Themostpreciousornamentsofgoldandsilver，ofsilkandgems，wereprofuselydedicatedtotheserviceofthealtar；andthisspeciousmagnificencewassupportedonthesolidandperpetualbasisoflandedproperty。Inthespaceoftwocenturies，fromthereignofConstantinetothatofJustinian，theeighteenhundredchurchesoftheempirewereenrichedbythefrequentandunalienablegiftsoftheprinceandpeople。Anannualincomeofsixhundredpoundssterlingmaybereasonablyassignedtothebishops，whowereplacedatanequaldistancebetweenrichesandpoverty，^105butthestandardoftheirwealthinsensiblyrosewiththedignityandopulenceofthecitieswhichtheygoverned。
　　Anauthenticbutimperfect^106rent—rollspecifiessomehouses，shops，gardens，andfarms，whichbelongedtothethreeBasilicoeofRome，St。Peter，St。Paul，andSt。JohnLateran，intheprovincesofItaly，Africa，andtheEast。Theyproduce，besidesareservedrentofoil，linen，paper，aromatics，&c。，aclearannualrevenueoftwenty—twothousandpiecesofgold，ortwelvethousandpoundssterling。IntheageofConstantineandJustinian，thebishopsnolongerpossessed，perhapstheynolongerdeserved，theunsuspectingconfidenceoftheirclergyandpeople。Theecclesiasticalrevenuesofeachdioceseweredividedintofourpartsfortherespectiveusesofthebishophimself，ofhisinferiorclergy，ofthepoor，andofthepublicworship；andtheabuseofthissacredtrustwasstrictlyandrepeatedlychecked。^107Thepatrimonyofthechurchwasstillsubjecttoallthepubliccompositionsofthestate。^108TheclergyofRome，Alexandria，Chessaionica，&c。，mightsolicitandobtainsomepartialexemptions；buttheprematureattemptofthegreatcouncilofRimini，whichaspiredtouniversalfreedom，wassuccessfullyresistedbythesonofConstantine。^109
　　[Footnote101:TheedictofMilandeM。P。c。48acknowledges，byreciting，thatthereexistedaspeciesoflandedproperty，adjuscorporiseorum，idest，ecclesiarumnonhominumsingulorumpertinentia。Suchasolemndeclarationofthesuprememagistratemusthavebeenreceivedinallthetribunalsasamaximofcivillaw。]
　　[Footnote102:HabeatunusquisquelicentiamsanctissimoCatholicaeecclesioevenerabiliqueconcilio，decedensbonorumquodoptavitrelinquere。Cod。Theodos。l。xvi。tit。ii。leg。4。
　　ThislawwaspublishedatRome，A。D。321，atatimewhenConstantinemightforeseetheprobabilityofarupturewiththeemperoroftheEast。]
　　[Footnote103:Eusebius，Hist。Eccles。l。x。6；inVit。
　　Constantin。l。iv。c。28。HerepeatedlyexpatiatesontheliberalityoftheChristianhero，whichthebishophimselfhadanopportunityofknowing，andevenoflasting。]
　　[Footnote104:Eusebius，Hist。Eccles。l。x。c。2，3，4。ThebishopofCaesareawhostudiedandgratifiedthetasteofhismaster，pronouncedinpublicanelaboratedescriptionofthechurchofJerusalem，inVitCons。l。vi。c。46。Itnolongerexists，buthehasinsertedinthelifeofConstantinel。iii。
　　c。36ashortaccountofthearchitectureandornaments。HelikewisementionsthechurchoftheHolyApostlesatConstantinople，l。iv。c。59。]
　　[Footnote105:SeeJustinian。Novell。cxxiii。3。Therevenueofthepatriarchs，andthemostwealthybishops，isnotexpressed:
　　thehighestannualvaluationofabishopricisstatedatthirty，andthelowestattwo，poundsofgold；themediummightbetakenatsixteen，butthesevaluationsaremuchbelowtherealvalue。]
　　[Footnote106:SeeBaronius，Annal。Eccles。A。D。324，No。58，65，70，71。EveryrecordwhichcomesfromtheVaticanisjustlysuspected；yettheserent—rollshaveanancientandauthenticcolor；anditisatleastevident，that，ifforged，theywereforgedinaperiodwhenfarmsnotkingdoms，weretheobjectsofpapalavarice。]
