TheCatholicchurchwasadministeredbythespiritualandlegaljurisdictionofeighteenhundredbishops；^86ofwhomonethousandwereseatedintheGreek，andeighthundredintheLatin，provincesoftheempire。Theextentandboundariesoftheirrespectivedioceseshadbeenvariouslyandaccidentallydecidedbythezealandsuccessofthefirstmissionaries，bythewishesofthepeople，andbythepropagationofthegospel。
EpiscopalchurcheswerecloselyplantedalongthebanksoftheNile，onthesea—coastofAfrica，intheproconsularAsia，andthroughthesouthernprovincesofItaly。ThebishopsofGaulandSpain，ofThraceandPontus，reignedoveranampleterritory，anddelegatedtheirruralsuffraganstoexecutethesubordinatedutiesofthepastoraloffice。^87AChristiandiocesemightbespreadoveraprovince，orreducedtoavillage；butallthebishopspossessedanequalandindeliblecharacter:theyallderivedthesamepowersandprivilegesfromtheapostles，fromthepeople，andfromthelaws。WhilethecivilandmilitaryprofessionswereseparatedbythepolicyofConstantine，anewandperpetualorderofecclesiasticalministers，alwaysrespectable，sometimesdangerous，wasestablishedinthechurchandstate。Theimportantreviewoftheirstationandattributesmaybedistributedunderthefollowingheads:I。PopularElection。II。OrdinationoftheClergy。III。Property。IV。
CivilJurisdiction。V。Spiritualcensures。VI。Exerciseofpublicoratory。VII。Privilegeoflegislativeassemblies。
[Footnote86:Thenumbersarenotascertainedbyanyancientwriterororiginalcatalogue；forthepartiallistsoftheeasternchurchesarecomparativelymodern。ThepatientdiligenceofCharlesaStoPaolo，ofLukeHolstentius，andofBingham，haslaboriouslyinvestigatedalltheepiscopalseesoftheCatholicchurch，whichwasalmostcommensuratewiththeRomanempire。TheninthbookoftheChristianantiquitiesisaveryaccuratemapofecclesiasticalgeography。]
[Footnote87:Onthesubjectofruralbishops，orChorepiscopi，whovotedintynods，andconferredtheminororders，SeeThomassin，Disciplinedel\'Eglise，tom。i。p。447，&c。，andChardon，Hist。desSacremens，tom。v。p。395，&c。Theydonotappeartillthefourthcentury；andthisequivocalcharacter，whichhadexcitedthejealousyoftheprelates，wasabolishedbeforetheendofthetenth，bothintheEastandtheWest。]
I。ThefreedomofelectionsubsistedlongafterthelegalestablishmentofChristianity；^88andthesubjectsofRomeenjoyedinthechurchtheprivilegewhichtheyhadlostintherepublic，ofchoosingthemagistrateswhomtheywereboundtoobey。Assoonasabishophadclosedhiseyes，themetropolitanissuedacommissiontooneofhissuffraganstoadministerthevacantsee，andprepare，withinalimitedtime，thefutureelection。Therightofvotingwasvestedintheinferiorclergy，whowerebestqualifiedtojudgeofthemeritofthecandidates；
inthesenatorsornoblesofthecity，allthosewhoweredistinguishedbytheirrankorproperty；andfinallyinthewholebodyofthepeople，who，ontheappointedday，flockedinmultitudesfromthemostremotepartsofthediocese，^89andsometimessilencedbytheirtumultuousacclamations，thevoiceofreasonandthelawsofdiscipline。Theseacclamationsmightaccidentallyfixontheheadofthemostdeservingcompetitor；ofsomeancientpresbyter，someholymonk，orsomelayman，conspicuousforhiszealandpiety。Buttheepiscopalchairwassolicited，especiallyinthegreatandopulentcitiesoftheempire，asatemporalratherthanasaspiritualdignity。Theinterestedviews，theselfishandangrypassions，theartsofperfidyanddissimulation，thesecretcorruption，theopenandevenbloodyviolencewhichhadformerlydisgracedthefreedomofelectioninthecommonwealthsofGreeceandRome，tooofteninfluencedthechoiceofthesuccessorsoftheapostles。Whileoneofthecandidatesboastedthehonorsofhisfamily，asecondalluredhisjudgesbythedelicaciesofaplentifultable，andathird，moreguiltythanhisrivals，offeredtosharetheplunderofthechurchamongtheaccomplicesofhissacrilegioushopes^90
