[Footnote61:Libaniussuggeststheformofapersecutingedict，whichTheodosiusmightenact，proTemplis，p。32；arashjoke，andadangerousexperiment。Someprinceswouldhavetakenhisadvice。]
[Footnote*:Themostremarkableinstanceofthis，atamuchlaterperiod，occursinthepersonofMerobaudes，ageneralandapoet，whoflourishedinthefirsthalfofthefifthcentury。A
statueinhonorofMerobaudeswasplacedintheForumofTrajan，ofwhichtheinscriptionisstillextant。FragmentsofhispoemshavebeenrecoveredbytheindustryandsagacityofNiebuhr。Inonepassage，Merobaudes，inthegenuineheathenspirit，attributestheruinoftheempiretotheabolitionofPaganism，andalmostrenewstheoldaccusationofAtheismagainstChristianity。Heimpersonatessomedeity，probablyDiscord，whosummonsBellonatotakearmsforthedestructionofRome；andinastrainoffierceironyrecommendstoherotherfatalmeasures，toextirpatethegodsofRome:—
Roma，ipsiquetremantfurialiamurmurareges。
Jamsuperosterrisatquehospitanuminapelle:
RomanospopulareDeos，etnullusinarisVestoeexoratoefotusstruepalleatignis。
Ilisinstructadolispalatiacelsasubibo；
Majorummores，etpectorapriscafugaboFunditus；atquesimul，nullodiscriminererum，Spernanturfortes，necsicreverentiajustis。
AtticaneglectopereatfacundiaPhoebo:
Indigniscontingathonos，etponderarerum；
Nonvirtussedcasusagat；tristiquecupido；
Pectoribussaevidemensfuroraestuetaevi；
OmniaquehoecsinementeJovis，sinenuminesumimo。
MerobaudesinNiebuhr\'sedit。oftheByzantines，p。14。—M。]
[Footnote62:DeniquepromeritisterrestribusaequarependensMunera，sacricolissummosimpertithonores。
Duxbonus，etcertaresinitcumlaudesuorum，NecpagoimplicitosperdebitaculminamundiIrevirosprohibet。
Ipsemagistratumtibiconsulis，ipsetribunalContulit。
Prudent。inSymmach。i。617，&c。
Note:IhaveinsertedsomelinesomittedbyGibbon。—M。]
[Footnote63:LibaniusproTemplis，p。32isproudthatTheodosiusshouldthusdistinguishaman，whoeveninhispresencewouldswearbyJupiter。Yetthispresenceseemstobenomorethanafigureofrhetoric。]
[Footnote64:Zosimus，whostyleshimselfCountandEx—advocateoftheTreasury，reviles，withpartialandindecentbigotry，theChristianprinces，andeventhefatherofhissovereign。Hisworkmusthavebeenprivatelycirculated，sinceitescapedtheinvectivesoftheecclesiasticalhistorianspriortoEvagrius，l。iii。c。40—42，wholivedtowardstheendofthesixthcentury。
Note:HeyneinhisDisquisitioinZosimumEjusqueFidem。
placesZosimumtowardsthecloseofthefifthcentury。Zosim。
Heynii，p。xvii。—M。]
[Footnote65:YetthePagansofAfricacomplained，thatthetimeswouldnotallowthemtoanswerwithfreedomtheCityofGod；nordoesSt。Augustinv。26denythecharge。]
[Footnote66:TheMoorsofSpain，whosecretlypreservedtheMahometanreligionaboveacentury，underthetyrannyoftheInquisition，possessedtheKoran，withthepeculiaruseoftheArabictongue。SeethecuriousandhoneststoryoftheirexpulsioninGeddes，Miscellanies，vol。i。p。1—198。]
[Footnote67:Paganosquisupersunt，quanquamjamnullosessecredamus，&c。Cod。Theodos。l。xvi。tit。x。leg。22，A。D。423。
TheyoungerTheodosiuswasafterwardssatisfied，thathisjudgmenthadbeensomewhatpremature。
Note:ThestatementofGibbonismuchtoostronglyworded。
M。BeugnothastracedthevestigesofPaganismintheWest，afterthisperiod，inmonumentsandinscriptionswithcuriousindustry。
Comparelikewisenote，p。112，onthemoretardyprogressofChristianityintheruraldistricts。—M。]
