153。]
[Footnote124:Thosemodestoratorsacknowledged，that，astheyweredestituteofthegiftofmiracles，theyendeavoredtoacquiretheartsofeloquence。]
VII。TherepresentativesoftheChristianrepublicwereregularlyassembledinthespringandautumnofeachyear；andthesesynodsdiffusedthespiritofecclesiasticaldisciplineandlegislationthroughthehundredandtwentyprovincesoftheRomanworld。^125Thearchbishopormetropolitanwasempowered，bythelaws，tosummonthesuffraganbishopsofhisprovince；torevisetheirconduct，tovindicatetheirrights，todeclaretheirfaith，andtoexaminethemeritsofthecandidateswhowereelectedbytheclergyandpeopletosupplythevacanciesoftheepiscopalcollege。TheprimatesofRome，Alexandria，Antioch，Carthage，andafterwardsConstantinople，whoexercisedamoreamplejurisdiction，convenedthenumerousassemblyoftheirdependentbishops。Buttheconvocationofgreatandextraordinarysynodswastheprerogativeoftheemperoralone。Whenevertheemergenciesofthechurchrequiredthisdecisivemeasure，hedespatchedaperemptorysummonstothebishops，orthedeputiesofeachprovince，withanorderfortheuseofpost—horses，andacompetentallowancefortheexpensesoftheirjourney。Atanearlyperiod，whenConstantinewastheprotector，ratherthantheproselyte，ofChristianity，hereferredtheAfricancontroversytothecouncilofArles；inwhichthebishopsofYorkofTreves，ofMilan，andofCarthage，metasfriendsandbrethren，todebateintheirnativetongueonthecommoninterestoftheLatinorWesternchurch。^126Elevenyearsafterwards，amorenumerousandcelebratedassemblywasconvenedatNiceinBithynia，toextinguish，bytheirfinalsentence，thesubtledisputeswhichhadariseninEgyptonthesubjectoftheTrinity。Threehundredandeighteenbishopsobeyedthesummonsoftheirindulgentmaster；theecclesiasticsofeveryrank，andsect，anddenomination，havebeencomputedattwothousandandforty—eightpersons；^127theGreeksappearedinperson；andtheconsentoftheLatinswasexpressedbythelegatesoftheRomanpontiff。
Thesession，whichlastedabouttwomonths，wasfrequentlyhonoredbythepresenceoftheemperor。Leavinghisguardsatthedoor，heseatedhimselfwiththepermissionofthecouncilonalowstoolinthemidstofthehall。Constantinelistenedwithpatience，andspokewithmodesty:andwhileheinfluencedthedebates，hehumblyprofessedthathewastheminister，notthejudge，ofthesuccessorsoftheapostles，whohadbeenestablishedaspriestsandasgodsuponearth。^128Suchprofoundreverenceofanabsolutemonarchtowardsafeebleandunarmedassemblyofhisownsubjects，canonlybecomparedtotherespectwithwhichthesenatehadbeentreatedbytheRomanprinceswhoadoptedthepolicyofAugustus。Withinthespaceoffiftyyears，aphilosophicspectatorofthevicissitudesofhumanaffairsmighthavecontemplatedTacitusinthesenateofRome，andConstantineinthecouncilofNice。ThefathersoftheCapitolandthoseofthechurchhadalikedegeneratedfromthevirtuesoftheirfounders；butasthebishopsweremoredeeplyrootedinthepublicopinion，theysustainedtheirdignitywithmoredecentpride，andsometimesopposedwithamanlyspiritthewishesoftheirsovereign。Theprogressoftimeandsuperstitionerasedthememoryoftheweakness，thepassion，theignorance，whichdisgracedtheseecclesiasticalsynods；andtheCatholicworldhasunanimouslysubmitted^129totheinfallibledecreesofthegeneralcouncils。^130
[Footnote125:ThecouncilofNice，inthefourth，fifth，sixth，andseventhcanons，hasmadesomefundamentalregulationsconcerningsynods，metropolitan，andprimates。TheNicenecanonshavebeenvariouslytortured，abused，interpolated，orforged，accordingtotheinterestoftheclergy。TheSuburbicarianchurches，assignedbyRufinustothebishopofRome，havebeenmadethesubjectofvehementcontroversySeeSirmond，Opera，tom。iv。p。1—238。]