Thecivilaswellasecclesiasticallawsattemptedtoexcludethepopulacefromthissolemnandimportanttransaction。Thecanonsofancientdiscipline，byrequiringseveralepiscopalqualifications，ofage，station，&c。，restrained，insomemeasure，theindiscriminatecapriceoftheelectors。Theauthorityoftheprovincialbishops，whowereassembledinthevacantchurchtoconsecratethechoiceofthepeople，wasinterposedtomoderatetheirpassionsandtocorrecttheirmistakes。Thebishopscouldrefusetoordainanunworthycandidate，andtherageofcontendingfactionssometimesacceptedtheirimpartialmediation。Thesubmission，ortheresistance，oftheclergyandpeople，onvariousoccasions，affordeddifferentprecedents，whichwereinsensiblyconvertedintopositivelawsandprovincialcustoms；^91butitwaseverywhereadmitted，asafundamentalmaximofreligiouspolicy，thatnobishopcouldbeimposedonanorthodoxchurch，withouttheconsentofitsmembers。Theemperors，astheguardiansofthepublicpeace，andasthefirstcitizensofRomeandConstantinople，mighteffectuallydeclaretheirwishesinthechoiceofaprimate；butthoseabsolutemonarchsrespectedthefreedomofecclesiasticalelections；andwhiletheydistributedandresumedthehonorsofthestateandarmy，theyallowedeighteenhundredperpetualmagistratestoreceivetheirimportantofficesfromthefreesuffragesofthepeople。^92Itwasagreeabletothedictatesofjustice，thatthesemagistratesshouldnotdesertanhonorablestationfromwhichtheycouldnotberemoved；butthewisdomofcouncilsendeavored，withoutmuchsuccess，toenforcetheresidence，andtopreventthetranslation，ofbishops。ThedisciplineoftheWestwasindeedlessrelaxedthanthatoftheEast；butthesamepassionswhichmadethoseregulationsnecessary，renderedthemineffectual。Thereproacheswhichangryprelateshavesovehementlyurgedagainsteachother，serveonlytoexposetheircommonguilt，andtheirmutualindiscretion。
[Footnote88:ThomassinDisciplinedel\'Eglise，tom，ii。l。ii。
c。1—8，p。673—721hascopiouslytreatedoftheelectionofbishopsduringthefivefirstcenturies，bothintheEastandintheWest；butheshowsaverypartialbiasinfavoroftheepiscopalaristocracy。Bingham，l。iv。c。2ismoderate；andChardonHist。desSacremenstom。v。p。108—128isveryclearandconcise。
Note:Thisfreedomwasextremelylimited，andsoonannihilated；already，fromthethirdcentury，thedeaconswerenolongernominatedbythemembersofthecommunity，butbythebishops。AlthoughitappearsbythelettersofCyprian，thateveninhistime，nopriestcouldbeelectedwithouttheconsentofthecommunity。Ep。68，thatelectionwasfarfrombeingaltogetherfree。Thebishopproposedtohisparishionersthecandidatewhomhehadchosen，andtheywerepermittedtomakesuchobjectionsasmightbesuggestedbyhisconductandmorals。
St。Cyprian，Ep。33。Theylostthislastrighttowardsthemiddleofthefourthcentury。—G]
[Footnote89:Incredibilismultitudo，nonsolumexeooppido，Tours，sedetiamexvicinisurbibusadsuffragiaferendaconvenerat，&c。SulpiciusSeverus，inVit。Martin。c。7。ThecouncilofLaodicea，canonxiii。prohibitsmobsandtumults；