　　[Footnote107:SeeThomassin，Disciplinedel'Eglise，tom。iii。
　　l。ii。c。13，14，15，p。689—706。ThelegaldivisionoftheecclesiasticalrevenuedoesnotappeartohavebeenestablishedinthetimeofAmbroseandChrysostom。SimpliciusandGelasius，whowerebishopsofRomeinthelatterpartofthefifthcentury，mentionitintheirpastorallettersasagenerallaw，whichwasalreadyconfirmedbythecustomofItaly。]
　　[Footnote108:Ambrose，themoststrenuousassertorofecclesiasticalprivileges，submitswithoutamurmurtothepaymentofthelandtax。"SitributumpetitImperator，nonnegamus；agriecclesiaesolvunttributumsolvimusquaesuntCaesarisCaesari，etquaesuntDeiDeo；tributumCaesarisest；
　　nonnegatur。"Baroniuslaborstointerpretthistributeasanactofcharityratherthanofduty，Annal。Eccles。A。D。387；butthewords，ifnottheintentionsofAmbrosearemorecandidlyexplainedbyThomassin，Disciplinedel'Eglise，tom。iii。l。i。
　　c。34。p。668。]
　　[Footnote109:InAriminensesynodosuperecclesiarumetclericorumprivilegiistractatuhabito，usqueeodispositioprogressaest，utjuqaquaeviderenturadecclesiampertinere，apublicafunctionecessarentinquietudinedesistente；quodnostravideturdudumsanctiorepulsisse。Cod。Theod。l。xvi。tit。ii。
　　leg。15。HadthesynodofRiminicarriedthispoint，suchpracticalmeritmighthaveatonedforsomespeculativeheresies。]
　　IV。TheLatinclergy，whoerectedtheirtribunalontheruinsofthecivilandcommonlaw，havemodestlyaccepted，asthegiftofConstantine，^110theindependentjurisdiction，whichwasthefruitoftime，ofaccident，andoftheirownindustry。ButtheliberalityoftheChristianemperorshadactuallyendowedthemwithsomelegalprerogatives，whichsecuredanddignifiedthesacerdotalcharacter。^1111。Underadespoticgovernment，thebishopsaloneenjoyedandassertedtheinestimableprivilegeofbeingtriedonlybytheirpeers；andeveninacapitalaccusation，asynodoftheirbrethrenwerethesolejudgesoftheirguiltorinnocence。Suchatribunal，unlessitwasinflamedbypersonalresentmentorreligiousdiscord，mightbefavorable，orevenpartial，tothesacerdotalorder:butConstantinewassatisfied，^112thatsecretimpunitywouldbelessperniciousthanpublicscandal:andtheNicenecouncilwaseditedbyhispublicdeclaration，thatifhesurprisedabishopintheactofadultery，heshouldcasthisImperialmantleovertheepiscopalsinner。2。Thedomesticjurisdictionofthebishopswasatonceaprivilegeandarestraintoftheecclesiasticalorder，whosecivilcausesweredecentlywithdrawnfromthecognizanceofasecularjudge。Theirvenialoffenceswerenotexposedtotheshameofapublictrialorpunishment；
　　andthegentlecorrectionwhichthetendernessofyouthmayendurefromitsparentsorinstructors，wasinflictedbythetemperateseverityofthebishops。Butiftheclergywereguiltyofanycrimewhichcouldnotbesufficientlyexpiatedbytheirdegradationfromanhonorableandbeneficialprofession，theRomanmagistratedrewtheswordofjustice，withoutanyregardtoecclesiasticalimmunities。3。Thearbitrationofthebishopswasratifiedbyapositivelaw；andthejudgeswereinstructedtoexecute，withoutappealordelay，theepiscopaldecrees，whosevalidityhadhithertodependedontheconsentoftheparties。
　　Theconversionofthemagistratesthemselves，andofthewholeempire，mightgraduallyremovethefearsandscruplesoftheChristians。Buttheystillresortedtothetribunalofthebishops，whoseabilitiesandintegritytheyesteemed；andthevenerableAustinenjoyedthesatisfactionofcomplainingthathisspiritualfunctionswereperpetuallyinterruptedbytheinvidiouslaborofdecidingtheclaimorthepossessionofsilverandgold，oflandsandcattle。4。TheancientprivilegeofsanctuarywastransferredtotheChristiantemples，andextended，bytheliberalpietyoftheyoungerTheodosius，totheprecinctsofconsecratedground。^113Thefugitive，andevenguiltysuppliants，werepermittedtoimploreeitherthejustice，orthemercy，oftheDeityandhisministers。Therashviolenceofdespotismwassuspendedbythemildinterpositionofthechurch；
