Theyexaltedtheunityandpowerofthechurch，asitwasrepresentedintheEpiscopalOffice，ofwhicheverybishopenjoyedanequalandundividedportion。^117Princesandmagistrates，itwasoftenrepeated，mightboastanearthlyclaimtoatransitorydominion；itwastheepiscopalauthorityalonewhichwasderivedfromtheDeity，andextendeditselfoverthisandoveranotherworld。ThebishopswerethevicegerentsofChrist，thesuccessorsoftheapostles，andthemysticsubstitutesofthehighpriestoftheMosaiclaw。Theirexclusiveprivilegeofconferringthesacerdotalcharacter，invadedthefreedombothofclericalandofpopularelections；
　　andif，intheadministrationofthechurch，theystillconsultedthejudgmentofthepresbyters，ortheinclinationofthepeople，theymostcarefullyinculcatedthemeritofsuchavoluntarycondescension。Thebishopsacknowledgedthesupremeauthoritywhichresidedintheassemblyoftheirbrethren；butinthegovernmentofhispeculiardiocese，eachofthemexactedfromhisflockthesameimplicitobedienceasifthatfavoritemetaphorhadbeenliterallyjust，andasiftheshepherdhadbeenofamoreexaltednaturethanthatofhissheep。^118Thisobedience，however，wasnotimposedwithoutsomeeffortsononeside，andsomeresistanceontheother。Thedemocraticalpartoftheconstitutionwas，inmanyplaces，verywarmlysupportedbythezealousorinterestedoppositionoftheinferiorclergy。Buttheirpatriotismreceivedtheignominiousepithetsoffactionandschism；andtheepiscopalcausewasindebtedforitsrapidprogresstothelaborsofmanyactiveprelates，who，likeCyprianofCarthage，couldreconciletheartsofthemostambitiousstatesmanwiththeChristianvirtueswhichseemadaptedtothecharacterofasaintandmartyr。^119
　　[Footnote117:Cyprian，inhisadmiredtreatiseDeUnitateEcclesiae。p。75—86]
　　[Footnote118:WemayappealtothewholetenorofCyprian'sconduct，ofhisdoctrine，andofhisepistles。LeClerc，inashortlifeofCyprian，BibliothequeUniverselle，tom。xii。p。
　　207—378，haslaidhimopenwithgreatfreedomandaccuracy。]
　　[Footnote119:IfNovatus，Felicissimus，&c。，whomtheBishopofCarthageexpelledfromhischurch，andfromAfrica，werenotthemostdetestablemonstersofwickedness，thezealofCyprianmustoccasionallyhaveprevailedoverhisveracity。Foraveryjustaccountoftheseobscurequarrels，seeMosheim，p。497—512。]
　　Thesamecauseswhichatfirsthaddestroyedtheequalityofthepresbytersintroducedamongthebishopsapreeminenceofrank，andfromthenceasuperiorityofjurisdiction。Asoftenasinthespringandautumntheymetinprovincialsynod，thedifferenceofpersonalmeritandreputationwasverysensiblyfeltamongthemembersoftheassembly，andthemultitudewasgovernedbythewisdomandeloquenceofthefew。Buttheorderofpublicproceedingsrequiredamoreregularandlessinvidiousdistinction；theofficeofperpetualpresidentsinthecouncilsofeachprovincewasconferredonthebishopsoftheprincipalcity；andtheseaspiringprelates，whosoonacquiredtheloftytitlesofMetropolitansandPrimates，secretlypreparedthemselvestousurpovertheirepiscopalbrethrenthesameauthoritywhichthebishopshadsolatelyassumedabovethecollegeofpresbyters。^120NorwasitlongbeforeanemulationofpreeminenceandpowerprevailedamongtheMetropolitansthemselves，eachofthemaffectingtodisplay，inthemostpompousterms，thetemporalhonorsandadvantagesofthecityoverwhichhepresided；thenumbersandopulenceoftheChristianswhoweresubjecttotheirpastoralcare；thesaintsandmartyrswhohadarisenamongthem；andthepuritywithwhichtheypreservedthetraditionofthefaith，asithadbeentransmittedthroughaseriesoforthodoxbishopsfromtheapostleortheapostolicdisciple，towhomthefoundationoftheirchurchwasascribed。^121Fromeverycause，eitherofacivilorofanecclesiasticalnature，itwaseasytoforeseethatRomemustenjoytherespect，andwouldsoonclaimtheobedienceoftheprovinces。Thesocietyofthefaithfulboreajustproportiontothecapitaloftheempire；andtheRomanchurchwasthegreatest，themostnumerous，and，inregardtotheWest，themostancientofalltheChristianestablishments，manyofwhichhadreceivedtheirreligionfromthepiouslaborsofhermissionaries。
