^85
[Footnote81:BurnetdeStatuMortuorum，p。56—84collectstheopinionsoftheFathers，asfarastheyassertthesleep，orrepose，ofhumansoulstillthedayofjudgment。Heafterwardsexposesp。91，&c。theinconvenienceswhichmustarise，iftheypossessedamoreactiveandsensibleexistence。]
[Footnote82:Vigilantiusplacedthesoulsoftheprophetsandmartyrs，eitherinthebosomofAbraham，inlocorefrigerii，orelseunderthealtarofGod。Necpossesuistumulisetubivolueruntadessepraesentes。ButJeromtom。ii。p。122sternlyrefutesthisblasphemy。TuDeolegespones?Tuapostolisvinculainjicies，utusqueaddiemjudiciiteneanturcustodia，necsintcumDominosuo；dequibusscriptumest，SequunturAgnumquocunquevadit。SiAgnusubique，ergo，ethi，quicumAgnosunt，ubiqueessecredendisunt。Etcumdiabolusetdaemonestotevagenturinorbe，&c。]
[Footnote83:FleuryDiscourssurl'Hist。Ecclesiastique，iiip。
80。]
[Footnote84:AtMinorca，therelicsofSt。Stephenconverted，ineightdays，540Jews；withthehelp，indeed，ofsomewholesomeseverities，suchasburningthesynagogue，drivingtheobstinateinfidelstostarveamongtherocks，&c。SeetheoriginalletterofSeverus，bishopofMinorcaadcalcemSt。Augustin。deCiv。
Dei，andthejudiciousremarksofBasnage，tom。viii。p。245—
251。]
[Footnote85:Mr。HumeEssays，vol。ii。p。434observes，likeaphilosopher，thenaturalfluxandrefluxofpolytheismandtheism。]
IV。Astheobjectsofreligionweregraduallyreducedtothestandardoftheimagination，theritesandceremonieswereintroducedthatseemedmostpowerfullytoaffectthesensesofthevulgar。If，inthebeginningofthefifthcentury，^86
Tertullian，orLactantius，^87hadbeensuddenlyraisedfromthedead，toassistatthefestivalofsomepopularsaint，ormartyr，^88theywouldhavegazedwithastonishment，andindignation，ontheprofanespectacle，whichhadsucceededtothepureandspiritualworshipofaChristiancongregation。Assoonasthedoorsofthechurchwerethrownopen，theymusthavebeenoffendedbythesmokeofincense，theperfumeofflowers，andtheglareoflampsandtapers，whichdiffused，atnoonday，agaudy，superfluous，and，intheiropinion，asacrilegiouslight。Iftheyapproachedthebalustradeofthealtar，theymadetheirwaythroughtheprostratecrowd，consisting，forthemostpart，ofstrangersandpilgrims，whoresortedtothecityonthevigilofthefeast；andwhoalreadyfeltthestrongintoxicationoffanaticism，and，perhaps，ofwine。Theirdevoutkisseswereimprintedonthewallsandpavementofthesacrededifice；andtheirferventprayersweredirected，whatevermightbethelanguageoftheirchurch，tothebones，theblood，ortheashesofthesaint，whichwereusuallyconcealed，byalinenorsilkenveil，fromtheeyesofthevulgar。TheChristiansfrequentedthetombsofthemartyrs，inthehopeofobtaining，fromtheirpowerfulintercession，everysortofspiritual，butmoreespeciallyoftemporal，blessings。Theyimploredthepreservationoftheirhealth，orthecureoftheirinfirmities；
thefruitfulnessoftheirbarrenwives，orthesafetyandhappinessoftheirchildren。Whenevertheyundertookanydistantordangerousjourney，theyrequested，thattheholymartyrswouldbetheirguidesandprotectorsontheroad；andiftheyreturnedwithouthavingexperiencedanymisfortune，theyagainhastenedtothetombsofthemartyrs，tocelebrate，withgratefulthanksgivings，theirobligationstothememoryandrelicsofthoseheavenlypatrons。Thewallswerehungroundwithsymbolsofthefavorswhichtheyhadreceived；eyes，andhands，andfeet，ofgoldandsilver:andedifyingpictures，whichcouldnotlongescapetheabuseofindiscreetoridolatrousdevotion，representedtheimage，theattributes，andthemiraclesofthetutelarsaint。Thesameuniformoriginalspiritofsuperstitionmightsuggest，inthemostdistantagesandcountries，thesamemethodsofdeceivingthecredulity，andofaffectingthesensesofmankind:^89butitmustingenuouslybeconfessed，thattheministersoftheCatholicchurchimitatedtheprofanemodel，whichtheywereimpatienttodestroy。ThemostrespectablebishopshadpersuadedthemselvesthattheignorantrusticswouldmorecheerfullyrenouncethesuperstitionsofPaganism，iftheyfoundsomeresemblance，somecompensation，inthebosomofChristianity。ThereligionofConstantineachieved，inlessthanacentury，thefinalconquestoftheRomanempire:butthevictorsthemselveswereinsensiblysubduedbytheartsoftheirvanquishedrivals。^90
