InthemostcorruptstateofChristianity，theBarbariansmightlearnjusticefromthelaw，andmercyfromthegospel；andiftheknowledgeoftheirdutywasinsufficienttoguidetheiractions，ortoregulatetheirpassions，theyweresometimesrestrainedbyconscience，andfrequentlypunishedbyremorse。Butthedirectauthorityofreligionwaslesseffectualthantheholycommunion，whichunitedthemwiththeirChristianbrethreninspiritualfriendship。Theinfluenceofthesesentimentscontributedtosecuretheirfidelityintheservice，orthealliance，oftheRomans，toalleviatethehorrorsofwar，tomoderatetheinsolenceofconquest，andtopreserve，inthedownfalloftheempire，apermanentrespectforthenameandinstitutionsofRome。InthedaysofPaganism，thepriestsofGaulandGermanyreignedoverthepeople，andcontrolledthejurisdictionofthemagistrates；andthezealousproselytestransferredanequal，ormoreample，measureofdevoutobedience，tothepontiffsoftheChristianfaith。Thesacredcharacterofthebishopswassupportedbytheirtemporalpossessions；theyobtainedanhonorableseatinthelegislativeassembliesofsoldiersandfreemen；anditwastheirinterest，aswellastheirduty，tomollify，bypeacefulcounsels，thefiercespiritoftheBarbarians。TheperpetualcorrespondenceoftheLatinclergy，thefrequentpilgrimagestoRomeandJerusalem，andthegrowingauthorityofthepopes，cementedtheunionoftheChristianrepublic，andgraduallyproducedthesimilarmanners，andcommonjurisprudence，whichhavedistinguished，fromtherestofmankind，theindependent，andevenhostile，nationsofmodernEurope。
Buttheoperationofthesecauseswascheckedandretardedbytheunfortunateaccident，whichinfusedadeadlypoisonintothecupofSalvation。WhatevermightbetheearlysentimentsofUlphilas，hisconnectionswiththeempireandthechurchwereformedduringthereignofArianism。TheapostleoftheGothssubscribedthecreedofRimini；professedwithfreedom，andperhapswithsincerity，thattheSonwasnotequal，orconsubstantialtotheFather；^83communicatedtheseerrorstotheclergyandpeople；andinfectedtheBarbaricworldwithaheresy，^84whichthegreatTheodosiusproscribedandextinguishedamongtheRomans。Thetemperandunderstandingofthenewproselyteswerenotadaptedtometaphysicalsubtilties；
buttheystrenuouslymaintained，whattheyhadpiouslyreceived，asthepureandgenuinedoctrinesofChristianity。TheadvantageofpreachingandexpoundingtheScripturesintheTeutoniclanguagepromotedtheapostoliclaborsofUlphilasandhissuccessors；andtheyordainedacompetentnumberofbishopsandpresbytersfortheinstructionofthekindredtribes。TheOstrogoths，theBurgundians，theSuevi，andtheVandals，whohadlistenedtotheeloquenceoftheLatinclergy，^85preferredthemoreintelligiblelessonsoftheirdomesticteachers；andArianismwasadoptedasthenationalfaithofthewarlikeconverts，whowereseatedontheruinsoftheWesternempire。
Thisirreconcilabledifferenceofreligionwasaperpetualsourceofjealousyandhatred；andthereproachofBarbarianwasimbitteredbythemoreodiousepithetofHeretic。TheheroesoftheNorth，whohadsubmitted，withsomereluctance，tobelievethatalltheirancestorswereinhell，^86wereastonishedandexasperatedtolearn，thattheythemselveshadonlychangedthemodeoftheireternalcondemnation。Insteadofthesmoothapplause，whichChristiankingsareaccustomedtoexpectfromtheirroyalprelates，theorthodoxbishopsandtheirclergywereinastateofoppositiontotheAriancourts；andtheirindiscreetoppositionfrequentlybecamecriminal，andmightsometimesbedangerous。^87Thepulpit，thatsafeandsacredorganofsedition，resoundedwiththenamesofPharaohandHolofernes；^88thepublicdiscontentwasinflamedbythehopeorpromiseofagloriousdeliverance；andtheseditioussaintsweretemptedtopromotetheaccomplishmentoftheirownpredictions。
Notwithstandingtheseprovocations，theCatholicsofGaul，Spain，andItaly，enjoyed，underthereignoftheArians，thefreeandpeacefulexerciseoftheirreligion。Theirhaughtymastersrespectedthezealofanumerouspeople，resolvedtodieatthefootoftheiraltars；andtheexampleoftheirdevoutconstancywasadmiredandimitatedbytheBarbariansthemselves。Theconquerorsevaded，however，thedisgracefulreproach，orconfession，offear，byattributingtheirtolerationtotheliberalmotivesofreasonandhumanity；andwhiletheyaffectedthelanguage，theyimperceptibyimbibedthespirit，ofgenuineChristianity。