maintained, as natural Deductions from _Constantine_’s great Generosity to _Sylvester_[642]. In _Rome_ is still to be seen, in a most sumptuous Chapel, close to the _Lateran_, the Baptistery or Font in which _Constantine_ is said to have been baptized. The Chapel is adorned with noble Paintings, representing that august Ceremony, as performed by _Sylvester_, in the magnificent Drapery, and stately Apparel, of the present Popes. Four Days after this Ceremony, _Constantine_, sensible of his Obligations to _Sylvester_, rewarded him for his Trouble with a Fee, as _Luchesini_ the _Scolopian_ expresses it, answering in some Degree to the Greatness of the Favour he had received at his Hands; a Fee worthy of so great a Prince, of so great a Pope[643]. [Sidenote: Constantine _baptized at_ Nicomedia, _and not at_ Rome.] The Fee, which that Writer, otherwise a Man of Learning, makes a long and tedious Descant upon, was no less than the City of _Rome_, and all _Italy_. That _Constantine_ was baptized at _Nicomedia_, and not at _Rome_, is affirmed, in express Terms, by _Theodoret_[644], _Sozomen_[645], _Socrates_[646], and _Photius_[647], among the _Greeks_; and, among the _Latins_, by St. _Ambrose_[648], St. _Jerom_[649], and the Council of _Rimini_[650]. _Emmanuel Schelstrat_, on one Side, ashamed to reject, or even to question such Authorities, but, on the other, unwilling to rob _Sylvester_ of that Glory, will have _Constantine_ to have been baptized in both Places. It is well known, says he, that _Constantine_, in the Latter-end of his Life, was greatly biassed in favour of the _Arians_, and their Tenets. Now a Practice obtained among them of rebaptizing such as came over to their Sect from the Catholic Church; and, to conform to this Custom, _Constantine_ was, in all Likelihood, prevailed upon by _Eusebius_, the _Arian_ Bishop of _Nicomedia_, who assisted him on his Death-bed[651]. Thus _Schelstrat_. But it is certain, that, in _Constantine_’s Time, the _Arians_ allowed the Validity of Baptism administred by the Catholics; for, long after, we find St. _Austin_ upbraiding them with the Practice of rebaptizing, as a Novelty lately introduced among them[652]. Besides, who is so little versed in the History of the Church, as not to know, that, in those early Times, a very bad Custom universally prevailed, at least among Persons of Distinction, who embraced the Christian Religion, namely, that of putting off their Baptism to their Death-bed, or till they were upon the Point of exposing themselves to some great Danger? Thus _Theodosius the Great_, though he had not only openly professed the Christian Religion, but given many Instances of an extraordinary Piety, yet did not chuse to be baptized till he fell dangerously ill at _Thessalonica_[653]. In like manner _Valentinian_ II delayed his Baptism till the Approach of a Battle with the Barbarians, when he sent, in great Haste, for St. _Ambrose_ to administer that Sacrament to him. But while the good Bishop