III。Thesupernaturalgifts,whicheveninthislifewereascribedtotheChristiansabovetherestofmankind,musthaveconducedtotheirowncomfort,andveryfrequentlytotheconvictionofinfidels。Besidestheoccasionalprodigies,whichmightsometimesbeeffectedbytheimmediateinterpositionoftheDeitywhenhesuspendedthelawsofNaturefortheserviceofreligion,theChristianchurch,fromthetimeoftheapostlesandtheirfirstdisciples,^73hasclaimedanuninterruptedsuccessionofmiraculouspowers,thegiftoftongues,ofvision,andofprophecy,thepowerofexpellingdaemons,ofhealingthesick,andofraisingthedead。TheknowledgeofforeignlanguageswasfrequentlycommunicatedtothecontemporariesofIrenaeus,thoughIrenaeushimselfwaslefttostrugglewiththedifficultiesofabarbarousdialect,whilsthepreachedthegospeltothenativesofGaul。^74Thedivineinspiration,whetheritwasconveyedintheformofawakingorofasleepingvision,isdescribedasafavorveryliberallybestowedonallranksofthefaithful,onwomenasonelders,onboysaswellasuponbishops。Whentheirdevoutmindsweresufficientlypreparedbyacourseofprayer,offasting,andofvigils,toreceivetheextraordinaryimpulse,theyweretransportedoutoftheirsenses,anddeliveredinecstasywhatwasinspired,beingmereorgansoftheHolySpirit,justasapipeorfluteisofhimwhoblowsintoit。^75Wemayadd,thatthedesignofthesevisionswas,forthemostpart,eithertodisclosethefuturehistory,ortoguidethepresentadministration,ofthechurch。Theexpulsionofthedaemonsfromthebodiesofthoseunhappypersonswhomtheyhadbeenpermittedtotorment,wasconsideredasasignalthoughordinarytriumphofreligion,andisrepeatedlyallegedbytheancientapoligists,asthemostconvincingevidenceofthetruthofChristianity。Theawfulceremonywasusuallyperformedinapublicmanner,andinthepresenceofagreatnumberofspectators;thepatientwasrelievedbythepowerorskilloftheexorcist,andthevanquisheddaemonwasheardtoconfessthathewasoneofthefabledgodsofantiquity,whohadimpiouslyusurpedtheadorationofmankind。^76Butthemiraculouscureofdiseasesofthemostinveterateorevenpreternaturalkind,cannolongeroccasionanysurprise,whenwerecollect,thatinthedaysofIranaeus,abouttheendofthesecondcentury,theresurrectionofthedeadwasveryfarfrombeingesteemedanuncommonevent;thatthemiraclewasfrequentlyperformedonnecessaryoccasions,bygreatfastingandthejointsupplicationofthechurchoftheplace,andthatthepersonsthusrestoredtotheirprayershadlivedafterwardsamongthemmanyyears。^77Atsuchaperiod,whenfaithcouldboastofsomanywonderfulvictoriesoverdeath,itseemsdifficulttoaccountforthescepticismofthosephilosophers,whostillrejectedandderidedthedoctrineoftheresurrection。AnobleGrecianhadrestedonthisimportantgroundthewholecontroversy,andpromisedTheophilus,BishopofAntioch,thatifhecouldbegratifiedwiththesightofasinglepersonwhohadbeenactuallyraisedfromthedead,hewouldimmediatelyembracetheChristianreligion。
  Itissomewhatremarkable,thattheprelateofthefirsteasternchurch,howeveranxiousfortheconversionofhisfriend,thoughtpropertodeclinethisfairandreasonablechallenge。^78
