Theprospectofimmediatereliefandoffutureprotectionalluredintoitshospitablebosommanyofthoseunhappypersonswhomtheneglectoftheworldwouldhaveabandonedtothemiseriesofwant，ofsickness，andofoldage。Thereissomereasonlikewisetobelievethatgreatnumbersofinfants，who，accordingtotheinhumanpracticeofthetimes，hadbeenexposedbytheirparents，werefrequentlyrescuedfromdeath，baptized，educated，andmaintainedbythepietyoftheChristians，andattheexpenseofthepublictreasure。^144
　　[Footnote139:Constitut。Apostol。ii。35。]
　　[Footnote140:CypriandeLapsis，p。89。Epistol。65。Thechargeisconfirmedbythe19thand20thcanonofthecouncilofIlliberis。]
　　[Footnote141:SeetheapologiesofJustin，Tertullian，&c。]
　　[Footnote142:ThewealthandliberalityoftheRomanstotheirmostdistantbrethrenisgratefullycelebratedbyDionysiusofCorinth，ap。Euseb。l。iv。c。23。]
　　[Footnote143:SeeLucianiuPeregrin。JulianEpist。49seemsmortifiedthattheChristiancharitymaintainsnotonlytheirown，butlikewisetheheathenpoor。]
　　[Footnote144:Such，atleast，hasbeenthelaudableconductofmoremodernmissionaries，underthesamecircumstances。Abovethreethousandnew—borninfantsareannuallyexposedinthestreetsofPekin。SeeLeComte，MemoiressurlaChine，andtheRecherchessurlesChinoisetlesEgyptians，tom。i。p。61。]
　　II。Itistheundoubtedrightofeverysocietytoexcludefromitscommunionandbenefitssuchamongitsmembersasrejectorviolatethoseregulationswhichhavebeenestablishedbygeneralconsent。Intheexerciseofthispower，thecensuresoftheChristianchurchwerechieflydirectedagainstscandaloussinners，andparticularlythosewhowereguiltyofmurder，offraud，orofincontinence；againsttheauthorsorthefollowersofanyhereticalopinionswhichhadbeencondemnedbythejudgmentoftheepiscopalorder；andagainstthoseunhappypersons，who，whetherfromchoiceorcompulsion，hadpollutedthemselvesaftertheirbaptismbyanyactofidolatrousworship。
　　Theconsequencesofexcommunicationwereofatemporalaswellasaspiritualnature。TheChristianagainstwhomitwaspronounced，wasdeprivedofanypartintheoblationsofthefaithful。Thetiesbothofreligiousandofprivatefriendshipweredissolved:hefoundhimselfaprofaneobjectofabhorrencetothepersonswhomhethemostesteemed，orbywhomhehadbeenthemosttenderlybeloved；andasfarasanexpulsionfromarespectablesocietycouldimprintonhischaracteramarkofdisgrace，hewasshunnedorsuspectedbythegeneralityofmankind。Thesituationoftheseunfortunateexileswasinitselfverypainfulandmelancholy；but，asitusuallyhappens，theirapprehensionsfarexceededtheirsufferings。ThebenefitsoftheChristiancommunionwerethoseofeternallife；norcouldtheyerasefromtheirmindstheawfulopinion，thattothoseecclesiasticalgovernorsbywhomtheywerecondemned，theDeityhadcommittedthekeysofHellandofParadise。Theheretics，indeed，whomightbesupportedbytheconsciousnessoftheirintentions，andbytheflatteringhopethattheyalonehaddiscoveredthetruepathofsalvation，endeavoredtoregain，intheirseparateassemblies，thosecomforts，temporalaswellasspiritual，whichtheynolongerderivedfromthegreatsocietyofChristians。Butalmostallthosewhohadreluctantlyyieldedtothepowerofviceoridolatryweresensibleoftheirfallencondition，andanxiouslydesirousofbeingrestoredtothebenefitsoftheChristiancommunion。
