Page:Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (1827) Vol 2.djvu/143

 OF THE ROMAN EMPIIIE. 125 respective temples and cities, they remained without ("HAP. any connection of discipline or government; and whilst " they acknowledged the supreme jurisdiction of the sen- ate, of the college of pontiffs, and of the emperor, those civil magistrates contented themselves with the easy task of maintaining, in peace and dignity, the ge- neral worship of mankind. We have already seen how various, how loose, and how uncertain were the reli- gious sentiments of polythcists. Tiiey were abandoned, almost without control, to the natural workings of a superstitious fancy. The accidental circumstances of their life and situation determined the object as well as the degree of their devotion ; and as long as their adoration was successively prostituted to a thousand deities, it was scarcely possible that their hearts could be susceptible of a very sincere or hvely passion for any of them. When Christianity appeared in the world, even these Thescep- faint and imperfect impressions had lost much of their /|[j!^p"„'*an origin:il power. Human reason, which by its unas- world • 1 1 • • IIP • • i.1 i. • proved fa- sisted strength is nicapable or perceivmg the mysteries vouiable of faith, had already obtained an easy triumph over the to the new 1 11- T • religion, folly of paganism ; and when Tertulhan or Lactantius employ their labours in exposing its falsehood and ex- travagance, they are obliged to transcribe the elo- quence of Cicero or the wit of Lucian. The conta- gion of these sceptical writings had been diffused far beyond the number of their readers. The fashion of incredulity was communicated from the philosopher to the man of pleasure or business, from the noble to the plebeian, and from the master to the menial slave who waited at his tal)le, and who eagerly listened to the freedom of his conversation. On public occasions the philosophic part of mankind affected to treat with re- spect and decency the religious institutions of their country ; but their secret contempt penetrated through the thin and awkward disguise; and even the people, when they discovered that their deities were rejected and derided by those whose rank or understanding