[Footnote126:Wehaveonlythirty—threeorforty—sevenepiscopalsubscriptions:butAddo，awriterindeedofsmallaccount，reckonssixhundredbishopsinthecouncilofArles。Tillemont，Mem。Eccles。tom。vi。p。422。]
[Footnote127:SeeTillemont，tom。vi。p。915，andBeausobre，Hist。duManicheisme，tomip。529。Thenameofbishop，whichisgivenbyEusychiustothe2048ecclesiastics，Annal。tom。i。
p。440，vers。Pocock，mustbeextendedfarbeyondthelimitsofanorthodoxorevenepiscopalordination。]
[Footnote128:SeeEuseb。inVit。Constantin。l。iii。c。6—21。
Tillemont，Mem。Ecclesiastiques，tom。vi。p。669—759。]
[Footnote129:Sancimusigiturvicemlegumobtinere，quaeaquatuorSanctisCoueiliis……expositaesuntactfirmatae。
PraedictarumenimquatuorsynodorumdogmatasicutsanctasScripturasetregulassicutlegesobservamus。Justinian。Novell。
cxxxi。BeveridgeadPandect。proleg。p。2remarks，thattheemperorsnevermadenewlawsinecclesiasticalmatters；andGiannoneobserves，inaverydifferentspirit，thattheygavealegalsanctiontothecanonsofcouncils。IstoriaCivilediNapoli，tom。i。p。136。]
[Footnote130:SeethearticleConcileintheEucyclopedie，tom。
iii。p。668—879，editiondeLucques。Theauthor，M。dedocteurBouchaud，hasdiscussed，accordingtotheprinciplesoftheGallicanchurch，theprincipalquestionswhichrelatetotheformandconstitutionofgeneral，national，andprovincialcouncils。
TheeditorsseePreface，p。xvi。havereasontobeproudofthisarticle。Thosewhoconsulttheirimmensecompilation，seldomdepartsowellsatisfied。]
ChapterXXI:PersecutionOfHeresy，StateOfTheChurch。
PartI。
PersecutionOfHeresy。—TheSchismOfTheDonatists。—TheArianControversy。—Athanasius。—DistractedStateOfTheChurchAndEmpireUnderConstantineAndHisSons。—TolerationOfPaganism。
Thegratefulapplauseoftheclergyhasconsecratedthememoryofaprincewhoindulgedtheirpassionsandpromotedtheirinterest。Constantinegavethemsecurity，wealth，honors，andrevenge；andthesupportoftheorthodoxfaithwasconsideredasthemostsacredandimportantdutyofthecivilmagistrate。TheedictofMilan，thegreatcharteroftoleration，hadconfirmedtoeachindividualoftheRomanworldtheprivilegeofchoosingandprofessinghisownreligion。Butthisinestimableprivilegewassoonviolated；withtheknowledgeoftruth，theemperorimbibedthemaximsofpersecution；andthesectswhichdissentedfromtheCatholicchurchwereafflictedandoppressedbythetriumphofChristianity。ConstantineeasilybelievedthattheHeretics，whopresumedtodisputehisopinions，ortoopposehiscommands，wereguiltyofthemostabsurdandcriminalobstinacy；andthataseasonableapplicationofmoderateseveritiesmightsavethoseunhappymenfromthedangerofaneverlastingcondemnation。Notamomentwaslostinexcludingtheministersandteachersoftheseparatedcongregationsfromanyshareoftherewardsandimmunitieswhichtheemperorhadsoliberallybestowedontheorthodoxclergy。Butasthesectariesmightstillexistunderthecloudofroyaldisgrace，theconquestoftheEastwasimmediatelyfollowedbyanedictwhichannouncedtheirtotaldestruction。^1Afterapreamblefilledwithpassionandreproach，ConstantineabsolutelyprohibitstheassembliesoftheHeretics，andconfiscatestheirpublicpropertytotheuseeitheroftherevenueoroftheCatholicchurch。ThesectsagainstwhomtheImperialseveritywasdirected，appeartohavebeentheadherentsofPaulofSamosata；theMontanistsofPhrygia，whomaintainedanenthusiasticsuccessionofprophecy；theNovatians，whosternlyrejectedthetemporalefficacyofrepentance；theMarcionitesandValentinians，underwhoseleadingbannersthevariousGnosticsofAsiaandEgypthadinsensiblyrallied；andperhapstheManichaeans，whohadrecentlyimportedfromPersiaamoreartfulcompositionofOrientalandChristiantheology。^2
