PartII。
TheassurancethattheelevationofConstantinewasintimatelyconnectedwiththedesignsofProvidence，instilledintothemindsoftheChristianstwoopinions，which，byverydifferentmeans，assistedtheaccomplishmentoftheprophecy。
Theirwarmandactiveloyaltyexhaustedinhisfavoreveryresourceofhumanindustry；andtheyconfidentlyexpectedthattheirstrenuouseffortswouldbesecondedbysomedivineandmiraculousaid。TheenemiesofConstantinehaveimputedtointerestedmotivesthealliancewhichheinsensiblycontractedwiththeCatholicchurch，andwhichapparentlycontributedtothesuccessofhisambition。Inthebeginningofthefourthcentury，theChristiansstillboreaveryinadequateproportiontotheinhabitantsoftheempire；butamongadegeneratepeople，whoviewedthechangeofmasterswiththeindifferenceofslaves，thespiritandunionofareligiouspartymightassistthepopularleader，towhoseservice，fromaprincipleofconscience，theyhaddevotedtheirlivesandfortunes。^25TheexampleofhisfatherhadinstructedConstantinetoesteemandtorewardthemeritoftheChristians；andinthedistributionofpublicoffices，hehadtheadvantageofstrengtheninghisgovernment，bythechoiceofministersorgenerals，inwhosefidelityhecouldreposeajustandunreservedconfidence。Bytheinfluenceofthesedignifiedmissionaries，theproselytesofthenewfaithmusthavemultipliedinthecourtandarmy；theBarbariansofGermany，whofilledtheranksofthelegions，wereofacarelesstemper，whichacquiescedwithoutresistanceinthereligionoftheircommander；andwhentheypassedtheAlps，itmayfairlybepresumed，thatagreatnumberofthesoldiershadalreadyconsecratedtheirswordstotheserviceofChristandofConstantine。^26Thehabitsofmankindandtheinterestsofreligiongraduallyabatedthehorrorofwarandbloodshed，whichhadsolongprevailedamongtheChristians；andinthecouncilswhichwereassembledunderthegraciousprotectionofConstantine，theauthorityofthebishopswasseasonablyemployedtoratifytheobligationofthemilitaryoath，andtoinflictthepenaltyofexcommunicationonthosesoldierswhothrewawaytheirarmsduringthepeaceofthechurch。^27WhileConstantine，inhisowndominions，increasedthenumberandzealofhisfaithfuladherents，hecoulddependonthesupportofapowerfulfactioninthoseprovinceswhichwerestillpossessedorusurpedbyhisrivals。AsecretdisaffectionwasdiffusedamongtheChristiansubjectsofMaxentiusandLicinius；andtheresentment，whichthelatterdidnotattempttoconceal，servedonlytoengagethemstillmoredeeplyintheinterestofhiscompetitor。Theregularcorrespondencewhichconnectedthebishopsofthemostdistantprovinces，enabledthemfreelytocommunicatetheirwishesandtheirdesigns，andtotransmitwithoutdangeranyusefulintelligence，oranypiouscontributions，whichmightpromotetheserviceofConstantine，whopubliclydeclaredthathehadtakenuparmsforthedeliveranceofthechurch。^28
[Footnote25:Inthebeginningofthelastcentury，thePapistsofEnglandwereonlyathirtieth，andtheProtestantsofFranceonlyafifteenth，partoftherespectivenations，towhomtheirspiritandpowerwereaconstantobjectofapprehension。SeetherelationswhichBentivogliowhowasthennuncioatBrussels，andafterwardscardinaltransmittedtothecourtofRome，Relazione，tom。ii。p。211，241。Bentivogliowascurious，wellinformed，butsomewhatpartial。]
[Footnote26:ThiscarelesstemperoftheGermansappearsalmostuniformlyonthehistoryoftheconversionofeachofthetribes。