[Footnote126:PaulwasbetterpleasedwiththetitleofDucenarius，thanwiththatofbishop。TheDucenariuswasanImperialprocurator，socalledfromhissalaryoftwohundredSestertia，or1600l。ayear。SeeSalmatiusadHist。August。p。
　　124。SomecriticssupposethatthebishopofAntiochhadactuallyobtainedsuchanofficefromZenobia，whileothersconsideritonlyasafigurativeexpressionofhispompandinsolence。]
　　[Footnote127:Simonywasnotunknowninthosetimes；andtheclergysometimesboughtwhattheyintendedtosell。ItappearsthatthebishopricofCarthagewaspurchasedbyawealthymatron，namedLucilla，forherservantMajorinus。Thepricewas400
　　Folles。Monument。Antiq。adcalcemOptati，p。263。EveryFolliscontained125piecesofsilver，andthewholesummaybecomputedatabout2400l。]
　　[Footnote128:IfwearedesirousofextenuatingthevicesofPaul，wemustsuspecttheassembledbishopsoftheEastofpublishingthemostmaliciouscalumniesincircularepistlesaddressedtoallthechurchesoftheempire，ap。Euseb。l。vii。
　　c。30。]
　　Notwithstandingthesescandalousvices，ifPaulofSamosatahadpreservedthepurityoftheorthodoxfaith，hisreignoverthecapitalofSyriawouldhaveendedonlywithhislife；andhadaseasonablepersecutionintervened，aneffortofcouragemightperhapshaveplacedhimintherankofsaintsandmartyrs。
　　Someniceandsubtleerrors，whichheimprudentlyadoptedandobstinatelymaintained，concerningthedoctrineoftheTrinity，excitedthezealandindignationoftheEasternchurches。^129
　　FromEgypttotheEuxineSea，thebishopswereinarmsandinmotion。Severalcouncilswereheld，confutationswerepublished，excommunicationswerepronounced，ambiguousexplanationswerebyturnsacceptedandrefused，treatieswereconcludedandviolated，andatlengthPaulofSamosatawasdegradedfromhisepiscopalcharacter，bythesentenceofseventyoreightybishops，whoassembledforthatpurposeatAntioch，andwho，withoutconsultingtherightsoftheclergyorpeople，appointedasuccessorbytheirownauthority。Themanifestirregularityofthisproceedingincreasedthenumbersofthediscontentedfaction；andasPaul，whowasnostrangertotheartsofcourts，hadinsinuatedhimselfintothefavorofZenobia，hemaintainedabovefouryearsthepossessionoftheepiscopalhouseandoffice。ThevictoryofAurelianchangedthefaceoftheEast，andthetwocontendingparties，whoappliedtoeachothertheepithetsofschismandheresy，wereeithercommandedorpermittedtopleadtheircausebeforethetribunaloftheconqueror。Thispublicandverysingulartrialaffordsaconvincingproofthattheexistence，theproperty，theprivileges，andtheinternalpolicyoftheChristians，wereacknowledged，ifnotbythelaws，atleastbythemagistrates，oftheempire。AsaPaganandasasoldier，itcouldscarcelybeexpectedthatAurelianshouldenterintothediscussion，whetherthesentimentsofPaulorthoseofhisadversariesweremostagreeabletothetruestandardoftheorthodoxfaith。Hisdetermination，however，wasfoundedonthegeneralprinciplesofequityandreason。HeconsideredthebishopsofItalyasthemostimpartialandrespectablejudgesamongtheChristians，andassoonashewasinformedthattheyhadunanimouslyapprovedthesentenceofthecouncil，heacquiescedintheiropinion，andimmediatelygaveordersthatPaulshouldbecompelledtorelinquishthetemporalpossessionsbelongingtoanoffice，ofwhich，inthejudgmentofhisbrethren，hehadbeenregularlydeprived。Butwhileweapplaudthejustice，weshouldnotoverlookthepolicy，ofAurelian，whowasdesirousofrestoringandcementingthedependenceoftheprovincesonthecapital，byeverymeanswhichcouldbindtheinterestorprejudicesofanypartofhissubjects。^130
