moreamplelatitudeofseaandriverfishwasgraduallyallowedorassumed；buttheuseoffleshwaslongconfinedtothesickortravellers；andwhenitgraduallyprevailedinthelessrigidmonasteriesofEurope，asingulardistinctionwasintroduced；asifbirds，whetherwildordomestic，hadbeenlessprofanethanthegrosseranimalsofthefield。Waterwasthepureandinnocentbeverageoftheprimitivemonks；andthefounderoftheBenedictinesregretsthedailyportionofhalfapintofwine，whichhadbeenextortedfromhimbytheintemperanceoftheage。
^49SuchanallowancemightbeeasilysuppliedbythevineyardsofItaly；andhisvictoriousdisciples，whopassedtheAlps，theRhine，andtheBaltic，required，intheplaceofwine，anadequatecompensationofstrongbeerorcider。
[Footnote44:St。Jerom，instrong，butindiscreet，language，expressesthemostimportantuseoffastingandabstinence:"NonquodDeusuniversitatisCreatoretDominus，intestinorumnostrorumrugitu，etinanitateventris，pulmonisqueardoredelectetur，sedquodaliterpudicitiatutaessenonpossit。"Op。
tom。i。p。32，adEustochium。Seethetwelfthandtwenty—secondCollationsofCassian，deCastitateanddeIllusionibusNocturnis。]
[Footnote45:EdacitasinGraecisgulaest，inGallisnatura，Dialog。i。c。4p。521。Cassianfairlyowns，thattheperfectmodelofabstinencecannotbeimitatedinGaul，onaccountoftheaerumtemperies，andthequalitasnostraefragilitatis，Institut。iv。11。AmongtheWesternrules，thatofColumbanusisthemostaustere；hehadbeeneducatedamidstthepovertyofIreland，asrigid，perhaps，andinflexibleastheabstemiousvirtueofEgypt。TheruleofIsidoreofSevilleisthemildest；
onholidaysheallowstheuseofflesh。]
[Footnote46:"Thosewhodrinkonlywater，andhavenonutritiousliquor，ought，atleast，tohaveapoundandahalftwenty—fourouncesofbreadeveryday。"StateofPrisons，p。40，byMr。
Howard。]
[Footnote47:SeeCassian。Collat。l。ii。19—21。Thesmallloaves，orbiscuit，ofsixounceseach，hadobtainedthenameofPaximacia，Rosweyde，Onomasticon，p。1045。Pachomius，however，allowedhismonkssomelatitudeinthequantityoftheirfood；
buthemadethemworkinproportionastheyate，Pallad。inHist。Lausiac。c。38，39，inVit。Patrum，l。viii。p。736，737。]
[Footnote48:SeethebanquettowhichCassianCollationviii。
1wasinvitedbySerenus，anEgyptianabbot。]
[Footnote49:SeetheRuleofSt。Benedict，No。39，40，inCod。
Reg。partii。p。41，42。Licetlegamusvinumomninomonachorumnonesse，sedquianostristemporibusidmonachispersuaderinonpotest；heallowsthemaRomanhemina，ameasurewhichmaybeascertainedfromArbuthnot'sTables。]
Thecandidatewhoaspiredtothevirtueofevangelicalpoverty，abjured，athisfirstentranceintoaregularcommunity，theidea，andeventhename，ofallseparateorexclusivepossessions。^50Thebrethrenweresupportedbytheirmanuallabor；andthedutyoflaborwasstrenuouslyrecommendedasapenance，asanexercise，andasthemostlaudablemeansofsecuringtheirdailysubsistence。^51Thegardenandfields，whichtheindustryofthemonkshadoftenrescuedfromtheforestorthemorass，werediligentlycultivatedbytheirhands。Theyperformed，withoutreluctance，themenialofficesofslavesanddomestics；andtheseveraltradesthatwerenecessarytoprovidetheirhabits，theirutensils，andtheirlodging，wereexercisedwithintheprecinctsofthegreatmonasteries。Themonasticstudieshavetended，forthemostpart，todarken，ratherthantodispel，thecloudofsuperstition。Yetthecuriosityorzealofsomelearnedsolitarieshascultivatedtheecclesiastical，andeventheprofane，sciences；andposteritymustgratefullyacknowledge，thatthemonumentsofGreekandRomanliteraturehavebeenpreservedandmultipliedbytheirindefatigablepens。