Thedesignofextirpatingthename，oratleastofrestrainingtheprogress，oftheseodiousHeretics，wasprosecutedwithvigorandeffect。SomeofthepenalregulationswerecopiedfromtheedictsofDiocletian；andthismethodofconversionwasapplaudedbythesamebishopswhohadfeltthehandofoppression，andpleadedfortherightsofhumanity。Twoimmaterialcircumstancesmayserve，however，toprovethatthemindofConstantinewasnotentirelycorruptedbythespiritofzealandbigotry。BeforehecondemnedtheManichaeansandtheirkindredsects，heresolvedtomakeanaccurateinquiryintothenatureoftheirreligiousprinciples。Asifhedistrustedtheimpartialityofhisecclesiasticalcounsellors，thisdelicatecommissionwasintrustedtoacivilmagistrate，whoselearningandmoderationhejustlyesteemed，andofwhosevenalcharacterhewasprobablyignorant。^3Theemperorwassoonconvinced，thathehadtoohastilyproscribedtheorthodoxfaithandtheexemplarymoralsoftheNovatians，whohaddissentedfromthechurchinsomearticlesofdisciplinewhichwerenotperhapsessentialtosalvation。Byaparticularedict，heexemptedthemfromthegeneralpenaltiesofthelaw；^4allowedthemtobuildachurchatConstantinople，respectedthemiraclesoftheirsaints，invitedtheirbishopAcesiustothecouncilofNice；andgentlyridiculedthenarrowtenetsofhissectbyafamiliarjest；which，fromthemouthofasovereign，musthavebeenreceivedwithapplauseandgratitude。
^5
[Footnote1:EusebiusinVit。Constantin。l。iii。c。63，64，65，66。]
[Footnote2:AftersomeexaminationofthevariousopinionsofTillemont，Beausobre，Lardner，&c。，IamconvincedthatManesdidnotpropagatehissect，eveninPersia，beforetheyear270。Itisstrange，thataphilosophicandforeignheresyshouldhavepenetratedsorapidlyintotheAfricanprovinces；yetIcannoteasilyrejecttheedictofDiocletianagainsttheManichaeans，whichmaybefoundinBaronius。AnnalEccl。A。D。287。]
[Footnote3:Constantinusenim，cumlimatiussuperstitionumquaeroretsectas，Manichaeorumetsimilium，&c。Ammian。xv。15。
Strategius，whofromthiscommissionobtainedthesurnameofMusonianus，wasaChristianoftheAriansect。HeactedasoneofthecountsatthecouncilofSardica。Libaniuspraiseshismildnessandprudence。Vales。adlocumAmmian。]
[Footnote4:Cod。Theod。l。xvi。tit。5，leg。2。AsthegenerallawisnotinsertedintheTheodosianCode，itprobablethat，intheyear438，thesectswhichithadcondemnedwerealreadyextinct。]
[Footnote5:Sozomen，l。i。c。22。Socrates，l。i。c。10。Thesehistorianshavebeensuspected，butIthinkwithoutreason，ofanattachmenttotheNovatiandoctrine。Theemperorsaidtothebishop，"Acesius，takealadder，andgetuptoheavenbyyourself。"MostoftheChristiansectshave，byturns，borrowedtheladderofAcesius。]
ThecomplaintsandmutualaccusationswhichassailedthethroneofConstantine，assoonasthedeathofMaxentiushadsubmittedAfricatohisvictoriousarms，wereilladaptedtoedifyanimperfectproselyte。Helearned，withsurprise，thattheprovincesofthatgreatcountry，fromtheconfinesofCyrenetothecolumnsofHercules，weredistractedwithreligiousdiscord。^6ThesourceofthedivisionwasderivedfromadoubleelectioninthechurchofCarthage；thesecond，inrankandopulence，oftheecclesiasticalthronesoftheWest。CaecilianandMajorinuswerethetworivalprelatesofAfrica；andthedeathofthelattersoonmaderoomforDonatus，who，byhissuperiorabilitiesandapparentvirtues，wasthefirmestsupportofhisparty。TheadvantagewhichCaecilianmightclaimfromthepriorityofhisordination，wasdestroyedbytheillegal，oratleastindecent，haste，withwhichithadbeenperformed，withoutexpectingthearrivalofthebishopsofNumidia。