Theyexaltedtheunityandpowerofthechurch，asitwasrepresentedintheEpiscopalOffice，ofwhicheverybishopenjoyedanequalandundividedportion。^117Princesandmagistrates，itwasoftenrepeated，mightboastanearthlyclaimtoatransitorydominion；itwastheepiscopalauthorityalonewhichwasderivedfromtheDeity，andextendeditselfoverthisandoveranotherworld。ThebishopswerethevicegerentsofChrist，thesuccessorsoftheapostles，andthemysticsubstitutesofthehighpriestoftheMosaiclaw。Theirexclusiveprivilegeofconferringthesacerdotalcharacter，invadedthefreedombothofclericalandofpopularelections；
andif，intheadministrationofthechurch，theystillconsultedthejudgmentofthepresbyters，ortheinclinationofthepeople，theymostcarefullyinculcatedthemeritofsuchavoluntarycondescension。Thebishopsacknowledgedthesupremeauthoritywhichresidedintheassemblyoftheirbrethren；butinthegovernmentofhispeculiardiocese，eachofthemexactedfromhisflockthesameimplicitobedienceasifthatfavoritemetaphorhadbeenliterallyjust，andasiftheshepherdhadbeenofamoreexaltednaturethanthatofhissheep。^118Thisobedience，however，wasnotimposedwithoutsomeeffortsononeside，andsomeresistanceontheother。Thedemocraticalpartoftheconstitutionwas，inmanyplaces，verywarmlysupportedbythezealousorinterestedoppositionoftheinferiorclergy。Buttheirpatriotismreceivedtheignominiousepithetsoffactionandschism；andtheepiscopalcausewasindebtedforitsrapidprogresstothelaborsofmanyactiveprelates，who，likeCyprianofCarthage，couldreconciletheartsofthemostambitiousstatesmanwiththeChristianvirtueswhichseemadaptedtothecharacterofasaintandmartyr。^119
[Footnote117:Cyprian，inhisadmiredtreatiseDeUnitateEcclesiae。p。75—86]
[Footnote118:WemayappealtothewholetenorofCyprian\'sconduct，ofhisdoctrine，andofhisepistles。LeClerc，inashortlifeofCyprian，BibliothequeUniverselle，tom。xii。p。
207—378，haslaidhimopenwithgreatfreedomandaccuracy。]
[Footnote119:IfNovatus，Felicissimus，&c。，whomtheBishopofCarthageexpelledfromhischurch，andfromAfrica，werenotthemostdetestablemonstersofwickedness，thezealofCyprianmustoccasionallyhaveprevailedoverhisveracity。Foraveryjustaccountoftheseobscurequarrels，seeMosheim，p。497—512。]
Thesamecauseswhichatfirsthaddestroyedtheequalityofthepresbytersintroducedamongthebishopsapreeminenceofrank，andfromthenceasuperiorityofjurisdiction。Asoftenasinthespringandautumntheymetinprovincialsynod，thedifferenceofpersonalmeritandreputationwasverysensiblyfeltamongthemembersoftheassembly，andthemultitudewasgovernedbythewisdomandeloquenceofthefew。Buttheorderofpublicproceedingsrequiredamoreregularandlessinvidiousdistinction；theofficeofperpetualpresidentsinthecouncilsofeachprovincewasconferredonthebishopsoftheprincipalcity；andtheseaspiringprelates，whosoonacquiredtheloftytitlesofMetropolitansandPrimates，secretlypreparedthemselvestousurpovertheirepiscopalbrethrenthesameauthoritywhichthebishopshadsolatelyassumedabovethecollegeofpresbyters。^120NorwasitlongbeforeanemulationofpreeminenceandpowerprevailedamongtheMetropolitansthemselves，eachofthemaffectingtodisplay，inthemostpompousterms，thetemporalhonorsandadvantagesofthecityoverwhichhepresided；thenumbersandopulenceoftheChristianswhoweresubjecttotheirpastoralcare；thesaintsandmartyrswhohadarisenamongthem；andthepuritywithwhichtheypreservedthetraditionofthefaith，asithadbeentransmittedthroughaseriesoforthodoxbishopsfromtheapostleortheapostolicdisciple，towhomthefoundationoftheirchurchwasascribed。^121Fromeverycause，eitherofacivilorofanecclesiasticalnature，itwaseasytoforeseethatRomemustenjoytherespect，andwouldsoonclaimtheobedienceoftheprovinces。Thesocietyofthefaithfulboreajustproportiontothecapitaloftheempire；andtheRomanchurchwasthegreatest，themostnumerous，and，inregardtotheWest，themostancientofalltheChristianestablishments，manyofwhichhadreceivedtheirreligionfromthepiouslaborsofhermissionaries。