^52Butthemorehumbleindustryofthemonks，especiallyinEgypt，wascontentedwiththesilent，sedentaryoccupationofmakingwoodensandals，oroftwistingtheleavesofthepalm—treeintomatsandbaskets。Thesuperfluousstock，whichwasnotconsumedindomesticuse，supplied，bytrade，thewantsofthecommunity:theboatsofTabenne，andtheothermonasteriesofThebais，descendedtheNileasfarasAlexandria；and，inaChristianmarket，thesanctityoftheworkmenmightenhancetheintrinsicvalueofthework。
[Footnote50:Suchexpressionsasmybook，mycloak，myshoes，CassianInstitut。l。iv。c。13，werenotlessseverelyprohibitedamongtheWesternmonks，Cod。Regul。partii。p。174，235，288；andtheruleofColumbanuspunishedthemwithsixlashes。TheironicalauthoroftheOrdresMonastiques，wholaughsatthefoolishnicetyofmodernconvents，seemsignorantthattheancientswereequallyabsurd。]
[Footnote51:Twogreatmastersofecclesiasticalscience，theP。
Thomassin，Disciplinedel'Eglise，tom。iii。p。1090—1139，
andtheP。Mabillon，EtudesMonastiques，tom。i。p。116—155，
haveseriouslyexaminedthemanuallaborofthemonks，whichtheformerconsidersasameritandthelatterasaduty。]
[Footnote52:MabillonEtudesMonastiques，tom。i。p。47—55
hascollectedmanycuriousfactstojustifytheliterarylaborsofhispredecessors，bothintheEastandWest。BookswerecopiedintheancientmonasteriesofEgypt，Cassian。Institut。
l。iv。c。12，andbythedisciplesofSt。Martin，Sulp。Sever。
inVit。Martin。c。7，p。473。Cassiodorushasallowedanamplescopeforthestudiesofthemonks；andweshallnotbescandalized，iftheirpenssometimeswanderedfromChrysostomandAugustintoHomerandVirgil。]
Butthenecessityofmanuallaborwasinsensiblysuperseded。
Thenovicewastemptedtobestowhisfortuneonthesaints，inwhosesocietyhewasresolvedtospendtheremainderofhislife；
andtheperniciousindulgenceofthelawspermittedhimtoreceive，fortheiruse，anyfutureaccessionsoflegacyorinheritance。^53Melaniacontributedherplate，threehundredpoundsweightofsilver；andPaulacontractedanimmensedebt，forthereliefoftheirfavoritemonks；whokindlyimpartedthemeritsoftheirprayersandpenancetoarichandliberalsinner。
^54Timecontinuallyincreased，andaccidentscouldseldomdiminish，theestatesofthepopularmonasteries，whichspreadovertheadjacentcountryandcities:and，inthefirstcenturyoftheirinstitution，theinfidelZosimushasmaliciouslyobserved，that，forthebenefitofthepoor，theChristianmonkshadreducedagreatpartofmankindtoastateofbeggary。^55Aslongastheymaintainedtheiroriginalfervor，theyapprovedthemselves，however，thefaithfulandbenevolentstewardsofthecharity，whichwasentrustedtotheircare。Buttheirdisciplinewascorruptedbyprosperity:theygraduallyassumedtheprideofwealth，andatlastindulgedtheluxuryofexpense。Theirpublicluxurymightbeexcusedbythemagnificenceofreligiousworship，andthedecentmotiveoferectingdurablehabitationsforanimmortalsociety。Buteveryageofthechurchhasaccusedthelicentiousnessofthedegeneratemonks；whonolongerrememberedtheobjectoftheirinstitution，embracedthevainandsensualpleasuresoftheworld，whichtheyhadrenounced，^56andscandalouslyabusedthericheswhichhadbeenacquiredbytheausterevirtuesoftheirfounders。^57Theirnaturaldescent，fromsuchpainfulanddangerousvirtue，tothecommonvicesofhumanity，willnot，perhaps，excitemuchgrieforindignationinthemindofaphilosopher。