　　Withregardtothetreatmentofthesepenitents，twooppositeopinions，theoneofjustice，theotherofmercy，dividedtheprimitivechurch。Themorerigidandinflexiblecasuistsrefusedthemforever，andwithoutexception，themeanestplaceintheholycommunity，whichtheyhaddisgracedordeserted；andleavingthemtotheremorseofaguiltyconscience，indulgedthemonlywithafaintrayofhopethatthecontritionoftheirlifeanddeathmightpossiblybeacceptedbytheSupremeBeing。^145Amildersentimentwasembracedinpracticeaswellasintheory，bythepurestandmostrespectableoftheChristianchurches。^146Thegatesofreconciliationandofheavenwereseldomshutagainstthereturningpenitent；butasevereandsolemnformofdisciplinewasinstituted，which，whileitservedtoexpiatehiscrime，mightpowerfullydeterthespectatorsfromtheimitationofhisexample。Humbledbyapublicconfession，emaciatedbyfastingandclothedinsackcloth，thepenitentlayprostrateatthedooroftheassembly，imploringwithtearsthepardonofhisoffences，andsolicitingtheprayersofthefaithful。^147Ifthefaultwasofaveryheinousnature，wholeyearsofpenancewereesteemedaninadequatesatisfactiontothedivinejustice；anditwasalwaysbyslowandpainfulgradationsthatthesinner，theheretic，ortheapostate，wasreadmittedintothebosomofthechurch。Asentenceofperpetualexcommunicationwas，however，reservedforsomecrimesofanextraordinarymagnitude，andparticularlyfortheinexcusablerelapsesofthosepenitentswhohadalreadyexperiencedandabusedtheclemencyoftheirecclesiasticalsuperiors。Accordingtothecircumstancesorthenumberoftheguilty，theexerciseoftheChristiandisciplinewasvariedbythediscretionofthebishops。ThecouncilsofAncyraandIlliberiswereheldaboutthesametime，theoneinGalatia，theotherinSpain；buttheirrespectivecanons，whicharestillextant，seemtobreatheaverydifferentspirit。TheGalatian，whoafterhisbaptismhadrepeatedlysacrificedtoidols，mightobtainhispardonbyapenanceofsevenyears；andifhehadseducedotherstoimitatehisexample，onlythreeyearsmorewereaddedtothetermofhisexile。ButtheunhappySpaniard，whohadcommittedthesameoffence，wasdeprivedofthehopeofreconciliation，eveninthearticleofdeath；andhisidolatrywasplacedattheheadofalistofseventeenothercrimes，againstwhichasentencenolessterriblewaspronounced。Amongthesewemaydistinguishtheinexpiableguiltofcalumniatingabishop，apresbyter，orevenadeacon。^148
　　[Footnote145:TheMontanistsandtheNovatians，whoadheredtothisopinionwiththegreatestrigorandobstinacy，foundthemselvesatlastinthenumberofexcommunicatedheretics。SeethelearnedandcopiousMosheim，Secul。ii。andiii。]
　　[Footnote146:Dionysiusap。Euseb。iv。23。Cyprian，deLapsis。]
　　[Footnote147:Cave'sPrimitiveChristianity，partiii。c。5。
　　Theadmirersofantiquityregretthelossofthispublicpenance。]
　　[Footnote148:SeeinDupin，BibliothequeEcclesiastique，tom。
　　ii。p。304—313，ashortbutrationalexpositionofthecanonsofthosecouncils，whichwereassembledinthefirstmomentsoftranquillity，afterthepersecutionofDiocletian。ThispersecutionhadbeenmuchlessseverelyfeltinSpainthaninGalatia；adifferencewhichmay，insomemeasureaccountforthecontrastoftheirregulations。]
　　Thewell—temperedmixtureofliberalityandrigor，thejudiciousdispensationofrewardsandpunishments，accordingtothemaximsofpolicyaswellasjustice，constitutedthehumanstrengthofthechurch。TheBishops，whosepaternalcareextendeditselftothegovernmentofbothworlds，weresensibleoftheimportanceoftheseprerogatives；andcoveringtheirambitionwiththefairpretenceoftheloveoforder，theywerejealousofanyrivalintheexerciseofadisciplinesonecessarytopreventthedesertionofthosetroopswhichhadenlistedthemselvesunderthebannerofthecross，andwhosenumberseverydaybecamemoreconsiderable。FromtheimperiousdeclamationsofCyprian，weshouldnaturallyconcludethatthedoctrinesofexcommunicationandpenanceformedthemostessentialpartofreligion；andthatitwasmuchlessdangerousforthedisciplesofChristtoneglecttheobservanceofthemoralduties，thantodespisethecensuresandauthorityoftheirbishops。