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OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE. 227 naturally led to enquire, what confidence can be placed CHAP, in the doubtful and imperfect monuments of ancient ^^ credulity; what degree of credit can be assigned to a courtly bishop and a passionate declaimer, who, under the protection of Constantine, enjoyed the exclusive privilege of recording the persecutions inflicted on the christians by the vanquished rivals or disregarded pre- decessors of their gracious sovereign. q2