[Footnote53:ThomassinDisciplinedel'Eglise，tom。iii。p。
118，145，146，171—179hasexaminedtherevolutionofthecivil，canon，andcommonlaw。ModernFranceconfirmsthedeathwhichmonkshaveinflictedonthemselves，andjustlydeprivesthemofallrightofinheritance。]
[Footnote54:SeeJerom，tom。i。p。176，183。ThemonkPambomadeasublimeanswertoMelania，whowishedtospecifythevalueofhergift:"Doyouofferittome，ortoGod?IftoGod，Hewhosuspendsthemountaininabalance，neednotbeinformedoftheweightofyourplate。"Pallad。Hist。Lausiac。c。10，intheVit。Patrum，l。viii。p。715。]
[Footnote55:Zosim。l。v。p。325。YetthewealthoftheEasternmonkswasfarsurpassedbytheprincelygreatnessoftheBenedictines。]
[Footnote56:ThesixthgeneralcounciltheQuinisextinTrullo，CanonxlviiinBeveridge，tom。i。p。213restrainswomenfrompassingthenightinamale，ormeninafemale，monastery。TheseventhgeneralcouncilthesecondNicene，Canonxx。inBeveridge，tom。i。p。325prohibitstheerectionofdoubleorpromiscuousmonasteriesofbothsexes；butitappearsfromBalsamon，thattheprohibitionwasnoteffectual。Ontheirregularpleasuresandexpensesoftheclergyandmonks，seeThomassin，tom。iii。p。1334—1368。]
[Footnote57:IhavesomewhereheardorreadthefrankconfessionofaBenedictineabbot:"Myvowofpovertyhasgivenmeahundredthousandcrownsayear；myvowofobediencehasraisedmetotherankofasovereignprince。"—Iforgettheconsequencesofhisvowofchastity。]
Thelivesoftheprimitivemonkswereconsumedinpenanceandsolitude；undisturbedbythevariousoccupationswhichfillthetime，andexercisethefaculties，ofreasonable，active，andsocialbeings。Whenevertheywerepermittedtostepbeyondtheprecinctsofthemonastery，twojealouscompanionswerethemutualguardsandspiesofeachother'sactions；and，aftertheirreturn，theywerecondemnedtoforget，or，atleast，tosuppress，whatevertheyhadseenorheardintheworld。Strangers，whoprofessedtheorthodoxfaith，werehospitablyentertainedinaseparateapartment；buttheirdangerousconversationwasrestrictedtosomechoseneldersofapproveddiscretionandfidelity。Exceptintheirpresence，themonasticslavemightnotreceivethevisitsofhisfriendsorkindred；anditwasdeemedhighlymeritorious，ifheafflictedatendersister，oranagedparent，bytheobstinaterefusalofawordorlook。^58Themonksthemselvespassedtheirlives，withoutpersonalattachments，amongacrowdwhichhadbeenformedbyaccident，andwasdetained，inthesameprison，byforceorprejudice。Reclusefanaticshavefewideasorsentimentstocommunicate:aspeciallicenseoftheabbotregulatedthetimeanddurationoftheirfamiliarvisits；and，attheirsilentmeals，theywereenvelopedintheircowls，inaccessible，andalmostinvisible，toeachother。^59Studyistheresourceofsolitude:buteducationhadnotpreparedandqualifiedforanyliberalstudiesthemechanicsandpeasantswhofilledthemonasticcommunities。Theymightwork:butthevanityofspiritualperfectionwastemptedtodisdaintheexerciseofmanuallabor；andtheindustrymustbefaintandlanguid，whichisnotexcitedbythesenseofpersonalinterest。