Theauthorityofthesebishops，who，tothenumberofseventy，condemnedCaecilian，andconsecratedMajorinus，isagainweakenedbytheinfamyofsomeoftheirpersonalcharacters；andbythefemaleintrigues，sacrilegiousbargains，andtumultuousproceedings，whichareimputedtothisNumidiancouncil。^7Thebishopsofthecontendingfactionsmaintained，withequalardorandobstinacy，thattheiradversariesweredegraded，oratleastdishonored，bytheodiouscrimeofdeliveringtheHolyScripturestotheofficersofDiocletian。Fromtheirmutualreproaches，aswellasfromthestoryofthisdarktransaction，itmayjustlybeinferred，thatthelatepersecutionhadimbitteredthezeal，withoutreformingthemanners，oftheAfricanChristians。Thatdividedchurchwasincapableofaffordinganimpartialjudicature；thecontroversywassolemnlytriedinfivesuccessivetribunals，whichwereappointedbytheemperor；andthewholeproceeding，fromthefirstappealtothefinalsentence，lastedabovethreeyears。Asevereinquisition，whichwastakenbythePraetorianvicar，andtheproconsulofAfrica，thereportoftwoepiscopalvisitorswhohadbeensenttoCarthage，thedecreesofthecouncilsofRomeandofArles，andthesupremejudgmentofConstantinehimselfinhissacredconsistory，wereallfavorabletothecauseofCaecilian；andhewasunanimouslyacknowledgedbythecivilandecclesiasticalpowers，asthetrueandlawfulprimateofAfrica。Thehonorsandestatesofthechurchwereattributedtohissuffraganbishops，anditwasnotwithoutdifficulty，thatConstantinewassatisfiedwithinflictingthepunishmentofexileontheprincipalleadersoftheDonatistfaction。Astheircausewasexaminedwithattention，perhapsitwasdeterminedwithjustice。Perhapstheircomplaintwasnotwithoutfoundation，thatthecredulityoftheemperorhadbeenabusedbytheinsidiousartsofhisfavoriteOsius。Theinfluenceoffalsehoodandcorruptionmightprocurethecondemnationoftheinnocent，oraggravatethesentenceoftheguilty。Suchanact，however，ofinjustice，ifitconcludedanimportunatedispute，mightbenumberedamongthetransientevilsofadespoticadministration，whichareneitherfeltnorrememberedbyposterity。
[Footnote6:ThebestmaterialsforthispartofecclesiasticalhistorymaybefoundintheeditionofOptatusMilevitanus，publishedParis，1700byM。Dupin，whohasenricheditwithcriticalnotes，geographicaldiscussions，originalrecords，andanaccurateabridgmentofthewholecontroversy。M。deTillemonthasbestowedontheDonatiststhegreatestpartofavolume，tom。vi。parti。；andIamindebtedtohimforanamplecollectionofallthepassagesofhisfavoriteSt。Augustin，whichrelatetothoseheretics。]
[Footnote7:Schismaigiturillotemporeconfusaemulierisiracundiapeperit；ambitusnutrivit；avaritiaroboravit。
Optatus，l。i。c。19。ThelanguageofPurpuriusisthatofafuriousmadman。Diciturtenecasseliliossororistuaeduos。
Purpuriusrespondit:Putasmeterreriate……occidi；etoccidoeosquicontramefaciunt。ActaConcil。Cirtenais，adcalc。
Optat。p。274。WhenCaecilianwasinvitedtoanassemblyofbishops，Purpuriussaidtohisbrethren，orrathertohisaccomplices，"Lethimcomehithertoreceiveourimpositionofhands，andwewillbreakhisheadbywayofpenance。"Optat。l。
i。c。19。]