SometimeswemightimaginethatwewerelisteningtothevoiceofMoses，whenhecommandedtheearthtoopen，andtoswallowup，inconsumingflames，therebelliousracewhichrefusedobediencetothepriesthoodofAaron；andweshouldsometimessupposethatwehearaRomanconsulassertingthemajestyoftherepublic，anddeclaringhisinflexibleresolutiontoenforcetherigorofthelaws。"Ifsuchirregularitiesaresufferedwithimpunity，"itisthusthatthebishopofCarthagechidesthelenityofhiscolleague，"ifsuchirregularitiesaresuffered，thereisanendofEpiscopalVigor；^149anendofthesublimeanddivinepowerofgoverningtheChurch，anendofChristianityitself。"Cyprianhadrenouncedthosetemporalhonors，whichitisprobablehewouldneverhaveobtained；buttheacquisitionofsuchabsolutecommandovertheconsciencesandunderstandingofacongregation，howeverobscureordespisedbytheworld，ismoretrulygratefultotheprideofthehumanheart，thanthepossessionofthemostdespoticpower，imposedbyarmsandconquestonareluctantpeople。
　　[Footnote*:GibbonhasbeenaccusedofinjusticetothecharacterofCyprian，asexaltingthe"censuresandauthorityofthechurchabovetheobservanceofthemoralduties。"
　　Felicissimushadbeencondemnedbyasynodofbishops，nontantummea，sedplurimorumcoepiscorum，sententiacondemnatum，
　　onthechargenotonlyofschism，butofembezzlementofpublicmoney，thedebauchingofvirgins，andfrequentactsofadultery。
　　Hisviolentmenaceshadextortedhisreadmissionintothechurch，againstwhichCyprianprotestswithmuchvehemence:nepecuniaecommissaesibifraudator，nestupratorvirginum，nematrimoniorummultorumdepopulatoretcorruptor，ultraadhucsponsamChristiincorruptampraesentiaesuaededecore，etimpudicaatqueincestacontagione，violaret。SeeChelsum'sRemarks，p。134。IfthesechargesagainstFelicissimusweretrue，theyweresomethingmorethan"irregularities，"ARomancensorwouldhavebeenafairersubjectofcomparisonthanaconsul。Ontheotherhand，itmustbeadmittedthatthechargeofadulterydeepensveryrapidlyasthecontroversybecomesmoreviolent。Itisfirstrepresentedasasingleact，recentlydetected，andwhichmenofcharacterwerepreparedtosubstantiate:adulteriietiamcrimenaccedit。quodpatresnostrigravesvirideprehendissesenuntiaverunt，etprobaturosseasseverarunt。Epist。xxxviii。Theheretichasnowdarkenedintoamanofnotoriousandgeneralprofligacy。Norcanitbedeniedthatofthewholelongepistle，veryfarthelargerandthemorepassionatepartdwellsonthebreachofecclesiasticalunityratherthanontheviolationofChristianholiness。—M。]
　　[Footnote149:CyprianEpist。69。]
　　[Footnote*:Thissuppositionappearsunfounded:thebirthandthetalentsofCyprianmightmakeuspresumethecontrary。
　　ThasciusCaeciliusCyprianus，Carthaginensis，artisoratoriaeprofessioneclarus，magnamsibigloriam，opes，honoresacquisivit，epularibuscaenisetlargisdapibusassuetus，pretiosavesteconspicuus，auroatquepurpurafulgens，fascibusoblectatusethonoribus，stipatusclientiumcuneis，frequentiorecomitatuofficiiagminishonestatus，utipsedeseloquiturinEpistolaadDonatum。SeeDeCave，Hist。Liter。b。i。p。87。—G。
　　CavehasratherembellishedCyprian'slanguage。—M。]
　　Inthecourseofthisimportant，thoughperhapstediousinquiry，IhaveattemptedtodisplaythesecondarycauseswhichsoefficaciouslyassistedthetruthoftheChristianreligion。
