46 HISTORY OF EN GLAND.

with his subjects; but he employed no force tobring them over to the new doctrine. Augustinethought proper , in the commencement of hismillion to assume the appearance of the greatestlenity: He told Ethelbert, that the service ofChrist must be entirely voluntary , and that noviolence ought ever to be used in propagating sosalutary a doctrine

The intelligence , received of these spiritualconquests , afforded great joy to the Romans;who now exulted as much in those peacefultrophies, as their ancestors had ever done in theirmost sanguinary triumphs , and most splendidvictories. Gregory wrote a letter to Ethelbert, inwhich , after informing him that the end of theworld was approaching , he exhorted him todisplay his zeal in the conversion of his subjects ,to exert rigour against the worship of idols, andto build up the good work of holiness by everyexpedient of exhortation, terror, blandishment,or correction ": A doctrine more suitable to thatage , and to the usual papal maxims , thanthe tolerating principles, which Augustine hadthought it prudent to inculcate. The pontiff alsoanswered some questions , which the missionaryhad put concerning the government of the newchurch of Kent. Besides other queries, wh.ch itis not material here to relate, Augustine asked,

Ibid. cap. 26. H. Hunting, lib. Z.

‘ 7 l'ede, lib. 1. cap. 52, lirompton, p. gZ2. Spell.Cone. p. b’6.