[Footnote86:D'AubigneseehisownMemoires，p。156—160
franklyoffered，withtheconsentoftheHuguenotministers，toallowthefirst400yearsastheruleoffaith。TheCardinalduPerronhaggledforfortyyearsmore，whichwereindiscreetlygiven。Yetneitherpartywouldhavefoundtheiraccountinthisfoolishbargain。]
[Footnote87:TheworshippractisedandinculcatedbyTertullian，LactantiusArnobius，&c。，issoextremelypureandspiritual，thattheirdeclamationsagainstthePagansometimesglanceagainsttheJewish，ceremonies。]
[Footnote88:FaustustheManichaeanaccusestheCatholicsofidolatry。Vertitisidolainmartyres……quosvotissimilibuscolitis。M。deBeausobre，Hist。CritiqueduManicheisme，tom。
ii。p。629—700，aProtestant，butaphilosopher，hasrepresented，withcandorandlearning，theintroductionofChristianidolatryinthefourthandfifthcenturies。]
[Footnote89:Theresemblanceofsuperstition，whichcouldnotbeimitated，mightbetracedfromJapantoMexico。Warburtonhasseizedthisidea，whichhedistorts，byrenderingittoogeneralandabsolute，DivineLegation，vol。iv。p。126，&c。]
[Footnote90:TheimitationofPaganismisthesubjectofDr。
Middleton'sagreeableletterfromRome。Warburton'sanimadversionsobligedhimtoconnectvol。iii。p。120—132，
thehistoryofthetworeligions，andtoprovetheantiquityoftheChristiancopy。]
[Footnote*:ButtherewasalwaysthisimportantdifferencebetweenChristianandheathenPolytheism。InPaganismthiswasthewholereligion；inthedarkestagesofChristianity，some，howeverobscureandvague，Christiannotionsoffutureretribution，ofthelifeafterdeath，lurkedatthebottom，andoperated，toacertainextent，onthethoughtsandfeelings，sometimesontheactions。—M。]
ChapterXXIX:DivisionOfRomanEmpireBetweenSonsOfTheodosius。
PartI。
FinalDivisionOfTheRomanEmpireBetweenTheSonsOfTheodosius。—ReignOfArcadiusAndHonorius—AdministrationOfRufinusAndStilicho。—RevoltAndDefeatOfGildoInAfrica。
ThegeniusofRomeexpiredwithTheodosius；thelastofthesuccessorsofAugustusandConstantine，whoappearedinthefieldattheheadoftheirarmies，andwhoseauthoritywasuniversallyacknowledgedthroughoutthewholeextentoftheempire。Thememoryofhisvirtuesstillcontinued，however，toprotectthefeebleandinexperiencedyouthofhistwosons。Afterthedeathoftheirfather，ArcadiusandHonoriusweresaluted，bytheunanimousconsentofmankind，asthelawfulemperorsoftheEast，andoftheWest；andtheoathoffidelitywaseagerlytakenbyeveryorderofthestate；thesenatesofoldandnewRome，theclergy，themagistrates，thesoldiers，andthepeople。Arcadius，whowasthenabouteighteenyearsofage，wasborninSpain，inthehumblehabitationofaprivatefamily。ButhereceivedaprincelyeducationinthepalaceofConstantinople；andhisingloriouslifewasspentinthatpeacefulandsplendidseatofroyalty，fromwhenceheappearedtoreignovertheprovincesofThrace，AsiaMinor，Syria，andEgypt，fromtheLowerDanubetotheconfinesofPersiaandAethiopia。HisyoungerbrotherHonorius，assumed，intheeleventhyearofhisage，thenominalgovernmentofItaly，Africa，Gaul，Spain，andBritain；andthetroops，whichguardedthefrontiersofhiskingdom，wereopposed，ononeside，totheCaledonians，andontheother，totheMoors。