[Footnote58:Pior，anEgyptianmonk，allowedhissistertoseehim；butheshuthiseyesduringthewholevisit。SeeVit。
Patrum，l。iii。p。504。Manysuchexamplesmightbeadded。]
[Footnote59:The7th，8th，29th，30th，31st，34th，57th，60th，86th，and95tharticlesoftheRuleofPachomius，imposemostintolerablelawsofsilenceandmortification。]
Accordingtotheirfaithandzeal，theymightemploytheday，whichtheypassedintheircells，eitherinvocalormentalprayer:theyassembledintheevening，andtheywereawakenedinthenight，forthepublicworshipofthemonastery。Theprecisemomentwasdeterminedbythestars，whichareseldomcloudedinthesereneskyofEgypt；andarustichorn，ortrumpet，thesignalofdevotion，twiceinterruptedthevastsilenceofthedesert。^60Evensleep，thelastrefugeoftheunhappy，wasrigorouslymeasured:thevacanthoursofthemonkheavilyrolledalong，withoutbusinessorpleasure；and，beforethecloseofeachday，hehadrepeatedlyaccusedthetediousprogressofthesun。^61Inthiscomfortlessstate，superstitionstillpursuedandtormentedherwretchedvotaries。^62Thereposewhichtheyhadsoughtinthecloisterwasdisturbedbyatardyrepentance，profanedoubts，andguiltydesires；and，whiletheyconsideredeachnaturalimpulseasanunpardonablesin，theyperpetuallytrembledontheedgeofaflamingandbottomlessabyss。Fromthepainfulstrugglesofdiseaseanddespair，theseunhappyvictimsweresometimesrelievedbymadnessordeath；and，inthesixthcentury，ahospitalwasfoundedatJerusalemforasmallportionoftheausterepenitents，whoweredeprivedoftheirsenses。^63
Theirvisions，beforetheyattainedthisextremeandacknowledgedtermoffrenzy，haveaffordedamplematerialsofsupernaturalhistory。Itwastheirfirmpersuasion，thattheair，whichtheybreathed，waspeopledwithinvisibleenemies；withinnumerabledemons，whowatchedeveryoccasion，andassumedeveryform，toterrify，andabovealltotempt，theirunguardedvirtue。Theimagination，andeventhesenses，weredeceivedbytheillusionsofdistemperedfanaticism；andthehermit，whosemidnightprayerwasoppressedbyinvoluntaryslumber，mighteasilyconfoundthephantomsofhorrorordelight，whichhadoccupiedhissleepingandhiswakingdreams。^64
[Footnote60:ThediurnalandnocturnalprayersofthemonksarecopiouslydiscussedbyCassian，inthethirdandfourthbooksofhisInstitutions；andheconstantlypreferstheliturgy，whichanangelhaddictatedtothemonasteriesofTebennoe。]
[Footnote61:Cassian，fromhisownexperience，describestheacedia，orlistlessnessofmindandbody，towhichamonkwasexposed，whenhesighedtofindhimselfalone。Saepiusqueegredituretingrediturcellam，etSolemvelutadoccasumtardiusproperantemcrebriusintuetur，Institut。x。l。]
[Footnote62:ThetemptationsandsufferingsofStagiriuswerecommunicatedbythatunfortunateyouthtohisfriendSt。
Chrysostom。SeeMiddleton'sWorks，vol。i。p。107—110。
Somethingsimilarintroducesthelifeofeverysaint；andthefamousInigo，orIgnatius，thefounderoftheJesuits，vided'InigodeGuiposcoa，tom。i。p。29—38，mayserveasamemorableexample。]
[Footnote63:Fleury，Hist。Ecclesiastique，tom。vii。p。46。I
