbyargument。Thedevotionorthepoet，orthephilosopher，maybesecretlynourishedbyprayer，meditation，andstudy；buttheexerciseofpublicworshipappearstobetheonlysolidfoundationofthereligioussentimentsofthepeople，whichderivetheirforcefromimitationandhabit。Theinterruptionofthatpublicexercisemayconsummate，intheperiodofafewyears，theimportantworkofanationalrevolution。Thememoryoftheologicalopinionscannotlongbepreserved，withouttheartificialhelpsofpriests，oftemples，andofbooks。^66Theignorantvulgar，whosemindsarestillagitatedbytheblindhopesandterrorsofsuperstition，willbesoonpersuadedbytheirsuperiorstodirecttheirvowstothereigningdeitiesoftheage；andwillinsensiblyimbibeanardentzealforthesupportandpropagationofthenewdoctrine，whichspiritualhungeratfirstcompelledthemtoaccept。ThegenerationthataroseintheworldafterthepromulgationoftheImperiallaws，wasattractedwithinthepaleoftheCatholicchurch:andsorapid，yetsogentle，wasthefallofPaganism，thatonlytwenty—eightyearsafterthedeathofTheodosius，thefaintandminutevestigeswerenolongervisibletotheeyeofthelegislator。^67