The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (Bury)/Volume 2

by Edward Gibbon

THE HISTORY

OF THE

DECLINE AND FALL OF THE
ROMAN EMPIRE

BY

EDWARD GIBBON

EDITED IN SEVEN VOLUMES

WITH INTRODUCTION, NOTES, APPENDICES, AND INDEX

BY

J. B. BURY, M.A.

HON. LITT.D. OF DURHAM

FELLOW AND TUTOR OF TRINITY COLLEGE, DUBLIN

PROFESSOR OF MODERN HISTORY IN DUBLIN UNIVERSITY

VOL. II.

METHUEN & CO.

36 ESSEX STREET, W.C.

LONDON

1897

New Edition

CONTENTS OF THE SECOND VOLUME

CHAPTER XV

The Progress of the Christian Religion, and the Sentiments, Manners, Numbers and Conditions of the Primitive Christians

		PAGE
	Importance of the Inquiry	1
	Its Difficulties	1
	Five Causes of the Growth of Christianity	2
	I. THE FIRST CAUSE. Zeal of the Jews	2
	Its gradual increase	4
	Their Religion better suited to Defence than to Conquest	5
	More Liberal Zeal of Christianity	6
	Obstinacy and Reasons of the Believing Jews	7
	The Nazerene Church of Jerusalem	8
	The Ebionites	10
	The Gnostics	11
	Their Sects, Progress, and Influence	13
	The Dæmons considered as the Gods of Antiquity	15
	Abhorrence of the Christians for Idoltary	16
	Ceremonies	16
	Arts	17
	Festivals	18
	Zeal for Christianity	19
	II. THE SECOND CAUSE. The Doctrine of the Immortality of the Soul among the Philosophers	19
	Among the Pagans of Greece and Rome	20
	Among the Barbarians and the Jews	21
	Among the Christians	22
	Approaching the End of the World	23
	Doctrine of the Milennium	23
	Conflagration of Rome and the World	25
	The Pagans devoted to Eternal Punishment	26
	Were often converted by their fears	27
	III. THE THIRD CAUSE. Miraculous power of the Primitive Church	28
	Their Truth Contested	29
	Our perplexity in defining the miraculous Period	30
	Use of the Primitive Miracles	31
	IV. THE FOURTH CAUSE. Virtues of the first Christians	32
	Effects of their Repentance	23 CONTENTS Care of their Reputation 33 Morality of the Fathers 34 Principles of Human Nature 34 The Primitive Christians condemn Pleasure and Luxury 35 Their Sentiments concerning Marriage and Chastity 36 Their Aversion to the Business of War and Government 38 V. THE FIFTH CAUSE. The Christians active in the Government of the Church 39 Its Primitive Freedom and Equality 40 Insititution of Bishops as Presidents of the College of Presbyters 41 Provincial Councils 43 Union of the Church 43 Progress of Episcopal Authority 44 Pre-eminence of the Metropolitan Churches 45 Ambition of the Roman Pontiff 45 Laity and Clergy 46 Oblations and Revenue of the Church 47 Distribution of Revenue 50 Excommunication 51 Public Penance 52 The Dignity of Episcopal Government 53 Recapitulation of the five Causes 54 Weakness of Polytheism 54 The Scepticism of the Pagan World proved favourable to the new Religion 55 And the Peace and Union of the Roman Empire 56 Historical View of the Progress of Christianity 57 In the East 57 The Church of Antioch 59 In Egypt 59 In Rome 60 In Africa and the Western Provinces 62 Beyond the Limits of the Roman Empire 63 General Proportion of Christians and Pagans 65 Whether the first Christians were mean and ignorant 65 Some Exceptions with regard to Learning 66 Some Exceptions with regard to Rank and Fortune 67 Christianity most favourably received by the Poor and Simple 67 Rejected by some eminent Men of the first and second Centuries 68 Their Neglect of Prophecy 68 Their Neglect of Miracles 69 General Silence concerning the Darkness of the Passion 69 CHAPTER XVI The Conduct of the Roman Government towards Christians, from the Reign of Nero to that of Constantine Christianity persecuted by the Roman Emperors 71 Inquiry into their Motives 72 Rebellious Spirit of the Jews 72 A.D. 257 CONTENTS Toleration of the Jewish Religion ... The Jews were a People which followed, the Christians a Sect which deserted, the Religion of their Fathers Christianity accused of Atheism, and mistaken by the People and Philosophers The Union and Assemblies of the Christians