havereadsomewhere，intheVitaePatrum，butIcannotrecovertheplacethatseveral，Ibelievemany，ofthemonks，whodidnotrevealtheirtemptationstotheabbot，becameguiltyofsuicide。]
[Footnote64:SeetheseventhandeighthCollationsofCassian，whogravelyexamines，whythedemonsweregrownlessactiveandnumeroussincethetimeofSt。Antony。Rosweyde'scopiousindextotheVitaePatrumwillpointoutavarietyofinfernalscenes。
Thedevilsweremostformidableinafemaleshape。]
Themonksweredividedintotwoclasses:theCoenobites，wholivedunderacommonandregulardiscipline；andtheAnachorets，whoindulgedtheirunsocial，independentfanaticism。^65Themostdevout，orthemostambitious，ofthespiritualbrethren，renouncedtheconvent，astheyhadrenouncedtheworld。TheferventmonasteriesofEgypt，Palestine，andSyria，weresurroundedbyaLaura，^66adistantcircleofsolitarycells；
andtheextravagantpenanceofHermitswasstimulatedbyapplauseandemulation。^67Theysunkunderthepainfulweightofcrossesandchains；andtheiremaciatedlimbswereconfinedbycollars，bracelets，gauntlets，andgreavesofmassyandrigidiron。Allsuperfluousencumbranceofdresstheycontemptuouslycastaway；
andsomesavagesaintsofbothsexeshavebeenadmired，whosenakedbodieswereonlycoveredbytheirlonghair。Theyaspiredtoreducethemselvestotherudeandmiserablestateinwhichthehumanbruteisscarcelydistinguishableabovehiskindredanimals；andthenumeroussectofAnachoretsderivedtheirnamefromtheirhumblepracticeofgrazinginthefieldsofMesopotamiawiththecommonherd。^68Theyoftenusurpedthedenofsomewildbeastwhomtheyaffectedtoresemble；theyburiedthemselvesinsomegloomycavern，whichartornaturehadscoopedoutoftherock；andthemarblequarriesofThebaisarestillinscribedwiththemonumentsoftheirpenance。^69ThemostperfectHermitsaresupposedtohavepassedmanydayswithoutfood，manynightswithoutsleep，andmanyyearswithoutspeaking；
andgloriouswasthemanIabusethatnamewhocontrivedanycell，orseat，ofapeculiarconstruction，whichmightexposehim，inthemostinconvenientposture，totheinclemencyoftheseasons。
[Footnote65:ForthedistinctionoftheCoenobitesandtheHermits，especiallyinEgypt，seeJerom，tom。i。p。45，adRusticum，thefirstDialogueofSulpiciusSeverus，Rufinus，c。
22，inVit。Patrum，l。ii。p。478，Palladius，c。7，69，inVit。
Patrum，l。viii。p。712，758，and，aboveall，theeighteenthandnineteenthCollationsofCassian。Thesewriters，whocomparethecommonandsolitarylife，revealtheabuseanddangerofthelatter。]
[Footnote66:Suicer。Thesaur。Ecclesiast。tom。ii。p。205，218。
ThomassinDisciplinedel'Eglise，tom。i。p。1501，1502givesagoodaccountofthesecells。WhenGerasimusfoundedhismonasteryinthewildernessofJordan，itwasaccompaniedbyaLauraofseventycells。]
[Footnote67:Theodoret，inalargevolume，thePhilotheusinVit。Patrum，l。ix。p。793—863，hascollectedthelivesandmiraclesofthirtyAnachorets。Evagriusl。i。c。12morebrieflycelebratesthemonksandhermitsofPalestine。]
[Footnote68:Sozomen，l。vi。c。33。ThegreatSt。Ephremcomposedapanegyricontheseorgrazingmonks，Tillemont，Mem。
Eccles。tom。viii。p。292。]
[Footnote69:TheP。SicardMissionsduLevant，tom。ii。p。217
—233examinedthecavernsoftheLowerThebaiswithwonderanddevotion。TheinscriptionsareintheoldSyriaccharacter，whichwasusedbytheChristiansofAbyssinia。]