Athanasius，whoaddressedhisLifeofSt。Antonytotheforeignmonks，wasobligedtohastenthecomposition，thatitmightbereadyforthesailingofthefleets，tom。ii。p。451。]
[Footnote21:SeeJerom，tom。i。p。126，Assemanni，Bibliot。
Orient。tom。iv。p。92，p。857—919，andGeddes，ChurchHistoryofAethiopia，p。29—31。TheAbyssinianmonksadhereverystrictlytotheprimitiveinstitution。]
[Footnote22:Camden'sBritannia，vol。i。p。666，667。]
[Footnote23:AllthatlearningcanextractfromtherubbishofthedarkagesiscopiouslystatedbyArchbishopUsherinhisBritannicarumEcclesiarumAntiquitates，cap。xvi。p。425—503。]
[Footnote24:Thissmall，thoughnotbarren，spot，Iona，Hy，orColumbkill，onlytwomilesinlength，audonemileinbreadth，hasbeendistinguished，1。BythemonasteryofSt。Columba，foundedA。D。566；whoseabbotexercisedanextraordinaryjurisdictionoverthebishopsofCaledonia；2。Byaclassiclibrary，whichaffordedsomehopesofanentireLivy；and，3。Bythetombsofsixtykings，Scots，Irish，andNorwegians，whoreposedinholyground。SeeUsherp。311，360—370andBuchanan，Rer。Scot。l。ii。p。15，edit。Ruddiman。]
Theseunhappyexilesfromsociallifewereimpelledbythedarkandimplacablegeniusofsuperstition。Theirmutualresolutionwassupportedbytheexampleofmillions，ofeithersex，ofeveryage，andofeveryrank；andeachproselytewhoenteredthegatesofamonastery，waspersuadedthathetrodthesteepandthornypathofeternalhappiness。^25Buttheoperationofthesereligiousmotiveswasvariouslydeterminedbythetemperandsituationofmankind。Reasonmightsubdue，orpassionmightsuspend，theirinfluence:buttheyactedmostforciblyontheinfirmmindsofchildrenandfemales；theywerestrengthenedbysecretremorse，oraccidentalmisfortune；andtheymightderivesomeaidfromthetemporalconsiderationsofvanityorinterest。
Itwasnaturallysupposed，thatthepiousandhumblemonks，whohadrenouncedtheworldtoaccomplishtheworkoftheirsalvation，werethebestqualifiedforthespiritualgovernmentoftheChristians。Thereluctanthermitwastornfromhiscell，andseated，amidsttheacclamationsofthepeople，ontheepiscopalthrone:themonasteriesofEgypt，ofGaul，andoftheEast，suppliedaregularsuccessionofsaintsandbishops；andambitionsoondiscoveredthesecretroadwhichledtothepossessionofwealthandhonors。^26Thepopularmonks，whosereputationwasconnectedwiththefameandsuccessoftheorder，assiduouslylaboredtomultiplythenumberoftheirfellow—captives。Theyinsinuatedthemselvesintonobleandopulentfamilies；andthespeciousartsofflatteryandseductionwereemployedtosecurethoseproselyteswhomightbestowwealthordignityonthemonasticprofession。Theindignantfatherbewailedtheloss，perhaps，ofanonlyson；^27thecredulousmaidwasbetrayedbyvanitytoviolatethelawsofnature；andthematronaspiredtoimaginaryperfection，byrenouncingthevirtuesofdomesticlife。PaulayieldedtothepersuasiveeloquenceofJerom；^28andtheprofanetitleofmother—in—lawofGod^29temptedthatillustriouswidowtoconsecratethevirginityofherdaughterEustochium。Bytheadvice，andinthecompany，ofherspiritualguide，PaulaabandonedRomeandherinfantson；retiredtotheholyvillageofBethlem；foundedahospitalandfourmonasteries；andacquired，byheralmsandpenance，aneminentandconspicuousstationintheCatholicchurch。Suchrareandillustriouspenitentswerecelebratedasthegloryandexampleoftheirage；butthemonasterieswerefilledbyacrowdofobscureandabjectplebeians，^30whogainedinthecloistermuchmorethantheyhadsacrificedintheworld。
