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on the immortality of the soul-he expressed his expectation of being united with heaven, and with the stars,* which was one of his astrological vagaries, and he breathed his last without indicating the least sorrow for his fate, or the suddenness of his death.

His attempt to rebuild the temple at Jerusalem, was made with a view to furnish a specious argument against prophecy, and of course the truth of revelation. The prodigies on the occasion, which prevented the completion of the work, are attested by contemporary writers, such as Ammianus Marcellinus, and Gregory Nazianzen. This article of history has been the subject of much dispute. But whether we allow or not that the prodigies, such as earthquakes and balls of fire, happened, to the annoyance of the workmen and to the destruction of their commenced work, it is evident that something prevented the work, for the temple was never rebuilt, and thus our Saviour's prophecy remains as yet unsuspected. "Jerusalem is to be trodden down of the Gentiles till the time of the Gentiles is fulfilled."

6. On the death of Julian, the race of Constantius Clorus became extinct, and the Roman world was without a head, and without an heir. In this situation, the army finally fixed on Jovian, a Pannonian, and the emperor's first domestic, as his successor, 363 A. C. Jovian made peace with the Persians, by the cession of five provinces; for on Julian's death the army was brought to the brink of destruction, and by such a sacrifice only could he save it and himself.

This emperor applied himself to restore tranquillity to the Church. He displayed the banner of the cross, and reversed the edicts of Julian respecting Christianity. His reign, which continued only seven months, was mild and equitable. He died suddenly at the age of thirty-three years.

§ While Jovian was on his march to secure the palace of Constantinople, his wife with an imperial train hastened to meet him, carrying with her their infant son. The moment of embracing her husband seemed to be at hand: but the distressing news of his death which was immediately communicated to her, most cruelly disappointed her hopes. He had died the night before, as some report, by suffocation from the vapour of charcoal.

7. Valentinian I., after a delay of a few days was elected emperor by the army, 364 A. C. One month after, he associated his brother Valens, in the empire, and gave him the eastern provinces. From this period, the division of the empire into Eastern and Western, became fixed and permanent.

*This was in agreement with the doctrine of Pythagoras and Plato, which seems to exclude any personal or conscious immortality.

The empire, however, was still considered as one body. On the East, the Persians were making inroads. The West was continually invaded by the northern barbarians. The latter were repelled by the emperor in many successful battles. He favoured the Christian religion, and his domestic administration was equitable and wise. His temper, however, was violent. He died on an expedition against the Alemanni, 367 A. C.

§ It is said that the barbarians against whom he had last taken arms, had provoked him beyond all endurance, so that when their ambassadors came to sue for mercy, his anger was raised to such a height, and his tones and gestures were so violent, that he ruptured a blood vessel, and expired on the spot.

In the East, Valens held a weak and inefficient sceptre. Engaged in the Arian heresy which he favoured, he threw the provinces into confusion and contention, and at the same time exposed his dominions to the inroads of the barbarians, who came under the profession of friends and allies. He died in 378 A. C.

These were the Goths who emigrated from Scandinavia, and who, together with several other barbarous nations, will soon be described in this account of the Roman empire, since they are so intimately connected with its destiny.

§ In 376, Valens permitted vast hordes of the Goths, who had been driven out of their country by the Huns, to settle in Thrace Here, however, they soon plundered the very country conceded to them as an asylum. The emperor hastened to oppose them, but he was defeated in the famous battle of Adrianople, two thirds of his army having been cut to pieces.

Being himself wounded, he was carried into a cottage, where on the same day he was burnt alive by the barbarians, who set fire to the cottage, without knowing that it contained the emperor of the East.

8. Gratian, a son of Valentinian, succeeded his father, 367 A. C. He soon became possessor of the whole empire, by the death of Valens. Upon this event, he took Theodosius as his associate, on whom he conferred the eastern provinces. He began to reign in his 17th year, and died at the age of 24 years. He was a well disposed prince, but deficient in energy of character.

§ Gratian undertook to destroy the remains of paganism; but Rome, at the time, happening to be afflicted by a severe famine, the favourers of that superstition ascribed the calamity to the wrath of

the gods. A general dissatisfaction ensued, and Maximus, who commanded in Britain, taking advantage of this state of things, caused himself to be proclaimed emperor. Gratian marching into Gaul to oppose him, was deserted by his soldiers, and killed at Lyons, 371 A. C.

9. Valentinian II. was the successor of his brother Giatian. Being dispossessed by Maximus, he took refuge with Theodosius, who was then reigning in the East, and whe restored him to the throne. From that time he ruled with justice. After wearing the crown for several years, he was strangled by a Gaul named Arbogastus, who had assumed an authority over his sovereign, 392 A. C. The tyrant Eugenius, whom the Gaul caused to be proclaimed on this occasion, was defeated and put to death by Theodosius.

10. In the East, after the death of Valens, Theodosius succeeded to the throne, 379 A. C. He was deservedly surnamed the Great. The barbarians he repelled with success, and he secured the prosperity of his people by wise and salutary laws. It was during his reign, that Christianity obtained the entire ascendency over paganism, as the religion of the Roman people.

