forthepatriarchsofAntiochandAlexandriaweretheslavesofthecaliph，andtheRomanpontiffhadwithdrawnthechurchesofItalyandtheWestfromthecommunionoftheGreeks。ThisByzantinesynodassumedtherankandpowersoftheseventhgeneralcouncil；yeteventhistitlewasarecognitionofthesixprecedingassemblies，whichhadlaboriouslybuiltthestructureoftheCatholicfaith。Afteraseriousdeliberationofsixmonths，thethreehundredandthirty—eightbishopspronouncedandsubscribedaunanimousdecree，thatallvisiblesymbolsofChrist，exceptintheEucharist，wereeitherblasphemousorheretical；thatimage—worshipwasacorruptionofChristianityandarenewalofPaganism；thatallsuchmonumentsofidolatryshouldbebrokenorerased；andthatthosewhoshouldrefusetodelivertheobjectsoftheirprivatesuperstition，wereguiltyofdisobediencetotheauthorityofthechurchandoftheemperor。
Intheirloudandloyalacclamations，theycelebratedthemeritsoftheirtemporalredeemer；andtohiszealandjusticetheyintrustedtheexecutionoftheirspiritualcensures。AtConstantinople，asintheformercouncils，thewilloftheprincewastheruleofepiscopalfaith；butonthisoccasion，Iaminclinedtosuspectthatalargemajorityoftheprelatessacrificedtheirsecretconsciencetothetemptationsofhopeandfear。Inthelongnightofsuperstition，theChristianshadwanderedfarawayfromthesimplicityofthegospel:norwasiteasyforthemtodiscerntheclew，andtreadbackthemazes，ofthelabyrinth。Theworshipofimageswasinseparablyblended，atleasttoapiousfancy，withtheCross，theVirgin，theSaintsandtheirrelics；theholygroundwasinvolvedinacloudofmiraclesandvisions；andthenervesofthemind，curiosityandscepticism，werebenumbedbythehabitsofobedienceandbelief。
Constantinehimselfisaccusedofindulgingaroyallicensetodoubt，ordeny，orderidethemysteriesoftheCatholics，^20buttheyweredeeplyinscribedinthepublicandprivatecreedofhisbishops；andtheboldestIconoclastmightassaultwithasecrethorrorthemonumentsofpopulardevotion，whichwereconsecratedtothehonorofhiscelestialpatrons。Inthereformationofthesixteenthcentury，freedomandknowledgehadexpandedallthefacultiesofman:thethirstofinnovationsupersededthereverenceofantiquity；andthevigorofEuropecoulddisdainthosephantomswhichterrifiedthesicklyandservileweaknessoftheGreeks。
[Footnote18:Ouroriginal，butnotimpartial，monumentsoftheIconoclastsmustbedrawnfromtheActsoftheCouncils，tom。
viii。andix。Collect。Labbe，edit。Venet。andthehistoricalwritingsofTheophanes，Nicephorus，Manasses，Cedrenus，Zonoras，&c。OfthemodernCatholics，Baronius，Pagi，NatalisAlexander，Hist。Eccles。Seculumviii。andix。，andMaimbourg，Hist。desIconoclasts，havetreatedthesubjectwithlearning，passion，andcredulity。TheProtestantlaborsofFrederickSpanheimHistoriaImaginumrestitutaandJamesBasnageHist。desEglisesReformees，tom。ii。l。xxiiii。p。1339—1385arecastintotheIconoclastscale。Withthismutualaid，andoppositetendency，itiseasyforustopoisethebalancewithphilosophicindifference。
Note:CompareSchlosser，GeschichtederBilder—sturmenderKaiser，Frankfurtam—Main1812abookofresearchandimpartiality—M。]
[Footnote19:Someflowersofrhetoric。ByDamascenusisstyled，Opera，tom。i。p。623。Spanheim\'sApologyfortheSynodofConstantinoplep。171，&c。isworkedupwithtruthandingenuity，fromsuchmaterialsashecouldfindintheNiceneActs，p。1046，&c。ThewittyJohnofDamascusconvertsitintoslavesoftheirbelly，&c。Opera，tom。i。p。806]
[Footnote20:Heisaccusedofproscribingthetitleofsaint；
stylingtheVirgin，MotherofChrist；comparingherafterherdeliverytoanemptypurseofArianism，Nestorianism，&c。Inhisdefence，Spanheimc。iv。p。207issomewhatembarrassedbetweentheinterestofaProtestantandthedutyofanorthodoxdivine。]