　　Insteadofoneapostolicfounder，theutmostboastofAntioch，ofEphesus，orofCorinth，thebanksoftheTyberweresupposedtohavebeenhonoredwiththepreachingandmartyrdomofthetwomosteminentamongtheapostles；^122andthebishopsofRomeveryprudentlyclaimedtheinheritanceofwhatsoeverprerogativeswereattributedeithertothepersonortotheofficeofSt。
　　Peter。^123ThebishopsofItalyandoftheprovincesweredisposedtoallowthemaprimacyoforderandassociationsuchwastheirveryaccurateexpressionintheChristianaristocracy。
　　^124Butthepowerofamonarchwasrejectedwithabhorrence，andtheaspiringgeniusofRomeexperiencedfromthenationsofAsiaandAfricaamorevigorousresistancetoherspiritual，thanshehadformerlydonetohertemporal，dominion。ThepatrioticCyprian，whoruledwiththemostabsoluteswaythechurchofCarthageandtheprovincialsynods，opposedwithresolutionandsuccesstheambitionoftheRomanpontiff，artfullyconnectedhisowncausewiththatoftheeasternbishops，and，likeHannibal，soughtoutnewalliesintheheartofAsia。^125IfthisPunicwarwascarriedonwithoutanyeffusionofblood，itwasowingmuchlesstothemoderationthantotheweaknessofthecontendingprelates。Invectivesandexcommunicationsweretheironlyweapons；andthese，duringtheprogressofthewholecontroversy，theyhurledagainsteachotherwithequalfuryanddevotion。Thehardnecessityofcensuringeitherapope，orasaintandmartyr，distressesthemodernCatholicswhenevertheyareobligedtorelatetheparticularsofadisputeinwhichthechampionsofreligionindulgedsuchpassionsasseemmuchmoreadaptedtothesenateortothecamp。^126
　　[Footnote120:Mosheim，p。269，574。Dupin，AntiquaeEccles。
　　Disciplin。p。19，20。]
　　[Footnote121:Tertullian，inadistincttreatise，haspleadedagainstthehereticstherightofprescription，asitwasheldbytheapostolicchurches。]
　　[Footnote122:ThejourneyofSt。PetertoRomeismentionedbymostoftheancients，seeEusebius，ii。25，maintainedbyalltheCatholics，allowedbysomeProtestants，seePearsonandDodwelldeSuccess。Episcop。Roman，buthasbeenvigorouslyattackedbySpanheim，MiscellanesSacra，iii。3。AccordingtoFatherHardouin，themonksofthethirteenthcentury，whocomposedtheAeneid，representedSt。PeterundertheallegoricalcharacteroftheTrojanhero。
　　Note:Itisquiteclearthat，strictlyspeaking，thechurchofRomewasnotfoundedbyeitheroftheseapostles。St。Paul'sEpistletotheRomansprovesundeniablytheflourishingstateofthechurchbeforehisvisittothecity；andmanyRomanCatholicwritershavegivenuptheimpracticabletaskofreconcilingwithchronologyanyvisitofSt。PetertoRomebeforetheendofthereignofClaudius，orthebeginningofthatofNero。—M。]
　　[Footnote123:ItisinFrenchonlythatthefamousallusiontoSt。Peter'snameisexact。TuesPierre，etsurcettepierre。—
　　ThesameisimperfectinGreek，Latin，Italian，&c。，andtotallyunintelligibleinourTentoniclanguages。
　　Note:ItisexactinSyro—Chaldaic，thelanguageinwhichitwasspokenbyJesusChrist。St。Matt。xvi。17。PeterwascalledCephas；andcephasignifiesbase，foundation，rock—G。]
　　[Footnote124:Irenaeusadv。Haereses，iii。3。TertulliandePraescription。c。36，andCyprian，Epistol。27，55，71，75。LeClereHist。Eccles。p。764andMosheimp。258，578laborintheinterpretationofthesepassages。ButthelooseandrhetoricalstyleofthefathersoftenappearsfavorabletothepretensionsofRome。]
　　[Footnote125:SeethesharpepistlefromFirmilianus，bishopofCaesarea，toStephen，bishopofRome，ap。Cyprian，Epistol。75。]
　　[Footnote126:Concerningthisdisputeoftherebaptismofheretics，seetheepistlesofCyprian，andtheseventhbookofEusebius。]
　　Theprogressoftheecclesiasticalauthoritygavebirthtothememorabledistinctionofthelaityandoftheclergy，whichhadbeenunknowntotheGreeksandRomans。^127TheformeroftheseappellationscomprehendedthebodyoftheChristianpeople；
