II.

changed this humble tone, imperceptibly extend-C E N T. ed the limits of their authority, turned their in- PART II. fluence into dominion, and their counsels into laws; and openly asserted, at length, that CHRIST had empowered them to prescribe to his people authoritative rules of faith and manners. Another

effect of these councils was, the gradual abolition of that perfect equality, which reigned among all bishops in the primitive times. For the order and decency of these assemblies required, that some one of the provincial bishops met in council, should be invested with a superior degree of power and authority; and hence the rights of Metropo- Metropolilitans derive their origin. In the mean time, the tans. bounds of the church were enlarged; the custom of holding councils was followed wherever the sound of the gospel had reached; and the universal church had now the appearance of one vast republic, formed by a combination of a great number of little states. This occasioned the creation of a new order of ecclesiastics, who were appointed, in different parts of the world, as heads of the church, and whose office it was to preserve the consistence and union of that immense body, whose members were so widely dispersed throughout the nations. Such was the nature and office of the patriarchs, among whom, at length, ambition being arrived at its most insolent period, formed a new dignity, investing the bishop of Rome, and his successors, with the title and authority of prince of the patriachs.

drawn be

IV. The Christian doctors had the good for- An artful tune to persuade the people, that the ministers of parallel the Christian church succeeded to the character, tween the rights, and privileges, of the Jewish priesthood; Christian and this persuasion was a new source both of ho- and the Jewish nours and profit to the sacred order. This notion priesthood. was propagated with industry some time after the reign of ADRIAN, when the second destruction of

II.

CENT. Jerusalem had extinguished among the Jews all PART II, hopes of seeing their government restored to its former lustre, and their country arising out of ruins. And, accordingly, the bishops considered themselves as invested with a rank and character similar to those of the high-priest among the Jews, while the presbyters represented the priests, and the deacons the Levites. It is, indeed, highly probable, that they, who first introduced this absurd comparison of offices so entirely distinct, did it rather through ignorance and error, than through artifice or design. The notion, however, once introduced, produced its natural effects; and these effects were pernicious. The errors to which it gave rise were many; and one of its immediate consequences was, the establishing a greater difference between the Christian pastors and their flock, than the genius of the gospel seems to admit.

The principal writers.

V. From the government of the church, let us turn our eyes to those who maintained its cause by their learned and judicious writings. Among these was JUSTIN, a man of eminent piety and considerable learning, who, from a Pagan philosopher, became a Christian martyr. He had frequented all the different sects of philosophy in an ardent and impartial pursuit of truth; and finding, neither among Stoics nor Peripatetics, neither in the Pythagorean nor Platonic schools, any satisfactory account of the perfections of the Supreme Being, and the nature and destination of the human soul, he embraced Christianity on account of the light which it cast upon these interesting subjects. We have yet remaining his two apologies in behalf of the Christians, which are most deservedly held in high esteem; notwithstanding that, in some passages of them, he shews himself an unwary disputer, and betrays a want of acquaintance with ancient history.

IRENEUS,

II.

IRENEUS, bishop of Lyons, a Greek by birth, C E N T. and probably born of Christian parents, a dis- PART II. ciple also of POLYCARP, by whom he was sent to preach the gospel among the Gauls, is another of the writers of this century, whose labours were singularly useful to the church. He turned his pen against its internal and domestic enemies, by attacking the monstrous errors which were adopted by many of the primitive Christians, as appears by his five books against heresies, which are yet preserved in a Latin translation [p], and are considered as one of the most precious monuments of ancient erudition.

ATHENAGORAS also deserves a place among the estimable writers of this age. He was a philosopher of no mean reputation, and his apology for the Christians, as well as his treatise upon the resurrection, afford striking proofs of his learning and genius.

The works of THEOPHILUS, bishop of Antioch, are more remarkable for their erudition, than for their order and method; this, at least, is true of his three books in defence of Christianity, addressed to AUTOLYCUS [q]. But the most illustrious writer of this century, and the most justly renowned for his various erudition, and his perfect acquaintance with the ancient sages, was N 3 CLEMENS,

[] The first book is yet extant in the original Greek; of the rest, we have only a Latin version, through the barbarity of which, though excessive, it is easy to discern the eloquence and erudition that reign throughout the original. Hist. Litteraire de la France.

See

[9] THEOPHILUS was the author of several works, beside those mentioned by Dr MOSHEIM, particularly of a commentary upon the Proverbs, another upon the Four Evangelists, and of several short and pathetic discourses, which he published from time to time for the use of his flock. He also wrote against MARCION and HERMOGENES, and, refuting the errors of these heretics, he quotes several passages of the Revelations.

PART II.

CEN T. CLEMENS, the disciple of PANTENUS, and the II. head of the Alexandrian school, destined for the instruction of the catechumens. His Stromata, Pedagogue, and Exhortation, addressed to the Greeks, which are yet extant, abundantly shew the extent of his learning, and the force of his genius; though he is neither to be admired for the precision of his ideas, nor for the perspicuity of his style. It is also to be lamented, that his excessive attachment to the reigning philosophy led him into a variety of pernicious

errors.

Hitherto we have made no mention of the Latin writers, who employed their pens in the Christian cause. And, indeed, the only one of any note, we find in this century, is TERTULLIAN, by birth a Carthaginian, who, having first embraced the profession of the law, became afterwards a presbyter of the church, and concluded by adopting the heretical visions of MONTANUS. He was a man of extensive learning, of a fine genius, and highly admired for his elocution in the Latin tongue. We have several works of his yet remaining, which were designed to explain and defend the truth, and to nourish pious affections in the hearts of Christians. There was, indeed, such a mixture in the qualities of this man, that it is difficult to fix his real character, and to determine which of the two were predominant, his virtues, or his defects. He was endowed with a great genius, but seemed deficient in point of judgment. His piety was warm and vigorous, but, at the same time, melancholy and austere. His learning was extensive and pro found; and yet his credulity and superstition were such as might have been expected from the darkest ignorance. And with respect to his reasonings,

they

II.

they had more of that subtilty that dazzles the C EN T. imagination, than of that solidity that brings light PAR 1 II. and conviction to the mind [r].

СНАР. III.

Concerning the doctrine of the Christian church, in

this century.

1. HE Chris an system, as it was hitherto The simwas bahtert plicity

I taught, preserved native Flery of THE

primitive

simplicity, and was comprehended in a small Christianinumber of articles. The public teachers incul-› cated no other doctrines, than those that are contained in what is commonly called the Apostles Creed: and, in the method of illustrating them, all vain subtilties, all mysterious researches, every thing that was beyond the reach of common capacities, were carefully avoided. This will by no means appear surprising to those who consider, that, at this time, there was not the least controversy about those capital doctrines of Christianity, which were afterwards so keenly debated in the church; and who reflect, that the bishops of these primitive times were, for the most part, plain and illiterate men, remarkable rather for their piety and zeal, than for their learning and eloquence.

II. This venerable simplicity was not, indeed, Altered by of a long duration; its beauty was gradually effaced by the laborious efforts of human learn

[] It is proper to point out to such as are desirous of a more particular account of the works, as also of the excellencies and defects of these ancient writers, the authors who have professedly written concerning them, and the principal are those who follow Jo. ALB. FABRICIUS, in Biblioth. Græc. et Latin. CAVE, Hist. Litter. Scriptor. Eccl. Du PIN et CELLIER, Bib. lioth. des Auteurs Ecclesiastiques.

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