Thescandalofanabstractheresycanbeonlyproclaimedtothepeoplebytheblastoftheecclesiasticaltrumpet；butthemostignorantcanperceive，themosttorpidmustfeel，theprofanationanddownfalloftheirvisibledeities。ThefirsthostilitiesofLeoweredirectedagainstaloftyChristonthevestibule，andabovethegate，ofthepalace。Aladderhadbeenplantedfortheassault，butitwasfuriouslyshakenbyacrowdofzealotsandwomen:theybeheld，withpioustransport，theministersofsacrilegetumblingfromonhighanddashedagainstthepavement:andthehonorsoftheancientmartyrswereprostitutedtothesecriminals，whojustlysufferedformurderandrebellion。^21TheexecutionoftheImperialedictswasresistedbyfrequenttumultsinConstantinopleandtheprovinces:
thepersonofLeowasendangered，hisofficersweremassacred，andthepopularenthusiasmwasquelledbythestrongesteffortsofthecivilandmilitarypower。OftheArchipelago，orHolySea，thenumerousislandswerefilledwithimagesandmonks:
theirvotariesabjured，withoutscruple，theenemyofChrist，hismother，andthesaints；theyarmedafleetofboatsandgalleys，displayedtheirconsecratedbanners，andboldlysteeredfortheharborofConstantinople，toplaceonthethroneanewfavoriteofGodandthepeople。Theydependedonthesuccorofamiracle:
buttheirmiracleswereinefficientagainsttheGreekfire；and，afterthedefeatandconflagrationofthefleet，thenakedislandswereabandonedtotheclemencyorjusticeoftheconqueror。ThesonofLeo，inthefirstyearofhisreign，hadundertakenanexpeditionagainsttheSaracens:duringhisabsence，thecapital，thepalace，andthepurple，wereoccupiedbyhiskinsmanArtavasdes，theambitiouschampionoftheorthodoxfaith。Theworshipofimageswastriumphantlyrestored:thepatriarchrenouncedhisdissimulation，ordissembledhissentimentsandtherighteousclaimsoftheusurperwasacknowledged，bothinthenew，andinancient，Rome。Constantineflewforrefugetohispaternalmountains；buthedescendedattheheadoftheboldandaffectionateIsaurians；andhisfinalvictoryconfoundedthearmsandpredictionsofthefanatics。Hislongreignwasdistractedwithclamor，sedition，conspiracy，andmutualhatred，andsanguinaryrevenge；thepersecutionofimageswasthemotiveorpretence，ofhisadversaries；and，iftheymissedatemporaldiadem，theywererewardedbytheGreekswiththecrownofmartyrdom。Ineveryactofopenandclandestinetreason，theemperorfelttheunforgivingenmityofthemonks，thefaithfulslavesofthesuperstitiontowhichtheyowedtheirrichesandinfluence。Theyprayed，theypreached，theyabsolved，theyinflamed，theyconspired；thesolitudeofPalestinepouredforthatorrentofinvective；andthepenofSt。JohnDamascenus，^22thelastoftheGreekfathers，devotedthetyrant\'shead，bothinthisworldandthenext。^23Iamnotatleisuretoexaminehowfarthemonksprovoked，norhowmuchtheyhaveexaggerated，theirrealandpretendedsufferings，norhowmanylosttheirlivesorlimbs，theireyesortheirbeards，bythecrueltyoftheemperor。^!Fromthechastisementofindividuals，heproceededtotheabolitionoftheorder；and，asitwaswealthyanduseless，hisresentmentmightbestimulatedbyavarice，andjustifiedbypatriotism。TheformidablenameandmissionoftheDragon，^24hisvisitor—general，excitedtheterrorandabhorrenceoftheblacknation:thereligiouscommunitiesweredissolved，thebuildingswereconvertedintomagazines，orbarracks；thelands，movables，andcattlewereconfiscated；andourmodernprecedentswillsupportthecharge，thatmuchwantonormalicioushavocwasexercisedagainsttherelics，andeventhebooksofthemonasteries。Withthehabitandprofessionofmonks，thepublicandprivateworshipofimageswasrigorouslyproscribed；anditshouldseem，thatasolemnabjurationofidolatrywasexactedfromthesubjects，oratleastfromtheclergy，oftheEasternempire。^25
