. Rome : its rise and fall ; a text-book for high schools and colleges. blem that his soldiersmarched to victory at the battle of the Milvian Bridge. Whatever may have been the circumstances or themotives which led Constantine to make the Cross hisstandard, this act of his constitutes a turning point in thehistory of the Roman empire, and especially in that of theChristian Church. Christianity had come into the world 8 In hoc signo vinces. 9 In Greek, iv roiJTcp vikcl. 10 The new standard was called the labarum (from the Celtic lavar,meaning command). It consisted of a ^banner inscribed with t
. Rome : its rise and fall ; a text-book for high schools and colleges. blem that his soldiersmarched to victory at the battle of the Milvian Bridge. Whatever may have been the circumstances or themotives which led Constantine to make the Cross hisstandard, this act of his constitutes a turning point in thehistory of the Roman empire, and especially in that of theChristian Church. Christianity had come into the world 8 In hoc signo vinces. 9 In Greek, iv roiJTcp vikcl. 10 The new standard was called the labarum (from the Celtic lavar,meaning command). It consisted of a ^banner inscribed with theGreek letters XP, the first being a symbol of the Cross, and both form-ing a monogram of the word Christ. The letters are the initials of theGreek Christos. REIGN OF CONSTANTINE THE GREAT. 393 as a religion of peace and good will. The Master hadcommanded his disciples to put up the sword, and hadforbidden its use by them either in the spread or in thedefence of the new faith. For three centuries now his fol-lowers had obeyed literally this injunction of the Founder. Arch of Constantine, as it appears To-day. (Erected by the Roman Senate in commemoration of Constantines victory overMaxentius at the Milvian Bridge.) of the Church, so that a Quaker, non-military spirit had upto this time characterized the new sect. By many of theearly Christians the profession of arms had been declaredto be incompatible with the Christian life. Now in a moment all this was changed. The mostsacred emblem of the new faith was made a battle-standard, 394 ROME AS AN EMPIRE. and into the new religion was infused the military spirit ofthe imperial government that had made that emblem theensign of the state. From the day of the battle at theMilvian Bridge, a martial spirit has animated the religionof the Prince of Peace. Since then, Christian warriorshave often made the Cross their battle-standard. Thisinfusion into the Church of the military spirit of Romewas one of the most important consequences of
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