The mutual provocations of a religious war, which had already continued above two hundred years, exasperated the animosity of the contending parties.

The Pagans were incensed at the rashness of a recent and obscure sect, which presumed to accuse their countrymen of error, and to devote their ancestors to eternal misery.
The habits of justifying the popular mythology against the invectives of an implacable enemy, produced in their minds some sentiments of faith and reverence for a system which they had been accustomed to consider with the most careless levity.

The supernatural powers assumed by the church inspired at the same time terror and emulation.

The followers of the established religion intrenched themselves behind a similar fortification of prodigies; invented new modes of sacrifice, of expiation, and of initiation; [136] attempted to revive the credit of their expiring oracles; [137] and listened with eager credulity to every impostor, who flattered their prejudices by a tale of wonders.

[138] Both parties seemed to acknowledge the truth of those miracles which were claimed by their adversaries; and while they were contented with ascribing them to the arts of magic, and to the power of daemons, they mutually concurred in restoring and establishing the reign of superstition.