[Footnote21:TheholyconfessorTheophanesapprovestheprincipleoftheirrebellion，p。339。GregoryII。inEpist。i。
adImp。Leon。Concil。tom。viii。p。661，664applaudsthezealoftheByzantinewomenwhokilledtheImperialofficers。]
[Footnote22:John，orMansur，wasanobleChristianofDamascus，whoheldaconsiderableofficeintheserviceofthecaliph。HiszealinthecauseofimagesexposedhimtotheresentmentandtreacheryoftheGreekemperor；andonthesuspicionofatreasonablecorrespondence，hewasdeprivedofhisrighthand，whichwasmiraculouslyrestoredbytheVirgin。Afterthisdeliverance，heresignedhisoffice，distributedhiswealth，andburiedhimselfinthemonasteryofSt。Sabas，betweenJerusalemandtheDeadSea。Thelegendisfamous；buthislearnededitor，FatherLequien，hasaunluckilyprovedthatSt。JohnDamascenuswasalreadyamonkbeforetheIconoclastdispute，Opera，tom。i。
Vit。St。Joan。Damascen。p。10—13，etNotasadloc。]
[Footnote23:AftersendingLeotothedevil，heintroduceshisheir，Opera，Damascen。tom。i。p。625。Iftheauthenticityofthispiecebesuspicious，wearesurethatinotherworks，nolongerextant，DamascenusbestowedonConstantinethetitles。
tom。i。p。306。]
[Footnote*:ThepatriarchAnastasius，anIconoclastunderLeo，animageworshipperunderArtavasdes，wasscourged，ledthroughthestreetsonanass，withhisfacetothetail；and，reinvestedinhisdignity，becameagaintheobsequiousministerofConstantineinhisIconoclasticpersecutions。SeeSchlosserp。
211。—M。]
[Footnote!:CompareSchlosser，p。228—234。—M。]
[Footnote24:InthenarrativeofthispersecutionfromTheophanesandCedreves，Spanheimp。235—238ishappytocomparetheDracoofLeowiththedragoonsDraconesofLouisXIV。；andhighlysolaceshimselfwiththecontroversialpun。]
[Footnote25:Damascen。Op。tom。i。p。625。ThisoathandsubscriptionIdonotremembertohaveseeninanymoderncompilation]
ThepatientEastabjured，withreluctance，hersacredimages；theywerefondlycherished，andvigorouslydefended，bytheindependentzealoftheItalians。Inecclesiasticalrankandjurisdiction，thepatriarchofConstantinopleandthepopeofRomewerenearlyequal。ButtheGreekprelatewasadomesticslaveundertheeyeofhismaster，atwhosenodhealternatelypassedfromtheconventtothethrone，andfromthethronetotheconvent。Adistantanddangerousstation，amidsttheBarbariansoftheWest，excitedthespiritandfreedomoftheLatinbishops。
TheirpopularelectionendearedthemtotheRomans:thepublicandprivateindigencewasrelievedbytheiramplerevenue；andtheweaknessorneglectoftheemperorscompelledthemtoconsult，bothinpeaceandwar，thetemporalsafetyofthecity。
Intheschoolofadversitythepriestinsensiblyimbibedthevirtuesandtheambitionofaprince；thesamecharacterwasassumed，thesamepolicywasadopted，bytheItalian，theGreek，ortheSyrian，whoascendedthechairofSt。Peter；and，afterthelossofherlegionsandprovinces，thegeniusandfortuneofthepopesagainrestoredthesupremacyofRome。Itisagreed，thatintheeighthcentury，theirdominionwasfoundedonrebellion，andthattherebellionwasproduced，andjustified，bytheheresyoftheIconoclasts；buttheconductofthesecondandthirdGregory，inthismemorablecontest，isvariouslyinterpretedbythewishesoftheirfriendsandenemies。TheByzantinewritersunanimouslydeclare，that，afterafruitlessadmonition，theypronouncedtheseparationoftheEastandWest，anddeprivedthesacrilegioustyrantoftherevenueandsovereigntyofItaly。TheirexcommunicationisstillmoreclearlyexpressedbytheGreeks，whobeheldtheaccomplishmentofthepapaltriumphs；andastheyaremorestronglyattachedtotheirreligionthantotheircountry，theypraise，insteadofblaming，thezealandorthodoxyoftheseapostolicalmen。