andsomeindulgencewasshowntothemeanercriminals，whoassumedthemeritofanearlyrepentance。Ifanycreditcouldbeallowedtoconfessionsextortedbyfearorpain，andtovaguereports，theoffspringofmaliceandcredulity，theheresyofthePriscillianistswouldbefoundtoincludethevariousabominationsofmagic，ofimpiety，andoflewdness。^56
Priscillian，whowanderedabouttheworldinthecompanyofhisspiritualsisters，wasaccusedofprayingstarknakedinthemidstofthecongregation；anditwasconfidentlyasserted，thattheeffectsofhiscriminalintercoursewiththedaughterofEuchrociahadbeensuppressed，bymeansstillmoreodiousandcriminal。Butanaccurate，orratheracandid，inquirywilldiscover，thatifthePriscillianistsviolatedthelawsofnature，itwasnotbythelicentiousness，butbytheausterity，oftheirlives。Theyabsolutelycondemnedtheuseofthemarriage—bed；andthepeaceoffamilieswasoftendisturbedbyindiscreetseparations。Theyenjoyed，orrecommended，atotalabstinencefromallanimafood；andtheircontinualprayers，fasts，andvigils，inculcatedaruleofstrictandperfectdevotion。Thespeculativetenetsofthesect，concerningthepersonofChrist，andthenatureofthehumansoul，werederivedfromtheGnosticandManichaeansystem；andthisvainphilosophy，whichhadbeentransportedfromEgypttoSpain，wasilladaptedtothegrosserspiritsoftheWest。TheobscuredisciplesofPriscilliansufferedlanguished，andgraduallydisappeared:histenetswererejectedbytheclergyandpeople，buthisdeathwasthesubjectofalongandvehementcontroversy；whilesomearraigned，andothersapplauded，thejusticeofhissentence。Itiswithpleasurethatwecanobservethehumaneinconsistencyofthemostillustrioussaintsandbishops，AmbroseofMilan，^57
andMartinofTours，^58who，onthisoccasion，assertedthecauseoftoleration。Theypitiedtheunhappymen，whohadbeenexecutedatTreves；theyrefusedtoholdcommunionwiththeirepiscopalmurderers；andifMartindeviatedfromthatgenerousresolution，hismotiveswerelaudable，andhisrepentancewasexemplary。ThebishopsofToursandMilanpronounced，withouthesitation，theeternaldamnationofheretics；buttheyweresurprised，andshocked，bythebloodyimageoftheirtemporaldeath，andthehonestfeelingsofnatureresistedtheartificialprejudicesoftheology。ThehumanityofAmbroseandMartinwasconfirmedbythescandalousirregularityoftheproceedingsagainstPriscillianandhisadherents。Thecivilandecclesiasticalministershadtransgressedthelimitsoftheirrespectiveprovinces。Thesecularjudgehadpresumedtoreceiveanappeal，andtopronounceadefinitivesentence，inamatteroffaith，andepiscopaljurisdiction。Thebishopshaddisgracedthemselves，byexercisingthefunctionsofaccusersinacriminalprosecution。ThecrueltyofIthacius，^59whobeheldthetortures，andsolicitedthedeath，oftheheretics，provokedthejustindignationofmankind；andthevicesofthatprofligatebishopwereadmittedasaproof，thathiszealwasinstigatedbythesordidmotivesofinterest。SincethedeathofPriscillian，therudeattemptsofpersecutionhavebeenrefinedandmethodizedintheholyoffice，whichassignstheirdistinctpartstotheecclesiasticalandsecularpowers。Thedevotedvictimisregularlydeliveredbythepriesttothemagistrate，andbythemagistratetotheexecutioner；andtheinexorablesentenceofthechurch，whichdeclaresthespiritualguiltoftheoffender，isexpressedinthemildlanguageofpityandintercession。
[Footnote51:SeetheSacredHistoryofSulpiciusSeverus，l。
ii。p。437—452，edit。Ludg。Bat。1647，acorrectandoriginalwriter。Dr。LardnerCredibility，&c。，partii。vol。ix。p。256
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