TheyweresternlyinformedthattheymustchoosewithoutdelaybetweenthedispleasureofJupiterorJustinian，andthattheiraversiontothegospelcouldnolongerbedistinguishedunderthescandalousmaskofindifferenceorimpiety。ThepatricianPhotius，perhaps，alonewasresolvedtoliveandtodielikehisancestors:heenfranchisedhimselfwiththestrokeofadagger，andlefthistyrantthepoorconsolationofexposingwithignominythelifelesscorpseofthefugitive。Hisweakerbrethrensubmittedtotheirearthlymonarch，underwenttheceremonyofbaptism，andlabored，bytheirextraordinaryzeal，toerasethesuspicion，ortoexpiatetheguilt，ofidolatry。ThenativecountryofHomer，andthetheatreoftheTrojanwar，stillretainedthelastsparksofhismythology:bythecareofthesamebishop，seventythousandPagansweredetectedandconvertedinAsia，Phrygia，Lydia，andCaria；ninety—sixchurcheswerebuiltforthenewproselytes；andlinenvestments，Bibles，andliturgies，andvasesofgoldandsilver，weresuppliedbythepiousmunificenceofJustinian。^86TheJews，whohadbeengraduallystrippedoftheirimmunities，wereoppressedbyavexatiouslaw，whichcompelledthemtoobservethefestivalofEasterthesamedayonwhichitwascelebratedbytheChristians。
^87Andtheymightcomplainwiththemorereason，sincetheCatholicsthemselvesdidnotagreewiththeastronomicalcalculationsoftheirsovereign:thepeopleofConstantinopledelayedthebeginningoftheirLentawholeweekafterithadbeenordainedbyauthority；andtheyhadthepleasureoffastingsevendays，whilemeatwasexposedforsalebythecommandoftheemperor。TheSamaritansofPalestine^88wereamotleyrace，anambiguoussect，rejectedasJewsbythePagans，bytheJewsasschismatics，andbytheChristiansasidolaters。TheabominationofthecrosshadalreadybeenplantedontheirholymountofGarizim，^89butthepersecutionofJustinianofferedonlythealternativeofbaptismorrebellion。Theychosethelatter:
underthestandardofadesperateleader，theyroseinarms，andretaliatedtheirwrongsonthelives，theproperty，andthetemples，ofadefencelesspeople。TheSamaritanswerefinallysubduedbytheregularforcesoftheEast:twentythousandwereslain，twentythousandweresoldbytheArabstotheinfidelsofPersiaandIndia，andtheremainsofthatunhappynationatonedforthecrimeoftreasonbythesinofhypocrisy。IthasbeencomputedthatonehundredthousandRomansubjectswereextirpatedintheSamaritanwar，^90whichconvertedtheoncefruitfulprovinceintoadesolateandsmokingwilderness。ButinthecreedofJustinian，theguiltofmurdercouldnotbeappliedtotheslaughterofunbelievers；andhepiouslylaboredtoestablishwithfireandswordtheunityoftheChristianfaith。^91
[Footnote84:Thisalternative，apreciouscircumstance，ispreservedbyJohnMalala，tom。ii。p。63，edit。Venet。1733，
whodeservesmorecreditashedrawstowardshisend。Afternumberingtheheretics，Nestorians，Eutychians，&c。，neexpectent，saysJustinian，utdigniveniajudicentur:jubemus，enimut……convictietapertihaereticijustaeetidoneaeanimadversionisubjiciantur。BaroniuscopiesandapplaudsthisedictoftheCode，A。D。527，No。39，40。]
[Footnote85:SeethecharacterandprinciplesoftheMontanists，inMosheim，RebusChrist。anteConstantinum，p。410—424。]
[Footnote86:Theophan。Chron。p。153。John，theMonophysitebishopofAsia，isamoreauthenticwitnessofthistransaction，inwhichhewashimselfemployedbytheemperor，Asseman。Bib。
Orient。tom。ii。p。85。]
[Footnote87:CompareProcopiusHist。Arcan。c。28，andAleman\'sNoteswithTheophanes，Chron。p。190。ThecouncilofNicehasintrustedthepatriarch，orrathertheastronomers，ofAlexandria，withtheannualproclamationofEaster；andwestillread，orratherwedonotread，manyofthePaschalepistlesofSt。Cyril。SincethereignofMonophytisminEgypt，theCatholicswereperplexedbysuchafoolishprejudiceasthatwhichsolongopposed，amongtheProtestants，thereceptionoftheGregorianstyle。]