Insteadofoneapostolicfounder，theutmostboastofAntioch，ofEphesus，orofCorinth，thebanksoftheTyberweresupposedtohavebeenhonoredwiththepreachingandmartyrdomofthetwomosteminentamongtheapostles；^122andthebishopsofRomeveryprudentlyclaimedtheinheritanceofwhatsoeverprerogativeswereattributedeithertothepersonortotheofficeofSt。
Peter。^123ThebishopsofItalyandoftheprovincesweredisposedtoallowthemaprimacyoforderandassociationsuchwastheirveryaccurateexpressionintheChristianaristocracy。
^124Butthepowerofamonarchwasrejectedwithabhorrence，andtheaspiringgeniusofRomeexperiencedfromthenationsofAsiaandAfricaamorevigorousresistancetoherspiritual，thanshehadformerlydonetohertemporal，dominion。ThepatrioticCyprian，whoruledwiththemostabsoluteswaythechurchofCarthageandtheprovincialsynods，opposedwithresolutionandsuccesstheambitionoftheRomanpontiff，artfullyconnectedhisowncausewiththatoftheeasternbishops，and，likeHannibal，soughtoutnewalliesintheheartofAsia。^125IfthisPunicwarwascarriedonwithoutanyeffusionofblood，itwasowingmuchlesstothemoderationthantotheweaknessofthecontendingprelates。Invectivesandexcommunicationsweretheironlyweapons；andthese，duringtheprogressofthewholecontroversy，theyhurledagainsteachotherwithequalfuryanddevotion。Thehardnecessityofcensuringeitherapope，orasaintandmartyr，distressesthemodernCatholicswhenevertheyareobligedtorelatetheparticularsofadisputeinwhichthechampionsofreligionindulgedsuchpassionsasseemmuchmoreadaptedtothesenateortothecamp。^126
[Footnote120:Mosheim，p。269，574。Dupin，AntiquaeEccles。
Disciplin。p。19，20。]
[Footnote121:Tertullian，inadistincttreatise，haspleadedagainstthehereticstherightofprescription，asitwasheldbytheapostolicchurches。]
[Footnote122:ThejourneyofSt。PetertoRomeismentionedbymostoftheancients，seeEusebius，ii。25，maintainedbyalltheCatholics，allowedbysomeProtestants，seePearsonandDodwelldeSuccess。Episcop。Roman，buthasbeenvigorouslyattackedbySpanheim，MiscellanesSacra，iii。3。AccordingtoFatherHardouin，themonksofthethirteenthcentury，whocomposedtheAeneid，representedSt。PeterundertheallegoricalcharacteroftheTrojanhero。
Note:Itisquiteclearthat，strictlyspeaking，thechurchofRomewasnotfoundedbyeitheroftheseapostles。St。Paul\'sEpistletotheRomansprovesundeniablytheflourishingstateofthechurchbeforehisvisittothecity；andmanyRomanCatholicwritershavegivenuptheimpracticabletaskofreconcilingwithchronologyanyvisitofSt。PetertoRomebeforetheendofthereignofClaudius，orthebeginningofthatofNero。—M。]
[Footnote123:ItisinFrenchonlythatthefamousallusiontoSt。Peter\'snameisexact。TuesPierre，etsurcettepierre。—
ThesameisimperfectinGreek，Latin，Italian，&c。，andtotallyunintelligibleinourTentoniclanguages。
Note:ItisexactinSyro—Chaldaic，thelanguageinwhichitwasspokenbyJesusChrist。St。Matt。xvi。17。PeterwascalledCephas；andcephasignifiesbase，foundation，rock—G。]
