As to the reft, Perfecution served only to caft an additional luftre over the reputation of the Chriftians. Under a defpotic government, every act of feverity is, at once, deem ed unjuft. And who, indeed, could have beheld without concern, the fate of these unhappy wretches, daily dragged to the tribunal of fome freed-man, fome creature lifted into place, who, invefted with the title either of Pretor, or of Proconful, concluded that he had a right to give laws to opinion, and pass his judgement on the conscience of another? Thus, all, except those fanatics who had been infected by the fuggeftions of the priests, pitied and encouraged the Chriftians, whofe writings, every where, recommended that toleration which Jefus Chrift had taught them, and which, from the peculiarity of their lot, it was their interest to preach of. They were particularly careful to flee from the prefence of tyrannical ma giftrates; and they travelled into the remoteft provinces of the empire, in order to reveal their dogmas to plain and untutored minds. They defcribed a God of peace, a God, who confidered all mankind as his children; and who admitted not of any dif ference

ference between them, whether they were nobles, or plebeians, Romans, or Barbarians, free, or in flavery. Thus, was Chriftianity extended throughout the provinces, but principally in Spain and Gaul, where it was fo generally propagated, that although Conftantius, Chlorus, and Conftantine, his fucceffor, did not totally embrace it, yet they thought it good policy to countenance it, with their favour, and to avail themselves of it, in oppofition to the preponderating influence of Dioclefian and Galerius.

As we have, now, carried our reflections, down to that important æra, in which, Conftantine, having united in a fubmiffion to his laws, the largest empire that ever existed, employed his whole power, to render Chriftianity the ruling religion, we fhall, for a moment, fix our attention on the reign of this prince. Here, then, we conclude our remarks on Chriftianity, the progrefs of which ceases to be extraordinary, when directed by the operations of the most powerful, and the most abfolute of all the emperors.

CHAP.

CHA P. IV.

On Conftantine.

THE fourth age of the church opened

An

under the most unfortunate aufpices. empire divided amongst the chiefs of the Barbarians, defolated by continual wars, and ravaged by a foreign army; a religion, at one moment, perfecuted by the prince, and at another moment, tearing in pieces her own entrails; now timid, now furious; then weak, then fanatic; either condemned to filence, or loft in herefies, conformably to the caprice of fovereigns, and the revolutions. of the state; the deftruction of all public morals; licentiousness, or defpotism ufurping the place of a regular form of govern

ment;

ment; and avarice, and depredation feated on the tribunals, compofe the objects which fill up the picture, prefented to us, by the Roman empire, or rather, by the whole world. During this dreadful chaos, during this total overthrow of power and opinion, mankind waited in expectation of a master; one of those ferocious warriors, who, whilst he remained too formidable to dread an oppofition from the people, might prove equally invincible against the attacks of rival nations, was all they asked for. Although no longer defirous of liberty, yet they were anxious to enjoy peace; the vigour of their minds was already bent; their intrepidity was exhausted; and whatsoever might have been the will of a defpot, an univerfal principle of adulation was prepared to adopt it. Dioclefian alike wearied with battles and with glory; at once loathing the occupations of a general, and the employments of a fovereign; but particularly displeased with the Romans, whose baseness, and ingratitude he had experienced, defpifed the luftre, and apprehended the dangers, which furrounded the throne of the world, and this too, at a time when he was, of all others, the most worthy

VOL. I.

X

worthy of filling it. Unfortunately, he forefaw not, until it was too late, the part which he was obliged to take; but like a commander, who difmantles the conquered place before it be abandoned, he rendered the pof which he quitted, impoffible to be maintained. The empire was divided into four diocefes, or governments. An illufory ballance of power had been established, amongst the chiefs, who under the titles of either Cæfar, or Auguftus, prefided over the feveral departments. The colleagues, united only by illegal marriages, or forced adoptions, unavoidably, became mutual rivals; and he who, firft, triumphed over his competitor, was fure of investing himself, shortly afterwards, with the rank, and authority of an univerfal monarch. It was under these circumstances, that Conftantine, in the flower of his age, and adorned with all the gifts of nature, inherited a power, which Conftantius, his father, had made a favourite and defirable object. To reign, was, in fact, to wage war. His first exploits were directed against the Franks. A conqueror beyond the Rhine, a peaceable fovereign amongst the Gauls, he, quickly, fixed his views on Italy.

There