　　andthelivesorfortunesofthemosteminentsubjectsmightbeprotectedbythemediationofthebishop。
　　[Footnote110:FromEusebiusinVit。Constant。l。iv。c。27andSozomenl。i。c。9weareassuredthattheepiscopaljurisdictionwasextendedandconfirmedbyConstantine；buttheforgeryofafamousedict，whichwasneverfairlyinsertedintheTheodosianCodeseeattheend，tom。vi。p。303，isdemonstratedbyGodefroyinthemostsatisfactorymanner。ItisstrangethatM。deMontesquieu，whowasalawyeraswellasaphilosopher，shouldallegethisedictofConstantineEspritdesLoix，l。xxix。c。16withoutintimatinganysuspicion。]
　　[Footnote111:Thesubjectofecclesiasticaljurisdictionhasbeeninvolvedinamistofpassion，ofprejudice，andofinterest。Twoofthefairestbookswhichhavefallenintomyhands，aretheInstitutesofCanonLaw，bytheAbbedeFleury，andtheCivilHistoryofNaples，byGiannone。Theirmoderationwastheeffectofsituationaswellasoftemper。FleurywasaFrenchecclesiastic，whorespectedtheauthorityoftheparliaments；GiannonewasanItalianlawyer，whodreadedthepowerofthechurch。Andhereletmeobserve，thatasthegeneralpropositionswhichIadvancearetheresultofmanyparticularandimperfectfacts，Imusteitherreferthereadertothosemodernauthorswhohaveexpresslytreatedthesubject，orswellthesenotesdisproportionedsize。]
　　[Footnote112:TillemonthascollectedfromRufinus，Theodoret，&c。，thesentimentsandlanguageofConstantine。MemEcclestom。
　　iiip。749，759。]
　　[Footnote113:SeeCod。Theod。l。ix。tit。xlv。leg。4。IntheworksofFraPaolo。tom。iv。p。192，&c。，thereisanexcellentdiscourseontheorigin，claims，abuses，andlimitsofsanctuaries。Hejustlyobserves，thatancientGreecemightperhapscontainfifteenortwentyaxylaorsanctuaries；anumberwhichatpresentmaybefoundinItalywithinthewallsofasinglecity。]
　　V。ThebishopwastheperpetualcensorofthemoralsofhispeopleThedisciplineofpenancewasdigestedintoasystemofcanonicaljurisprudence，^114whichaccuratelydefinedthedutyofprivateorpublicconfession，therulesofevidence，thedegreesofguilt，andthemeasureofpunishment。Itwasimpossibletoexecutethisspiritualcensure，iftheChristianpontiff，whopunishedtheobscuresinsofthemultitude，respectedtheconspicuousvicesanddestructivecrimesofthemagistrate:butitwasimpossibletoarraigntheconductofthemagistrate，without，controllingtheadministrationofcivilgovernment。Someconsiderationsofreligion，orloyalty，orfear，protectedthesacredpersonsoftheemperorsfromthezealorresentmentofthebishops；buttheyboldlycensuredandexcommunicatedthesubordinatetyrants，whowerenotinvestedwiththemajestyofthepurple。St。AthanasiusexcommunicatedoneoftheministersofEgypt；andtheinterdictwhichhepronounced，offireandwater，wassolemnlytransmittedtothechurchesofCappadocia。^115UnderthereignoftheyoungerTheodosius，thepoliteandeloquentSynesius，oneofthedescendantsofHercules，^116filledtheepiscopalseatofPtolemais，neartheruinsofancientCyrene，^117andthephilosophicbishopsupportedwithdignitythecharacterwhichhehadassumedwithreluctance。^118HevanquishedthemonsterofLibya，thepresidentAndronicus，whoabusedtheauthorityofavenaloffice，inventednewmodesofrapineandtorture，andaggravatedtheguiltofoppressionbythatofsacrilege。^119