After the death of Valentinian II., the whole empire came into possession of Theodosius; and he was the last who reigned over both the East and West. Previously to his decease, he divided the empire between his two sons, assigning the West to Honorius, and the East to Arcadius. From this era they became two distinct empires, and will be treated of separately.

Theodosius the Great, was the son of Count Theodosius, a very able general, who had been beheaded by the order of Gratian. To atone for his injustice, Gratian chose the Count's son as his colleague, and gave him the East for his portion. A few days after his elec tion, he gained a signal victory over the Goths, who immediately sued for peace.

In the year 390, Theodosius cruelly punished the inhabitants of Thessalonica, who had killed their governor on a certain occasion, by sending his soldiers against the place, and putting 7000 to the sword. Such, however, was the influence of St. Ambrose, that he obliged the emperor, by a public penance, to expiate his crime.

In religion, Theodosius espoused the orthodox party. His faith is said to have been confirmed by an argument adapted to the meanest capacity. He had conferred on Arcadius, his eldest son, the ti tle of Augustus; and the two princes were seated on a throne to receive the homage of their subjects. Among others who offered their

homage, was Amphilochius, bishop of Icenium. He, however, ap. proached Theodosius alone with reverence, the son he accosted with familiarity.

The monarch, offended by the conduct of the bishop, gave orders that he should be thrust from his presence; but while the guards were engaged in this act, the good bishop exclaimed, "Such is the treatment, O emperor! which the king of heaven has prepared for those impious men who affect to worship the Father, but refuse to acknowledge the co-equal dignity of his divine Son."

This declaration had the effect of propitiating the emperor, and fixing his mind more strongly than before, in the faith.

11. The Roman empire had now become excessively weakened by its unwieldly extent, and had already suffered much from the incursions of its barbarous neighbours. It was, however, destined to suffer far more in the end, from the last named source. Its separation into two empires, favoured the projects of the barbarians, who, from this period, poured in like a torrent upon these cultivated regions. The Western empire in a few years was completely overwhelmed.

A short account of the barbarous nations, who acted so conspicuous a part in this tragedy, seems to be demanded in this place.

The Huns were a fierce and savage nation, at first inhabiting the vast deserts which border China on the north. A part of them, owing, it is said, to civil wars, retired to the westward, and settled to the north of the Caspian sea, near the source of the river Ural.

§ From thence, 376 A. C., advancing towards the Palus Mæotis (sca of Asof) under Balamir, their chief, they subdued the Alains, and forced such of them as were capable of bearing arms to join them; the remainder they put to death. With this accession of strength and numbers, they fell upon the Ostrogoths and Visogoths, and having driven them away from their country, took possession of it themselves. This was a region extending from the Tanais to the Danube. Their subsequent history, we shall find identified with the Roman affairs.

The Alains inhabited the north of Asiatic Sarmatia, and were known to the Romans in the time of Pompey. Under the first emperors, they several times invaded the frontier provinces.

§ Those of them who escaped the arms of the Huns, pushed their way towards Pannonia, whence advancing still further to the west, they united with the Suevi and the Vandals, and continuing their migrations, they finally settled in Lusitania, now Portugal, where in 477, they were conquered by the Visogoths.

The Vandals issued from Scandinavia, now Sweden, and crossing the Baltic, first settled in a part of Germany. On account of increasing numbers, they again emigrated, and taking their course eastward, possessed themselves of the country towards the Tanais, whence they made several incursions upon the Roman provinces.

§ They at length formed a junction with the Suevi and Alains, and marched into Spain, a part of which they settled, and called after their name, Vandalusia or Andalusia. Their history downward, is pursued in that of the Romans.

The Goths came originally from Scandinavia.

They first settled in Pomerania, whence advancing towards the east, they took up their abode to the north of the lake Mæotis. Here they were divided into Visogoths, or Goths of the West, and Ostrogoths, or Goths of the East.

§ Being overcome by the Huns, they were forced to abandon their last settlement, and a part of them took refuge in Pannonia, where they remained till they formed the new kingdom of Italy, hereafter to be mentioned.

The Heruli also, originated in Scandinavia. They first emigrated towards the East, and settled on the borders of the lake Mæotis. They afterward returned towards the West.

It is said that coming to the ocean, they embarked for Thule, one of the Shetland islands, or, as others suppose, what is now called Iceland, where they finally settled. As we shall soon learn, the first sovereign of the new kingdom of Italy was a chief of the Heruli. The Gepida were another Scandinavian tribe. They first planted themselves on the Vistula, whence they advanced east towards the Tanais.

§ Here being subdued by Attila, the Hun, they served under him in his expedition to Gaul. Upon his death, they shook off the yoke. They were finally destroyed by the Lombards.

The Suevi were a warlike nation of Germany, inhabiting that part of it in which Berlin is now situated. They were great wanderers, and often changed their habitations.

§ In 406, they entered Gaul with the Alains and Vandals, with whom they passed into Spain, in a part of which they established a monarchy. This was afterwards destroyed by the Visogoths.

The Burgundians first inhabited what now constitutes the kingdom of Prussia. From this country they were afterwards expelled by the Gepida. They frequently crossed the Rhine, and invaded Gaul, and brought trouble on the empire.

There were other minor tribes of barbarians, of which no particular account need be here given. They were such as

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