　　[Footnote*:Itappears，nevertheless，thatthevicesandimmoralitiesofPaulofSamosatahadmuchweightinthesentencepronouncedagainsthimbythebishops。Theobjectoftheletter，addressedbythesynodtothebishopsofRomeandAlexandria，wastoinformthemofthechangeinthefaithofPaul，thealtercationsanddiscussionstowhichithadgivenrise，aswellasofhismoralsandthewholeofhisconduct。Euseb。Hist。
　　Eccl。l。viic。xxx—G。]
　　[Footnote129:HisheresylikethoseofNoetusandSabellius，inthesamecenturytendedtoconfoundthemysteriousdistinctionofthedivinepersons。SeeMosheim，p。702，&c。]
　　[Footnote*:"Herfavorite，Zenobia's，PaulofSamosata，seemstohaveentertainedsomeviewsofattemptingaunionbetweenJudaismandChristianity；bothpartiesrejectedtheunnaturalalliance。"Hist。ofJews，iii。175，andJost。GeschichtederIsraeliter，iv。167。TheprotectionofthesevereZenobiaistheonlycircumstancewhichmayraiseadoubtofthenotoriousimmoralityofPaul。—M。]
　　[Footnote130:Euseb。Hist。Ecclesiast。l。vii。c。30。WeareentirelyindebtedtohimforthecuriousstoryofPaulofSamosata。]
　　Amidstthefrequentrevolutionsoftheempire，theChristiansstillflourishedinpeaceandprosperity；andnotwithstandingacelebratedaeraofmartyrshasbeendeducedfromtheaccessionofDiocletian，^131thenewsystemofpolicy，introducedandmaintainedbythewisdomofthatprince，continued，duringmorethaneighteenyears，tobreathethemildestandmostliberalspiritofreligioustoleration。ThemindofDiocletianhimselfwaslessadaptedindeedtospeculativeinquiries，thantotheactivelaborsofwarandgovernment。Hisprudencerenderedhimaversetoanygreatinnovation，andthoughhistemperwasnotverysusceptibleofzealorenthusiasm，healwaysmaintainedanhabitualregardfortheancientdeitiesoftheempire。Buttheleisureofthetwoempresses，ofhiswifePrisca，andofValeria，hisdaughter，permittedthemtolistenwithmoreattentionandrespecttothetruthsofChristianity，whichineveryagehasacknowledgeditsimportantobligationstofemaledevotion。^132Theprincipaleunuchs，Lucian^133andDorotheus，GorgoniusandAndrew，whoattendedtheperson，possessedthefavor，andgovernedthehouseholdofDiocletian，protectedbytheirpowerfulinfluencethefaithwhichtheyhadembraced。Theirexamplewasimitatedbymanyofthemostconsiderableofficersofthepalace，who，intheirrespectivestations，hadthecareoftheImperialornaments，oftherobes，ofthefurniture，ofthejewels，andevenoftheprivatetreasury；and，thoughitmightsometimesbeincumbentonthemtoaccompanytheemperorwhenhesacrificedinthetemple，^134theyenjoyed，withtheirwives，theirchildren，andtheirslaves，thefreeexerciseoftheChristianreligion。Diocletianandhiscolleaguesfrequentlyconferredthemostimportantofficesonthosepersonswhoavowedtheirabhorrencefortheworshipofthegods，butwhohaddisplayedabilitiesproperfortheserviceofthestate。Thebishopsheldanhonorablerankintheirrespectiveprovinces，andweretreatedwithdistinctionandrespect，notonlybythepeople，butbythemagistratesthemselves。Almostineverycity，theancientchurcheswerefoundinsufficienttocontaintheincreasingmultitudeofproselytes；andintheirplacemorestatelyandcapaciousedificeswereerectedforthepublicworshipofthefaithful。
