Page:Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (1827) Vol 2.djvu/422

 404 THE DECLINE AND FALL CHAP, stand that the truth of his revelation was incompatible XX ' with the worship of the gocls. The obstacles which. he had probably experienced in his own mind, in- structed him to proceed with caution in the moment- ous change of a national religion; and he insensibly discovered his new opinions, as far as he could enforce them with safety and with effect. During the whole course of his reign, the stream of Christianity flowed with a gentle, though accelerated, motion : but its ge- neral direction was sometimes checked, and sometimes diverted, by the accidental circumstances of the times, and by the prudence, or possibly by the caprice, of the monarch. His ministers were permitted to signify the intentions of their master in the various language which was best adapted to their respective principles ^ ; and he artfully balanced the hopes and fears of his subjects. A.D. 321. by publishing in the same year two edicts; the first of which enjoined the solemn observance of Sunday'', and the second directed the regular consultation of the aruspices'. While this important revolution yet re- mained in suspense, the christians and the pagans watched the conduct of their sovereign with the same anxiety, but with very opposite sentiments. The for- mer were prompted by every motive of zeal, as well as vanity, to exaggerate the marks of his favour, and the evidences of his faith. The latter, till their just ap- prehensions were changed into despair and resentment, attempted to conceal from the world, and from them- selves, that the gods of Rome could no longer reckon the emperor in the number of their votaries. The K The quaestor, or secretary, who composed the law of the Theodosian Code, makes his master say with indifference, " hominibus supradictae religio- nis." L. xvi. tit. ii. leg. 1. The minister of ecclesiastical affairs was al- lowed a more devout and respectful style, tyiq tvOifffiov koI ayiwrciDjg ku- 0oiKr)^ GfjriaKelaQ ; the legal, most holy, and catholic worship. See Euseb. Hist. Eccles. 1. x. c. 6. •" Cod. Theodos. 1. ii. tit. viii. leg. 1 ; Cod. Justinian, 1. iii. tit. xii. leg. 3. Constantine styles the Lord's day dies soils, a name which could not offend the ears of his pagan subjects. • Cod. Theod. 1. xvi. tit. x. leg. 1. Godefroy, in the character of a com- mentator, endeavours (torn. vi. p. 257.) to excuse Constantine ; but the more zealous Baronius (Annal. Eccles. A.D. 321, N". 18.) censures his profane conduct with truth and asperity.