  [Footnote73:NotwithstandingtheevasionsofDr。Middleton,itisimpossibletooverlookthecleartracesofvisionsandinspiration,whichmaybefoundintheapostolicfathers。
  Note:GibbonshouldhavenoticedthedistinctandremarkablepassagefromChrysostom,quotedbyMiddleton,Works,vol。i。p。
  105,inwhichheaffirmsthelongdiscontinuanceofmiraclesasanotoriousfact。—M。]
  [Footnote74:Irenaeusadv。Haeres。Proem。p。3Dr。MiddletonFreeInquiry,p。96,&c。observes,thatasthispretensionofallotherswasthemostdifficulttosupportbyart,itwasthesoonestgivenup。Theobservationsuitshishypothesis。
  Note:ThispassageofIrenaeuscontainsnoallusiontothegiftoftongues;itismerelyanapologyforarudeandunpolishedGreekstyle,whichcouldnotbeexpectedfromonewhopassedhislifeinaremoteandbarbarousprovince,andwascontinuallyobligedtospeaktheCelticlanguage。—M。
  Note:ExceptinthelifeofPachomius,anEgyptianmonkofthefourthcentury。seeJortin,Ecc。Hist。i。p。368,edit。
  1805,andthelatternotearlierlivesofXavier,thereisnoclaimlaidtothegiftoftonguessincethetimeofIrenaeus;andofthisclaim,Xavier'sownlettersareprofoundlysilent。SeeDouglas'sCriterion,p。76edit。1807。—M。]
  [Footnote75:AthenagorasinLegatione。JustinMartyr,Cohort。
  adGentesTertullianadvers。Marcionit。l。iv。Thesedescriptionsarenotveryunlikethepropheticfury,forwhichCicerodeDivinat。ii。54expressessolittlereverence。]
  [Footnote76:TertullianApolog。c。23throwsoutabolddefiancetothePaganmagistrates。Oftheprimitivemiracles,thepowerofexorcisingistheonlyonewhichhasbeenassumedbyProtestants。
  Note:ButbyProtestantsneitherofthemostenlightenedagesnormostreasoningminds。—M。]
  [Footnote77:Irenaeusadv。Haereses,l。ii。56,57,l。v。c。6。
  Mr。DodwellDissertat。adIrenaeum,ii。42concludes,thatthesecondcenturywasstillmorefertileinmiraclesthanthefirst。
  Note:ItisdifficulttoanswerMiddleton'sobjectiontothisstatementofIrenaeus:"Itisverystrange,thatfromthetimeoftheapostlesthereisnotasingleinstanceofthismiracletobefoundinthethreefirstcenturies;exceptasinglecase,slightlyintimatedinEusebius,fromtheWorksofPapias;
  whichheseemstorankamongtheotherfabulousstoriesdeliveredbythatweakman。"Middleton,Works,vol。i。p。59。Bp。DouglasCriterion,p389wouldconsiderIrenaeustospeakofwhathad"beenperformedformerly。"notinhisowntime。—M。]
  [Footnote78:TheophilusadAutolycum,l。i。p。345。Edit。
  Benedictin。Paris,1742。
  Note:AcandidscepticmightdiscernsomeimproprietyintheBishopbeingcalledupontoperformamiracleondemand。—M。]
  Themiraclesoftheprimitivechurch,afterobtainingthesanctionofages,havebeenlatelyattackedinaveryfreeandingeniousinquiry,^79which,thoughithasmetwiththemostfavorablereceptionfromthepublic,appearstohaveexcitedageneralscandalamongthedivinesofourownaswellasoftheotherProtestantchurchesofEurope。^80Ourdifferentsentimentsonthissubjectwillbemuchlessinfluencedbyanyparticulararguments,thanbyourhabitsofstudyandreflection;and,aboveall,bythedegreeofevidencewhichwehaveaccustomedourselvestorequirefortheproofofamiraculousevent。