　　Thecorruptionofmannersandprinciples，soforciblylamentedbyEusebius，^135maybeconsidered，notonlyasaconsequence，butasaproof，ofthelibertywhichtheChristiansenjoyedandabusedunderthereignofDiocletian。Prosperityhadrelaxedthenervesofdiscipline。Fraud，envy，andmaliceprevailedineverycongregation。Thepresbytersaspiredtotheepiscopaloffice，whicheverydaybecameanobjectmoreworthyoftheirambition。
　　Thebishops，whocontendedwitheachotherforecclesiasticalpreeminence，appearedbytheirconducttoclaimasecularandtyrannicalpowerinthechurch；andthelivelyfaithwhichstilldistinguishedtheChristiansfromtheGentiles，wasshownmuchlessintheirlives，thanintheircontroversialwritings。
　　[Footnote131:TheAeraofMartyrs，whichisstillinuseamongtheCoptsandtheAbyssinians，mustbereckonedfromthe29thofAugust，A。D。284；asthebeginningoftheEgyptianyearwasnineteendaysearlierthantherealaccessionofDiocletian。SeeDissertationPreliminaireal'ArtdeverifierlesDates。
　　Note:OntheaeraofmartyrsseetheverycuriousdissertationsofMonsLetronneonsomerecentlydiscoveredinscriptionsinEgyptandNubis，p。102，&c。—M。]
　　[Footnote132:TheexpressionofLactantius，deM。P。c。15，
　　"sacrificiopolluicoegit，"impliestheirantecedentconversiontothefaith，butdoesnotseemtojustifytheassertionofMosheim，p。912，thattheyhadbeenprivatelybaptized。]
　　[Footnote133:M。deTillemontMemoiresEcclesiastiques，tom。v。
　　parti。p。11，12hasquotedfromtheSpicilegiumofDomLucd'ArcheriaverycuriousinstructionwhichBishopTheonascomposedfortheuseofLucian。]
　　[Footnote134:Lactantius，deM。P。c。10。]
　　[Footnote135:Eusebius，Hist。Ecclesiast。l。viii。c。1。Thereaderwhoconsultstheoriginalwillnotaccusemeofheighteningthepicture。EusebiuswasaboutsixteenyearsofageattheaccessionoftheemperorDiocletian。]
　　Notwithstandingthisseemingsecurity，anattentiveobservermightdiscernsomesymptomsthatthreatenedthechurchwithamoreviolentpersecutionthananywhichshehadyetendured。ThezealandrapidprogressoftheChristiansawakenedthePolytheistsfromtheirsupineindifferenceinthecauseofthosedeities，whomcustomandeducationhadtaughtthemtorevere。
　　Themutualprovocationsofareligiouswar，whichhadalreadycontinuedabovetwohundredyears，exasperatedtheanimosityofthecontendingparties。ThePaganswereincensedattherashnessofarecentandobscuresect，whichpresumedtoaccusetheircountrymenoferror，andtodevotetheirancestorstoeternalmisery。Thehabitsofjustifyingthepopularmythologyagainsttheinvectivesofanimplacableenemy，producedintheirmindssomesentimentsoffaithandreverenceforasystemwhichtheyhadbeenaccustomedtoconsiderwiththemostcarelesslevity。
　　Thesupernaturalpowersassumedbythechurchinspiredatthesametimeterrorandemulation。Thefollowersoftheestablishedreligionintrenchedthemselvesbehindasimilarfortificationofprodigies；inventednewmodesofsacrifice，ofexpiation，andofinitiation；^136attemptedtorevivethecreditoftheirexpiringoracles；^137andlistenedwitheagercredulitytoeveryimpostor，whoflatteredtheirprejudicesbyataleofwonders。
　　^138Bothpartiesseemedtoacknowledgethetruthofthosemiracleswhichwereclaimedbytheiradversaries；andwhiletheywerecontentedwithascribingthemtotheartsofmagic，andtothepowerofdaemons，theymutuallyconcurredinrestoringandestablishingthereignofsuperstition。^139Philosophy，hermostdangerousenemy，wasnowconvertedintohermostusefulally。