Butthisincident，soinconsiderablethatitscarcelydeservesaplaceinhistory，wasproductiveofamemorableschismwhichafflictedtheprovincesofAfricaabovethreehundredyears，andwasextinguishedonlywithChristianityitself。TheinflexiblezealoffreedomandfanaticismanimatedtheDonatiststorefuseobediencetotheusurpers，whoseelectiontheydisputed，andwhosespiritualpowerstheydenied。Excludedfromthecivilandreligiouscommunionofmankind，theyboldlyexcommunicatedtherestofmankind，whohadembracedtheimpiouspartyofCaecilian，andoftheTraditors，fromwhichhederivedhispretendedordination。Theyassertedwithconfidence，andalmostwithexultation，thattheApostolicalsuccessionwasinterrupted；thatallthebishopsofEuropeandAsiawereinfectedbythecontagionofguiltandschism；andthattheprerogativesoftheCatholicchurchwereconfinedtothechosenportionoftheAfricanbelievers，whoalonehadpreservedinviolatetheintegrityoftheirfaithanddiscipline。Thisrigidtheorywassupportedbythemostuncharitableconduct。
Whenevertheyacquiredaproselyte，evenfromthedistantprovincesoftheEast，theycarefullyrepeatedthesacredritesofbaptism^8andordination；astheyrejectedthevalidityofthosewhichhehadalreadyreceivedfromthehandsofhereticsorschismatics。Bishops，virgins，andevenspotlessinfants，weresubjectedtothedisgraceofapublicpenance，beforetheycouldbeadmittedtothecommunionoftheDonatists。IftheyobtainedpossessionofachurchwhichhadbeenusedbytheirCatholicadversaries，theypurifiedtheunhallowedbuildingwiththesamezealouscarewhichatempleofidolsmighthaverequired。Theywashedthepavement，scrapedthewalls，burntthealtar，whichwascommonlyofwood，meltedtheconsecratedplate，andcasttheHolyEucharisttothedogs，witheverycircumstanceofignominywhichcouldprovokeandperpetuatetheanimosityofreligiousfactions。^9Notwithstandingthisirreconcilableaversion，thetwoparties，whoweremixedandseparatedinallthecitiesofAfrica，hadthesamelanguageandmanners，thesamezealandlearning，thesamefaithandworship。Proscribedbythecivilandecclesiasticalpowersoftheempire，theDonatistsstillmaintainedinsomeprovinces，particularlyinNumidia，theirsuperiornumbers；andfourhundredbishopsacknowledgedthejurisdictionoftheirprimate。Buttheinvinciblespiritofthesectsometimespreyedonitsownvitals:andthebosomoftheirschismaticalchurchwastornbyintestinedivisions。AfourthpartoftheDonatistbishopsfollowedtheindependentstandardoftheMaximianists。Thenarrowandsolitarypathwhichtheirfirstleadershadmarkedout，continuedtodeviatefromthegreatsocietyofmankind。EventheimperceptiblesectoftheRogatianscouldaffirm，withoutablush，thatwhenChristshoulddescendtojudgetheearth，hewouldfindhistruereligionpreservedonlyinafewnamelessvillagesoftheCaesareanMauritania。^10
[Footnote8:ThecouncilsofArles，ofNice，andofTrent，confirmedthewiseandmoderatepracticeofthechurchofRome。
TheDonatists，however，hadtheadvantageofmaintainingthesentimentofCyprian，andofaconsiderablepartoftheprimitivechurch。VincentiusLirinesisp。532，ap。Tillemont，Mem。
Eccles。tom。vi。p。138hasexplainedwhytheDonatistsareeternallyburningwiththeDevil，whileSt。CyprianreignsinheavenwithJesusChrist。]
[Footnote9:SeethesixthbookofOptatusMilevitanus，p。
91—100。]
[Footnote10:Tillemont，Mem。Ecclesiastiques，tom。vi。parti。
p。253。Helaughsattheirpartialcredulity。HereveredAugustin，thegreatdoctorofthesystemofpredestination。]
TheschismoftheDonatistswasconfinedtoAfrica:themorediffusivemischiefoftheTrinitariancontroversysuccessivelypenetratedintoeverypartoftheChristianworld。Theformerwasanaccidentalquarrel，occasionedbytheabuseoffreedom；
thelatterwasahighandmysteriousargument，derivedfromtheabuseofphilosophy。FromtheageofConstantinetothatofClovisandTheodoric，thetemporalinterestsbothoftheRomansandBarbariansweredeeplyinvolvedinthetheologicaldisputesofArianism。Thehistorianmaythereforebepermittedrespectfullytowithdrawtheveilofthesanctuary；andtodeducetheprogressofreasonandfaith，oferrorandpassionfromtheschoolofPlato，tothedeclineandfalloftheempire。