Hepursuedthegreatobjectofhisambitionthroughthedarkandbloodypathsofwarandpolicy；and，afterthevictory，heabandonedhimself，withoutmoderation，totheabuseofhisfortune。InsteadofassertinghisjustsuperiorityabovetheimperfectheroismandprofanephilosophyofTrajanandtheAntonines，thematureageofConstantineforfeitedthereputationwhichhehadacquiredinhisyouth。Ashegraduallyadvancedintheknowledgeoftruth，heproportionallydeclinedinthepracticeofvirtue；andthesameyearofhisreigninwhichheconvenedthecouncilofNice，waspollutedbytheexecution，orrathermurder，ofhiseldestson。ThisdateisalonesufficienttorefutetheignorantandmalicioussuggestionsofZosimus，^69
whoaffirms，that，afterthedeathofCrispus，theremorseofhisfatheracceptedfromtheministersofchristianitytheexpiationwhichhehadvainlysolicitedfromthePaganpontiffs。AtthetimeofthedeathofCrispus，theemperorcouldnolongerhesitateinthechoiceofareligion；hecouldnolongerbeignorantthatthechurchwaspossessedofaninfallibleremedy，thoughhechosetodefertheapplicationofittilltheapproachofdeathhadremovedthetemptationanddangerofarelapse。Thebishopswhomhesummoned，inhislastillness，tothepalaceofNicomedia，wereedifiedbythefervorwithwhichherequestedandreceivedthesacramentofbaptism，bythesolemnprotestationthattheremainderofhislifeshouldbeworthyofadiscipleofChrist，andbyhishumblerefusaltoweartheImperialpurpleafterhehadbeenclothedinthewhitegarmentofaNeophyte。
TheexampleandreputationofConstantineseemedtocountenancethedelayofbaptism。^70Futuretyrantswereencouragedtobelieve，thattheinnocentbloodwhichtheymightshedinalongreignwouldinstantlybewashedawayinthewatersofregeneration；andtheabuseofreligiondangerouslyunderminedthefoundationsofmoralvirtue。
[Footnote67:Thetheoryandpracticeofantiquity，withregardtothesacramentofbaptism，havebeencopiouslyexplainedbyDomChardon，Hist。desSacremens，tom。i。p。3—405；DomMartennedeRitibusEcclesiaeAntiquis，tom。i。；andbyBingham，inthetenthandeleventhbooksofhisChristianAntiquities。Onecircumstancemaybeobserved，inwhichthemodernchurcheshavemateriallydepartedfromtheancientcustom。Thesacramentofbaptismevenwhenitwasadministeredtoinfantswasimmediatelyfollowedbyconfirmationandtheholycommunion。]
[Footnote68:TheFathers，whocensuredthiscriminaldelay，couldnotdenythecertainandvictoriousefficacyevenofadeath—bedbaptism。TheingeniousrhetoricofChrysostomcouldfindonlythreeargumentsagainsttheseprudentChristians。1。