Peasants，slaves，andmechanics，mightescapefrompovertyandcontempttoasafeandhonorableprofession；whoseapparenthardshipsaremitigatedbycustom，bypopularapplause，andbythesecretrelaxationofdiscipline。^31ThesubjectsofRome，whosepersonsandfortunesweremaderesponsibleforunequalandexorbitanttributes，retiredfromtheoppressionoftheImperialgovernment；andthepusillanimousyouthpreferredthepenanceofamonastic，tothedangersofamilitary，life。Theaffrightedprovincialsofeveryrank，whofledbeforetheBarbarians，foundshelterandsubsistence:wholelegionswereburiedinthesereligioussanctuaries；andthesamecause，whichrelievedthedistressofindividuals，impairedthestrengthandfortitudeoftheempire。^32
[Footnote25:ChrysostominthefirsttomeoftheBenedictineeditionhasconsecratedthreebookstothepraiseanddefenceofthemonasticlife。Heisencouraged，bytheexampleoftheark，topresumethatnonebuttheelectthemonkscanpossiblybesavedl。i。p。55，56。Elsewhere，indeed，hebecomesmoremerciful，l。iii。p。83，84，andallowsdifferentdegreesofglory，likethesun，moon，andstars。Inhislivelycomparisonofakingandamonk，l。iii。p。116—121，hesupposeswhatishardlyfairthatthekingwillbemoresparinglyrewarded，andmorerigorouslypunished。]
[Footnote26:ThomassinDisciplinedel'Eglisetom。i。p。1426—
1469andMabillon，OeuvresPosthumes，tom。ii。p。115—158。
Themonksweregraduallyadoptedasapartoftheecclesiasticalhierarchy。]
[Footnote27:Dr。Middletonvol。i。p。110liberallycensurestheconductandwritingsofChrysostom，oneofthemosteloquentandsuccessfuladvocatesforthemonasticlife。]
[Footnote28:Jerom'sdevoutladiesformaveryconsiderableportionofhisworks:theparticulartreatise，whichhestylestheEpitaphofPaula，tom。i。p。169—192，isanelaborateandextravagantpanegyric。Theexordiumisridiculouslyturgid:"Ifallthemembersofmybodywerechangedintotongues，andifallmylimbsresoundedwithahumanvoice，yetshouldIbeincapable，"&c。]
[Footnote29:SocrusDeiessecoepisti，Jerom，tom。i。p。140，adEustochium。Rufinus，inHieronym。Op。tom。iv。p。223，whowasjustlyscandalized，askshisadversary，fromwhatPaganpoethehadstolenanexpressionsoimpiousandabsurd。]
[Footnote30:NuncautemveniuntplerumqueadhancprofessionemservitutisDei，etexconditioneservili，veletiamliberati，velpropterhocaDominisliberatisiveliberandi；etexvitarusticanaetexopificumexercitatione，etplebeiolabore。
Augustin，deOper。Monach。c。22，ap。Thomassin，Disciplinedel'Eglise，tom。iii。p。1094。TheEgyptian，whoblamedArsenius，ownedthatheledamorecomfortablelifeasamonkthanasashepherd。SeeTillemont，Mem。Eccles。tom。xiv。p。679。]
[Footnote31:ADominicanfriar，VoyagesduP。Labat，tom。i。p。
10，wholodgedatCadizinaconventofhisbrethren，soonunderstoodthattheirreposewasneverinterruptedbynocturnaldevotion；"quoiqu'onnelaissepasdesonnerpourl'edificationdupeuple。"]
[Footnote32:SeeaverysensibleprefaceofLucasHolsteniustotheCodexRegularum。Theemperorsattemptedtosupporttheobligationofpublicandprivateduties；butthefeebledikesweresweptawaybythetorrentofsuperstition；andJustiniansurpassedthemostsanguinewishesofthemonks，Thomassin，tom。
i。p。1782—1799，andBingham，l。vii。c。iii。p。253。
Note:TheemperorValens，inparticular，promulgatesalawcontraignavisequosdamsectatores，quidesertiscivitatummuneribus，captantsolitudinessecreta，etspeciereligioniscumcoetibusmonachorumcongregantur。Cad。Theodl。xii。tit。i。
leg。63。—G。]
Themonasticprofessionoftheancients^33wasanactofvoluntarydevotion。TheinconstantfanaticwasthreatenedwiththeeternalvengeanceoftheGodwhomhedeserted；butthedoorsofthemonasterywerestillopenforrepentance。Thosemonks，whoseconsciencewasfortifiedbyreasonorpassion，wereatlibertytoresumethecharacterofmenandcitizens；andeventhespousesofChristmightacceptthelegalembracesofanearthlylover。^34Theexamplesofscandal，andtheprogressofsuperstition，suggestedtheproprietyofmoreforciblerestraints。Afterasufficienttrial，thefidelityofthenovicewassecuredbyasolemnandperpetualvow；andhisirrevocableengagementwasratifiedbythelawsofthechurchandstate。A