^26ThemodernchampionsofRomeareeagertoacceptthepraiseandtheprecedent:thisgreatandgloriousexampleofthedepositionofroyalhereticsiscelebratedbythecardinalsBaroniusandBellarmine；^27andiftheyareasked，whythesamethunderswerenothurledagainsttheNerosandJuliansofantiquity，theyreply，thattheweaknessoftheprimitivechurchwasthesolecauseofherpatientloyalty。^28Onthisoccasiontheeffectsofloveandhatredarethesame；andthezealousProtestants，whoseektokindletheindignation，andtoalarmthefears，ofprincesandmagistrates，expatiateontheinsolenceandtreasonofthetwoGregoriesagainsttheirlawfulsovereign。^29TheyaredefendedonlybythemoderateCatholics，forthemostpart，oftheGallicanchurch，^30whorespectthesaint，withoutapprovingthesin。Thesecommonadvocatesofthecrownandthemitrecircumscribethetruthoffactsbytheruleofequity，Scripture，andtradition，andappealtotheevidenceoftheLatins，^31andthelives^32andepistlesofthepopesthemselves。
[Footnote26:Theophanes。Chronograph。p。343。ForthisGregoryisstyledbyCedrenus。p。450。Zonarasspecifiesthethunder，tom。ii。l。xv。p。104，105。Itmaybeobserved，thattheGreeksareapttoconfoundthetimesandactionsoftwoGregories。]
[Footnote27:SeeBaronius，Annal。Eccles。A。D。730，No。4，5；
dignumexemplum!Bellarmin。deRomanoPontifice，l。v。c。8:
mulctaviteumparteimperii。Sigonius，deRegnoItaliae，l。iii。
Opera，tom。ii。p。169。YetsuchisthechangeofItaly，thatSigoniusiscorrectedbytheeditorofMilan，PhilipusArgelatus，aBolognese，andsubjectofthepope。]
[Footnote28:QuodsiChristianiolimnondeposueruntNeronemautJulianum，idfuitquiadeerantvirestemporalesChristianis，honestBellarmine，deRom。Pont。l。v。c。7。CardinalPerronaddsadistinctionmorehonorabletothefirstChristians，butnotmoresatisfactorytomodernprinces—thetreasonofhereticsandapostates，whobreaktheiroath，belietheircoin，andrenouncetheirallegiancetoChristandhisvicar，Perroniana，p。89。]
[Footnote29:Take，asaspecimen，thecautiousBasnageHist。
d\'Eglise，p。1350，1351andthevehementSpanheim，Hist。
Imaginum，who，withahundredmore，treadinthefootstepsofthecenturiatorsofMagdeburgh。]
[Footnote30:SeeLaunoy，Opera，tom。v。parsii。epist。vii。7，p。456—474，NatalisAlexander，Hist。Nov。Testamenti，secul。
viii。dissert。i。p。92—98，Pagi，Critica，tom。iii。p。215，216，andGiannone，IstoriaCivileNapoli，tom。i。p。317—
320，adiscipleoftheGallicanschoolInthefieldofcontroversyIalwayspitythemoderateparty，whostandontheopenmiddlegroundexposedtothefireofbothsides。]
[Footnote31:TheyappealtoPaulWarnefrid，orDiaconus，deGestisLangobard。l。vi。c。49，p。506，507，inScript。Ital。
Muratori，tom。i。parsi。，andthenominalAnastasius，deVit。
Pont。inMuratori，tom。iii。parsi。GregoriusII。p。154。
GregoriusIII。p。158。Zacharias，p。161。StephanusIII。p。165。
Paulus，p。172。StephanusIV。p。174。Hadrianus，p。179。LeoIII。p。195。YetImayremark，thatthetrueAnastasiusHist。
Eccles。p。134，edit。Reg。andtheHistoriaMiscella，l。xxi。
p。151，intom。i。Script。Ital。，bothoftheixthcentury，translateandapprovetheGreektextofTheophanes。]
[Footnote32:Withsomeminutedifference，themostlearnedcritics，LucasHolstenius，Schelestrate，Ciampini，Bianchini，Muratori，Prolegomenaadtom。iii。parsi。，areagreedthattheLiberPontificaliswascomposedandcontinuedbytheapostoliclibrariansandnotariesoftheviiithandixthcenturies；andthatthelastandsmallestpartistheworkofAnastasius，whosenameitbears。Thestyleisbarbarous，thenarrativepartial，thedetailsaretrifling—yetitmustbereadasacuriousandauthenticrecordofthetimes。TheepistlesofthepopesaredispersedinthevolumesofCouncils。]
