A Source Book for Ancient Church History - Mirrors

352 A Source Book for Ancient Church History[321]Under the sons of Constantine a harsher policy toward heathenismwas adopted. Laws were passed forbidding heathensacrifices (a, b), and although these were not carried out vigorouslyin the West, where there were many heathen membersof the leading families, they were more generally enforced inthe East, and heathenism was thereby much reduced, at least inoutward manifestations. As to heresy, the action of the emperorsand especially Constantius in his constant endeavor to set asidethe Nicene faith involved harsh measures against all who differedfrom the approved theology of the court. Donatism called forspecial treatment. A policy of conciliation was attempted, but onaccount of the failure to win over the Donatists and their alliancewith fierce revolutionary fanatics, the Circumcellions, violentmeasures were taken against them which nearly extirpated thesect.(a) Codex Theodosianus, XVI, 10, 2; A. D. 341.This edict of Constantius is of importance here as it seems toimply that Constantine did more toward repressing heathensacrifices than to forbid those celebrated in private. It is,however, the only evidence of his prohibiting sacrifice, and itmight have been due to misunderstanding that his example ishere cited.Let superstition cease; let the madness of sacrifices be abolished.For whoever, against the law of the divine prince, our parent[Constantine] and this command of our clemency, shall celebratesacrifices, let a punishment appropriate to him and this presentdecision be issued.(b) Codex Theodosianus, XVI, 10, 3; A. D. 342.