Page:Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (1827) Vol 2.djvu/446

 428 THE DECLINE AND FALL CHAP, different motives of a temporal or a spiritual nature, ' were seldom impatient to assume the character of per- fect and initiated christians. The sacrament of bap- tism was supposed to contain a full and absolute expia- tion of sin ; and the soul was instantly restored to its original purity, and entitled to the promise of eternal salvation. Among the ])roselytes of Christianity, there were many who judged it imprudent to precipitate a salutary rite, which could not be repeated ; to throw away an inestimable privilege, which could never be recovered. By the delay of their baptism, they could venture freely to indulge their passions in the enjoy- ments of this world, while they still retained in their own hands the means of a sure and easy absolution-''. The sublime theory of the gospel had made a much fainter impression on the heart than on the understand- ing of Constantine himself. He pursued the great object of his ambition through the dark and bloody paths of war and policy ; and, after the victory, he abandoned himself, without moderation, to the abuse of his fortune. Instead of asserting his just superiority above the imperfect heroism and profane philosophy of Trajan and the Antonines, the mature age of Constan- tine forfeited the reputation which he had acquired in his youth. As he gradually advanced in the know- ledge of truth, he proportionably declined in the prac- tice of virtue ; and the same year of his reign in which he convened the council of Nice, was polluted by the execution, or rather murder, of his eldest son. This y The fathers, who censured this criminal delay, could not deny the cer- tain and victorious efficacy, even of a death-bed baptism. The ingenious rhetoric of Chrysostom could find only three arguments against these prudent christians. 1. That we should love and pursue virtue for her own sake, and not merely for the reward. 2. That we may be surprised by death without an opportunity of baptism. 3. That although we shall be placed in heaven, we shall only twinkle like little stars, when compared to the suns of rigliteousness who have run their appointed course with labour, with success, and with glory. Chrysostom in Epist. ad Hebrsos, Ilomil. xiii. apud Ciiardon, Hist, des Sacremens, torn. i. p. 49. I believe that this delay of baptism, though attended with the most pernicious consequences, was never condemned by any geneial or provincial council, or by any public act or declaration of the church. The zeal of the bishops was easily kindled on much slighter occasions.