[Footnote124:Irenaeusadv。Haereses，iii。3。TertulliandePraescription。c。36，andCyprian，Epistol。27，55，71，75。LeClereHist。Eccles。p。764andMosheimp。258，578laborintheinterpretationofthesepassages。ButthelooseandrhetoricalstyleofthefathersoftenappearsfavorabletothepretensionsofRome。]
[Footnote125:SeethesharpepistlefromFirmilianus，bishopofCaesarea，toStephen，bishopofRome，ap。Cyprian，Epistol。75。]
[Footnote126:Concerningthisdisputeoftherebaptismofheretics，seetheepistlesofCyprian，andtheseventhbookofEusebius。]
Theprogressoftheecclesiasticalauthoritygavebirthtothememorabledistinctionofthelaityandoftheclergy，whichhadbeenunknowntotheGreeksandRomans。^127TheformeroftheseappellationscomprehendedthebodyoftheChristianpeople；
thelatter，accordingtothesignificationoftheword，wasappropriatedtothechosenportionthathadbeensetapartfortheserviceofreligion；acelebratedorderofmen，whichhasfurnishedthemostimportant，thoughnotalwaysthemostedifying，subjectsformodernhistory。Theirmutualhostilitiessometimesdisturbedthepeaceoftheinfantchurch，buttheirzealandactivitywereunitedinthecommoncause，andtheloveofpower，whichunderthemostartfuldisguisescouldinsinuateitselfintothebreastsofbishopsandmartyrs，animatedthemtoincreasethenumberoftheirsubjects，andtoenlargethelimitsoftheChristianempire。Theyweredestituteofanytemporalforce，andtheywereforalongtimediscouragedandoppressed，ratherthanassisted，bythecivilmagistrate；buttheyhadacquired，andtheyemployedwithintheirownsociety，thetwomostefficaciousinstrumentsofgovernment，rewardsandpunishments；theformerderivedfromthepiousliberality，thelatterfromthedevoutapprehensions，ofthefaithful。
[Footnote127:Fortheoriginofthesewords，seeMosheim，p。
141。Spanheim，Hist。Ecclesiast。p。633。ThedistinctionofClerusandIaicuswasestablishedbeforethetimeofTertullian。]
ChapterXV:ProgressOfTheChristianReligion。
PartVII
I。Thecommunityofgoods，whichhadsoagreeablyamusedtheimaginationofPlato，^128andwhichsubsistedinsomedegreeamongtheausteresectoftheEssenians，^129wasadoptedforashorttimeintheprimitivechurch。Thefervorofthefirstproselytespromptedthemtosellthoseworldlypossessions，whichtheydespised，tolaythepriceofthematthefeetoftheapostles，andtocontentthemselveswithreceivinganequalshareoutofthegeneraldistribution。^130TheprogressoftheChristianreligionrelaxed，andgraduallyabolished，thisgenerousinstitution，which，inhandslesspurethanthoseoftheapostles，wouldtoosoonhavebeencorruptedandabusedbythereturningselfishnessofhumannature；andtheconvertswhoembracedthenewreligionwerepermittedtoretainthepossessionoftheirpatrimony，toreceivelegaciesandinheritances，andtoincreasetheirseparatepropertybyallthelawfulmeansoftradeandindustry。Insteadofanabsolutesacrifice，amoderateproportionwasacceptedbytheministersofthegospel；andintheirweeklyormonthlyassemblies，everybeliever，accordingtotheexigencyoftheoccasion，andthemeasureofhiswealthandpiety，presentedhisvoluntaryofferingfortheuseofthecommonfund。^131Nothing，howeverinconsiderable，wasrefused；butitwasdiligentlyinculcated；that，inthearticleofTithes，theMosaiclawwasstillofdivineobligation；andthatsincetheJews，underalessperfectdiscipline，hadbeencommandedtopayatenthpartofallthattheypossessed，itwouldbecomethedisciplesofChristtodistinguishthemselvesbyasuperiordegreeofliberality，^132andtoacquiresomemeritbyresigningasuperfluoustreasure，whichmustsosoonbeannihilatedwiththeworlditself。