guiltyfugitivewaspursued，arrested，andrestoredtohisperpetualprison；andtheinterpositionofthemagistrateoppressedthefreedomandthemerit，whichhadalleviated，insomedegree，theabjectslaveryofthemonasticdiscipline。^35
Theactionsofamonk，hiswords，andevenhisthoughts，weredeterminedbyaninflexiblerule，^36oracapricioussuperior:
theslightestoffenceswerecorrectedbydisgraceorconfinement，extraordinaryfasts，orbloodyflagellation；anddisobedience，murmur，ordelay，wererankedinthecatalogueofthemostheinoussins。^37Ablindsubmissiontothecommandsoftheabbot，howeverabsurd，orevencriminal，theymightseem，wastherulingprinciple，thefirstvirtueoftheEgyptianmonks；andtheirpatiencewasfrequentlyexercisedbythemostextravaganttrials。Theyweredirectedtoremoveanenormousrock；
assiduouslytowaterabarrenstaff，thatwasplantedintheground，till，attheendofthreeyears，itshouldvegetateandblossomlikeatree；towalkintoafieryfurnace；ortocasttheirinfantintoadeeppond:andseveralsaints，ormadmen，havebeenimmortalizedinmonasticstory，bytheirthoughtlessandfearlessobedience。^38Thefreedomofthemind，thesourceofeverygenerousandrationalsentiment，wasdestroyedbythehabitsofcredulityandsubmission；andthemonk，contractingthevicesofaslave，devoutlyfollowedthefaithandpassionsofhisecclesiasticaltyrant。ThepeaceoftheEasternchurchwasinvadedbyaswarmoffanatics，incapableoffear，orreason，orhumanity；andtheImperialtroopsacknowledged，withoutshame，thattheyweremuchlessapprehensiveofanencounterwiththefiercestBarbarians。^39
[Footnote33:Themonasticinstitutions，particularlythoseofEgypt，abouttheyear400，aredescribedbyfourcuriousanddevouttravellers；Rufinus，Vit。Patrum，l。ii。iii。p。424—
536，Posthumian，Sulp。Sever。Dialog。i。Palladius，Hist。
Lausiac。inVit。Patrum，p。709—863，andCassian，seeintom。
vii。Bibliothec。Max。Patrum，hisfourfirstbooksofInstitutes，andthetwenty—fourCollationsorConferences。]
[Footnote34:TheexampleofMalchus，Jerom，tom。i。p。256，
andthedesignofCassianandhisfriend，Collation。xxiv。1，
areincontestableproofsoftheirfreedom；whichiselegantlydescribedbyErasmusinhisLifeofSt。Jerom。SeeChardon，Hist。desSacremens，tom。vi。p。279—300。]
[Footnote35:SeetheLawsofJustinian，Novel。cxxiii。No。42，
andofLewisthePious，intheHistoriansofFrance，tomvi。p。
427，andtheactualjurisprudenceofFrance，inDenissart，Decisions，&c。，tom。iv。p。855，&c。]
[Footnote36:TheancientCodexRegularum，collectedbyBenedictAnianinus，thereformerofthemonksinthebeginningoftheninthcentury，andpublishedintheseventeenth，byLucasHolstenius，containsthirtydifferentrulesformenandwomen。
Ofthese，sevenwerecomposedinEgypt，oneintheEast，oneinCappadocia，oneinItaly，oneinAfrica，fourinSpain，eightinGaul，orFrance，andoneinEngland。]
[Footnote37:TheruleofColumbanus，soprevalentintheWest，inflictsonehundredlashesforveryslightoffences，Cod。Reg。
partii。p。174。BeforethetimeofCharlemagne，theabbotsindulgedthemselvesinmutilatingtheirmonks，orputtingouttheireyes；apunishmentmuchlesscruelthanthetremendousvadeinpacethesubterraneousdungeonorsepulchrewhichwasafterwardsinvented。SeeanadmirablediscourseofthelearnedMabillon，OeuvresPosthumes，tom。ii。p。321—336，who，onthisoccasion，seemstobeinspiredbythegeniusofhumanity。
Forsuchaneffort，IcanforgivehisdefenceoftheholytearofVendemep。361—399。]
[Footnote38:Sulp。Sever。Dialog。i。12，13，p。532，&c。
Cassian。Institut。l。iv。c。26，27。"Praecipuaibivirtusetprimaestobedientia。"AmongtheVerbaseniorum，inVit。Patrum，l。v。p。617，thefourteenthlibelordiscourseisonthesubjectofobedience；andtheJesuitRosweyde，whopublishedthathugevolumefortheuseofconvents，hascollectedallthescatteredpassagesinhistwocopiousindexes。]
[Footnote39:Dr。JortinRemarksonEcclesiasticalHistory，vol。
