vanities, the fictions of their own imaginations, or the devices of their own hands. Hence it was, that the Romans found no great difficulty in introducing into the provinces they conquered fome of their native gods; neither were they fcrupulous of receiving from them fome ceremonies of fuperftition, which appeared with an air of novelty and grandeur.

But the Chriftián Religion ftood fingle and alone. It attacked the will-worfhip of the Jews, and the idolatry of the Gentiles; it directed its efforts against the established religion of the empire. The Romans beheld the increasing numbers of Chriftians with jealoufy, and might fufpect that so numerous and fo refpectable a body, would not only overturn the old, and fubftitute a new religion, but ufurp the reins of government into their hands.

Defigning or malicious men were not wanting to augment fuch fears, and to cherish the feeds of fufpicion and prejudice against the Chriftians. Artful infinuations, groundless afperfions were thrown out against them, as enemies to Cæfar, as engaged in civil commotions, as devoid of all religion, becaufe of the unadorned fimplicity of their worship, which had nothing external or glaring, to attract the eye. Heathen philofophers fought to display their wit and learning againft a fyftem, which pretended to be much more fublime than any they had taught. The whole tribe of Pagan priests and augurs rofe as one man to oppofe the progrefs of the Gofpel. The credit of their profeffion and of their religion began to totter. The craft of many who miniftred to the Heathen temples was in danger. And the unthinking, undifcerning multitude, would join in a popular cry, against thofe men, who infulted,

as

as they would fay, the gods of their country, and the ufages of their ancestors, and would prescribe to them unheard-of objects and methods of worfhip. Thus perfecution arofe and was fomented, till Divine truth, and invincible patience, prevailed and triumphed.

PART II.

WE
W period of the Chriftian Church, under the

E now arrive at a more ferene and shining

aufpicious reign of CONSTANTINE the Great, the first Christian Emperor.

The learned Spankeim reckons that he was born at Naiffa, on the 27th of February, A. D.

272.

He was fon of Conftantius Chlorus, who favoured the Chriftians more than any of his colleagues in the empire. His father died in England the 25th of July, 306, by whofe will he fucceeded as emperor in the Weft. He refided the firft fix years of his reign in Gaul; afterwards, being informed of the intolerable outrages committed by Maxentius, fon of Maximianus Herculeus, who was made emperor at Rome, and being follicited by an embaffy from the Senate and people, he formed a resolution to deliver the city from the tyranny of that ufurper.

When he engaged in this arduous undertaking, he began to meditate of fome affistance beyond the mere ftrength and courage of his army. He refolved therefore to lay afide the vulgar deities, and the rites of Heathenifh fuperftition. He came to a determination of adhering ftedfaftly to the one only and true God, whom his father had acknowledged, and which difpofed him to protect the Christians,

Christians, even in his own palace. In this noble defign he was greatly encouraged by his pious mother Helena, who was affiduous to infufe into him fentiments favourable to Religion.

To this one God he addreffed himself in a devcut manner, earneftly intreating that he would be pleafed to make himfelf known to him. Heaven graciously heard his prayer, and answered it in a miraculous manner. * Eufebius, who relates the affair, owns it would have been incredible, if he had not heard it from the mouth of Conftantine himself, who confirmed it with an oath.

When the army was upon a march, and the emperor wrapt up in profound thought, there appeared, just as the fun was declining, a pillar of light in the heavens, in the figure of a cross, with this infcription visible upon it, ToÚтw víxα,― by this overcome. † †The emperor and whole army were ftruck with amazement at the fight of fo extraordinary a phoenomenon. At night Chrift appeared to him in a dream, with the crofs in his hand, which made an indelible impreffion upon his mind: And from that time forward, Conftantine the Great, always carried a cross, as the imperial ftandard before him, in all his wars, which Eufebius frequently faw.

Conftantine, now advanced with a noble intrepidity to the very walls of Rome, at the head of an army confifting of 90,000 foot, and 8000 horfe. He encamped in a fpacious plain before the city, and there waited the arrival of Maxentius, who foon appeared with a numerous body of forces, amounting

*Eufeb. de vita Conftantini, lib. 1. cap. 28, &c.

I am not ignorant that some dispute has been raised about this matter, as to which, vide Mofheim's Eccles. Hist. tranflated by Dr Maclain, vol. 1. p. 263, 264.