TheruinofthePaganreligionisdescribedbythesophistsasadreadfulandamazingprodigy，whichcoveredtheearthwithdarkness，andrestoredtheancientdominionofchaosandofnight。Theyrelate，insolemnandpatheticstrains，thatthetempleswereconvertedintosepulchres，andthattheholyplaces，whichhadbeenadornedbythestatuesofthegods，werebaselypollutedbytherelicsofChristianmartyrs。\"Themonks\"araceoffilthyanimals，towhomEunapiusistemptedtorefusethenameofmen\"aretheauthorsofthenewworship，which，intheplaceofthosedeitieswhoareconceivedbytheunderstanding，hassubstitutedthemeanestandmostcontemptibleslaves。Theheads，saltedandpickled，ofthoseinfamousmalefactors，whoforthemultitudeoftheircrimeshavesufferedajustandignominiousdeath；theirbodiesstillmarkedbytheimpressionofthelash，andthescarsofthosetortureswhichwereinflictedbythesentenceofthemagistrate；such\"continuesEunapius\'arethegodswhichtheearthproducesinourdays；sucharethemartyrs，thesupremearbitratorsofourprayersandpetitionstotheDeity，whosetombsarenowconsecratedastheobjectsofthevenerationofthepeople。\"^68Withoutapprovingthemalice，itisnaturalenoughtosharethesurpriseofthesophist，thespectatorofarevolution，whichraisedthoseobscurevictimsofthelawsofRometotherankofcelestialandinvisibleprotectorsoftheRomanempire。ThegratefulrespectoftheChristiansforthemartyrsofthefaith，wasexalted，bytimeandvictory，intoreligiousadoration；andthemostillustriousofthesaintsandprophetsweredeservedlyassociatedtothehonorsofthemartyrs。OnehundredandfiftyyearsafterthegloriousdeathsofSt。PeterandSt。Paul，theVaticanandtheOstianroadweredistinguishedbythetombs，orratherbythetrophies，ofthosespiritualheroes。^69IntheagewhichfollowedtheconversionofConstantine，theemperors，theconsuls，andthegeneralsofarmies，devoutlyvisitedthesepulchresofatentmakerandafisherman；^70andtheirvenerablebonesweredepositedunderthealtarsofChrist，onwhichthebishopsoftheroyalcitycontinuallyofferedtheunbloodysacrifice。^71ThenewcapitaloftheEasternworld，unabletoproduceanyancientanddomestictrophies，wasenrichedbythespoilsofdependentprovinces。ThebodiesofSt。Andrew，St。Luke，andSt。Timothy，hadreposednearthreehundredyearsintheobscuregraves，fromwhencetheyweretransported，insolemnpomp，tothechurchoftheapostles，whichthemagnificenceofConstantinehadfoundedonthebanksoftheThracianBosphorus。^72Aboutfiftyyearsafterwards，thesamebankswerehonoredbythepresenceofSamuel，thejudgeandprophetofthepeopleofIsrael。Hisashes，depositedinagoldenvase，andcoveredwithasilkenveil，weredeliveredbythebishopsintoeachother\'shands。TherelicsofSamuelwerereceivedbythepeoplewiththesamejoyandreverencewhichtheywouldhaveshowntothelivingprophet；
thehighways，fromPalestinetothegatesofConstantinople，werefilledwithanuninterruptedprocession；andtheemperorArcadiushimself，attheheadofthemostillustriousmembersoftheclergyandsenate，advancedtomeethisextraordinaryguest，whohadalwaysdeservedandclaimedthehomageofkings。^73TheexampleofRomeandConstantinopleconfirmedthefaithanddisciplineoftheCatholicworld。Thehonorsofthesaintsandmartyrs，afterafeebleandineffectualmurmurofprofanereason，^74wereuniversallyestablished；andintheageofAmbroseandJerom，somethingwasstilldeemedwantingtothesanctityofaChristianchurch，tillithadbeenconsecratedbysomeportionofholyrelics，whichfixedandinflamedthedevotionofthefaithful。