　　Afterafruitlessattempttoreclaimthehaughtymagistratebymildandreligiousadmonition，Synesiusproceedstoinflictthelastsentenceofecclesiasticaljustice，^120whichdevotesAndronicus，withhisassociatesandtheirfamilies，totheabhorrenceofearthandheaven。Theimpenitentsinners，morecruelthanPhalarisorSennacherib，moredestructivethanwar，pestilence，oracloudoflocusts，aredeprivedofthenameandprivilegesofChristians，oftheparticipationofthesacraments，andofthehopeofParadise。Thebishopexhortstheclergy，themagistrates，andthepeople，torenounceallsocietywiththeenemiesofChrist；toexcludethemfromtheirhousesandtables；
　　andtorefusethemthecommonofficesoflife，andthedecentritesofburial。ThechurchofPtolemais，obscureandcontemptibleasshemayappear，addressesthisdeclarationtoallhersisterchurchesoftheworld；andtheprofanewhorejectherdecrees，willbeinvolvedintheguiltandpunishmentofAndronicusandhisimpiousfollowers。ThesespiritualterrorswereenforcedbyadexterousapplicationtotheByzantinecourt；
　　thetremblingpresidentimploredthemercyofthechurch；andthedescendantsofHerculesenjoyedthesatisfactionofraisingaprostratetyrantfromtheground。^121SuchprinciplesandsuchexamplesinsensiblypreparedthetriumphoftheRomanpontiffs，whohavetrampledonthenecksofkings。
　　[Footnote114:Thepenitentialjurisprudencewascontinuallyimprovedbythecanonsofthecouncils。Butasmanycaseswerestilllefttothediscretionofthebishops，theyoccasionallypublished，aftertheexampleoftheRomanPraetor，therulesofdisciplinewhichtheyproposedtoobserve。Amongthecanonicalepistlesofthefourthcentury，thoseofBasiltheGreatwerethemostcelebrated。TheyareinsertedinthePandectsofBeveridge，tom。ii。p。47—151，andaretranslatedbyChardon，Hist。desSacremens，tom。iv。p。219—277。]
　　[Footnote115:Basil，Epistol。xlvii。inBaronius，Annal。
　　Eccles。A。D。370。N。91，whodeclaresthathepurposelyrelatesit，toconvincegovernthattheywerenotexemptfromasentenceofexcommunicationhisopinion，evenaroyalheadisnotsafefromthethundersoftheVatican；andthecardinalshowshimselfmuchmoreconsistentthanthelawyersandtheologiansoftheGallicanchurch。]
　　[Footnote116:Thelongseriesofhisancestors，ashighasEurysthenes，thefirstDorickingofSparta，andthefifthinlinealdescentfromHercules，wasinscribedinthepublicregistersofCyrene，aLacedaemoniancolony。Synes。Epist。
　　lvii。p。197，edit。Petav。Suchapureandillustriouspedigreeofseventeenhundredyears，withoutaddingtheroyalancestorsofHercules，cannotbeequalledinthehistoryofmankind。]
　　[Footnote117:SynesiusdeRegno，p。2patheticallydeploresthefallenandruinedstateofCyrene。Ptolemais，anewcity，82
　　milestothewestwardofCyrene，assumedthemetropolitanhonorsofthePentapolis，orUpperLibya，whichwereafterwardstransferredtoSozusa。]
　　[Footnote118:Synesiushadpreviouslyrepresentedhisowndisqualifications。Helovedprofanestudiesandprofanesports；
　　hewasincapableofsupportingalifeofcelibacy；hedisbelievedtheresurrection；andherefusedtopreachfablestothepeopleunlesshemightbepermittedtophilosophizeathome。TheophilusprimateofEgypt，whoknewhismerit，acceptedthisextraordinarycompromise。]
　　[Footnote119:ThepromotionofAndronicuswasillegal；sincehewasanativeofBerenice，inthesameprovince。Theinstrumentsoftorturearecuriouslyspecified；thepressthatvariouslypressedondistendedthefingers，thefeet，thenose，theears，andthelipsofthevictims。]