Thedutyofanhistoriandoesnotcalluponhimtointerposehisprivatejudgmentinthisniceandimportantcontroversy;butheoughtnottodissemblethedifficultyofadoptingsuchatheoryasmayreconciletheinterestofreligionwiththatofreason,ofmakingaproperapplicationofthattheory,andofdefiningwithprecisionthelimitsofthathappyperiod,exemptfromerrorandfromdeceit,towhichwemightbedisposedtoextendthegiftofsupernaturalpowers。Fromthefirstofthefatherstothelastofthepopes,asuccessionofbishops,ofsaints,ofmartyrs,andofmiracles,iscontinuedwithoutinterruption;andtheprogressofsuperstitionwassogradual,andalmostimperceptible,thatweknownotinwhatparticularlinkweshouldbreakthechainoftradition。Everyagebearstestimonytothewonderfuleventsbywhichitwasdistinguished,anditstestimonyappearsnolessweightyandrespectablethanthatoftheprecedinggeneration,tillweareinsensiblyledontoaccuseourowninconsistency,ifintheeighthorinthetwelfthcenturywedenytothevenerableBede,ortotheholyBernard,thesamedegreeofconfidencewhich,inthesecondcentury,wehadsoliberallygrantedtoJustinortoIrenaeus。^81Ifthetruthofanyofthosemiraclesisappreciatedbytheirapparentuseandpropriety,everyagehadunbelieverstoconvince,hereticstoconfute,andidolatrousnationstoconvert;andsufficientmotivesmightalwaysbeproducedtojustifytheinterpositionofHeaven。Andyet,sinceeveryfriendtorevelationispersuadedofthereality,andeveryreasonablemanisconvincedofthecessation,ofmiraculouspowers,itisevidentthattheremusthavebeensomeperiodinwhichtheywereeithersuddenlyorgraduallywithdrawnfromtheChristianchurch。Whateveraeraischosenforthatpurpose,thedeathoftheapostles,theconversionoftheRomanempire,ortheextinctionoftheArianheresy,^82theinsensibilityoftheChristianswholivedatthattimewillequallyaffordajustmatterofsurprise。Theystillsupportedtheirpretensionsaftertheyhadlosttheirpower。Credulityperformedtheofficeoffaith;fanaticismwaspermittedtoassumethelanguageofinspiration,andtheeffectsofaccidentorcontrivancewereascribedtosupernaturalcauses。TherecentexperienceofgenuinemiraclesshouldhaveinstructedtheChristianworldinthewaysofProvidence,andhabituatedtheireyeifwemayuseaveryinadequateexpressiontothestyleofthedivineartist。ShouldthemostskilfulpainterofmodernItalypresumetodecoratehisfeebleimitationswiththenameofRaphaelorofCorreggio,theinsolentfraudwouldbesoondiscovered,andindignantlyrejected。
  [Footnote79:Dr。MiddletonsentouthisIntroductionintheyear1747,publishedhisFreeInquiryin1749,andbeforehisdeath,whichhappenedin1750,hehadpreparedavindicationofitagainsthisnumerousadversaries。]
  [Footnote80:TheuniversityofOxfordconferreddegreesonhisopponents。FromtheindignationofMosheim,p。221,wemaydiscoverthesentimentsoftheLutherandivines。
  Note:YetmanyProtestantdivineswillnowwithoutreluctanceconfinemiraclestothetimeoftheapostles,oratleasttothefirstcentury。—M]
  [Footnote81:Itmayseemsomewhatremarkable,thatBernardofClairvaux,whorecordssomanymiraclesofhisfriendSt。
  Malachi,nevertakesanynoticeofhisown,which,intheirturn,however,arecarefullyrelatedbyhiscompanionsanddisciples。
  Inthelongseriesofecclesiasticalhistory,doesthereexistasingleinstanceofasaintassertingthathehimselfpossessedthegiftofmiracles?]
