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NATIONS BEYOND THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

187

they pleased, whether a Syrian priest, a Thracian shepherd, or an Arab robber; and they had, in the same lawless spirit, destroyed their emperors again and again. The legions that guarded the frontiers were now weakened by insubjection to discipline and the introduction of luxury; and the barbarians began to discover that the ways into the empire were more numerous and more easily passed.

These foreign enemies, however, were to the Romans what enemies without were to the Church-the means of making them vigilant and united; and during the coming period we shall find the decline of the empire and of the Church thus delayed the former gaining a little strength by vigorous contests with the barbarians, the latter purged and revived by the fires of persecution.

CHAP. XXXIII.

THE NATIONS BEYOND THE ROMAN WORLD. INDEPENDENT
GERMANY.-THE GOTHS.-GALLUS, EMPEROR. THE DECIAN
PERSECUTION.-THE MARTYRS.-CYPRIAN.-FALLING AWAY
FROM THE TRUTH.-FIRST SEPARATION OF CHRISTIANS.-
THE CHURCH
FIRST CHRISTIAN HERMIT.-

AT ROME.

PENANCE.-CONFESSION.

THE Romans had such an idea of their own greatness that they commonly spoke of the empire as the whole world: yet the frequency of their foreign wars might have taught them otherwise; and they were now getting more experience of the strength of the nations lying outside their boundaries.

In the course of our history it has been apparent that the barbarians, as they were called, were far more difficult to overcome than the more civilised nations. Multitudes perished by the sword, and still greater numbers were taken captives, before Gaul, Britain, and Germany could be counted among the provinces of the Roman empire: and even then, the natives who would not submit fled beyond the limits of this new dominion, and in the mountains and wildernesses of the north of Europe they multiplied and grew up in savage independence and determined enmity against the Roman name. Independent Germany (for the Romans had only that part west of the Rhine) extended over a third part of modern Europe; for the inhabi

188

THE ANCIENT GERMANS.

tants of those countries now known as Germany, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Livonia, Prussia, and great part of Poland, were but different tribes of the same great nation, resembling each other in complexion, manners, and language. But they were quite distinct from the Sarmatians and Scythians of modern Russia and northern Asia, and frequently at war with the tribes that lived on their borders. It appears that the climate of Europe was formerly much colder than it is now; for the Rhine and Danube were frequently frozen over, so that the barbarians could transport over them not only numerous armies and horsemen, but the heavy waggons containing their families and goods. Moreover the reindeer, which cannot now live south of the Baltic, was common in the forests of Germany when they were entered by Cæsar. The same causes, namely, immense forests and large morasses, now produce the difference between the climate of Canada and that of the kingdoms of Europe in the same latitude. The ancient Germans were a vigorous race, great lovers of liberty, and equally bold in attacking foreign enemies as in resisting the absolute rule of any one man among themselves. Their divisions and want of arms alone disabled them from taking possession of the tempting provinces of the empire upon which they bordered, and whereon they trespassed whenever an opportunity offered. Their union, in the reign of Marcus Antoninus, enabled them to carry on a long and doubtful conflict; and the German soldiers, then taken into Roman service, found opportunities of teaching their countrymen the arts of war and the use of superior arms. The Goths, Vandals, Alemanni, Lombards, &c., of whom we shall often have occasion to speak, were all Germanic tribes. The Goths came originally from the regions beyond the Baltic, where a remembrance of them is still preserved in the name of Gothland. Their religion was the invention of Odin, the lawgiver of the north; and by him they were taught to worship an invisible Odin as the god of war. Fearing that his doctrine would be disbelieved if he died of disease or old age, the false prophet, when he felt his end approaching, called a large assembly of Swedes and Goths, and having mortally wounded himself in their presence, he assured them that he was going to prepare the feast of heroes in the palace of the god of war. It is probable their faith was confirmed in this manner, for it was generally believed that those who fell in battle would be happy

VANDALS AND GOTHS.

189

for ever; and it is not surprising that those who worshipped a god of war should give themselves up to the practice of war: it was, in fact, part of their religion. By means of large boats with oars, many colonies of Goths crossed the Baltic, which, at the narrowest part, is a voyage of a hundred miles, and settled along the banks of the Vistula; for the barbarians, who were unacquainted with the arts of tillage, seldom cleared any large space in the forests, but raised their rude huts in any suitable spot, and chiefly by the sides of the rivers.

The Vandals, originally one people with the Goths, spread along the sea-coast and the banks of the Oder. The Goths, as they increased in numbers, extended southwards till they gained a settlement in the Ukraine. But instead of cultivating that fertile region they still preferred the labours of war; and as the Scythian territory offered no temptation they turned their longing eyes towards the fruitful fields of Dacia, where they hoped to obtain plenty without toil. Their first attempt in the reign of Philip was successful enough to encourage them to try again; and Decius was scarcely settled in the empire when he heard that Cniva, the Gothic king, was ravaging Moesia with an army of seventy thousand men.

