PART II. possibility or hopes of salvation. They considered CENT. III. the christian church as a society where virtue and innocence reigned universally, and none of whose members, from their entrance into it, had defiled themselves with any enormous crime; and, of consequence they looked upon every society, which readmitted heinous offenders to its communion, as unworthy of the title of a true christian church. It was from hence also, that they assumed the title of Cathari, i. e. the pure; and, what showed still a more extravagant degree of vanity and arrogance, they obliged such as came over to them from the general body of christians, to submit to be baptized a second time, as à necessary preparation for entering into their society. For such deep root had their favourite opinion concerning the irrevocable rejection of heinous offenders taken in their minds, and so great was its influence upon the sentiments they entertained of other christian societies, that they considered the baptism administered in those churches, which received the lapsed to their communion, even after the most sincere and undoubted repentance, as absolutely divested of the power of imparting the remission of sins." n Eusebius, Hist. Eccles. lib. vi. cap. xliii. p. 242. Cyprianus variis Epistolis, xlix. lii. &c. Albaspinæus, Observat. Eccles. lib. ii. cap. xx. xxi. Jos. Aug. Orsi, De criminum capital. inter veteres Christianos absolutione, p. 254. Kenekel, De hæresi Novatiana. THE FOURTH CENTURY. PART I. EXTERNAL HISTORY OF THE CHURCH. CHAPTER I. CONCERNING THE PROSPEROUS AND CALAMITOUS EVENTS WHICH L PART I. THAT I may not separate facts, which are inti- CENT. IV. mately connected with each other, I have judged it expedient to combine, in the same chapter, the prosperous and calamitous events that happened to the church during this century, instead of treating them separately, as I have hitherto done. This combination, which presents things in their natural relations, as causes or effects is, undoubtedly, the principal circumstance that renders history truly interesting. In following, however, this plan, the order of time shall also be observed with as much accuracy as this interesting combination of events will admit of. enjoys peace rance of this In the beginning of this century, the Roman The church empire was under the dominion of four chiefs, of at the ent whom two, Diocletian and Maximian Herculeus, century. were of superior dignity, and were distinguished each by the title of Augustus; while the other two, viz. Constantius Chlorus and Maximinus Galerius, were in a certain degree of subordination to the former, and were honoured with the appellation of Cesars. Under these four empe |