　　Ifamongthesecauseswehavediscoveredanyartificialornaments，anyaccidentalcircumstances，oranymixtureoferrorandpassion，itcannotappearsurprisingthatmankindshouldbethemostsensiblyaffectedbysuchmotivesasweresuitedtotheirimperfectnature。Itwasbytheaidofthesecauses，exclusivezeal，theimmediateexpectationofanotherworld，theclaimofmiracles，thepracticeofrigidvirtue，andtheconstitutionoftheprimitivechurch，thatChristianityspreaditselfwithsomuchsuccessintheRomanempire。TothefirstofthesetheChristianswereindebtedfortheirinvinciblevalor，whichdisdainedtocapitulatewiththeenemywhomtheywereresolvedtovanquish。Thethreesucceedingcausessuppliedtheirvalorwiththemostformidablearms。Thelastofthesecausesunitedtheircourage，directedtheirarms，andgavetheireffortsthatirresistibleweight，whichevenasmallbandofwell—trainedandintrepidvolunteershassooftenpossessedoveranundisciplinedmultitude，ignorantofthesubject，andcarelessoftheeventofthewar。InthevariousreligionsofPolytheism，somewanderingfanaticsofEgyptandSyria，whoaddressedthemselvestothecreduloussuperstitionofthepopulace，wereperhapstheonlyorderofpriests^150thatderivedtheirwholesupportandcreditfromtheirsacerdotalprofession，andwereverydeeplyaffectedbyapersonalconcernforthesafetyorprosperityoftheirtutelardeities。TheministersofPolytheism，bothinRomeandintheprovinces，were，forthemostpart，menofanoblebirth，andofanaffluentfortune，whoreceived，asanhonorabledistinction，thecareofacelebratedtemple，orofapublicsacrifice，exhibited，veryfrequentlyattheirownexpense，thesacredgames，^151andwithcoldindifferenceperformedtheancientrites，accordingtothelawsandfashionoftheircountry。Astheywereengagedintheordinaryoccupationsoflife，theirzealanddevotionwereseldomanimatedbyasenseofinterest，orbythehabitsofanecclesiasticalcharacter。Confinedtotheirrespectivetemplesandcities，theyremainedwithoutanyconnectionofdisciplineorgovernment；andwhilsttheyacknowledgedthesupremejurisdictionofthesenate，ofthecollegeofpontiffs，andoftheemperor，thosecivilmagistratescontentedthemselveswiththeeasytaskofmaintaininginpeaceanddignitythegeneralworshipofmankind。Wehavealreadyseenhowvarious，howloose，andhowuncertainwerethereligioussentimentsofPolytheists。Theywereabandoned，almostwithoutcontrol，tothenaturalworkingsofasuperstitiousfancy。Theaccidentalcircumstancesoftheirlifeandsituationdeterminedtheobjectaswellasthedegreeoftheirdevotion；andaslongastheiradorationwassuccessivelyprostitutedtoathousanddeities，itwasscarcelypossiblethattheirheartscouldbesusceptibleofaverysincereorlivelypassionforanyofthem。
　　[Footnote150:Thearts，themanners，andthevicesofthepriestsoftheSyriangoddessareveryhumorouslydescribedbyApuleius，intheeighthbookofhisMetamorphosis。]
　　[Footnote151:TheofficeofAsiarchwasofthisnature，anditisfrequentlymentionedinAristides，theInscriptions，&c。Itwasannualandelective。Nonebutthevainestcitizenscoulddesirethehonor；nonebutthemostwealthycouldsupporttheexpense。See，inthePatresApostol。tom。ii。p。200，withhowmuchindifferencePhiliptheAsiarchconductedhimselfinthemartyrdomofPolycarp。TherewerelikewiseBithyniarchs，Lyciarchs，&c。]
　　WhenChristianityappearedintheworld，eventhesefaintandimperfectimpressionshadlostmuchoftheiroriginalpower。
　　Humanreason，whichbyitsunassistedstrengthisincapableofperceivingthemysteriesoffaith，hadalreadyobtainedaneasytriumphoverthefollyofPaganism；andwhenTertullianorLactantiusemploytheirlaborsinexposingitsfalsehoodandextravagance，theyareobligedtotranscribetheeloquenceofCiceroorthewitofLucian。Thecontagionofthesescepticalwritingshadbeendiffusedfarbeyondthenumberoftheirreaders。Thefashionofincredulitywascommunicatedfromthephilosophertothemanofpleasureorbusiness，fromthenobletotheplebeian，andfromthemastertothemenialslavewhowaitedathistable，andwhoeagerlylistenedtothefreedomofhisconversation。