[Footnote88:ForthereligionandhistoryoftheSamaritans，consultBasnage，HistoiredesJuifs，alearnedandimpartialwork。]
[Footnote89:Sichem，Neapolis，Naplous，theancientandmodernseatoftheSamaritans，issituateinavalleybetweenthebarrenEbal，themountainofcursingtothenorth，andthefruitfulGarizim，ormountainofcursingtothesouth，tenorelevenhours\'travelfromJerusalem。SeeMaundrel，JourneyfromAleppo&c。]
[Footnote90:Procop。Anecdot。c。11。Theophan。Chron。p。122。
JohnMalalaChron。tom。ii。p。62。Irememberanobservation，halfphilosophical。halfsuperstitious，thattheprovincewhichhadbeenruinedbythebigotryofJustinian，wasthesamethroughwhichtheMahometanspenetratedintotheempire。]
[Footnote91:TheexpressionofProcopiusisremarkable。
Anecdot。c。13。]
Withthesesentiments，itwasincumbentonhim，atleast，tobealwaysintheright。Inthefirstyearsofhisadministration，hesignalizedhiszealasthediscipleandpatronoforthodoxy:thereconciliationoftheGreeksandLatinsestablishedthetomeofSt。Leoasthecreedoftheemperorandtheempire；theNestoriansandEutychianswereexposed。oneitherside，tothedoubleedgeofpersecution；andthefoursynodsofNice，Constantinople，Ephesus，andChalcedon，wereratifiedbythecodeofaCatholiclawgiver。^92ButwhileJustinianstrovetomaintaintheuniformityoffaithandworship，hiswifeTheodora，whoseviceswerenotincompatiblewithdevotion，hadlistenedtotheMonophysiteteachers；andtheopenorclandestineenemiesofthechurchrevivedandmultipliedatthesmileoftheirgraciouspatroness。Thecapital，thepalace，thenuptialbed，weretornbyspiritualdiscord；yetsodoubtfulwasthesincerityoftheroyalconsorts，thattheirseemingdisagreementwasimputedbymanytoasecretandmischievousconfederacyagainstthereligionandhappinessoftheirpeople。^93ThefamousdisputeoftheThreeChapters，^94whichhasfilledmorevolumesthanitdeserveslines，isdeeplymarkedwiththissubtileanddisingenuousspirit。ItwasnowthreehundredyearssincethebodyofOrigen^95hadbeeneatenbytheworms:hissoul，ofwhichheheldthepreexistence，wasinthehandsofitsCreator；buthiswritingswereeagerlyperusedbythemonksofPalestine。Inthesewritings，thepiercingeyeofJustiniandescriedmorethantenmetaphysicalerrors；andtheprimitivedoctor，inthecompanyofPythagorasandPlato，wasdevotedbytheclergytotheeternityofhell—fire，whichhehadpresumedtodeny。Underthecoverofthisprecedent，atreacherousblowwasaimedatthecouncilofChalcedon。ThefathershadlistenedwithoutimpatiencetothepraiseofTheodoreofMopsuestia；^96
andtheirjusticeorindulgencehadrestoredbothTheodoreofCyrrhus，andIbasofEdessa，tothecommunionofthechurch。ButthecharactersoftheseOrientalbishopsweretaintedwiththereproachofheresy；thefirsthadbeenthemaster，thetwootherswerethefriends，ofNestorius；theirmostsuspiciouspassageswereaccusedunderthetitleofthethreechapters；andthecondemnationoftheirmemorymustinvolvethehonorofasynod，whosenamewaspronouncedwithsincereoraffectedreverencebytheCatholicworld。Ifthesebishops，whetherinnocentorguilty，wereannihilatedinthesleepofdeath，theywouldnotprobablybeawakenedbytheclamorwhich，aftertheahundredyears，wasraisedovertheirgrave。Iftheywerealreadyinthefangsofthedaemon，theirtormentscouldneitherbeaggravatednorassuagedbyhumanindustry。Ifinthecompanyofsaintsandangelstheyenjoyedtherewardsofpiety，theymusthavesmiledattheidlefuryofthetheologicalinsectswhostillcrawledonthesurfaceoftheearth。