theirpatiencewasatlengthexasperatedtodespairandrebellion；andtheirexilehasscatteredovertheWesttheseedsofreformation。TheseimportanteventswilljustifysomeinquiryintothedoctrineandstoryofthePaulicians；^1and，astheycannotpleadforthemselves，ourcandidcriticismwillmagnifythegood，andabateorsuspecttheevil，thatisreportedbytheiradversaries。
[Footnote1:TheerrorsandvirtuesofthePauliciansareweighed，withhisusualjudgmentandcandor，bythelearnedMosheim，Hist。Ecclesiast。seculumix。p。311，&c。HedrawshisoriginalintelligencefromPhotiuscontraManichaeos，l。i。andPeterSiculus，Hist。Manichaeorum。Thefirstoftheseaccountshasnotfallenintomyhands；thesecond，whichMosheimprefers，IhavereadinaLatinversioninsertedintheMaximaBibliothecaPatrum，tom。xvi。p。754—764，fromtheeditionoftheJesuitRaderus，Ingolstadii，1604，in4to。
Note:CompareHallam\'sMiddleAges，p。461—471。Mr。
Hallamjustlyobservesthatthischapter\"appearstobeaccurateaswellasluminous，andisatleastfarsuperiortoanymodernworkonthesubject。\"—M。]
TheGnostics，whohaddistractedtheinfancy，wereoppressedbythegreatnessandauthority，ofthechurch。Insteadofemulatingorsurpassingthewealth，learning，andnumbersoftheCatholics，theirobscureremnantwasdrivenfromthecapitalsoftheEastandWest，andconfinedtothevillagesandmountainsalongthebordersoftheEuphrates。SomevestigeoftheMarcionitesmaybedetectedinthefifthcentury；^2butthenumeroussectswerefinallylostintheodiousnameoftheManichaeans；andtheseheretics，whopresumedtoreconcilethedoctrinesofZoroasterandChrist，werepursuedbythetworeligionswithequalandunrelentinghatred。UnderthegrandsonofHeraclius，intheneighborhoodofSamosata，morefamousforthebirthofLucianthanforthetitleofaSyriankingdom，areformerarose，esteemedbythePauliciansasthechosenmessengeroftruth。InhishumbledwellingofMananalis，Constantineentertainedadeacon，whoreturnedfromSyriancaptivity，andreceivedtheinestimablegiftoftheNewTestament，whichwasalreadyconcealedfromthevulgarbytheprudenceoftheGreek，andperhapsoftheGnostic，clergy。^3
Thesebooksbecamethemeasureofhisstudiesandtheruleofhisfaith；andtheCatholics，whodisputehisinterpretation，acknowledgethathistextwasgenuineandsincere。ButheattachedhimselfwithpeculiardevotiontothewritingsandcharacterofSt。Paul:thenameofthePauliciansisderivedbytheirenemiesfromsomeunknownanddomesticteacher；butIamconfidentthattheygloriedintheiraffinitytotheapostleoftheGentiles。Hisdisciples，Titus，Timothy，Sylvanus，Tychicus，wererepresentedbyConstantineandhisfellow—laborers:thenamesoftheapostolicchurcheswereappliedtothecongregationswhichtheyassembledinArmeniaandCappadocia；andthisinnocentallegoryrevivedtheexampleandmemoryofthefirstages。IntheGospel，andtheEpistlesofSt。Paul，hisfaithfulfollowerinvestigatedtheCreedofprimitiveChristianity；and，whatevermightbethesuccess，aProtestantreaderwillapplaudthespirit，oftheinquiry。ButiftheScripturesofthePaulicianswerepure，theywerenotperfect。TheirfoundersrejectedthetwoEpistlesofSt。Peter，^4theapostleofthecircumcision，whosedisputewiththeirfavoritefortheobservanceofthelawcouldnoteasilybeforgiven。^5TheyagreedwiththeirGnosticbrethrenintheuniversalcontemptfortheOldTestament，thebooksofMosesandtheprophets，whichhavebeenconsecratedbythedecreesoftheCatholicchurch。