Note 21 — Chapter VII · FALLACIES IN POPULAR ARGUMENTS
Reading edition
Why did the Emperor Constantine embrace Christianity? Was it not mainly because he believed that it had a power to wipe away his own heinous crimes?21 Even his old age “was disgraced by the opposite, yet reconcilable, vices of rapaciousness and prodigality.”22 Although he acknowledged the Faith, he put off his baptism till he was on his death-bed, in order that he might continue to lead a wicked life as long as possible.23 As an instrument for spreading God’s word he is even worse than that royal adulterer and murderer whom we are asked to look upon as a prototype of Christ and His prime ancestor.