^133Itisalmostunnecessarytoobserve，thattherevenueofeachparticularchurch，whichwasofsouncertainandfluctuatinganature，musthavevariedwiththepovertyortheopulenceofthefaithful，astheyweredispersedinobscurevillages，orcollectedinthegreatcitiesoftheempire。InthetimeoftheemperorDecius，itwastheopinionofthemagistrates，thattheChristiansofRomewerepossessedofveryconsiderablewealth；thatvesselsofgoldandsilverwereusedintheirreligiousworship，andthatmanyamongtheirproselyteshadsoldtheirlandsandhousestoincreasethepublicrichesofthesect，attheexpense，indeed，oftheirunfortunatechildren，whofoundthemselvesbeggars，becausetheirparentshadbeensaints。
^134Weshouldlistenwithdistrusttothesuspicionsofstrangersandenemies:onthisoccasion，however，theyreceiveaveryspeciousandprobablecolorfromthetwofollowingcircumstances，theonlyonesthathavereachedourknowledge，whichdefineanyprecisesums，orconveyanydistinctidea。
Almostatthesameperiod，thebishopofCarthage，fromasocietylessopulentthanthatofRome，collectedahundredthousandsesterces，aboveeighthundredandfiftypoundssterling，onasuddencallofcharitytoredeemthebrethrenofNumidia，whohadbeencarriedawaycaptivesbythebarbariansofthedesert。^135
AboutahundredyearsbeforethereignofDecius，theRomanchurchhadreceived，inasingledonation，thesumoftwohundredthousandsestercesfromastrangerofPontus，whoproposedtofixhisresidenceinthecapital。^136Theseoblations，forthemostpart，weremadeinmoney；norwasthesocietyofChristianseitherdesirousorcapableofacquiring，toanyconsiderabledegree，theencumbranceoflandedproperty。Ithadbeenprovidedbyseverallaws，whichwereenactedwiththesamedesignasourstatutesofmortmain，thatnorealestatesshouldbegivenorbequeathedtoanycorporatebody，withouteitheraspecialprivilegeoraparticulardispensationfromtheemperororfromthesenate；^137whowereseldomdisposedtogranttheminfavorofasect，atfirsttheobjectoftheircontempt，andatlastoftheirfearsandjealousy。Atransaction，however，isrelatedunderthereignofAlexanderSeverus，whichdiscoversthattherestraintwassometimeseludedorsuspended，andthattheChristianswerepermittedtoclaimandtopossesslandswithinthelimitsofRomeitself。^138TheprogressofChristianity，andthecivilconfusionoftheempire，contributedtorelaxtheseverityofthelaws；andbeforethecloseofthethirdcenturymanyconsiderableestateswerebestowedontheopulentchurchesofRome，Milan，Carthage，Antioch，Alexandria，andtheothergreatcitiesofItalyandtheprovinces。
[Footnote128:ThecommunityinstitutedbyPlatoismoreperfectthanthatwhichSirThomasMorehadimaginedforhisUtopia。Thecommunityofwomen，andthatoftemporalgoods，maybeconsideredasinseparablepartsofthesamesystem。]
[Footnote129:Joseph。Antiquitat。xviii。2。Philo，deVit。
Contemplativ。]
[Footnote130:SeetheActsoftheApostles，c。2，4，5，withGrotius\'sCommentary。Mosheim，inaparticulardissertation，attacksthecommonopinionwithveryinconclusivearguments。
Note:ThisisnotthegeneraljudgmentonMosheim\'slearneddissertation。ThereisnotraceinthelatterpartoftheNewTestamentofthiscommunityofgoods，andmanydistinctproofsofthecontrary。Allexhortationstoalmsgivingwouldhavebeenunmeaningifpropertyhadbeenincommon—M。]
[Footnote131:JustinMartyr，Apolog。Major，c。89。Tertullian，Apolog。c。39。]
[Footnote132:IrenaeusadHaeres。l。iv。c。27，34。OrigeninNum。Hom。iiCypriandeUnitat。Eccles。Constitut。Apostol。l。