andJustinianconfinesconfinedtherightofelectiontothenobility。Novel。cxxiii。l。]
[Footnote90:TheepistlesofSidoniusApollinarisiv。25，vii。
5，9exhibitsomeofthescandalsoftheGallicanchurch；andGaulwaslesspolishedandlesscorruptthantheEast。]
[Footnote91:Acompromisewassometimesintroducedbylaworbyconsent；eitherthebishopsorthepeoplechoseoneofthethreecandidateswhohadbeennamedbytheotherparty。]
[Footnote92:AlltheexamplesquotedbyThomassinDisciplinedel\'Eglise，tom。ii。l。iii。c。vi。p。704—714appeartobeextraordinaryactsofpower，andevenofoppression。TheconfirmationofthebishopofAlexandriaismentionedbyPhilostorgiusasamoreregularproceeding。HistEccles。l。ii。
ll。
Note:ThestatementofPlanckismoreconsistentwithhistory:\"Fromthemiddleofthefourthcentury，thebishopsofsomeofthelargerchurches，particularlythoseoftheImperialresidence，werealmostalwayschosenundertheinfluenceofthecourt，andoftendirectlyandimmediatelynominatedbytheemperor。\"Planck，GeschichtederChristlich—kirchlichenGesellschafteverfassung，verfassung，vol。ip263。—M。]
II。Thebishopsalonepossessedthefacultyofspiritualgeneration:andthisextraordinaryprivilegemightcompensate，insomedegree，forthepainfulcelibacy^93whichwasimposedasavirtue，asaduty，andatlengthasapositiveobligation。Thereligionsofantiquity，whichestablishedaseparateorderofpriests，dedicatedaholyrace，atribeorfamily，totheperpetualserviceofthegods。^94Suchinstitutionswerefoundedforpossession，ratherthanconquest。Thechildrenofthepriestsenjoyed，withproudandindolentsecurity，theirsacredinheritance；andthefieryspiritofenthusiasmwasabatedbythecares，thepleasures，andtheendearmentsofdomesticlife。ButtheChristiansanctuarywasopentoeveryambitiouscandidate，whoaspiredtoitsheavenlypromisesortemporalpossessions。
Thisofficeofpriests，likethatofsoldiersormagistrates，wasstrenuouslyexercisedbythosemen，whosetemperandabilitieshadpromptedthemtoembracetheecclesiasticalprofession，orwhohadbeenselectedbyadiscerningbishop，asthebestqualifiedtopromotethegloryandinterestofthechurch。Thebishops^95tilltheabusewasrestrainedbytheprudenceofthelawsmightconstrainthereluctant，andprotectthedistressed；
andtheimpositionofhandsforeverbestowedsomeofthemostvaluableprivilegesofcivilsociety。ThewholebodyoftheCatholicclergy，morenumerousperhapsthanthelegions，wasexemptedbytheemperorsfromallservice，privateorpublic，allmunicipaloffices，andallpersonaltaxesandcontributions，whichpressedontheirfellow—citizenswithintolerableweight；
andthedutiesoftheirholyprofessionwereacceptedasafulldischargeoftheirobligationstotherepublic。^96Eachbishopacquiredanabsoluteandindefeasiblerighttotheperpetualobedienceoftheclerkwhomheordained:theclergyofeachepiscopalchurch，withitsdependentparishes，formedaregularandpermanentsociety；andthecathedralsofConstantinople^97
andCarthage^98maintainedtheirpeculiarestablishmentoffivehundredecclesiasticalministers。Theirranks^99andnumberswereinsensiblymultipliedbythesuperstitionofthetimes，whichintroducedintothechurchthesplendidceremoniesofaJewishorPagantemple；andalongtrainofpriests，deacons，sub—deacons，acolythes，exorcists，readers，singers，anddoorkeepers，contributed，intheirrespectivestations，toswellthepompandharmonyofreligiousworship。Theclericalnameandprivilegeswereextendedtomanypiousfraternities，whodevoutlysupportedtheecclesiasticalthrone。^100Sixhundredparabolani，oradventurers，visitedthesickatAlexandria；elevenhundredcopiatoe，orgrave—diggers，buriedthedeadatConstantinople；