　　[Footnote120:Thesentenceofexcommunicationisexpressedinarhetoricalstyle。Synesius，Epist。lviii。p。201—203。Themethodofinvolvingwholefamilies，thoughsomewhatunjust，wasimprovedintonationalinterdicts。]
　　[Footnote121:SeeSynesius，Epist。xlvii。p。186，187。Epist。
　　lxxii。p。218，219Epist。lxxxix。p。230，231。]
　　VI。Everypopulargovernmenthasexperiencedtheeffectsofrudeorartificialeloquence。Thecoldestnatureisanimated，thefirmestreasonismoved，bytherapidcommunicationoftheprevailingimpulse；andeachhearerisaffectedbyhisownpassions，andbythoseofthesurroundingmultitude。TheruinofcivillibertyhadsilencedthedemagoguesofAthens，andthetribunesofRome；thecustomofpreachingwhichseemstoconstituteaconsiderablepartofChristiandevotion，hadnotbeenintroducedintothetemplesofantiquity；andtheearsofmonarchswereneverinvadedbytheharshsoundofpopulareloquence，tillthepulpitsoftheempirewerefilledwithsacredorators，whopossessedsomeadvantagesunknowntotheirprofanepredecessors。^122Theargumentsandrhetoricofthetribunewereinstantlyopposedwithequalarms，byskilfulandresoluteantagonists；andthecauseoftruthandreasonmightderiveanaccidentalsupportfromtheconflictofhostilepassions。Thebishop，orsomedistinguishedpresbyter，towhomhecautiouslydelegatedthepowersofpreaching，harangued，withoutthedangerofinterruptionorreply，asubmissivemultitude，whosemindshadbeenpreparedandsubduedbytheawfulceremoniesofreligion。
　　SuchwasthestrictsubordinationoftheCatholicchurch，thatthesameconcertedsoundsmightissueatoncefromahundredpulpitsofItalyorEgypt，iftheyweretuned^123bythemasterhandoftheRomanorAlexandrianprimate。Thedesignofthisinstitutionwaslaudable，butthefruitswerenotalwayssalutary。Thepreachersrecommendedthepracticeofthesocialduties；buttheyexaltedtheperfectionofmonasticvirtue，whichispainfultotheindividual，anduselesstomankind。Theircharitableexhortationsbetrayedasecretwishthattheclergymightbepermittedtomanagethewealthofthefaithful，forthebenefitofthepoor。ThemostsublimerepresentationsoftheattributesandlawsoftheDeityweresulliedbyanidlemixtureofmetaphysicalsubleties，puerilerites，andfictitiousmiracles:andtheyexpatiated，withthemostferventzeal，onthereligiousmeritofhatingtheadversaries，andobeyingtheministersofthechurch。Whenthepublicpeacewasdistractedbyheresyandschism，thesacredoratorssoundedthetrumpetofdiscord，and，perhaps，ofsedition。Theunderstandingsoftheircongregationswereperplexedbymystery，theirpassionswereinflamedbyinvectives；andtheyrushedfromtheChristiantemplesofAntiochorAlexandria，preparedeithertosufferortoinflictmartyrdom。ThecorruptionoftasteandlanguageisstronglymarkedinthevehementdeclamationsoftheLatinbishops；butthecompositionsofGregoryandChrysostomhavebeencomparedwiththemostsplendidmodelsofAttic，oratleastofAsiatic，eloquence。^124
　　[Footnote122:SeeThomassinDisciplinedel'Eglise，tom。ii。l。
　　iii。c。83，p。1761—1770，andBingham，Antiquities，vol。i。l。
　　xiv。c。4，p。688—717。PreachingwasconsideredasthemostimportantofficeofthebishopbutthisfunctionwassometimesintrustedtosuchpresbytersasChrysoetomandAugustin。]
　　[Footnote123:QueenElizabethusedthisexpression，andpractisedthisartwhenevershewishedtoprepossessthemindsofherpeopleinfavorofanyextraordinarymeasureofgovernment。
　　Thehostileeffectsofthismusicwereapprehendedbyhersuccessor，andseverelyfeltbyhisson。"Whenpulpit，drumecclesiastic，"&c。SeeHeylin'sLifeofArchbishopLaud，p。