  [Footnote82:TheconversionofConstantineistheaerawhichismostusuallyfixedbyProtestants。Themorerationaldivinesareunwillingtoadmitthemiraclesoftheivth,whilstthemorecredulousareunwillingtorejectthoseofthevthcentury。
  Note:Allthisappearstoproceedontheprinciplethatanydistinctlinecanbedrawninanunphilosophicagebetweenwondersandmiracles,orbetweenwhatpiety,fromtheirunexpectedandextraordinarynature,themarvellousconcurrenceofsecondarycausestosomeremarkableend,mayconsiderprovidentialinterpositions,andmiraclesstrictlysocalled,inwhichthelawsofnaturearesuspendedorviolated。Itisimpossibletoassign,ononeside,limitstohumancredulity,ontheother,totheinfluenceoftheimaginationonthebodilyframe;butsomeofthemiraclesrecordedintheGospelsaresuchpalpableimpossibilities,accordingtotheknownlawsandoperationsofnature,thatifrecordedonsufficientevidence,andtheevidencewebelievetobethatofeye—witnesses,wecannotrejectthem,withouteitherasserting,withHume,thatnoevidencecanproveamiracle,orthattheAuthorofNaturehasnopowerofsuspendingitsordinarylaws。Butwhichofthepost—apostolicmiracleswillbearthistest?—M。]
  Whateveropinionmaybeentertainedofthemiraclesoftheprimitivechurchsincethetimeoftheapostles,thisunresistingsoftnessoftemper,soconspicuousamongthebelieversofthesecondandthirdcenturies,provedofsomeaccidentalbenefittothecauseoftruthandreligion。Inmoderntimes,alatentandeveninvoluntaryscepticismadherestothemostpiousdispositions。Theiradmissionofsupernaturaltruthsismuchlessanactiveconsentthanacoldandpassiveacquiescence。
  AccustomedlongsincetoobserveandtorespectthevariableorderofNature,ourreason,oratleastourimagination,isnotsufficientlypreparedtosustainthevisibleactionoftheDeity。
  But,inthefirstagesofChristianity,thesituationofmankindwasextremelydifferent。Themostcurious,orthemostcredulous,amongthePagans,wereoftenpersuadedtoenterintoasocietywhichassertedanactualclaimofmiraculouspowers。TheprimitiveChristiansperpetuallytrodonmysticground,andtheirmindswereexercisedbythehabitsofbelievingthemostextraordinaryevents。Theyfelt,ortheyfancied,thatoneverysidetheywereincessantlyassaultedbydaemons,comfortedbyvisions,instructedbyprophecy,andsurprisinglydeliveredfromdanger,sickness,andfromdeathitself,bythesupplicationsofthechurch。Therealorimaginaryprodigies,ofwhichtheysofrequentlyconceivedthemselvestobetheobjects,theinstruments,orthespectators,veryhappilydisposedthemtoadoptwiththesameease,butwithfargreaterjustice,theauthenticwondersoftheevangelichistory;andthusmiraclesthatexceedednotthemeasureoftheirownexperience,inspiredthemwiththemostlivelyassuranceofmysterieswhichwereacknowledgedtosurpassthelimitsoftheirunderstanding。Itisthisdeepimpressionofsupernaturaltruths,whichhasbeensomuchcelebratedunderthenameoffaith;astateofminddescribedasthesurestpledgeofthedivinefavorandoffuturefelicity,andrecommendedasthefirst,orperhapstheonlymeritofaChristian。Accordingtothemorerigiddoctors,themoralvirtues,whichmaybeequallypractisedbyinfidels,aredestituteofanyvalueorefficacyintheworkofourjustification。
  ChapterXV:ProgressOfTheChristianReligion。
  PartV。
  IV。ButtheprimitiveChristiandemonstratedhisfaithbyhisvirtues;anditwasveryjustlysupposedthatthedivinepersuasion,whichenlightenedorsubduedtheunderstanding,must,atthesametime,purifytheheart,anddirecttheactions,ofthebeliever。ThefirstapologistsofChristianitywhojustifytheinnocenceoftheirbrethren,andthewritersofalaterperiodwhocelebratethesanctityoftheirancestors,display,inthemostlivelycolors,thereformationofmannerswhichwasintroducedintotheworldbythepreachingofthegospel。Asitismyintentiontoremarkonlysuchhumancausesaswerepermittedtosecondtheinfluenceofrevelation,IshallslightlymentiontwomotiveswhichmightnaturallyrenderthelivesoftheprimitiveChristiansmuchpurerandmoreausterethanthoseoftheirPagancontemporaries,ortheirdegeneratesuccessors;