Withequalboldness，anddoubtlesswithmorereason，Constantine，thenewSylvanus，disclaimedthevisions，which，insomanybulkyandsplendidvolumes，hadbeenpublishedbytheOrientalsects；^6thefabulousproductionsoftheHebrewpatriarchsandthesagesoftheEast；thespuriousgospels，epistles，andacts，whichinthefirstagehadoverwhelmedtheorthodoxcode；thetheologyofManes，andtheauthorsofthekindredheresies；andthethirtygenerations，oraeons，whichhadbeencreatedbythefruitfulfancyofValentine。ThePaulicianssincerelycondemnedthememoryandopinionsoftheManichaeansect，andcomplainedoftheinjusticewhichimpressedthatinvidiousnameonthesimplevotariesofSt。PaulandofChrist。
[Footnote2:InthetimeofTheodoret，thedioceseofCyrrhus，inSyria，containedeighthundredvillages。Ofthese，twowereinhabitedbyAriansandEunomians，andeightbyMarcionites，whomthelaboriousbishopreconciledtotheCatholicchurch，Dupin，Bibliot。Ecclesiastique，tom。iv。p。81，82。]
[Footnote3:NobisprofanisistasacraEvangelialegerenonlicetsedsacerdotibusduntaxat，wasthefirstscrupleofaCatholicwhenhewasadvisedtoreadtheBible，Petr。Sicul。p。
761。]
[Footnote4:InrejectingthesecondEpistleofSt。Peter，thePauliciansarejustifiedbysomeofthemostrespectableoftheancientsandmoderns，seeWetsteinadloc。，Simon，Hist。
CritiqueduNouveauTestament，c。17。TheylikewiseoverlookedtheApocalypse，Petr。Sicul。p。756；butassuchneglectisnotimputedasacrime，theGreeksoftheixthcenturymusthavebeencarelessofthecreditandhonoroftheRevelations。]
[Footnote5:Thiscontention，whichhasnotescapedthemaliceofPorphyry，supposessomeerrorandpassioninoneorbothoftheapostles。ByChrysostom，Jerome，andErasmus，itisrepresentedasashamquarrelapiousfraud，forthebenefitoftheGentilesandthecorrectionoftheJews，Middleton\'sWorks，vol。ii。p。1
—20。]
[Footnote6:Thosewhoarecuriousofthisheterodoxlibrary，mayconsulttheresearchesofBeausobre，Hist。CritiqueduManicheisme，tom。i。p。305—437。EveninAfrica，St。AustincoulddescribetheManichaeanbooks，tammulti，tamgrandes，tampretiosicodices，contraFaust。xiii。14；butheadds，withoutpity，Incenditeomnesillasmembranas:andhisadvicehadbeenrigorouslyfollowed。]
Oftheecclesiasticalchain，manylinkshadbeenbrokenbythePaulicianreformers；andtheirlibertywasenlarged，astheyreducedthenumberofmasters，atwhosevoiceprofanereasonmustbowtomysteryandmiracle。TheearlyseparationoftheGnosticshadprecededtheestablishmentoftheCatholicworship；andagainstthegradualinnovationsofdisciplineanddoctrinetheywereasstronglyguardedbyhabitandaversion，asbythesilenceofSt。Paulandtheevangelists。Theobjectswhichhadbeentransformedbythemagicofsuperstition，appearedtotheeyesofthePauliciansintheirgenuineandnakedcolors。Animagemadewithouthandswasthecommonworkmanshipofamortalartist，towhoseskillalonethewoodandcanvasmustbeindebtedfortheirmeritorvalue。Themiraculousrelicswereaheapofbonesandashes，destituteoflifeorvirtue，orofanyrelation，perhaps，withthepersontowhomtheywereascribed。Thetrueandvivifyingcrosswasapieceofsoundorrottentimber，thebodyandbloodofChrist，aloafofbreadandacupofwine，thegiftsofnatureandthesymbolsofgrace。ThemotherofGodwasdegradedfromhercelestialhonorsandimmaculatevirginity；andthesaintsandangelswerenolongersolicitedtoexercisethelaboriousofficeofmeditationinheaven，andministryuponearth。Inthepractice，oratleastinthetheory，ofthesacraments，thePaulicianswereinclinedtoabolishallvisibleobjectsofworship，andthewordsofthegospelwere，intheirjudgment，thebaptismandcommunionofthefaithful。TheyindulgedaconvenientlatitudefortheinterpretationofScripture:andasoftenastheywerepressedbytheliteralsense，theycouldescapetotheintricatemazesoffigureandallegory。TheirutmostdiligencemusthavebeenemployedtodissolvetheconnectionbetweentheOldandtheNewTestament；