Theforemostoftheseinsects，theemperoroftheRomans，dartedhissting，anddistilledhisvenom，perhapswithoutdiscerningthetruemotivesofTheodoraandherecclesiasticalfaction。Thevictimswerenolongersubjecttohispower，andthevehementstyleofhisedictscouldonlyproclaimtheirdamnation，andinvitetheclergyoftheEasttojoininafullchorusofcursesandanathemas。TheEast，withsomehesitation，consentedtothevoiceofhersovereign:thefifthgeneralcouncil，ofthreepatriarchsandonehundredandsixty—fivebishops，washeldatConstantinople；andtheauthors，aswellasthedefenders，ofthethreechapterswereseparatedfromthecommunionofthesaints，andsolemnlydeliveredtotheprinceofdarkness。ButtheLatinchurchesweremorejealousofthehonorofLeoandthesynodofChalcedon:andiftheyhadfoughtastheyusuallydidunderthestandardofRome，theymighthaveprevailedinthecauseofreasonandhumanity。Buttheirchiefwasaprisonerinthehandsoftheenemy；thethroneofSt。
Peter，whichhadbeendisgracedbythesimony，wasbetrayedbythecowardice，ofVigilius，whoyielded，afteralongandinconsistentstruggle，tothedespotismofJustinianandthesophistryoftheGreeks。HisapostasyprovokedtheindignationoftheLatins，andnomorethantwobishopscouldbefoundwhowouldimposetheirhandsonhisdeaconandsuccessorPelagius。
Yettheperseveranceofthepopesinsensiblytransferredtotheiradversariestheappellationofschismatics；theIllyrian，African，andItalianchurcheswereoppressedbythecivilandecclesiasticalpowers，notwithoutsomeeffortofmilitaryforce；
^97thedistantBarbarianstranscribedthecreedoftheVatican，and，intheperiodofacentury，theschismofthethreechaptersexpiredinanobscureangleoftheVenetianprovince。^98ButthereligiousdiscontentoftheItalianshadalreadypromotedtheconquestsoftheLombards，andtheRomansthemselveswereaccustomedtosuspectthefaithandtodetestthegovernmentoftheirByzantinetyrant。
[Footnote92:SeetheChronicleofVictor，p。328，andtheoriginalevidenceofthelawsofJustinian。Duringthefirstyearsofhisreign，Baroniushimselfisinextremegoodhumorwiththeemperor，whocourtedthepopes，tillhegotthemintohispower。]
[Footnote93:Procopius，Anecdot。c。13。Evagrius，l。iv。c。10。
Iftheecclesiasticalneverreadthesecrethistorian，theircommonsuspicionprovesatleastthegeneralhatred。]
[Footnote94:Onthesubjectofthethreechapters，theoriginalactsofthevthgeneralcouncilofConstantinoplesupplymuchuseless，thoughauthentic，knowledge，Concil。tom。vi。p。1—
419。TheGreekEvagriusislesscopiousandcorrectl。iv。c。
38thanthethreezealousAfricans，Facundus，inhistwelvebooks，detribuscapitulis，whicharemostcorrectlypublishedbySirmond，Liberatus，inhisBreviarium，c。22，23，24，andVictorTunnunensisinhisChronicle，intom。i。Antiq。Lect。
Canisii，330—334。TheLiberPontificalis，orAnastasius，inVigilio，Pelagio，&c。，isoriginalItalianevidence。ThemodernreaderwillderivesomeinformationfromDupinBibliot。Eccles。
tom。v。p。189—207andBasnage，Hist。del\'Eglise，tom。i。p。
519—541；yetthelatteristoofirmlyresolvedtodepreciatetheauthorityandcharacterofthepopes。]
[Footnote95:Origenhadindeedtoogreatapropensitytoimitatetheoldphilosophers，Justinian，adMennam，inConcil。tom。vi。
p。356。Hismoderateopinionsweretoorepugnanttothezealofthechurch，andhewasfoundguiltyoftheheresyofreason。]
[Footnote96:BasnagePraefat。p。11—14，adtom。i。Antiq。
Lect。Canis。hasfairlyweighedtheguiltandinnocenceofTheodoreofMopsuestia。Ifhecomposed10，000volumes，asmanyerrorswouldbeacharitableallowance。Inallthesubsequentcataloguesofheresiarchs，healone，withouthistwobrethren，isincluded；anditisthedutyofAssemanBibliot。Orient。tom。
