218 THE DECLINE AND FALL CHAP, tious views, the experience of six years of persecution, '^ • and the salutary reflections which a lingering and pain- ful distemper suggested to the mind of Galerius, at length convinced him that the most violent efforts of despotism are insufficient to extirpate a whole people, or to subdue their religious prejudices. Desirous of repairing the mischief that he had occasioned, he pub- lished in his own name, and in those of Licinius and Constantine, a general edict, which, after a pompous recital of the imperial titles, proceeded in the following manner : Galerius "Among the important cares which have occupied publishes Q^j. j^i^j for ^^q utility and preservation of the empire, toleration, it was our intention to correct and reestablish all things according to the ancient laws and public discipline of the Romans. We were particularly desirous of re- claiming, into the way of reason and nature, the de- luded christians, who had renounced the religion and ceremonies instituted by their fathers ; and presump- tuously despising the practice of antiquity, had invented extravagant laws and opinions, according to the dictates of their fancy, and had collected a various society from the different provinces of our empire. The edicts which we have published to enforce the worship of the gods having exposed many of the christians to danger and distress, many having suffered death, and many more, who still persist in their impious folly, being left destitute of coit/ public exercise of religion, we are dis- posed to extend to those unhappy men the effects of our wonted clemency. We permit them therefore freely to profess their private opinions, and to assemble in their conventicles without fear or molestation, pro- vided always that they preserve a due respect to the established laws and government. By another rescript we shall signify our intentions to the judges and magi- strates ; and we hope that our indulgence will engage the martyrs of Palestine, principally relate to the persecution of Galerius and Maximin. The general lamentations with which Laclantius opens the fifth book of his Divine Institutions, allude to tlieir cruelty.