Onpublicoccasionsthephilosophicpartofmankindaffectedtotreatwithrespectanddecencythereligiousinstitutionsoftheircountry；buttheirsecretcontemptpenetratedthroughthethinandawkwarddisguise；andeventhepeople，whentheydiscoveredthattheirdeitieswererejectedandderidedbythosewhoserankorunderstandingtheywereaccustomedtoreverence，werefilledwithdoubtsandapprehensionsconcerningthetruthofthosedoctrines，towhichtheyhadyieldedthemostimplicitbelief。Thedeclineofancientprejudiceexposedaverynumerousportionofhumankindtothedangerofapainfulandcomfortlesssituation。Astateofscepticismandsuspensemayamuseafewinquisitiveminds。Butthepracticeofsuperstitionissocongenialtothemultitude，thatiftheyareforciblyawakened，theystillregretthelossoftheirpleasingvision。Theirloveofthemarvellousandsupernatural，theircuriositywithregardtofutureevents，andtheirstrongpropensitytoextendtheirhopesandfearsbeyondthelimitsofthevisibleworld，weretheprincipalcauseswhichfavoredtheestablishmentofPolytheism。Sourgentonthevulgaristhenecessityofbelieving，thatthefallofanysystemofmythologywillmostprobablybesucceededbytheintroductionofsomeothermodeofsuperstition。SomedeitiesofamorerecentandfashionablecastmightsoonhaveoccupiedthedesertedtemplesofJupiterandApollo，if，inthedecisivemoment，thewisdomofProvidencehadnotinterposedagenuinerevelation，fittedtoinspirethemostrationalesteemandconviction，whilst，atthesametime，itwasadornedwithallthatcouldattractthecuriosity，thewonder，andthevenerationofthepeople。Intheiractualdisposition，asmanywerealmostdisengagedfromtheirartificialprejudices，butequallysusceptibleanddesirousofadevoutattachment；anobjectmuchlessdeservingwouldhavebeensufficienttofillthevacantplaceintheirhearts，andtogratifytheuncertaineagernessoftheirpassions。Thosewhoareinclinedtopursuethisreflection，insteadofviewingwithastonishmenttherapidprogressofChristianity，willperhapsbesurprisedthatitssuccesswasnotstillmorerapidandstillmoreuniversal。
　　Ithasbeenobserved，withtruthaswellaspropriety，thattheconquestsofRomepreparedandfacilitatedthoseofChristianity。InthesecondchapterofthisworkwehaveattemptedtoexplaininwhatmannerthemostcivilizedprovincesofEurope，Asia，andAfricawereunitedunderthedominionofonesovereign，andgraduallyconnectedbythemostintimatetiesoflaws，ofmanners，andoflanguage。TheJewsofPalestine，whohadfondlyexpectedatemporaldeliverer，gavesocoldareceptiontothemiraclesofthedivineprophet，thatitwasfoundunnecessarytopublish，oratleasttopreserve，anyHebrewgospel。^152TheauthentichistoriesoftheactionsofChristwerecomposedintheGreeklanguage，ataconsiderabledistancefromJerusalem，andaftertheGentileconvertsweregrownextremelynumerous。^153AssoonasthosehistoriesweretranslatedintotheLatintongue，theywereperfectlyintelligibletoallthesubjectsofRome，exceptingonlytothepeasantsofSyriaandEgypt，forwhosebenefitparticularversionswereafterwardsmade。Thepublichighways，whichhadbeenconstructedfortheuseofthelegions，openedaneasypassagefortheChristianmissionariesfromDamascustoCorinth，andfromItalytotheextremityofSpainorBritain；nordidthosespiritualconquerorsencounteranyoftheobstacleswhichusuallyretardorpreventtheintroductionofaforeignreligionintoadistantcountry。Thereisthestrongestreasontobelieve，thatbeforethereignsofDiocletianandConstantine，thefaithofChristhadbeenpreachedineveryprovince，andinallthegreatcitiesoftheempire；butthefoundationoftheseveralcongregations，thenumbersofthefaithfulwhocomposedthem，andtheirproportiontotheunbelievingmultitude，arenowburiedinobscurity，ordisguisedbyfictionanddeclamation。