sincetheyadoredthelatterastheoraclesofGod，andabhorredtheformerasthefabulousandabsurdinventionofmenordaemons。Wecannotbesurprised，thattheyshouldhavefoundintheGospeltheorthodoxmysteryoftheTrinity:but，insteadofconfessingthehumannatureandsubstantialsufferingsofChrist，theyamusedtheirfancywithacelestialbodythatpassedthroughthevirginlikewaterthroughapipe；withafantasticcrucifixion，thateludedthevainandimportantmaliceoftheJews。Acreedthussimpleandspiritualwasnotadaptedtothegeniusofthetimes；^7andtherationalChristian，whomighthavebeencontentedwiththelightyokeandeasyburdenofJesusandhisapostles，wasjustlyoffended，thatthePauliciansshoulddaretoviolatetheunityofGod，thefirstarticleofnaturalandrevealedreligion。TheirbeliefandtheirtrustwasintheFather，ofChrist，ofthehumansoul，andoftheinvisibleworld。
Buttheylikewiseheldtheeternityofmatter；astubbornandrebellioussubstance，theoriginofasecondprincipleofanactivebeing，whohascreatedthisvisibleworld，andexerciseshistemporalreigntillthefinalconsummationofdeathandsin。
^8TheappearancesofmoralandphysicalevilhadestablishedthetwoprinciplesintheancientphilosophyandreligionoftheEast；fromwhencethisdoctrinewastransfusedtothevariousswarmsoftheGnostics。AthousandshadesmaybedevisedinthenatureandcharacterofAhriman，fromarivalgodtoasubordinatedaemon，frompassionandfrailtytopureandperfectmalevolence:but，inspiteofourefforts，thegoodness，andthepower，ofOrmusdareplacedattheoppositeextremitiesoftheline；andeverystepthatapproachestheonemustrecedeinequalproportionfromtheother。^9
[Footnote7:ThesixcapitalerrorsofthePauliciansaredefinedbyPeterp。756，withmuchprejudiceandpassion。]
[Footnote8:Primumillorumaxiomaest，duorerumesseprincipia；
DeummalumetDeumbonum，aliumquehujusmundiconditoremetprincipem，etaliumfuturiaevi，Petr。Sicul。765。]
[Footnote9:Twolearnedcritics，BeausobreHist。CritiqueduManicheisme，l。i。iv。v。vi。andMosheim，Institut。Hist。
Eccles。anddeRebusChristianisanteConstantinum，sec。i。ii。
iii。，havelaboredtoexploreanddiscriminatethevarioussystemsoftheGnosticsonthesubjectofthetwoprinciples。]
TheapostoliclaborsofConstantineSylvanussoonmultipliedthenumberofhisdisciples，thesecretrecompenseofspiritualambition。TheremnantoftheGnosticsects，andespeciallytheManichaeansofArmenia，wereunitedunderhisstandard；manyCatholicswereconvertedorseducedbyhisarguments；andhepreachedwithsuccessintheregionsofPontus^10andCappadocia，whichhadlongsinceimbibedthereligionofZoroaster。ThePaulicianteachersweredistinguishedonlybytheirScripturalnames，bythemodesttitleofFellow—pilgrims，bytheausterityoftheirlives，theirzealorknowledge，andthecreditofsomeextraordinarygiftsoftheHolySpirit。Buttheywereincapableofdesiring，oratleastofobtaining，thewealthandhonorsoftheCatholicprelacy；suchanti—Christianpridetheybitterlycensured；andeventherankofeldersorpresbyterswascondemnedasaninstitutionoftheJewishsynagogue。ThenewsectwaslooselyspreadovertheprovincesofAsiaMinortothewestwardoftheEuphrates；sixoftheirprincipalcongregationsrepresentedthechurchestowhichSt。