OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

237

CHAP. XX.

The motives, progress, and effects of the con-version of Constantine. —Legal establishmentand constitution of the Christian or CatholicChurch .

THE public establishment of Christianity may chap

be considered as one of those important and do-.

mestic revolutions which excite the most livelycuriosity, and afford the most valuable instruc-tion. The victories and the civil policy of Con-stantine no longer influence the state of Europe ;but a considerable portion of the globe still re-tains the impression which it received from theconversion of that monarch ; and the ecclesias-tical institutions of his reign are still connect-ed, by an indissoluble chain, with the opinions,the passions, and the interests of the presentgeneration.

In the consideration of a subject which may Datcofthebe examined with impartiality, but cannot be ofcon^° nviewed with indifference, a difficulty immedi- stantme -ately arises of a very unexpected nature; thatof ascertaining the real and precise date of theconversion of Constantine . The eloquent Lao- a.d. 30 «.tanfius, in the midst of his court, seems impa-tient’ to proclaim to the world the glorious ex-

* The date of the Divine Initiation? of Lactantins has been acen-rately discussed, difficulties have been started, solutions proposed, andan expedient imagined, of two original editions; the former publishedduring the persecution of Diocletian , the latter under that of Licinini.

See