Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1843-11-03
orders had teen secretly issued by Velens to
perpetrate this wanton barba,tv.

perpetrate this wanton barba'ty.
The memorable interview with Saint Ba-
sill, as is related by the Catholic party, dis
plays, If the weakness, certainly the patience
and federation of the sovereign; IL the I'M
compromising frmness Of the prelate, some
ofthat leaven pride with which he is tainted
by Jerome.
During his circuit through the Asiaic prov
inces, the emperor approached the city Of
C@sarea in Cappadocia. Modestus, the vo-
lent and nnscruppous favori'e Of Valcns,
was sent before. to persuade the bishop TO
submit to the religion Of the emperor. Ba.
sill was inhexible. "know Won not" said
the offended officer, that have power to
strip you of all your possessions, to Danish
you, to deprive you of life 2 'He,' answer.
ed Aasil, 'who possesses nothing can loose
nothing; all you can take from me is the
wretched garments wear, and the few books
which are my only wealth. As to exile, the
earth is the Lords; everywhere it will be
my country, or rather, my place of pilgrim.
age. Death will be a mercy; it will but
admit me into life ; long have been dead
10 this world Modestus expressed his sur
prise at this unusual tone of intrepid address.
'You have never, them replied the prelate,
'conversed before with bishop?' Modestus
returned to his master. Violence will be
the only course with this man, who is ncith-
er to be appalled, nv menaces nor won BY
Establishments But the emperor shrunk
from violent measures. His humber sup
plcation confined ltsefto the admission of
Arians into the communion of Basil hut he
implored in vain. The emperor mingled
with the crowd of undistinguished Worship
pers; but he was so impressed by the solem-
nifty of The Catholic service, the deep and
full chanting of the psalms. the silent adora-
ton of the people, the order and the majes-
ty, by the calm dignity Of the bishop and of
his attendant clergy, which appeared more
like the serenity ofangels than the busy scene
of mortal men, that awe-struck and over
powered, he scarcely ventured to approach
to make his offering. The clergy stood ir-
resolnte whether they were TO receive it from
the infectious hand of an Aran: Basil at
length, while the trembling emperor leaned
tor support on an attendant priest, conde-
scended to advance and accept the ob!a,ion.
But neither application, nor brides, nor
threats could induce the bishop to admit the
sovereign to the communion. In Il personal
interview, instead of convincing the bishop,
Varns was so overpowered by the eloquence
of Basil as to beStOw an endowment on the
Church for the use Of the poor. A scene Of
mingled intrigue and asserted miracle ensu-
ed. The exile Of Basil was determined but
the mind of Valens was alarmed by the dan.
gerons illness of his son. The prayers of
Basil were said TO have restored the youth
to life; but short time after, having been
baptized by Arian hands, he reapsed and
died. BisiI, however, maintained his place
and dignity TO the end.
But the fate Of Vaens drew on; it was
followed by the first permanent establishment
of barbarians within the frontiers of the Ro-
man empire. Christianity now began to as
sumo new and important function, that as
slmilation and union between the conquerors
and the conquered which prevented the to-
tai extinction of the Roman civilization, and
the oppression Of Europe by complete and
almost hopeless barbarism. However Chris
tianity might have disturbed the peace, and
therefore, in some degree, the stability of the
empire. by the religious factions which dis
tracted the principal cities however that
foreign principle OF celibacy, which had now
become completely identified with it, by with.
drawing so many active. and powerful minds
into the cloister or the hermitage. may have
diminished the civil energies, and even have
impaired the military forces of the empire,
yet the enterprising and victorious religion
amply repaid those injuries by its influence
in remoddeling the new state of society. If
treacherous to the interests of the Roman
empire, it was true to those of mankind.
Throughout the whole process of the reset
ding of Europe and the other provinces of
the empire by the migratory tribes from the
north and east, and the vast system of colo
nizaton and conquest which introduced one
or more new races INTO every province,
Christianity was the one common bond, the
harmonizing principle, which snbdued TO
something like UNITY the adverse and conflici-
ing elements Of society Milman.