the Scriptures
in the Teutonic language promoted the apostolic labors of Ulphilas and
his successors; and they ordained a competent number of bishops and
presbyters for the instruction of the kindred tribes. The Ostrogoths,
the Burgundians, the Suevi, and the Vandals, who had listened to the
eloquence of the Latin clergy, [85] preferred the more intelligible
lessons of their domestic teachers; and Arianism was adopted as the
national faith of the warlike converts, who were seated on the ruins
of the Western empire. This irreconcilable difference of religion was a
perpetual source of jealousy and hatred; and the reproach of Barbarian
was imbittered by the more odious epithet of Heretic. The heroes of
the North, who had submitted, with some reluctance, to believe that all
their ancestors were in hell, [86] were astonished and exasperated to
learn, that they themselves had only changed the mode of their eternal
condemnation. Instead of the smooth applause, which Christian kings are
accustomed to expect from their royal prelates, the orthodox bishops
and their clergy were in a state of opposition to the Arian courts;
and their indiscreet opposition frequently became criminal, and might
sometimes be dangerous. [87] The pulpit, that safe and sacred organ of
sedition, resounded with the names of Pharaoh and Holofernes; [88] the
public discontent was inflamed by the hope or promise of a glorious
deliverance; and the seditious saints were tempted to promote the
accomplishment of their own predictions. Notwithstanding these
provocations, the Catholics of Gaul, Spain, and Italy, enjoyed, under
the reign of the Arians, the free and peaceful exercise of their
religion. Their haughty masters respected the zeal of a numerous people,
resolved to die at the foot of their altars; and the example of their
devout constancy was admired and imitated by the Barbarians themselves.
The conquerors evaded, however, the disgraceful reproach, or confession,
of fear, by attributing their toleration to the liberal motives
of reason and humanity; and while they affected the language, they
imperceptiby imbibed the spirit, of genuine Christianity.

[Footnote 83: The opinions of Ulphilas and the Goths inclined to
semi-Arianism, since they would not say that the Son was a creature,
though they held communion with those who maintained that heresy. Their
apostle represented the whole controversy as a question of trifling
moment, which had been raised by the