ChapterXLIX:ConquestOfItalyByTheFranks。
PartII。
Twooriginalepistles，fromGregorytheSecondtotheemperorLeo，arestillextant；^33andiftheycannotbepraisedasthemostperfectmodelsofeloquenceandlogic，theyexhibittheportrait，oratleastthemask，ofthefounderofthepapalmonarchy。\"Duringtenpureandfortunateyears，\"saysGregorytotheemperor，\"wehavetastedtheannualcomfortofyourroyalletters，subscribedinpurpleink，withyourownhand，thesacredpledgesofyourattachmenttotheorthodoxcreedofourfathers。
Howdeplorableisthechange!howtremendousthescandal!YounowaccusetheCatholicsofidolatry；and，bytheaccusation，youbetrayyourownimpietyandignorance。Tothisignorancewearecompelledtoadaptthegrossnessofourstyleandarguments:thefirstelementsofholylettersaresufficientforyourconfusion；
andwereyoutoenteragrammar—school，andavowyourselftheenemyofourworship，thesimpleandpiouschildrenwouldbeprovokedtocasttheirhorn—booksatyourhead。\"Afterthisdecentsalutation，thepopeattemptstheusualdistinctionbetweentheidolsofantiquityandtheChristianimages。Theformerwerethefancifulrepresentationsofphantomsordaemons，atatimewhenthetrueGodhadnotmanifestedhispersoninanyvisiblelikeness。ThelatterarethegenuineformsofChrist，hismother，andhissaints，whohadapproved，byacrowdofmiracles，theinnocenceandmeritofthisrelativeworship。HemustindeedhavetrustedtotheignoranceofLeo，sincehecouldasserttheperpetualuseofimages，fromtheapostolicage，andtheirvenerablepresenceinthesixsynodsoftheCatholicchurch。AmorespeciousargumentisdrawnfrompresentpossessionandrecentpracticetheharmonyoftheChristianworldsupersedesthedemandofageneralcouncil；andGregoryfranklyconfesses，thansuchassembliescanonlybeusefulunderthereignofanorthodoxprince。TotheimpudentandinhumanLeo，moreguiltythanaheretic，herecommendspeace，silence，andimplicitobediencetohisspiritualguidesofConstantinopleandRome。Thelimitsofcivilandecclesiasticalpowersaredefinedbythepontiff。Totheformerheappropriatesthebody；tothelatter，thesoul:theswordofjusticeisinthehandsofthemagistrate:themoreformidableweaponofexcommunicationisintrustedtotheclergy；andintheexerciseoftheirdivinecommissionazealoussonwillnotsparehisoffendingfather:thesuccessorofSt。Petermaylawfullychastisethekingsoftheearth。\"Youassaultus，Otyrant!withacarnalandmilitaryhand:unarmedandnakedwecanonlyimploretheChrist，theprinceoftheheavenlyhost，thathewillsenduntoyouadevil，forthedestructionofyourbodyandthesalvationofyoursoul。
Youdeclare，withfoolisharrogance，IwilldespatchmyorderstoRome:IwillbreakinpiecestheimageofSt。Peter；andGregory，likehispredecessorMartin，shallbetransportedinchains，andinexile，tothefootoftheImperialthrone。WouldtoGodthatImightbepermittedtotreadinthefootstepsoftheholyMartin!butmaythefateofConstansserveasawarningtothepersecutorsofthechurch!AfterhisjustcondemnationbythebishopsofSicily，thetyrantwascutoff，inthefullnessofhissins，byadomesticservant:thesaintisstilladoredbythenationsofScythia，amongwhomheendedhisbanishmentandhislife。Butitisourdutytolivefortheedificationandsupportofthefaithfulpeople；norarewereducedtoriskoursafetyontheeventofacombat。IncapableasyouareofdefendingyourRomansubjects，themaritimesituationofthecitymayperhapsexposeittoyourdepredationbutwecanremovetothedistanceoffour—and—twentystadia，tothefirstfortressoftheLombards，andthen—youmaypursuethewinds。Areyouignorantthatthepopesarethebondofunion，themediatorsofpeace，betweentheEastandWest?Theeyesofthenationsarefixedonourhumility；andtheyrevere，asaGoduponearth，theapostleSt。