ThegreatandmartialpraefectureofIllyricumwasdividedbetweenthetwoprinces:thedefenceandpossessionoftheprovincesofNoricum，Pannonia，andDalmatiastillbelongedtotheWesternempire；butthetwolargediocesesofDaciaandMacedonia，whichGratianhadintrustedtothevalorofTheodosius，wereforeverunitedtotheempireoftheEast。TheboundaryinEuropewasnotverydifferentfromthelinewhichnowseparatestheGermansandtheTurks；andtherespectiveadvantagesofterritory，riches，populousness，andmilitarystrength，werefairlybalancedandcompensated，inthisfinalandpermanentdivisionoftheRomanempire。ThehereditarysceptreofthesonsofTheodosiusappearedtobethegiftofnature，andoftheirfather；thegeneralsandministershadbeenaccustomedtoadorethemajestyoftheroyalinfants；andthearmyandpeoplewerenotadmonishedoftheirrights，andoftheirpower，bythedangerousexampleofarecentelection。ThegradualdiscoveryoftheweaknessofArcadiusandHonorius，andtherepeatedcalamitiesoftheirreign，werenotsufficienttoobliteratethedeepandearlyimpressionsofloyalty。ThesubjectsofRome，whostillreverencedthepersons，orratherthenames，oftheirsovereigns，beheld，withequalabhorrence，therebelswhoopposed，andtheministerswhoabused，theauthorityofthethrone。
TheodosiushadtarnishedthegloryofhisreignbytheelevationofRufinus；anodiousfavorite，who，inanageofcivilandreligiousfaction，hasdeserved，fromeveryparty，theimputationofeverycrime。Thestrongimpulseofambitionandavarice^1hadurgedRufinustoabandonhisnativecountry，anobscurecornerofGaul，^2toadvancehisfortuneinthecapitaloftheEast:thetalentofboldandreadyelocution，^3qualifiedhimtosucceedinthelucrativeprofessionofthelaw；andhissuccessinthatprofessionwasaregularsteptothemosthonorableandimportantemploymentsofthestate。Hewasraised，byjustdegrees，tothestationofmasteroftheoffices。Intheexerciseofhisvariousfunctions，soessentiallyconnectedwiththewholesystemofcivilgovernment，heacquiredtheconfidenceofamonarch，whosoondiscoveredhisdiligenceandcapacityinbusiness，andwholongremainedignorantofthepride，themalice，andthecovetousnessofhisdisposition。Theseviceswereconcealedbeneaththemaskofprofounddissimulation；^4hispassionsweresubservientonlytothepassionsofhismaster；yetinthehorridmassacreofThessalonica，thecruelRufinusinflamedthefury，withoutimitatingtherepentance，ofTheodosius。Theminister，whoviewedwithproudindifferencetherestofmankind，neverforgavetheappearanceofaninjury；andhispersonalenemieshadforfeited，inhisopinion，themeritofallpublicservices。Promotus，themaster—generaloftheinfantry，hadsavedtheempirefromtheinvasionoftheOstrogoths；butheindignantlysupportedthepreeminenceofarival，whosecharacterandprofessionhedespised；andinthemidstofapubliccouncil，theimpatientsoldierwasprovokedtochastisewithablowtheindecentprideofthefavorite。Thisactofviolencewasrepresentedtotheemperorasaninsult，whichitwasincumbentonhisdignitytoresent。ThedisgraceandexileofPromotusweresignifiedbyaperemptoryorder，torepair，withoutdelay，toamilitarystationonthebanksoftheDanube；andthedeathofthatgeneralthoughhewasslaininaskirmishwiththeBarbarianswasimputedtotheperfidiousartsofRufinus。^5Thesacrificeofaherogratifiedhisrevenge；thehonorsoftheconsulshipelatedhisvanity；buthispowerwasstillimperfectandprecarious，aslongastheimportantpostsofpraefectoftheEast，andofpraefectofConstantinople，werefilledbyTatian，^6andhissonProculus；whoseunitedauthoritybalanced，forsometime，theambitionandfavorofthemasteroftheoffices。Thetwopraefectswereaccusedofrapineandcorruptionintheadministrationofthelawsandfinances。Forthetrialoftheseillustriousoffenders，theemperorconstitutedaspecialcommission:severaljudgeswerenamedtosharetheguiltandreproachofinjustice；buttherightofpronouncingsentencewasreservedtothepresidentalone，andthatpresidentwasRufinushimself。Thefather，strippedofthepraefectureoftheEast，wasthrownintoadungeon；buttheson，consciousthatfewministerscanbefoundinnocent，whereanenemyistheirjudge，hadsecretlyescaped；andRufinusmusthavebeensatisfiedwiththeleastobnoxiousvictim，ifdespotismhadnotcondescendedtoemploythebasestandmostungenerousartifice。
Theprosecutionwasconductedwithanappearanceofequityandmoderation，whichflatteredTatianwiththehopeofafavorableevent:hisconfidencewasfortifiedbythesolemnassurances，andperfidiousoaths，ofthepresident，whopresumedtointerposethesacrednameofTheodosiushimself；andtheunhappyfatherwasatlastpersuadedtorecall，byaprivateletter，thefugitiveProculus。Hewasinstantlyseized，examined，condemned，andbeheaded，inoneofthesuburbsofConstantinople，withaprecipitationwhichdisappointedtheclemencyoftheemperor。