andtheswarmsofmonks，whoarosefromtheNile，overspreadanddarkenedthefaceoftheChristianworld。
[Footnote93:Thecelibacyoftheclergyduringthefirstfiveorsixcenturies，isasubjectofdiscipline，andindeedofcontroversy，whichhasbeenverydiligentlyexamined。Seeinparticular，Thomassin，Disciplinedel\'Eglise，tom。i。l。ii。c。
lx。lxi。p。886—902，andBingham\'sAntiquities，l。iv。c。5。Byeachoftheselearnedbutpartialcritics，onehalfofthetruthisproduced，andtheotherisconcealed。
Note:ComparePlanck，vol。i。p。348。Thiscentury，thethird，firstbroughtforththemonks，orthespiritofmonkery，thecelibacyoftheclergy。Plancklikewiseobserves，thatfromthehistoryofEusebiusalone，namesofmarriedbishopsandpresbytersmaybeadducedbydozens。—M。]
[Footnote94:DiodorusSiculusattestsandapprovesthehereditarysuccessionofthepriesthoodamongtheEgyptians，theChaldeans，andtheIndians，l。i。p。84，l。ii。p。142，153，edit。Wesseling。ThemagiaredescribedbyAmmianusasaverynumerousfamily:\"Persaeculamultaadpraesensunaeademqueprosapiamultitudocreata，Deorumcultibusdedicata。\"xxiii。6。
AusoniuscelebratestheStirpsDruidarum，DeProfessorib。
Burdigal。iv。；butwemayinferfromtheremarkofCaesar，vi。
13，thatintheCeltichierarchy，someroomwasleftforchoiceandemulation。]
[Footnote95:Thesubjectofthevocation，ordination，obedience，&c。，oftheclergy，islaboriouslydiscussedbyThomassinDisciplinedel\'Eglise，tom。ii。p。1—83andBingham，inthe4thbookofhisAntiquities，moreespeciallythe4th，6th，and7thchapters。WhenthebrotherofSt。JeromwasordainedinCyprus，thedeaconsforciblystoppedhismouth，lestheshouldmakeasolemnprotestation，whichmightinvalidatetheholyrites。]
[Footnote*:Thisexemptionwasverymuchlimited。Themunicipalofficeswereoftwokinds；theoneattachedtotheindividualinhischaracterofinhabitant，theotherinthatofproprietor。
Constantinehadexemptedecclesiasticsfromofficesofthefirstdescription。Cod。Theod。xvi。t。ii。leg。1，2Eusebius，Hist。
Eccles。l。x。c。vii。Theysought，also，tobeexemptedfromthoseofthesecond，munerapatrimoniorum。Therich，toobtainthisprivilege，obtainedsubordinatesituationsamongtheclergy。
Constantinepublishedin320anedict，bywhichheprohibitedthemoreopulentcitizensdecurionesandcurialesfromembracingtheecclesiasticalprofession，andthebishopsfromadmittingnewecclesiastics，beforeaplaceshouldbevacantbythedeathoftheoccupant，GodefroyadCod。Theod。t。xii。t。i。deDecur。
ValentiniantheFirst，byarescriptstillmoregeneralenactedthatnorichcitizenshouldobtainasituationinthechurch，DeEpisc1。lxvii。Healsoenactedthatecclesiastics，whowishedtobeexemptfromofficeswhichtheywereboundtodischargeasproprietors，shouldbeobligedtogiveuptheirpropertytotheirrelations。CodTheodosl。xiit。i。leb。49—G。]
[Footnote96:Thecharterofimmunities，whichtheclergyobtainedfromtheChristianemperors，iscontainedinthe16thbookoftheTheodosiancode；andisillustratedwithtolerablecandorbythelearnedGodefroy，whosemindwasbalancedbytheoppositeprejudicesofacivilianandaProtestant。]
[Footnote97:Justinian。Novell。ciii。Sixtypresbyters，orpriests，onehundreddeacons，fortydeaconesses，ninetysub—deacons，onehundredandtenreaders，twenty—fivechanters，andonehundreddoor—keepers；inall，fivehundredandtwenty—five。Thismoderatenumberwasfixedbytheemperortorelievethedistressofthechurch，whichhadbeeninvolvedindebtandusurybytheexpenseofamuchhigherestablishment。]