considered as a dangerous Conspiracy Their Manners calumniated Their Imprudent Defence ale Idea of the Conduct of the Emperors towards the Christians ... They neglected the Christians as a Sect of Jews The Fire of Rome under the Reign of Nero pe Jag aaa of the Christians as the Incendiaries of the ity Remarks on the Passage of Tacitus relative to the Persecution of the Christians by Nero sia Oppression of the Jews and Christians by ‘Domitian Execution of Clemens the Consul . Ignorance of Pliny concerning the Christians Trajan and his Successors establish a ae Mode of proceeding against them Se Oe Popular Clamours Trials of the Christians Humanity of the Roman Magistrates Inconsiderable Number of Martyrs 5 Example of Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage His Danger and Flight aa A His Banishment His Condemnation His Martyrdom ae Ml Various Incitements to Martyrdom Ardour of the first Christians Gradual Relaxation Three Methods of escaping Martyrdom Alternatives of Severity and Toleration The Ten Persecutions Supposed Edicts of Tiberius and Marcus ‘Antoninus 180 State of the Christians in the Reigns of Commodus and Severus 211-249. Of the Successors of Severus Sa Of Maximin, Philip, and Decius 253-260. Of Valerian, Gallienus, and his Successors 260 Paulof Samosata, his Manners _... ee 270 He is degraded from the See of Antioch ... 274 The Sentence is executed by Aurelian... 284-303. Peace and Prosperity of the Church under Diocletian 393 Progress of Zeal and Superstition among the Pagans Maximian and Galerius punish a few Christian Soldiers ‘ Galerius prevails on Diocletian to begin a apa Persecution Demolition of the Church of Nicomedia ... 5 wb The first Edict against the Christians Zeal and Punishment of a Christian Fire of the Palace of Nicomedia imputed to the Christians Execution of the first Edict aa Ba Demolition of the Churches [303-304.] Subsequent Edicts 303-311. Oencnl IdcAcrftlin Ptracculion In the Western Provinces, under Constantius and Constantine In Italy and Africa, under Maximian and Severus And under Maxentius In Illyiicum and the Exit, undei Galctiai and Hoxlinia jii a«leriu« publUhta an Edict of TolcrMlon Peace of th« Church Maximin preparn to renew the Perueulion 313 End of the Peraeeution* Probable Account of the Softetinft of the Uanyr* ami Con- feuoit , Nnmbci of Maiiyis Conclusion .: ntaa 116 n •JO '3' '34 'J5 '3S 1 CHAPTER XVII FouHJAtiif i>f Canilantlnnflt—P/tlitifot SvtlttH t/ C«HllaMli*i, amd Studtivri — Mililtiry Ditciflm — Tkt Pai*C4 — FA* t'litmicti J14 Duign of a new Capital 1^ Situation of Byianbum , „, 141 DcKviptlon otCon«untinople 141 The Boaphoiui 143 Th« iPoft of Conilaminopla .' 14] The I^potitiB [44 The Hdltspcmi 144 Advania^ci of Constantinople 14a Poundoiion of the City 147 lu Extent 148 ProeccMof the Work ij/a Edificn 151 Population _. ... 154 Privilese* 155 3JO [May 1 1] or t}4- Dedication 157 300-500. Foini of Government In lb* Roniui Empiie 150 Hioaichy of the State ijg Three Itankt of Honout ite Four Division* of Office ... ... 160 I. TheConauU ... 161 The Patricians 1IS3 11. The Prieiorian PirfccU 165 The Pricfccti; of Kome and Conitentinople tfr; The PtoconHult, Vicc-prcfeci*, Ac ... .., •» ... 1O9 The GovGinoik of the Pcovincoa «. ... 17a The ProfCHiun of the Law 171 III. The Military Officer* 174 Diatinction of the Troopi 176 Reduction of the Lefiion* 178 Diffinltyof l.evici .„ 179 lneica«e of Baibaiian Auaillatiea „. .,. iSi Page:Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire vol 2 (1897).djvu/13 Page:Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire vol 2 (1897).djvu/14 Page:Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire vol 2 (1897).djvu/15 Page:Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire vol 2 (1897).djvu/16 Page:Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire vol 2 (1897).djvu/17 Page:Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire vol 2 (1897).djvu/18