PAGE. 454 455 The two Cæsars, Severus and Maximin,........................................................... 453 274. Birth, Education, and Escape of Constantine,..... 306. Death of Constantius, and Elevation of Constantine,........... 457 Discontent of the Romans at the Apprehension of Taxes,.. His Dominion shared between Maximin and Licinius,. Treaty of Peace,. THE PROGRESS OF THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION, AND THE SENTIMENTS, MAN- Importance of the Inquiry,.. Its Difficulties,...... Five Causes of the Growth of Christianity, I. THE FIRST CAUSE. Zeal of the Jews,. Its gradual Increase,. Their Religion better suited to Defence than to Conquest,. Their Sects, Progress, and Influence,. The Dæmons considered as the Gods of Antiquity, 53€ II. THE SECOND CAUSE. The Doctrine of the Immortality of the Among the Pagans of Greece and Rome,. Among the Barbarians and the Jews,.. Approaching End of the World,. Doctrine of the Millennium,.... ........ Conflagration of Rome and of the World,.. The Pagans devoted to eternal Punishment,. The primitive Christians condemn Pleasure and Luxury, Their Sentiments concerning Marriage and Chastity, Its primitive Freedom and Equality,.. Institutions of Bishops as Presidents of the College of Presby- Progress of Episcopal Authority, Preeminence of the Metropolitan Churches, Whether the first Christians were mean and ignorant, Some Exceptions with regard to Learning,.. ........ Christianity most favorably received by the Poor and Simple,.... 586 Rejected by some eminent Men of the first and second Centuries, 586 .... 584 ........... 585 THE HISTORY OF THE DECLINE AND FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE. INTRODUCTION. CHAPTER I. THE EXTENT AND MILITARY FORCE OF THE EMPIRE IN THE AGE OF THE ANTONINES. In the second century of the Christian Æra, the empire of Rome comprehended the fairest part of the earth, and the most civilized portion of mankind. The frontiers of that extensive monarchy were guarded by ancient renown and disciplined valor. The gentle but powerful influence of laws and manners had gradually cemented the union of the provinces. Their peaceful inhabitants enjoyed and abused the advantages of wealth and luxury. The image of a free constitution was preserved with decent reverence: the Roman senate appeared to possess the sovereign authority, and devolved on the emperors all the executive powers of gov ernment. During a happy period of more than fourscore years, the public administration was conducted by the virtue and abilities of Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, and the two Antonines. It is the design of this, and of the two succeeding chapters, to describe the prosperous condition of their empire; and afterwards, from the death of Marcus Antoninus, to deduce the most important circumstances of its decline and fall; a revolution which will ever be remembered, and is still felt by the nations of the earth. The principal conquests of the Romans were achieved |