but the far greater number, allured by the prospect
of gold, and awed by the presence of the emperor, contracted the
criminal engagement; and their future perseverance in the worship of the
gods was enforced by every consideration of duty and of interest.

By the frequent repetition of these arts, and at the expense of sums
which would have purchased the service of half the nations of Scythia,
Julian gradually acquired for his troops the imaginary protection of
the gods, and for himself the firm and effectual support of the Roman
legions. [53] It is indeed more than probable, that the restoration and
encouragement of Paganism revealed a multitude of pretended Christians,
who, from motives of temporal advantage, had acquiesced in the religion
of the former reign; and who afterwards returned, with the same
flexibility of conscience, to the faith which was professed by the
successors of Julian.

[Footnote 49: Under the reign of Lewis XIV. his subjects of every rank
aspired to the glorious title of Convertisseur, expressive of their
zea and success in making proselytes. The word and the idea are growing
obsolete in France may they never be introduced into England.]

[Footnote 50: See the strong expressions of Libanius, which were
probably those of Julian himself, (Orat. Parent. c. 59, p. 285.)]

[Footnote 51: When Gregory Nazianzen (Orat. x. p. 167) is desirous to
magnify the Christian firmness of his brother Caesarius, physician to
the Imperial court, he owns that Caesarius disputed with a formidable
adversary. In his invectives he scarcely allows any share of wit or
courage to the apostate.]

[Footnote 52: Julian, Epist. xxxviii. Ammianus, xxii. 12. Adeo ut
in dies paene singulos milites carnis distentiore sagina victitantes
incultius, potusque aviditate correpti, humeris impositi transeuntium
per plateas, ex publicis aedibus..... ad sua diversoria portarentur. The
devout prince and the indignant historian describe the same scene;
and in Illyricum or Antioch, similar causes must have produced similar
effects.]

[Footnote 53: Gregory (Orat. iii. p. 74, 75, 83-86) and Libanius, (Orat.
Parent. c. lxxxi. lxxxii. p. 307, 308,). The sophist owns and justifies
the expense of these military conversions.]

While the devout monarch incessantly labored to restore and propagate
the religion of his ancestors, he embraced the extraordinary design
of rebuilding the temple of Jerusalem. In a public epistle [54] to the
nation or c