Paulhadaddressedhisepistles；andtheirfounderchosehisresidenceintheneighborhoodofColonia，^11inthesamedistrictofPontuswhichhadbeencelebratedbythealtarsofBellona^12andthemiraclesofGregory。^13Afteramissionoftwenty—sevenyears，Sylvanus，whohadretiredfromthetoleratinggovernmentoftheArabs，fellasacrificetoRomanpersecution。Thelawsofthepiousemperors，whichseldomtouchedthelivesoflessodiousheretics，proscribedwithoutmercyordisguisethetenets，thebooks，andthepersonsoftheMontanistsandManichaeans:thebooksweredeliveredtotheflames；andallwhoshouldpresumetosecretesuchwritings，ortoprofesssuchopinions，weredevotedtoanignominiousdeath。^14AGreekminister，armedwithlegalandmilitarypowers，appearedatColoniatostriketheshepherd，andtoreclaim，ifpossible，thelostsheep。Byarefinementofcruelty，SimeonplacedtheunfortunateSylvanusbeforealineofhisdisciples，whowerecommanded，asthepriceoftheirpardonandtheproofoftheirrepentance，tomassacretheirspiritualfather。Theyturnedasidefromtheimpiousoffice；thestonesdroppedfromtheirfilialhands，andofthewholenumber，onlyoneexecutionercouldbefound，anewDavid，asheisstyledbytheCatholics，whoboldlyoverthrewthegiantofheresy。ThisapostateJustinwashisnameagaindeceivedandbetrayedhisunsuspectingbrethren，andanewconformitytotheactsofSt。
PaulmaybefoundintheconversionofSimeon:liketheapostle，heembracedthedoctrinewhichhehadbeensenttopersecute，renouncedhishonorsandfortunes，andrequiredamongthePauliciansthefameofamissionaryandamartyr。Theywerenotambitiousofmartyrdom，^15butinacalamitousperiodofonehundredandfiftyyears，theirpatiencesustainedwhateverzealcouldinflict；andpowerwasinsufficienttoeradicatetheobstinatevegetationoffanaticismandreason。Fromthebloodandashesofthefirstvictims，asuccessionofteachersandcongregationsrepeatedlyarose:amidsttheirforeignhostilities，theyfoundleisurefordomesticquarrels:theypreached，theydisputed，theysuffered；andthevirtues，theapparentvirtues，ofSergius，inapilgrimageofthirty—threeyears，arereluctantlyconfessedbytheorthodoxhistorians。^16ThenativecrueltyofJustiniantheSecondwasstimulatedbyapiouscause；
andhevainlyhopedtoextinguish，inasingleconflagration，thenameandmemoryofthePaulicians。Bytheirprimitivesimplicity，theirabhorrenceofpopularsuperstition，theIconoclastprincesmighthavebeenreconciledtosomeerroneousdoctrines；buttheythemselveswereexposedtothecalumniesofthemonks，andtheychosetobethetyrants，lesttheyshouldbeaccusedastheaccomplices，oftheManichaeans。SuchareproachhassulliedtheclemencyofNicephorus，whorelaxedintheirfavortheseverityofthepenalstatutes，norwillhischaractersustainthehonorofamoreliberalmotive。ThefeebleMichaeltheFirst，therigidLeotheArmenian，wereforemostintheraceofpersecution；
buttheprizemustdoubtlessbeadjudgedtothesanguinarydevotionofTheodora，whorestoredtheimagestotheOrientalchurch。HerinquisitorsexploredthecitiesandmountainsoftheLesserAsia，andtheflatterersoftheempresshaveaffirmedthat，inashortreign，onehundredthousandPaulicianswereextirpatedbythesword，thegibbet，ortheflames。Herguiltormerithasperhapsbeenstretchedbeyondthemeasureoftruth:butiftheaccountbeallowed，itmustbepresumedthatmanysimpleIconoclastswerepunishedunderamoreodiousname；andthatsomewhoweredrivenfromthechurch，unwillinglytookrefugeinthebosomofheresy。