　　Thegrovesoftheacademy，thegardensofEpicurus，andeventheporticooftheStoics，werealmostdeserted，assomanydifferentschoolsofscepticismorimpiety；^140andmanyamongtheRomansweredesirousthatthewritingsofCiceroshouldbecondemnedandsuppressedbytheauthorityofthesenate。^141TheprevailingsectofthenewPlatoniciansjudgeditprudenttoconnectthemselveswiththepriests，whomperhapstheydespised，againsttheChristians，whomtheyhadreasontofear。ThesefashionablePhilosophersprosecutedthedesignofextractingallegoricalwisdomfromthefictionsoftheGreekpoets；institutedmysteriousritesofdevotionfortheuseoftheirchosendisciples；recommendedtheworshipoftheancientgodsastheemblemsorministersoftheSupremeDeity，andcomposedagainstthefaithofthegospelmanyelaboratetreatises，^142whichhavesincebeencommittedtotheflamesbytheprudenceoforthodoxemperors。^143
　　[Footnote136:Wemightquote，amongagreatnumberofinstances，themysteriousworshipofMythras，andtheTaurobolia；thelatterofwhichbecamefashionableinthetimeoftheAntonines，seeaDissertationofM。deBoze，intheMemoiresdel'AcademiedesInscriptions，tom。ii。p。443。TheromanceofApuleiusisasfullofdevotionasofsatire。
　　Note:OntheextraordinaryprogressoftheMahriacrites，intheWest，seeDeGuigniaud'stranslationofCreuzer，vol。i。p。
　　365，andNote9，tom。i。part2，p。738，&c。—M。]
　　[Footnote137:TheimpostorAlexanderverystronglyrecommendedtheoracleofTrophoniusatMallos，andthoseofApolloatClarosandMiletus，Lucian，tom。ii。p。236，edit。Reitz。Thelastofthese，whosesingularhistorywouldfurnishaverycuriousepisode，wasconsultedbyDiocletianbeforehepublishedhisedictsofpersecution，Lactantius，deM。P。c。11。]
　　[Footnote138:BesidestheancientstoriesofPythagorasandAristeas，thecuresperformedattheshrineofAesculapius，andthefablesrelatedofApolloniusofTyana，werefrequentlyopposedtothemiraclesofChrist；thoughIagreewithDr。
　　Lardner，seeTestimonies，vol。iii。p。253，352，thatwhenPhilostratuscomposedthelifeofApollonius，hehadnosuchintention。]
　　[Footnote139:Itisseriouslytobelamented，thattheChristianfathers，byacknowledgingthesupernatural，or，astheydeemit，theinfernalpartofPaganism，destroywiththeirownhandsthegreatadvantagewhichwemightotherwisederivefromtheliberalconcessionsofouradversaries。]
　　[Footnote140:Julianp。301，edit。Spanheimexpressesapiousjoy，thattheprovidenceofthegodshadextinguishedtheimpioussects，andforthemostpartdestroyedthebooksofthePyrrhoniansandEpicuraeans，whichhadbeenverynumerous，sinceEpicurushimselfcomposednolessthan300volumes。SeeDiogenesLaertius，l。x。c。26。]
　　[Footnote141:Cumquealiosaudiammussitareindignanter，etdicereopporterestatuiperSenatum，aboleanturuthaecscripta，quibusChristianaReligiocomprobetur，etvetustatisopprimaturauctoritas。ArnobiusadversusGentes，l。iii。p。103，104。Headdsveryproperly，ErrorisconvinciteCiceronem……naminterciperescripta，etpublicatamvellesubmergerelectionem，nonestDeumdefenderesedveritatistestificationemtimere。]
　　[Footnote142:LactantiusDivin。Institut。l。v。c。2，3givesaveryclearandspiritedaccountoftwoofthesephilosophicadversariesofthefaith。ThelargetreatiseofPorphyryagainsttheChristiansconsistedofthirtybooks，andwascomposedinSicilyabouttheyear270。]
　　[Footnote143:SeeSocrates，Hist。Ecclesiast。l。i。c。9，andCodexJustinian。l。i。i。l。s。]
　　ChapterXVI:ConductTowardsTheChristians，FromNeroToConstantine。
　　PartVI。