ii。c。34，35，withthenotesofCotelerius。TheConstitutionsintroducethisdivineprecept，bydeclaringthatpriestsareasmuchabovekingsasthesoulisabovethebody。Amongthetithablearticles，theyenumeratecorn，wine，oil，andwool。Onthisinterestingsubject，consultPrideaux\'sHistoryofTithes，andFraPaolodelleMaterieBeneficiarie；twowritersofaverydifferentcharacter。]
[Footnote133:Thesameopinionwhichprevailedabouttheyearonethousand，wasproductiveofthesameeffects。MostoftheDonationsexpresstheirmotive，\"appropinquantemundifine。\"SeeMosheim\'sGeneralHistoryoftheChurch，vol。i。p。457。]
[Footnote134:TumsummacuraestfratribusUtsermotestaturloquax。
Offerre，fundisvenditisSestertiorummillia。
AddictaavorumpraediaFoedissubauctionibus，SuccessorexheresgemitSanctisegensParentibus。]
HaecocculunturabditisEcclesiaruminangulis。
EtsummapietascrediturNudaredulcesliberos。
Prudent。Hymn2。
ThesubsequentconductofthedeaconLaurenceonlyproveshowproperausewasmadeofthewealthoftheRomanchurch；itwasundoubtedlyveryconsiderable；butFraPaoloc。3appearstoexaggerate，whenhesupposesthatthesuccessorsofCommoduswereurgedtopersecutetheChristiansbytheirownavarice，orthatoftheirPraetorianpraefects。]
[Footnote135:Cyprian，Epistol。62。]
[Footnote136:TertulliandePraescriptione，c。30。]
[Footnote137:Diocletiangavearescript，whichisonlyadeclarationoftheoldlaw；\"Collegium，sinullospecialiprivilegiosubnixumsit，haereditatemcaperenonposse，dubiumnonest。\"FraPaoloc。4thinksthattheseregulationshadbeenmuchneglectedsincethereignofValerian。]
[Footnote138:Hist。August。p。131。Thegroundhadbeenpublic；
andwasrowdisputedbetweenthesocietyofChristiansandthatofbutchers。
Note*:Carponarii，rathervictuallers。—M。]
Thebishopwasthenaturalstewardofthechurch；thepublicstockwasintrustedtohiscarewithoutaccountorcontrol；thepresbyterswereconfinedtotheirspiritualfunctions，andthemoredependentorderofthedeaconswassolelyemployedinthemanagementanddistributionoftheecclesiasticalrevenue。^139
IfwemaygivecredittothevehementdeclamationsofCyprian，thereweretoomanyamonghisAfricanbrethren，who，intheexecutionoftheircharge，violatedeveryprecept，notonlyofevangelicalperfection，butevenofmoralvirtue。Bysomeoftheseunfaithfulstewardstherichesofthechurchwerelavishedinsensualpleasures；byotherstheywerepervertedtothepurposesofprivategain，offraudulentpurchases，andofrapacioususury。^140ButaslongasthecontributionsoftheChristianpeoplewerefreeandunconstrained，theabuseoftheirconfidencecouldnotbeveryfrequent，andthegeneralusestowhichtheirliberalitywasappliedreflectedhonoronthereligioussociety。Adecentportionwasreservedforthemaintenanceofthebishopandhisclergy；asufficientsumwasallottedfortheexpensesofthepublicworship，ofwhichthefeastsoflove，theagapoe，astheywerecalled，constitutedaverypleasingpart。Thewholeremainderwasthesacredpatrimonyofthepoor。Accordingtothediscretionofthebishop，itwasdistributedtosupportwidowsandorphans，thelame，thesick，andtheagedofthecommunity；tocomfortstrangersandpilgrims，andtoalleviatethemisfortunesofprisonersandcaptives，moreespeciallywhentheirsufferingshadbeenoccasionedbytheirfirmattachmenttothecauseofreligion。^141Agenerousintercourseofcharityunitedthemostdistantprovinces，andthesmallercongregationswerecheerfullyassistedbythealmsoftheirmoreopulentbrethren。^142Suchaninstitution，whichpaidlessregardtothemeritthantothedistressoftheobject，verymateriallyconducedtotheprogressofChristianity。ThePagans，whowereactuatedbyasenseofhumanity，whiletheyderidedthedoctrines，acknowledgedthebenevolence，ofthenewsect。^143