THE DECLINE AND FALL

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chap. Constantine seemed to countenance the delay,°f baptism.’ Future tyrants were encouragedto believe, that the innocent blood which theymight shed in a long reign would instantly bewashed away in the waters of regeneration;and the abuse of religion dangerously under-mined the foundations of moral virtue.

Uon P of ga The gratitude of the church has exalted thechristia- virtues and excused the failings of a generousn ty ’ patron, who seated Christianity on the tin-oneof the Roman world; and the Greeks, who cele-brate the festival of the imperial saint, seldommention the name of Constantine without add-ing the title of equal to the apostles . b Such acomparison, if it allude to the character of thosedivine missionaries, must be imputed to the ex-travagance of impious flattery. But if the pa-rallel be confined to the extent and number oftheir evangelic victories, the success of Con-stantine might perhaps equal that of the apos-tles themselves. By the edicts of toleration, heremoved the temporal disadvantages which hadhitherto retarded the progress of Christianity ;and its active and numerous ministers receiveda free permission, a liberal encouragement, torecommend the salutary truths of revelation byevery argument which could affect the reasonor piety of mankind. The exact balance of thetwo religions continued but a moment; and thepiercing eye of ambition and avarice soon dis-

* Eusebius , 1. iv, c. 61, G2, 63. The bishop of Caesarea supposes thesalvation of Constantine with the most perfect confidence.

6 See Tillcmont, Hist, des Eniperenrs, tom. iv, p. 429. The Greeks,the Russians , and, in the darker ages, the Latins themselves, have beendesirous of placing Constantine in the catalogue of saints.