The emperor made great speed to check his progress, and at one period of the struggle it seemed probable the whole army of Goths would be cut off; but in the end they were victorious.

It is supposed that Gallus, the general who commanded one part of the Roman army, betrayed Decius into an unfavourable position in order to obtain the empire: but it is possible that he accidentally posted his troops on the edge of the morass into which they were forced in the heat of battle. The lightly armed barbarians, who were accustomed to the bogs, continued to fight with their long spears: but the legionaries, encumbered by their heavy armour, sank deeper and deeper; so that the greatest part of the army perished, and the body of Decius was never found. His son and appointed successor had been killed by an arrow at the beginning of the battle, A.D. 251. Gallus was readily proclaimed emperor by the remnant of the army, who considered themselves saved by his superior skill; and he freed himself from the victorious Goths by promising to pay them annually a large sum of gold. At his return to Rome the new emperor gave himself up to the indolent enjoyment of the pleasures of the capital, regardless of the conquests of

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PERSECUTION UNDER DECIUS.

Sapor in the East, and the entrance of fresh swarms of barbarians, who were attracted by the report of the riches of the empire. His general Æmilianus, in the meantime, gained such remarkable victories over the Germans that he was proclaimed emperor by the legions in Mosia. Gallus, aroused by this intelligence, again took up arms and went into that province; but the civil war was ended by his destruction in battle, A.D. 253. The triumph of Æmilianus was short, as he was himself defeated by Valerian, a more powerful general, who had been commissioned to bring the legions from Gaul to the aid of Gallus. He arrived too late to save his master; but he revenged his death, and was at once acknowledged as emperor both by the army and senate, A.D. 253.

The heart sickens at the constant recurrence of such acts of violence and scenes of bloodshed; but we are now called to observe the scourge uplifted against the Church, and the profit of it to the children of God.

Decius was a moralist like the Antonines, and so greatly admired as a just and moderate prince that he obtained the flattering title of Optimus (the best). It was therefore to be particularly remarked that, during his short reign of thirty months, he directed the most furious persecution the Christians had ever suffered. It is possible that the false profession of Philip led many besides Decius to hate the Christian name: but, considering his character for justice and humanity towards his subjects in general, we must view his treatment of the Christians as an extraordinary display of human violence, which proved to be the necessary chastening and purification of the Church.

The adversary may have put in his right to destroy the Church on account of its corruptions; but the Lord over-ruled all the malice of Satan for the real good of his people.

During thirty years of rest and security the churches had not used their privileges; and they were multiplied without being edified, because they did not walk in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost (see Acts ix. 31).

An account of these times may be found in the writings of Cyprian, bishop at Carthage. He was a man of wealth and rank, and an orator by profession; but when he was converted, in A. D. 246, he gave up his luxurious mode of life, though he did not choose the opposite extreme of poverty, which many considered there was great merit in doing. He appears to have

STATE OF THE CHURCH.

191

been desirous of serving God, and for thirteen years laboured without ceasing for the benefit of the Church at large. He saw that there was need of chastening; for he observed that, during the period of outward tranquillity, the Christians in general were bent on increasing their wealth or improving their estates. Bishops and deacons, for the most part, were such only in name; works of mercy were neglected, discipline in the lowest state, believers married unbelievers, and dress was studied for the sake of making an attractive appearance. Those who ruled well were despised or railed against; and quarrels, false swearing, and irreverence for the name of God, disgraced the professors of Christianity. Many of the bishops, nominally the overseers of the flock of God, were found travelling to distant places for the sake of pleasure or gain, and were so greedy of filthy lucre, that they used the most dishonourable means in obtaining wealth and increasing it.

False philosophy had been the chief cause of the falling away in the Greek churches, worldly prosperity was as mischievous in the Latin churches. The Decian persecution affected both, and was not only useful in proving the measure of faithfulness that remained among them, but in clearing them from a great host of false professors. As soon as the edicts of Decius went forth, vast numbers of professing Christians returned to idolatry; and the crowd of apostates in Africa was so great that the magistrates desired to defer their confession till another day: but in their terrors they besought permission to sacrifice to the gods that very night, that there might be no doubt they were honest Pagans. At Rome, Fabian, the bishop, suffered death; but many retired to places of concealment, and Cyprian, among the rest, was persuaded by the brethren at Carthage to leave his dangerous situation.

His letters, however, addressed to the churches who sent messengers asking his advice, proved that he was not unconcerned in the sufferings and trials of others. He advised the brethren to visit those who had fallen away, and to exhort them to confess Christ the next opportunity; and he, also, besought them to re-admit into communion all true penitents. With much wisdom he recommended them not to visit the prisoners in great numbers, but to go singly and quietly, that they might give no cause of offence to the ordained magistrates. At the same time he warned them against the danger

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