[Footnote68:SeeEunapius，intheLifeofthesophistAedesius；
inthatofEustathiusheforetellstheruinofPaganism。]
[Footnote69:Caius，apudEuseb。Hist。Eccles。l。ii。c。25，aRomanpresbyter，wholivedinthetimeofZephyrinus，A。D。202—
219，isanearlywitnessofthissuperstitiouspractice。]
[Footnote70:Chrysostom。QuodChristussitDeus。Tom。i。nov。
edit。No。9。IamindebtedforthisquotationtoBenedicttheXIVth\'spastoralletterontheJubileeoftheyear1759。SeethecuriousandentertaininglettersofM。Chais，tom。iii。]
[Footnote71:MalefacitergoRomanusepiscopus?qui，supermortuorumhominum，Petri&Pauli，secundumnos，ossaveneranda……offeriDominosacrificia，ettumuloseorum，Christiarbitraturaltaria。Jerom。tom。ii。advers。Vigilant。p。183。]
[Footnote72:Jeromtom。ii。p。122bearswitnesstothesetranslations，whichareneglectedbytheecclesiasticalhistorians。ThepassionofSt。AndrewatPatraeisdescribedinanepistlefromtheclergyofAchaia，whichBaroniusAnnal。
Eccles。A。D。60，No。34wishestobelieve，andTillemontisforcedtoreject。St。AndrewwasadoptedasthespiritualfounderofConstantinople，Mem。Eccles。tom。i。p。317—323，588—594。]
[Footnote73:Jeromtom。ii。p。122pompouslydescribesthetranslationofSamuel，whichisnoticedinallthechroniclesofthetimes。]
[Footnote74:ThepresbyterVigilantius，theProtestantofhisage，firmly，thoughineffectually，withstoodthesuperstitionofmonks，relics，saints，fasts，&c。，forwhichJeromcompareshimtotheHydra，Cerberus，theCentaurs，&c。，andconsidershimonlyastheorganoftheDaemon，tom。ii。p。120—126。WhoeverwillperusethecontroversyofSt。JeromandVigilantius，andSt。
Augustin\'saccountofthemiraclesofSt。Stephen，mayspeedilygainsomeideaofthespiritoftheFathers。]
Inthelongperiodoftwelvehundredyears，whichelapsedbetweenthereignofConstantineandthereformationofLuther，theworshipofsaintsandrelicscorruptedthepureandperfectsimplicityoftheChristianmodel:andsomesymptomsofdegeneracymaybeobservedeveninthefirstgenerationswhichadoptedandcherishedthisperniciousinnovation。
I。Thesatisfactoryexperience，thattherelicsofsaintsweremorevaluablethangoldorpreciousstones，^75stimulatedtheclergytomultiplythetreasuresofthechurch。Withoutmuchregardfortruthorprobability，theyinventednamesforskeletons，andactionsfornames。Thefameoftheapostles，andoftheholymenwhohadimitatedtheirvirtues，wasdarkenedbyreligiousfiction。Totheinvinciblebandofgenuineandprimitivemartyrs，theyaddedmyriadsofimaginaryheroes，whohadneverexisted，exceptinthefancyofcraftyorcredulouslegendaries；andthereisreasontosuspect，thatToursmightnotbetheonlydioceseinwhichthebonesofamalefactorwereadored，insteadofthoseofasaint。^76Asuperstitiouspractice，whichtendedtoincreasethetemptationsoffraud，andcredulity，insensiblyextinguishedthelightofhistory，andofreason，intheChristianworld。
[Footnote75:M。deBeausobreHist。duManicheisme，tom。ii。p。
648hasappliedaworldlysensetothepiousobservationoftheclergyofSmyrna，whocarefullypreservedtherelicsofSt。
Polycarpthemartyr。]
[Footnote76:MartinofToursseehisLife，c。8，bySulpiciusSeverusextortedthisconfessionfromthemouthofthedeadman。
Theerrorisallowedtobenatural；thediscoveryissupposedtobemiraculous。Whichofthetwowaslikelytohappenmostfrequently?]
