Section 377
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346 ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. ciently prescribed to them, which in all probability their ancestors had established, but they began to make and follow laws, each one according to his own purpose and his own will, and thus dif ferent multitudes assembled with different opinions and of diiferent sects. Hence, when a decree of this kind was issued by us, that they should return again to the established usages of their forefathers, vast numbers were subjected to danger, many, when threatened, endured various kinds of death. But though we saw the great mass still persevering in their folly, and that they neither gave the honour that was due to the immortal gods, nor heeded that of the Christians, still having a regard to our cle mency and our invariable practice, according to which we are wont to grant pardon to all, we most cheerfully have resolved to extend our indulgence in this matter also: that there may be Christians again, and that they may restore their houses in which they were accustomed to assemble, so that nothing be done by them contrary to their profession. In another epistle we shall point out to the judges, what they will be required to observe ; whence, according to this condescension of ours, they are obligated to implore their God for our safety, as well as that of the people and their own. That in every place the public welfare may be preserved, and they may live unmolested in their respective homes and fire-hearths. Such was the purport of this ordinance, which, according to our ability, we have translated from the Latin into the Greek.* But the affairs after this we are now farther to consider. * Since writing the above notes, we have compared the original Latin edict, which is still preserved in Lanctantius, " de morlibus persecutorum" Our con jectures, as it regards style and phraseology, we have found considerably confirmed by this comparison. The Latinity, however, of the edict itself, savours of the de generacy of the day. It is surprising, that neither Valesius nor his translator, Shorting, has noticed the edict as preserved by Lanctantius. And yet the former has struck upon the signification of ea-jj-r^i!, occurring twice in this edict.