[Footnote10:ThecountriesbetweentheEuphratesandtheHalyswerepossessedabove350yearsbytheMedesHerodot。l。i。c。
103andPersians；andthekingsofPontuswereoftheroyalraceoftheAchaemenides，Sallust。Fragment。l。iii。withtheFrenchsupplementandnotesofthepresidentdeBrosses。]
[Footnote11:MostprobablyfoundedbyPompeyaftertheconquestofPontus。ThisColonia，ontheLycus，aboveNeo—Caesarea，isnamedbytheTurksCoulei—hisar，orChonac，apopuloustowninastrongcountry，D\'Anville，GeographieAncienne，tom。ii。p。34。
Tournefort，VoyageduLevant，tom。iii。lettrexxi。p。293。]
[Footnote12:ThetempleofBellona，atComanainPontuswasapowerfulandwealthyfoundation，andthehighpriestwasrespectedasthesecondpersoninthekingdom。Asthesacerdotalofficehadbeenoccupiedbyhismother\'sfamily，Strabol。xii。
p。809，835，836，837dwellswithpeculiarcomplacencyonthetemple，theworship，andfestival，whichwastwicecelebratedeveryyear。ButtheBellonaofPontushadthefeaturesandcharacterofthegoddess，notofwar，butoflove。]
[Footnote13:Gregory，bishopofNeo—Caesarea，A。D。240—265，
surnamedThaumaturgus，ortheWonder—worker。Anhundredyearsafterwards，thehistoryorromanceofhislifewascomposedbyGregoryofNyssa，hisnamesakeandcountryman，thebrotherofthegreatSt。Basil。]
[Footnote14:Hoccaeterumadsuaegregiafacinora，diviniatqueorthodoxiImperatoresaddiderunt，utManichaeosMontanosquecapitalipunirisententiajuberent，eorumquelibros，quocunqueinlocoinventiessent，flammistradi；quodsiquisuspiameosdemoccultassedeprehenderetur，hunceundemmortispoenaeaddici，ejusquebonainfiscuminferri，Petr。Sicul。p。759。Whatmorecouldbigotryandpersecutiondesire?]
[Footnote15:Itshouldseem，thatthePauliciansallowedthemselvessomelatitudeofequivocationandmentalreservation；
tilltheCatholicsdiscoveredthepressingquestions，whichreducedthemtothealternativeofapostasyormartyrdom，Petr。
Sicul。p。760。]
[Footnote16:ThepersecutionistoldbyPetrusSiculusp。579—
763withsatisfactionandpleasantry。Justusjustapersolvit。
SeelikewiseCedrenus，p。432—435。]
Themostfuriousanddesperateofrebelsarethesectariesofareligionlongpersecuted，andatlengthprovoked。Inaholycausetheyarenolongersusceptibleoffearorremorse:thejusticeoftheirarmshardensthemagainstthefeelingsofhumanity；andtheyrevengetheirfathers\'wrongsonthechildrenoftheirtyrants。SuchhavebeentheHussitesofBohemiaandtheCalvinistsofFrance，andsuch，intheninthcentury，werethePauliciansofArmeniaandtheadjacentprovinces。^17Theywerefirstawakenedtothemassacreofagovernorandbishop，whoexercisedtheImperialmandateofconvertingordestroyingtheheretics；andthedeepestrecessesofMountArgaeusprotectedtheirindependenceandrevenge。AmoredangerousandconsumingflamewaskindledbythepersecutionofTheodora，andtherevoltofCarbeas，avaliantPaulician，whocommandedtheguardsofthegeneraloftheEast。HisfatherhadbeenimpaledbytheCatholicinquisitors；andreligion，oratleastnature，mightjustifyhisdesertionandrevenge。Fivethousandofhisbrethrenwereunitedbythesamemotives；theyrenouncedtheallegianceofanti—ChristianRome；aSaracenemirintroducedCarbeastothecaliph；andthecommanderofthefaithfulextendedhissceptretotheimplacableenemyoftheGreeks。InthemountainsbetweenSiwasandTrebizondhefoundedorfortifiedthecityofTephrice，^18whichisstilloccupiedbyafierceorlicentiouspeople，andtheneighboringhillswerecoveredwiththePaulicianfugitives，whonowreconciledtheuseoftheBibleandthesword。