iv。p。203—207tojustifythesentence。]
[Footnote97:SeethecomplaintsofLiberatusandVictor，andtheexhortationsofPopePelagiustotheconquerorandexarchofItaly。Schisma……perpotestatespublicasopprimatur，&c。，Concil。tom。vi。p。467，&c。AnarmywasdetainedtosuppresstheseditionofanIllyriancity。SeeProcopius，deBell。Goth。
l。iv。c。25:。Heseemstopromiseanecclesiasticalhistory。
Itwouldhavebeencuriousandimpartial。]
[Footnote98:ThebishopsofthepatriarchateofAquileiawerereconciledbyPopeHonorius，A。D。638，Muratori，Annalid\'
Italia，tom。v。p。376；buttheyagainrelapsed，andtheschismwasnotfinallyextinguishedtill698。Fourteenyearsbefore，thechurchofSpainhadoverlookedthevthgeneralcouncilwithcontemptuoussilence，xiii。Concil。Toretan。inConcil。tom。
vii。p。487—494。]
Justinianwasneithersteadynorconsistentintheniceprocessoffixinghisvolatileopinionsandthoseofhissubjects。Inhisyouthhewas，offendedbytheslightestdeviationfromtheorthodoxline；inhisoldagehetransgressedthemeasureoftemperateheresy，andtheJacobites，notlessthantheCatholics，werescandalizedbyhisdeclaration，thatthebodyofChristwasincorruptible，andthathismanhoodwasneversubjecttoanywantsandinfirmities，theinheritanceofourmortalflesh。ThisfantasticopinionwasannouncedinthelastedictsofJustinian；andatthemomentofhisseasonabledeparture，theclergyhadrefusedtosubscribe，theprincewaspreparedtopersecute，andthepeoplewereresolvedtosufferorresist。AbishopofTreves，securebeyondthelimitsofhispower，addressedthemonarchoftheEastinthelanguageofauthorityandaffection。\"MostgraciousJustinian，rememberyourbaptismandyourcreed。Letnotyourgrayhairsbedefiledwithheresy。Recallyourfathersfromexile，andyourfollowersfromperdition。Youcannotbeignorant，thatItalyandGaul，SpainandAfrica，alreadydeploreyourfall，andanathematizeyourname。
Unless，withoutdelay，youdestroywhatyouhavetaught；unlessyouexclaimwithaloudvoice，Ihaveerred，Ihavesinned，anathematoNestorius，anathematoEutyches，youdeliveryoursoultothesameflamesinwhichtheywilleternallyburn。\"Hediedandmadenosign。^99Hisdeathrestoredinsomedegreethepeaceofthechurch，andthereignsofhisfoursuccessors，JustinTiberius，Maurice，andPhocas，aredistinguishedbyarare，thoughfortunate，vacancyintheecclesiasticalhistoryoftheEast。^100
[Footnote99:Nicetus，bishopofTreves，Concil。tom。vi。p。511
—513:hehimself，likemostoftheGallicanprelates，Gregor。
Epist。l。vii。5inConcil。tom。vi。p。1007，wasseparatedfromthecommunionofthefourpatriarchsbyhisrefusaltocondemnthethreechapters。BaroniusalmostpronouncesthedamnationofJustinian，A。D。565，No。6。]
[Footnote100:AfterrelatingthelastheresyofJustinian，l。
iv。c。39，40，41，andtheedictofhissuccessor，l。v。c。3，
theremainderofthehistoryofEvagriusisfilledwithcivil，insteadofecclesiasticalevents。]
Thefacultiesofsenseandreasonareleastcapableofactingonthemselves；theeyeismostinaccessibletothesight，thesoultothethought；yetwethink，andevenfeel，thatonewill，asoleprincipleofaction，isessentialtoarationalandconsciousbeing。WhenHeracliusreturnedfromthePersianwar，theorthodoxheroconsultedhisbishops，whethertheChristwhomheadored，ofoneperson，butoftwonatures，wasactuatedbyasingleoradoublewill。Theyrepliedinthesingular，andtheemperorwasencouragedtohopethattheJacobitesofEgyptandSyriamightbereconciledbytheprofessionofadoctrine，mostcertainlyharmless，andmostprobablytrue，sinceitwastaughtevenbytheNestoriansthemselves。^101Theexperimentwastriedwithouteffect，andthetimidorvehementCatholicscondemnedeventhesemblanceofaretreatinthepresenceofasubtleandaudaciousenemy。Theorthodoxtheprevailingpartydevisednewmodesofspeech，andargument，andinterpretation:toeithernatureofChristtheyspeciouslyappliedaproperanddistinctenergy；butthedifferencewasnolongervisiblewhentheyallowedthatthehumanandthedivinewillwereinvariablythesame。^102Thediseasewasattendedwiththecustomarysymptoms:
