THE DECLINE AND FALL

252

CHAP.

XX.

Christians two opinions, which, by very differentmeans, assisted the accomplishment of the pro-phecy. Their warm and active loyalty exhaust-ed in his favour every resource of human indus-try ; and they confidently expected that theirstrenuous efforts would be seconded by somedivine and miraculous aid. The enemies ofConstantine have imputed to interested motivesthe alliance which he insensibly contracted withthe catholic church, and which apparently con-tributed to the success of his ambition. In thebeginning of the fourth century, the Christians still bore a very inadequate proportion to theinhabitants of the empire; but among a dege-nerate people, who viewed the change of mas-ters with the indifference of slaves, tlie spiritand union of a religious party might assist thepopular leader, to whose service, from a prin-ciple of conscience, they had devoted their livesand fortunes.* The example of his father hadinstructed Constantine to esteem and to rewardthe merit of the Christians ; and in the distribu-tion of public offices, he had the advantage ofstrengthening his government, by the choice ofministers or generals, in whose fidelity he couldrepose a just and unreserved confidence. By theinfluence of these dignified missionaries, theproselytes of the new faith must have multiplied

a In the beginning of the last century, the papists of England wereonly a thirtieth , and the piotestants of Fiance only a fifteenth, part ofthe respective nations, to whom their spirit and power were a constantobject of apprehension. See the relations which Bentivoglio (who wasthen nuncio at Brussels, and afterwards cardinal) transmitted to thecourt of Rome (Rclazioue, tom. ii, p. 211 241). Bentivoglio was ca*rious, well iuformed, but somewhat partial.

•V