Duringmorethanthirtyyears，Asiawasafflictedbythecalamitiesofforeignanddomesticwar；intheirhostileinroads，thedisciplesofSt。PaulwerejoinedwiththoseofMahomet；andthepeacefulChristians，theagedparentandtendervirgin，whoweredeliveredintobarbarousservitude，mightjustlyaccusetheintolerantspiritoftheirsovereign。Sourgentwasthemischief，sointolerabletheshame，thateventhedissoluteMichael，thesonofTheodora，wascompelledtomarchinpersonagainstthePaulicians:hewasdefeatedunderthewallsofSamosata；andtheRomanemperorfledbeforethehereticswhomhismotherhadcondemnedtotheflames。TheSaracensfoughtunderthesamebanners，butthevictorywasascribedtoCarbeas；andthecaptivegenerals，withmorethanahundredtribunes，wereeitherreleasedbyhisavarice，ortorturedbyhisfanaticism。ThevalorandambitionofChrysocheir，^19hissuccessor，embracedawidercircleofrapineandrevenge。InalliancewithhisfaithfulMoslems，heboldlypenetratedintotheheartofAsia；thetroopsofthefrontierandthepalacewererepeatedlyoverthrown；theedictsofpersecutionwereansweredbythepillageofNiceandNicomedia，ofAncyraandEphesus；norcouldtheapostleSt。Johnprotectfromviolationhiscityandsepulchre。ThecathedralofEphesuswasturnedintoastableformulesandhorses；andthePauliciansviedwiththeSaracensintheircontemptandabhorrenceofimagesandrelics。Itisnotunpleasingtoobservethetriumphofrebellionoverthesamedespotismwhichhaddisdainedtheprayersofaninjuredpeople。TheemperorBasil，theMacedonian，wasreducedtosueforpeace，toofferaransomforthecaptives，andtorequest，inthelanguageofmoderationandcharity，thatChrysocheirwouldsparehisfellow—Christians，andcontenthimselfwitharoyaldonativeofgoldandsilverandsilkgarments。\"Iftheemperor，\"repliedtheinsolentfanatic，\"bedesirousofpeace，lethimabdicatetheEast，andreignwithoutmolestationintheWest。Ifherefuse，theservantsoftheLordwillprecipitatehimfromthethrone。\"ThereluctantBasilsuspendedthetreaty，acceptedthedefiance，andledhisarmyintothelandofheresy，whichhewastedwithfireandsword。TheopencountryofthePaulicianswasexposedtothesamecalamitieswhichtheyhadinflicted；butwhenhehadexploredthestrengthofTephrice，themultitudeoftheBarbarians，andtheamplemagazinesofarmsandprovisions，hedesistedwithasighfromthehopelesssiege。OnhisreturntoConstantinople，helabored，bythefoundationofconventsandchurches，tosecuretheaidofhiscelestialpatrons，ofMichaelthearchangelandtheprophetElijah；anditwashisdailyprayerthathemightlivetotranspierce，withthreearrows，theheadofhisimpiousadversary。Beyondhisexpectations，thewishwasaccomplished:afterasuccessfulinroad，Chrysocheirwassurprisedandslaininhisretreat；andtherebel\'sheadwastriumphantlypresentedatthefootofthethrone。Onthereceptionofthiswelcometrophy，Basilinstantlycalledforhisbow，dischargedthreearrowswithunerringaim，andacceptedtheapplauseofthecourt，whohailedthevictoryoftheroyalarcher。WithChrysocheir，thegloryofthePauliciansfadedandwithered:^20onthesecondexpeditionoftheemperor，theimpregnableTephrice，wasdesertedbytheheretics，whosuedformercyorescapedtotheborders。Thecitywasruined，butthespiritofindependencesurvivedinthemountains:thePauliciansdefended，aboveacentury，theirreligionandliberty，infestedtheRomanlimits，andmaintainedtheirperpetualalliancewiththeenemiesoftheempireandthegospel。