　　AlthoughthepolicyofDiocletianandthehumanityofConstantiusinclinedthemtopreserveinviolatethemaximsoftoleration，itwassoondiscoveredthattheirtwoassociates，MaximianandGalerius，entertainedthemostimplacableaversionforthenameandreligionoftheChristians。Themindsofthoseprinceshadneverbeenenlightenedbyscience；educationhadneversoftenedtheirtemper。Theyowedtheirgreatnesstotheirswords，andintheirmostelevatedfortunetheystillretainedtheirsuperstitiousprejudicesofsoldiersandpeasants。Inthegeneraladministrationoftheprovincestheyobeyedthelawswhichtheirbenefactorhadestablished；buttheyfrequentlyfoundoccasionsofexercisingwithintheircampandpalacesasecretpersecution，^144forwhichtheimprudentzealoftheChristianssometimesofferedthemostspeciouspretences。AsentenceofdeathwasexecuteduponMaximilianus，anAfricanyouth，whohadbeenproducedbyhisownfatherbeforethemagistrateasasufficientandlegalrecruit，butwhoobstinatelypersistedindeclaring，thathisconsciencewouldnotpermithimtoembracetheprofessionofasoldier。^145ItcouldscarcelybeexpectedthatanygovernmentshouldsuffertheactionofMarcellustheCenturiontopasswithimpunity。Onthedayofapublicfestival，thatofficerthrewawayhisbelt，hisarms，andtheensignsofhisoffice，andexclaimedwithaloudvoice，thathewouldobeynonebutJesusChristtheeternalKing，andthatherenouncedforevertheuseofcarnalweapons，andtheserviceofanidolatrousmaster。Thesoldiers，assoonastheyrecoveredfromtheirastonishment，securedthepersonofMarcellus。HewasexaminedinthecityofTingibythepresidentofthatpartofMauritania；andashewasconvictedbyhisownconfession，hewascondemnedandbeheadedforthecrimeofdesertion。^146Examplesofsuchanaturesavormuchlessofreligiouspersecutionthanofmartialorevencivillaw；buttheyservedtoalienatethemindoftheemperors，tojustifytheseverityofGalerius，whodismissedagreatnumberofChristianofficersfromtheiremployments；andtoauthorizetheopinion，thatasectofenthusiastics，whichavowedprinciplessorepugnanttothepublicsafety，musteitherremainuseless，orwouldsoonbecomedangerous，subjectsoftheempire。
　　[Footnote144:Eusebius，l。viii。c。4，c。17。Helimitsthenumberofmilitarymartyrs，byaremarkableexpression，ofwhichneitherhisLatinnorFrenchtranslatorhaverenderedtheenergy。
　　NotwithstandingtheauthorityofEusebius，andthesilenceofLactantius，Ambrose，Sulpicius，Orosius，&c。，ithasbeenlongbelieved，thattheThebaeanlegion，consistingof6000
　　Christians，sufferedmartyrdombytheorderofMaximian，inthevalleyofthePennineAlps。Thestorywasfirstpublishedaboutthemiddleofthe5thcentury，byEucherius，bishopofLyons，whoreceiveditfromcertainpersons，whoreceiveditfromIsaac，bishopofGeneva，whoissaidtohavereceiveditfromTheodore，bishopofOctodurum。TheabbeyofSt。Mauricestillsubsists，arichmonumentofthecredulityofSigismund，kingofBurgundy。
　　SeeanexcellentDissertationinxxxvithvolumeoftheBibliothequeRaisonnee，p。427—454。]
　　[Footnote*:M。GuizotcriticizesGibbon'saccountofthisincident。HesupposesthatMaximilianwasnot"producedbyhisfatherasarecruit，"butwasobligedtoappearbythelaw，whichcompelledthesonsofsoldierstoserveat21yearsold。WasnotthisalawofConstantine?Neitherdoesthiscircumstanceappearintheacts。Hisfatherhadclearlyexpectedhimtoserve，ashehadboughthimanewdressfortheoccasion；yetherefusedtoforcetheconscienceofhisson。andwhenMaximilianwascondemnedtodeath，thefatherreturnedhomeinjoy，blessingGodforhavingbestoweduponhimsuchason。—M。]
　　[Footnote145:SeetheActaSincera，p。299。TheaccountsofhismartyrdomandthatofMarcellus，beareverymarkoftruthandauthenticity。]
　　[Footnote146:ActaSincera，p。302。