buttheGreekclergy，asifsatiatedwiththeendlesscontroversyoftheincarnation，instilledahealingcounselintotheearoftheprinceandpeople。TheydeclaredthemselvesMonothelites，assertersoftheunityofwill，buttheytreatedthewordsasnew，thequestionsassuperfluous；andrecommendedareligioussilenceasthemostagreeabletotheprudenceandcharityofthegospel。ThislawofsilencewassuccessivelyimposedbytheecthesisorexpositionofHeraclius，thetypeormodelofhisgrandsonConstans；^103andtheImperialedictsweresubscribedwithalacrityorreluctancebythefourpatriarchsofRome，Constantinople，Alexandria，andAntioch。ButthebishopandmonksofJerusalemsoundedthealarm:inthelanguage，oreveninthesilence，oftheGreeks，theLatinchurchesdetectedalatentheresy:andtheobedienceofPopeHonoriustothecommandsofhissovereignwasretractedandcensuredbythebolderignoranceofhissuccessors。TheycondemnedtheexecrableandabominableheresyoftheMonothelites，whorevivedtheerrorsofManes，Apollinaris，Eutyches，&c。；theysignedthesentenceofexcommunicationonthetombofSt。Peter；theinkwasmingledwiththesacramentalwine，thebloodofChrist；andnoceremonywasomittedthatcouldfillthesuperstitiousmindwithhorrorandaffright。AstherepresentativeoftheWesternchurch，PopeMartinandhisLateransynodanathematizedtheperfidiousandguiltysilenceoftheGreeks:onehundredandfivebishopsofItaly，forthemostpartthesubjectsofConstans，presumedtoreprobatehiswickedtype，andtheimpiousecthesisofhisgrandfather；andtoconfoundtheauthorsandtheiradherentswiththetwenty—onenotoriousheretics，theapostatesfromthechurch，andtheorgansofthedevil。Suchaninsultunderthetamestreigncouldnotpasswithimpunity。PopeMartinendedhisdaysontheinhospitableshoreoftheTauricChersonesus，andhisoracle，theabbotMaximus，wasinhumanlychastisedbytheamputationofhistongueandhisrighthand。^104Butthesameinvinciblespiritsurvivedintheirsuccessors；andthetriumphoftheLatinsavengedtheirrecentdefeat，andobliteratedthedisgraceofthethreechapters。ThesynodsofRomewereconfirmedbythesixthgeneralcouncilofConstantinople，inthepalaceandthepresenceofanewConstantine，adescendantofHeraclius。TheroyalconvertconvertedtheByzantinepontiffandamajorityofthebishops；^105thedissenters，withtheirchief，MacariusofAntioch，werecondemnedtothespiritualandtemporalpainsofheresy；theEastcondescendedtoacceptthelessonsoftheWest；andthecreedwasfinallysettled，whichteachestheCatholicsofeveryage，thattwowillsorenergiesareharmonizedinthepersonofChrist。ThemajestyofthepopeandtheRomansynodwasrepresentedbytwopriests，onedeacon，andthreebishops；buttheseobscureLatinshadneitherarmstocompel，nortreasurestobribe，norlanguagetopersuade；andIamignorantbywhatartstheycoulddeterminetheloftyemperoroftheGreekstoabjurethecatechismofhisinfancy，andtopersecutethereligionofhisfathers。PerhapsthemonksandpeopleofConstantinople^106werefavorabletotheLaterancreed，whichisindeedtheleastreasonableofthetwo:andthesuspicioniscountenancedbytheunnaturalmoderationoftheGreekclergy，whoappearinthisquarreltobeconsciousoftheirweakness。Whilethesynoddebated，afanaticproposedamoresummarydecision，byraisingadeadmantolife:theprelatesassistedatthetrial；