Withoutrespectingthemisfortunesofaconsularsenator，thecrueljudgesofTatiancompelledhimtobeholdtheexecutionofhisson:thefatalcordwasfastenedroundhisownneck；butinthemomentwhenheexpected。andperhapsdesired，thereliefofaspeedydeath，hewaspermittedtoconsumethemiserableremnantofhisoldageinpovertyandexile。^7Thepunishmentofthetwopraefectsmight，perhaps，beexcusedbytheexceptionablepartsoftheirownconduct；theenmityofRufinusmightbepalliatedbythejealousandunsociablenatureofambition。Butheindulgedaspiritofrevengeequallyrepugnanttoprudenceandtojustice，whenhedegradedtheirnativecountryofLyciafromtherankofRomanprovinces；stigmatizedaguiltlesspeoplewithamarkofignominy；anddeclared，thatthecountrymenofTatianandProculusshouldforeverremainincapableofholdinganyemploymentofhonororadvantageundertheImperialgovernment。
^8ThenewpraefectoftheEastforRufinusinstantlysucceededtothevacanthonorsofhisadversarywasnotdiverted，however，bythemostcriminalpursuits，fromtheperformanceofthereligiousduties，whichinthatagewereconsideredasthemostessentialtosalvation。InthesuburbofChalcedon，surnamedtheOak，hehadbuiltamagnificentvilla；towhichhedevoutlyaddedastatelychurch，consecratedtotheapostlesSt。PeterandSt。
Paul，andcontinuallysanctifiedbytheprayersandpenanceofaregularsocietyofmonks。Anumerous，andalmostgeneral，synodofthebishopsoftheEasternempire，wassummonedtocelebrate，atthesametime，thededicationofthechurch，andthebaptismofthefounder。Thisdoubleceremonywasperformedwithextraordinarypomp；andwhenRufinuswaspurified，intheholyfont，fromallthesinsthathehadhithertocommitted，avenerablehermitofEgyptrashlyproposedhimselfasthesponsorofaproudandambitiousstatesman。^9
[Footnote1:Alecto，enviousofthepublicfelicity，convenesaninfernalsynodMegaerarecommendsherpupilRufinus，andexciteshimtodeedsofmischief，&c。ButthereisasmuchdifferencebetweenClaudian'sfuryandthatofVirgil，asbetweenthecharactersofTurnusandRufinus。]
[Footnote2:Itisevident，Tillemont，Hist。desEmp。tom。v。p。
770，thoughDeMarcaisashamedofhiscountryman，thatRufinuswasbornatElusa，themetropolisofNovempopulania，nowasmallvillageofGassony，D'Anville，Noticedel'AncienneGaule，p。
289。]
[Footnote3:Philostorgius，l。xic。3，withGodefroy'sDissert。
p。440。]
[Footnote4:ApassageofSuidasisexpressiveofhisprofounddissimulation。]
[Footnote5:Zosimus，l。iv。p。272，273。]
[Footnote6:Zosimus，whodescribesthefallofTatianandhisson，l。iv。p。273，274，assertstheirinnocence；andevenhistestimonymayoutweighthechargesoftheirenemies，Cod。Theod。
tom。iv。p。489，whoaccusethemofoppressingtheCuriae。TheconnectionofTatianwiththeArians，whilehewaspraefectofEgypt，A。D。373，inclinesTillemonttobelievethathewasguiltyofeverycrime，Hist。desEmp。tom。v。p。360。Mem。
Eccles。tomvi。p。589。]
[Footnote7:—JuvenumrorantiacollaAntepatrumvultusstrictacecideresecuri。
IbatgrandaevusnatomorientesuperstesPosttrabeasexsul。
InRufin。i。248。
ThefactsofZosimusexplaintheallusionsofClaudian；buthisclassicinterpreterswereignorantofthefourthcentury。Thefatalcord，Ifound，withthehelpofTillemont，inasermonofSt。AsteriusofAmasea。]
[Footnote8:ThisodiouslawisrecitedandrepealedbyArcadius，A。D。296，ontheTheodosianCode，l。ix。tit。xxxviii。leg。9。
ThesenseasitisexplainedbyClaudian，inRufin。i。234，andGodefroy，tom。iii。p。279，isperfectlyclear。
—ExscinderecivesFunditus；etnomengentisdelerelaborat。
ThescruplesofPagiandTillemontcanariseonlyfromtheirzealforthegloryofTheodosius。]
[Footnote9:Ammonius……Rufinumpropriismanibussuscepitsacrofontemundatum。SeeRosweyde'sVitaePatrum，p。947。
Sozomenl。viii。c。17mentionsthechurchandmonastery；andTillemontMem。Eccles。tom。ix。p。593recordsthissynod，inwhichSt。GregoryofNyssaperformedaconspicuouspart。]