[Footnote98:UniversusclerusecclesiaeCarthaginiensis……
ferequingentiveiamplius；interquosquamplurimaerantlectoresinfantuli。VictorVitensis，dePersecut。Vandal。v。9，p。78，edit。Ruinart。ThisremnantofamoreprosperousstatestillsubsistedundertheoppressionoftheVandals。]
[Footnote99:ThenumberofsevenordershasbeenfixedintheLatinchurch，exclusiveoftheepiscopalcharacter。Butthefourinferiorranks，theminororders，arenowreducedtoemptyanduselesstitles。]
[Footnote100:SeeCod。Theodos。l。xvi。tit。ii。leg。42，43。
Godefroy\'sCommentary，andtheEcclesiasticalHistoryofAlexandria，showthedangerofthesepiousinstitutions，whichoftendisturbedthepeaceofthatturbulentcapital。]
ChapterXX:ConversionOfConstantine。
PartIV。
III。TheedictofMilansecuredtherevenueaswellasthepeaceofthechurch。^101TheChristiansnotonlyrecoveredthelandsandhousesofwhichtheyhadbeenstrippedbythepersecutinglawsofDiocletian，buttheyacquiredaperfecttitletoallthepossessionswhichtheyhadhithertoenjoyedbytheconnivanceofthemagistrate。AssoonasChristianitybecamethereligionoftheemperorandtheempire，thenationalclergymightclaimadecentandhonorablemaintenance；andthepaymentofanannualtaxmighthavedeliveredthepeoplefromthemoreoppressivetribute，whichsuperstitionimposesonhervotaries。
Butasthewantsandexpensesofthechurchincreasedwithherprosperity，theecclesiasticalorderwasstillsupportedandenrichedbythevoluntaryoblationsofthefaithful。EightyearsaftertheedictofMilan，ConstantinegrantedtoallhissubjectsthefreeanduniversalpermissionofbequeathingtheirfortunestotheholyCatholicchurch；^102andtheirdevoutliberality，whichduringtheirliveswascheckedbyluxuryoravarice，flowedwithaprofusestreamatthehouroftheirdeath。ThewealthyChristianswereencouragedbytheexampleoftheirsovereign。Anabsolutemonarch，whoisrichwithoutpatrimony，maybecharitablewithoutmerit；andConstantinetooeasilybelievedthatheshouldpurchasethefavorofHeaven，ifhemaintainedtheidleattheexpenseoftheindustrious；anddistributedamongthesaintsthewealthoftherepublic。ThesamemessengerwhocarriedovertoAfricatheheadofMaxentius，mightbeintrustedwithanepistletoCaecilian，bishopofCarthage。Theemperoracquaintshim，thatthetreasurersoftheprovincearedirectedtopayintohishandsthesumofthreethousandfolles，oreighteenthousandpoundssterling，andtoobeyhisfurtherrequisitionsforthereliefofthechurchesofAfrica，Numidia，andMauritania。^103
TheliberalityofConstantineincreasedinajustproportiontohisfaith，andtohisvices。Heassignedineachcityaregularallowanceofcorn，tosupplythefundofecclesiasticalcharity；
andthepersonsofbothsexeswhoembracedthemonasticlifebecamethepeculiarfavoritesoftheirsovereign。TheChristiantemplesofAntioch，Alexandria，Jerusalem，Constantinople&c。，displayedtheostentatiouspietyofaprince，ambitiousinadecliningagetoequaltheperfectlaborsofantiquity。^104Theformofthesereligiousedificeswassimpleandoblong；thoughtheymightsometimesswellintotheshapeofadome，andsometimesbranchintothefigureofacross。ThetimberswereframedforthemostpartofcedarsofLibanus；theroofwascoveredwithtiles，perhapsofgiltbrass；andthewalls，thecolumns，thepavement，wereencrustedwithvariegatedmarbles。