appropriated for the support of the heathen temples, should be bestowed on the christian clergy; and being no stranger to the tricks practised by the pagan priests, he ordered their idols to be exposed to the populace, that they might see in what manner they had been deceived by designing men; and this occasioned multitudes of people to embrace the christian religion, although it is probable that many of them did so without being properly instructed in its principles, and that they might acquire emoluments by complying with the orders of the Emperor.

Thus we find that in those days the form of true religion was not only profitable in a worldly point of view, but also fashionable, as more embraced it for a worldly motive than those who kept it for a heavenly one; and thus they continued until they were too strong for their enemies, and peace and tranquility rested amongst them in a political sense. They now began to compare their present peace with their former sufferings under pagan persecution, which brought to their remembrance the zeal, patience, and fortitude of their predecessors. These considerations raised in them a high esteem and veneration for the martyrs; but unhappily this was carried to excess, and produced some of the worst effects. Every thing that was circulated respecting these saints, was received without any examination, whether it might be true or false, and represented as meritorious in those who possessed it. Nay, even certain monks* made a trade of going from place

Monk is the same as solitary, from the Decian per

E

to place selling their bones and relics; and this practice was much encouraged by the most celebrated preachers of that age, such as Gregory Nazianzen, but particularly Crysostom, whose great eloquence was very conducive to the encouragement of superstitious practices; and some zealots pretended to have found the very cross on which our Saviour suffered; and many figures of it were hung up in the different churches. St. Crysostom said in a sermon which he preached one Good Friday, in the great church of Constantinople, that this wooden cross was "the foundation of the church, the safety of the world, the destruction of heathen temples, the overthrow of their altars, the scandal of the Jews, and the ruin of the ungodly." Here was an incentive to idolatry; for great would be the influence of such eloquence upon the minds of men, some of whom were only just brought over from paganism. Thus the substance of true religion was lost in the shadow; for the worship and veneration of the cross, the relics of saints and martyrs soon became the leading principles of their christianity. Such is the curse of leaving God in prosperity! When persecution raged against them, Christ was their portion, and the only object of their love; but now,

secution in the third century, from which many fled to the deserts for safety, where they dwelt in cottages and cells; and when peace was restored, they preferred their beloved retreats to a return to their native homes. The most noted of these were Paul and Anthony, two Egyptians, whom Jerome calls the fathers of the christian hermits.

in prosperity, they have forgotten him, and are turned to lying vanities.

But, until the fifth century the bishops of Rome made no effort to establish the papal power as universal; but many opportunities about that time. were afforded, and then they began to gain ground, which was chiefly owing to the removal of the seat of the empire from Rome to Constantinople. The bishops of Rome then became intrusted with the care of both civil and ecclesiastical affairs, and it was common, in that age, for hishops in the neighbouring provinces to send to the bishop of Rome for his advice in difficult matters. This was at first an act of friendship, until length of time and custom reduced it at last to a matter of obligation, and the bishop of Rome was not content with the power which he had over his own people, but presumed to claim the right of it over the whole christian world; for, in the sixth century, a more powerful effort than ever was made by this haughty prelate, who was well acquainted with, as well as desirous of, the claims of his predecessors. This was submitted to by many with great readiness; nor do we need to wonder at this, when we consider the gross ignorance of the times; for the whole christian world, if it may be called so, was at that time a mere sink of iniquity; for heathen rites and ceremonies were artfully introduced, instead of pure religion.

It was at this time that the ceremonies of praying to and for the dead were fully established, and considered as an article of faith. This was at first a heathen custom, and by degrees crept in amongst

professing christians.

The bishop of Rome gained universal authority over the church, not by peace or good-will, but by fraud and competition; for many opposed him and refused to submit to his authority. The bishop of Constantinople wrote to him, telling him that all the apostles were equal to each other in rank and dignity, so all bishops ought to be the same, and consider each other as brethren. Many others beside him refused to submit to the Pope; for, in the year 680, the council of Constantinople met to consult concerning the doctrine of the Trinity, and they spent much time in searching the ancient fathers: they excommunicated and anathematized the then Pope Honarious, which proves that the then considered infallible.

popes were not

Such was the discord and wickedness which reigned, or rather raged, amongst them. But the pope still held his unlawful and arrogant ascendency, and in the seventh century he obtained a triple crown; and in the eighth century so much did he prevail, that he got many orders and regulations established almost as they are at the present day. And thus the succession of. popes was continued in Rome, though not without opposition, for there was pope against pope, who excommunicated each other.

In the beginning of the fifteenth century, the council of Constance was held, and the reason of its being called was to silence a tumult and schism which took place in the church by the election of three popes at one time, who all claimed a right to infallibility; and each of them

thundered out their anathemas against the other. But at length one of these popes fled from the vengeance of the council, and the other two, who were competitors with him, viz., Gregory XII. and Benedict II., were deposed.

At this time many entertained good hopes that this council would reform many of the shameful abuses that had crept into the church; but in this they were all deceived; for, instead of making any amendment, they increased the cruelties and abominations which existed amongst them, and spent much time in condemning those whom they called heretics.* John Huss of Bohemia, and Jerome of Prague, were both condemned and executed by order of the council, and the proceedings and opinions of Dr. Wiclift were condemned many years after his death: and so great was their implacable hatred to him, that this council ordered his bones to be dug up out of the grave where they had been forty-four years deposited, and burned to ashes, and these ashes to be thrown into the brook which runs through the town of Lutterworth.

Such was the christian charity of that infallible church in those gloomy days! But when any great evil is carried to an extraordinary height, it must of necessity be arrested in its career; and such was the case with the papal power at this important crisis. For although they seemed to drive the world before them, and crush the few wandering followers of Christ wherever they could find them; yet, in the midst of apparent safety,

Dr. Aikin's Biography, vol. 5. ART. HUSS. + Lewis's Life of Wiclif, page 136.