II。Buttheprogressofsuperstitionwouldhavebeenmuchlessrapidandvictorious，ifthefaithofthepeoplehadnotbeenassistedbytheseasonableaidofvisionsandmiracles，toascertaintheauthenticityandvirtueofthemostsuspiciousrelics。InthereignoftheyoungerTheodosius，Lucian，^77apresbyterofJerusalem，andtheecclesiasticalministerofthevillageofCaphargamala，abouttwentymilesfromthecity，relatedaverysingulardream，which，toremovehisdoubts，hadbeenrepeatedonthreesuccessiveSaturdays。Avenerablefigurestoodbeforehim，inthesilenceofthenight，withalongbeard，awhiterobe，andagoldrod；announcedhimselfbythenameofGamaliel，andrevealedtotheastonishedpresbyter，thathisowncorpse，withthebodiesofhissonAbibas，hisfriendNicodemus，andtheillustriousStephen，thefirstmartyroftheChristianfaith，weresecretlyburiedintheadjacentfield。Headded，withsomeimpatience，thatitwastimetoreleasehimselfandhiscompanionsfromtheirobscureprison；thattheirappearancewouldbesalutarytoadistressedworld；andthattheyhadmadechoiceofLuciantoinformthebishopofJerusalemoftheirsituationandtheirwishes。Thedoubtsanddifficultieswhichstillretardedthisimportantdiscoveryweresuccessivelyremovedbynewvisions；andthegroundwasopenedbythebishop，inthepresenceofaninnumerablemultitude。ThecoffinsofGamaliel，ofhisson，andofhisfriend，werefoundinregularorder；butwhenthefourthcoffin，whichcontainedtheremainsofStephen，wasshowntothelight，theearthtrembled，andanodor，suchasthatofparadise，wassmelt，whichinstantlycuredthevariousdiseasesofseventy—threeoftheassistants。ThecompanionsofStephenwereleftintheirpeacefulresidenceofCaphargamala:
buttherelicsofthefirstmartyrweretransported，insolemnprocession，toachurchconstructedintheirhonoronMountSion；
andtheminuteparticlesofthoserelics，adropofblood，^78orthescrapingsofabone，wereacknowledged，inalmosteveryprovinceoftheRomanworld，topossessadivineandmiraculousvirtue。ThegraveandlearnedAugustin，^79whoseunderstandingscarcelyadmitstheexcuseofcredulity，hasattestedtheinnumerableprodigieswhichwereperformedinAfricabytherelicsofSt。Stephen；andthismarvellousnarrativeisinsertedintheelaborateworkoftheCityofGod，whichthebishopofHippodesignedasasolidandimmortalproofofthetruthofChristianity。Augustinsolemnlydeclares，thathehasselectedthosemiraclesonlywhichwerepubliclycertifiedbythepersonswhowereeithertheobjects，orthespectators，ofthepowerofthemartyr。Manyprodigieswereomitted，orforgotten；andHippohadbeenlessfavorablytreatedthantheothercitiesoftheprovince。Andyetthebishopenumeratesaboveseventymiracles，ofwhichthreewereresurrectionsfromthedead，inthespaceoftwoyears，andwithinthelimitsofhisowndiocese。^80Ifweenlargeourviewtoallthedioceses，andallthesaints，oftheChristianworld，itwillnotbeeasytocalculatethefables，andtheerrors，whichissuedfromthisinexhaustiblesource。Butwemaysurelybeallowedtoobserve，thatamiracle，inthatageofsuperstitionandcredulity，lostitsnameanditsmerit，sinceitcouldscarcelybeconsideredasadeviationfromtheordinaryandestablishedlawsofnature。
[Footnote77:LuciancomposedinGreekhisoriginalnarrative，whichhasbeentranslatedbyAvitus，andpublishedbyBaronius，Annal。Eccles。A。D。415，No。7—16。TheBenedictineeditorsofSt。AugustinhavegivenattheendoftheworkdeCivitateDei
twoseveralcopies，withmanyvariousreadings。Itisthecharacteroffalsehoodtobelooseandinconsistent。ThemostincrediblepartsofthelegendaresmoothedandsoftenedbyTillemont，Mem。Eccles。tom。ii。p。9，&c。]
[Footnote78:AphialofSt。Stephen\'sbloodwasannuallyliquefiedatNaples，tillhewassupersededbySt。Jamarius，Ruinart。Hist。Persecut。Vandalp。529。]
[Footnote79:Augustincomposedthetwo—and—twentybooksdeCivitateDeiinthespaceofthirteenyears，A。D。413—426。
