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。