A Source Book for Ancient Church History - Mirrors

§ 60. The Repression of Heathenism under Constantine 313given by heavenly providence may not for the occasion of a shorttime perish.(h) Codex Theodosianus. VIII, 16, 1. Cf. Kirch, n. 750.Celibacy was favored by the Church. By the Lex Julia etPapia Poppea it had been forbidden under a fine and lossof rights under wills. Childless marriages also rendered theparties liable to disabilities.Those who are held as celibates by the ancient law are freedfrom the threatened terrors of the laws, and let them so live asif by the compact of marriage they were among the number ofmarried men, and let all have an equal standing as to taking whateach one deserves. Neither let any one be held childless; and letthem not suffer the penalties set for this. The same thing we holdregarding women, and freely to all we loose from their necks thecommands which the law placed upon them as a certain yoke.But there is no application of this benefit to husbands and wivesas regards each other, whose deceitful wiles are often scarcelyrestrained by the appointed rigor of the law, but let the pristineauthority of the law continue between such persons.§ 60. The Repression of Heathenism under ConstantineConstantine's religious policy in respect to heathenism may havebeen from the first to establish Christianity as the sole religion ofthe Empire and to put down heathenism. If so, in the executionof that policy he proceeded with great caution, especially in theperiod before his victory over Licinius. It looks at times as if fora while he aimed at a parity of religions. Certain is the fact thatonly as conditions became more favorable to active measuresof repression he increased the severity of his laws against what