Page:Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (1827) Vol 2.djvu/205

 OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE. 187 cinbraccd the sect of the christians, the charge was CJIAP communicated to the party accused, and that a conve- 1_ nient time was allowed him to settle his domestic con- cerns, and to prepare an answer to the crime which was imputed to hims. If he entertained any doubt of his own constancy, such a delay afforded him the op- portunity of preserving his life and honour by flight, of withdrawing himself into some obscure retirement or some distant province, and of patiently expecting the return of peace and security. A measure so consonant to reason was soon authorised by the advice and ex- ample of the most holy prelates ; and seems to have been censured by few, except by the Montanists, who deviated into heresy by their strict and obstinate ad- herence to the rigour of ancient discipline ''. II. The provincial governors, whose zeal was less pi-evalent than their avarice, had countenanced the practice of selling certificates, (or libels as they were called,) which attested, that the persons therein mentioned had com- plied with the laws, and sacrificed to the Roman deities. By producing these false declarations, the opulent and timid christians were enabled to silence the malice of an informer, and to reconcile in some measure their safety with their religion. A slight penance atoned for this profane dissimulation '. 111. In every perse- cution there were great numbers of unworthy chris- tians, who publicly disowned or renounced the faith which they had professed ; and who confirmed the sincerity of their abjuration by the legal acts of burning incense or of offering sacrifices. Some of these apos- e In the second apology of Justin there is a particular and very curious instance of this legal delay. The same indulgence was granted to accused christians in the persecution of Decius ; and Cyprian (de Lapsis) expressly mentions the " dies negantibus pra;stitutus." '' Tertullian considers flight from persecution as an imperfect, but very criminal apostasy, as an impious attempt to elude the will of God, etc. etc. He has written a treatise on this subject, (see p. 536—544. edit, lligalt.) which is filled with the wildest fanaticism, and the most incolierent de- clamation. It is, however, somewhat remaikable, that Tertullian did not suffer martyrdom himself. ' The libellatici, who are chiefly known by the writings of Cyprian, are described with the utmost precision in the copious commentary of JMosheim, p. 483—489.