iv。p。161hasobservedthescandalousvaloroftheCappadocianmonks，whichwasexemplifiedinthebanishmentofChrysostom。]
Superstitionhasoftenframedandconsecratedthefantasticgarmentsofthemonks:^40buttheirapparentsingularitysometimesproceedsfromtheiruniformattachmenttoasimpleandprimitivemodel，whichtherevolutionsoffashionhavemaderidiculousintheeyesofmankind。ThefatheroftheBenedictinesexpresslydisclaimsallideaofchoiceofmerit；andsoberlyexhortshisdisciplestoadoptthecoarseandconvenientdressofthecountrieswhichtheymayinhabit。^41Themonastichabitsoftheancientsvariedwiththeclimate，andtheirmodeoflife；andtheyassumed，withthesameindifference，thesheep—skinoftheEgyptianpeasants，orthecloakoftheGrecianphilosophers。TheyallowedthemselvestheuseoflineninEgypt，whereitwasacheapanddomesticmanufacture；butintheWesttheyrejectedsuchanexpensivearticleofforeignluxury。^42Itwasthepracticeofthemonkseithertocutorshavetheirhair；
theywrappedtheirheadsinacowltoescapethesightofprofaneobjects；theirlegsandfeetwerenaked，exceptintheextremecoldofwinter；andtheirslowandfeeblestepsweresupportedbyalongstaff。Theaspectofagenuineanachoretwashorridanddisgusting:everysensationthatisoffensivetomanwasthoughtacceptabletoGod；andtheangelicruleofTabennecondemnedthesalutarycustomofbathingthelimbsinwater，andofanointingthemwithoil。^43Theausteremonkssleptontheground，onahardmat，oraroughblanket；andthesamebundleofpalm—leavesservedthemasaseatinthelay，andapillowinthenight。
Theiroriginalcellswerelow，narrowhuts，builtoftheslightestmaterials；whichformed，bytheregulardistributionofthestreets，alargeandpopulousvillage，enclosing，withinthecommonwall，achurch，ahospital，perhapsalibrary，somenecessaryoffices，agarden，andafountainorreservoiroffreshwater。Thirtyorfortybrethrencomposedafamilyofseparatedisciplineanddiet；andthegreatmonasteriesofEgyptconsistedofthirtyorfortyfamilies。
[Footnote40:Cassianhassimply，thoughcopiously，describedthemonastichabitofEgypt，Institut。l。i。，towhichSozomenl。
iii。c。14attributessuchallegoricalmeaningandvirtue。]
[Footnote41:Regul。Benedict。No。55，inCod。Regul。partii。p。
51。]
[Footnote42:SeetheruleofFerreolus，bishopofUsez，No。31，inCod。Regulpartii。p。136，andofIsidore，bishopofSeville，No。13，inCod。Regulpartii。p。214。]
[Footnote43:Somepartialindulgencesweregrantedforthehandsandfeet"Totumautemcorpusnemounguetnisicausainfirmitatis，neclavabituraquanudocorpore，nisilanguorperspicuussit，"
Regul。Pachomxcii。parti。p。78。]
[Footnote*:AthanasiusVit。Ant。c。47boastsofAntony'sholyhorrorofclearwater，bywhichhisfeetwereuncontaminatedexceptunderdirenecessity—M。]
ChapterXXXVII:ConversionOfTheBarbariansToChristianity。
PartII。
Pleasureandguiltaresynonymoustermsinthelanguageofthemonks，andtheydiscovered，byexperience，thatrigidfasts，andabstemiousdiet，arethemosteffectualpreservativesagainsttheimpuredesiresoftheflesh。^44Therulesofabstinencewhichtheyimposed，orpractised，werenotuniformorperpetual:
thecheerfulfestivalofthePentecostwasbalancedbytheextraordinarymortificationofLent；thefervorofnewmonasterieswasinsensiblyrelaxed；andthevoraciousappetiteoftheGaulscouldnotimitatethepatientandtemperatevirtueoftheEgyptians。^45ThedisciplesofAntonyandPachomiusweresatisfiedwiththeirdailypittance，^46oftwelveouncesofbread，orratherbiscuit，^47whichtheydividedintotwofrugalrepasts，oftheafternoonandoftheevening。Itwasesteemedamerit，andalmostaduty，toabstainfromtheboiledvegetableswhichwereprovidedfortherefectory；buttheextraordinarybountyoftheabbotsometimesindulgedthemwiththeluxuryofcheese，fruit，salad，andthesmalldriedfishoftheNile。^48A