Tillemont，Mem。Eccles。tom。xiv。p。608，&c。Hislearningistoooftenborrowed，andhisargumentsaretoooftenhisown；butthewholeworkclaimsthemeritofamagnificentdesign，vigorously，andnotunskilfully，executed。]
[Footnote80:SeeAugustindeCivitat。Dei，l。xxii。c。22，andtheAppendix，whichcontainstwobooksofSt。Stephen\'smiracles，byEvodius，bishopofUzalis。FreculphusapudBasnage，Hist。
desJuifs，tom。vii。p。249haspreservedaGallicoraSpanishproverb，\"WhoeverpretendstohavereadallthemiraclesofSt。
Stephen，helies。\"]
III。Theinnumerablemiracles，ofwhichthetombsofthemartyrsweretheperpetualtheatre，revealedtothepiousbelievertheactualstateandconstitutionoftheinvisibleworld；andhisreligiousspeculationsappearedtobefoundedonthefirmbasisoffactandexperience。Whatevermightbetheconditionofvulgarsouls，inthelongintervalbetweenthedissolutionandtheresurrectionoftheirbodies，itwasevidentthatthesuperiorspiritsofthesaintsandmartyrsdidnotconsumethatportionoftheirexistenceinsilentandinglorioussleep。^81Itwasevidentwithoutpresumingtodeterminetheplaceoftheirhabitation，orthenatureoftheirfelicitythattheyenjoyedthelivelyandactiveconsciousnessoftheirhappiness，theirvirtue，andtheirpowers；andthattheyhadalreadysecuredthepossessionoftheireternalreward。Theenlargementoftheirintellectualfacultiessurpassedthemeasureofthehumanimagination；sinceitwasprovedbyexperience，thattheywerecapableofhearingandunderstandingthevariouspetitionsoftheirnumerousvotaries；who，inthesamemomentoftime，butinthemostdistantpartsoftheworld，invokedthenameandassistanceofStephenorofMartin。^82Theconfidenceoftheirpetitionerswasfoundedonthepersuasion，thatthesaints，whoreignedwithChrist，castaneyeofpityuponearth；
thattheywerewarmlyinterestedintheprosperityoftheCatholicChurch；andthattheindividuals，whoimitatedtheexampleoftheirfaithandpiety，werethepeculiarandfavoriteobjectsoftheirmosttenderregard。Sometimes，indeed，theirfriendshipmightbeinfluencedbyconsiderationsofalessexaltedkind:theyviewedwithpartialaffectiontheplaceswhichhadbeenconsecratedbytheirbirth，theirresidence，theirdeath，theirburial，orthepossessionoftheirrelics。Themeanerpassionsofpride，avarice，andrevenge，maybedeemedunworthyofacelestialbreast；yetthesaintsthemselvescondescendedtotestifytheirgratefulapprobationoftheliberalityoftheirvotaries；andthesharpestboltsofpunishmentwerehurledagainstthoseimpiouswretches，whoviolatedtheirmagnificentshrines，ordisbelievedtheirsupernaturalpower。^83Atrocious，indeed，musthavebeentheguilt，andstrangewouldhavebeenthescepticism，ofthosemen，iftheyhadobstinatelyresistedtheproofsofadivineagency，whichtheelements，thewholerangeoftheanimalcreation，andeventhesubtleandinvisibleoperationsofthehumanmind，werecompelledtoobey。^84Theimmediate，andalmostinstantaneous，effectsthatweresupposedtofollowtheprayer，ortheoffence，satisfiedtheChristiansoftheamplemeasureoffavorandauthoritywhichthesaintsenjoyedinthepresenceoftheSupremeGod；anditseemedalmostsuperfluoustoinquirewhethertheywerecontinuallyobligedtointercedebeforethethroneofgrace；
orwhethertheymightnotbepermittedtoexercise，accordingtothedictatesoftheirbenevolenceandjustice，thedelegatedpowersoftheirsubordinateministry。Theimagination，whichhadbeenraisedbyapainfulefforttothecontemplationandworshipoftheUniversalCause，eagerlyembracedsuchinferiorobjectsofadorationasweremoreproportionedtoitsgrossconceptionsandimperfectfaculties。ThesublimeandsimpletheologyoftheprimitiveChristianswasgraduallycorrupted；andtheMonarchyofheaven，alreadycloudedbymetaphysicalsubtleties，wasdegradedbytheintroductionofapopularmythology，whichtendedtorestorethereignofpolytheism。