  repentancefortheirpastsins,andthelaudabledesireofsupportingthereputationofthesocietyinwhichtheywereengaged。
  [Footnote*:These,intheopinionoftheeditor,arethemostuncandidparagraphsinGibbon'sHistory。Heoughteither,withmanlycourage,tohavedeniedthemoralreformationintroducedbyChristianity,orfairlytohaveinvestigatedallitsmotives;nottohaveconfinedhimselftoaninsidiousandsarcasticdescriptionofthelesspureandgenerouselementsoftheChristiancharacterasitappearedevenatthatearlytime。—M。]
  Itisaveryancientreproach,suggestedbytheignoranceorthemaliceofinfidelity,thattheChristiansalluredintotheirpartythemostatrociouscriminals,who,assoonastheyweretouchedbyasenseofremorse,wereeasilypersuadedtowashaway,inthewaterofbaptism,theguiltoftheirpastconduct,forwhichthetemplesofthegodsrefusedtograntthemanyexpiation。Butthisreproach,whenitisclearedfrommisrepresentation,contributesasmuchtothehonorasitdidtotheincreaseofthechurch。^83ThefriendsofChristianitymayacknowledgewithoutablush,thatmanyofthemosteminentsaintshadbeenbeforetheirbaptismthemostabandonedsinners。Thosepersons,whointheworldhadfollowed,thoughinanimperfectmanner,thedictatesofbenevolenceandpropriety,derivedsuchacalmsatisfactionfromtheopinionoftheirownrectitude,asrenderedthemmuchlesssusceptibleofthesuddenemotionsofshame,ofgrief,andofterror,whichhavegivenbirthtosomanywonderfulconversions。AftertheexampleoftheirdivineMaster,themissionariesofthegospeldisdainednotthesocietyofmen,andespeciallyofwomen,oppressedbytheconsciousness,andveryoftenbytheeffects,oftheirvices。Astheyemergedfromsinandsuperstitiontotheglorioushopeofimmortality,theyresolvedtodevotethemselvestoalife,notonlyofvirtue,butofpenitence。Thedesireofperfectionbecametherulingpassionoftheirsoul;anditiswellknown,thatwhilereasonembracesacoldmediocrity,ourpassionshurryus,withrapidviolence,overthespacewhichliesbetweenthemostoppositeextremes。
  [Footnote83:TheimputationsofCelsusandJulian,withthedefenceofthefathers,areveryfairlystatedbySpanheim,CommentairesurlesCesarsdeJulian,p。468。]
  Whenthenewconvertshadbeenenrolledinthenumberofthefaithful,andwereadmittedtothesacramentsofthechurch,theyfoundthemselvesrestrainedfromrelapsingintotheirpastdisordersbyanotherconsiderationofalessspiritual,butofaveryinnocentandrespectablenature。Anyparticularsocietythathasdepartedfromthegreatbodyofthenation,orthereligiontowhichitbelonged,immediatelybecomestheobjectofuniversalaswellasinvidiousobservation。Inproportiontothesmallnessofitsnumbers,thecharacterofthesocietymaybeaffectedbythevirtuesandvicesofthepersonswhocomposeit;
  andeverymemberisengagedtowatchwiththemostvigilantattentionoverhisownbehavior,andoverthatofhisbrethren,since,ashemustexpecttoincurapartofthecommondisgrace,hemayhopetoenjoyashareofthecommonreputation。WhentheChristiansofBithyniawerebroughtbeforethetribunaloftheyoungerPliny,theyassuredtheproconsul,that,farfrombeingengagedinanyunlawfulconspiracy,theywereboundbyasolemnobligationtoabstainfromthecommissionofthosecrimeswhichdisturbtheprivateorpublicpeaceofsociety,fromtheft,robbery,adultery,perjury,andfraud。^84Nearacenturyafterwards,Tertullianwithanhonestpride,couldboast,thatveryfewChristianshadsufferedbythehandoftheexecutioner,exceptonaccountoftheirreligion。^85Theirseriousandsequesteredlife,aversetothegayluxuryoftheage,inuredthemtochastity,temperance,economy,andallthesoberanddomesticvirtues。Asthegreaternumberwereofsometradeorprofession,itwasincumbentonthem,bythestrictestintegrityandthefairestdealing,toremovethesuspicionswhichtheprofanearetooapttoconceiveagainsttheappearancesofsanctity。Thecontemptoftheworldexercisedtheminthehabitsofhumility,meekness,andpatience。Themoretheywerepersecuted,themorecloselytheyadheredtoeachother。Theirmutualcharityandunsuspectingconfidencehasbeenremarkedbyinfidels,andwastoooftenabusedbyperfidiousfriends。^86
  [Footnote84:Plin。Epist。x。97。