　　thelatter，accordingtothesignificationoftheword，wasappropriatedtothechosenportionthathadbeensetapartfortheserviceofreligion；acelebratedorderofmen，whichhasfurnishedthemostimportant，thoughnotalwaysthemostedifying，subjectsformodernhistory。Theirmutualhostilitiessometimesdisturbedthepeaceoftheinfantchurch，buttheirzealandactivitywereunitedinthecommoncause，andtheloveofpower，whichunderthemostartfuldisguisescouldinsinuateitselfintothebreastsofbishopsandmartyrs，animatedthemtoincreasethenumberoftheirsubjects，andtoenlargethelimitsoftheChristianempire。Theyweredestituteofanytemporalforce，andtheywereforalongtimediscouragedandoppressed，ratherthanassisted，bythecivilmagistrate；buttheyhadacquired，andtheyemployedwithintheirownsociety，thetwomostefficaciousinstrumentsofgovernment，rewardsandpunishments；theformerderivedfromthepiousliberality，thelatterfromthedevoutapprehensions，ofthefaithful。
　　[Footnote127:Fortheoriginofthesewords，seeMosheim，p。
　　141。Spanheim，Hist。Ecclesiast。p。633。ThedistinctionofClerusandIaicuswasestablishedbeforethetimeofTertullian。]
　　ChapterXV:ProgressOfTheChristianReligion。
　　PartVII
　　I。Thecommunityofgoods，whichhadsoagreeablyamusedtheimaginationofPlato，^128andwhichsubsistedinsomedegreeamongtheausteresectoftheEssenians，^129wasadoptedforashorttimeintheprimitivechurch。Thefervorofthefirstproselytespromptedthemtosellthoseworldlypossessions，whichtheydespised，tolaythepriceofthematthefeetoftheapostles，andtocontentthemselveswithreceivinganequalshareoutofthegeneraldistribution。^130TheprogressoftheChristianreligionrelaxed，andgraduallyabolished，thisgenerousinstitution，which，inhandslesspurethanthoseoftheapostles，wouldtoosoonhavebeencorruptedandabusedbythereturningselfishnessofhumannature；andtheconvertswhoembracedthenewreligionwerepermittedtoretainthepossessionoftheirpatrimony，toreceivelegaciesandinheritances，andtoincreasetheirseparatepropertybyallthelawfulmeansoftradeandindustry。Insteadofanabsolutesacrifice，amoderateproportionwasacceptedbytheministersofthegospel；andintheirweeklyormonthlyassemblies，everybeliever，accordingtotheexigencyoftheoccasion，andthemeasureofhiswealthandpiety，presentedhisvoluntaryofferingfortheuseofthecommonfund。^131Nothing，howeverinconsiderable，wasrefused；butitwasdiligentlyinculcated；that，inthearticleofTithes，theMosaiclawwasstillofdivineobligation；andthatsincetheJews，underalessperfectdiscipline，hadbeencommandedtopayatenthpartofallthattheypossessed，itwouldbecomethedisciplesofChristtodistinguishthemselvesbyasuperiordegreeofliberality，^132andtoacquiresomemeritbyresigningasuperfluoustreasure，whichmustsosoonbeannihilatedwiththeworlditself。^133Itisalmostunnecessarytoobserve，thattherevenueofeachparticularchurch，whichwasofsouncertainandfluctuatinganature，musthavevariedwiththepovertyortheopulenceofthefaithful，astheyweredispersedinobscurevillages，orcollectedinthegreatcitiesoftheempire。InthetimeoftheemperorDecius，itwastheopinionofthemagistrates，thattheChristiansofRomewerepossessedofveryconsiderablewealth；thatvesselsofgoldandsilverwereusedintheirreligiousworship，andthatmanyamongtheirproselyteshadsoldtheirlandsandhousestoincreasethepublicrichesofthesect，attheexpense，indeed，oftheirunfortunatechildren，whofoundthemselvesbeggars，becausetheirparentshadbeensaints。
　　^134Weshouldlistenwithdistrusttothesuspicionsofstrangersandenemies:onthisoccasion，however，theyreceiveaveryspeciousandprobablecolorfromthetwofollowingcircumstances，theonlyonesthathavereachedourknowledge，whichdefineanyprecisesums，orconveyanydistinctidea。
　　Almostatthesameperiod，thebishopofCarthage，fromasocietylessopulentthanthatofRome，collectedahundredthousandsesterces，aboveeighthundredandfiftypoundssterling，onasuddencallofcharitytoredeemthebrethrenofNumidia，whohadbeencarriedawaycaptivesbythebarbariansofthedesert。^135
　　AboutahundredyearsbeforethereignofDecius，theRomanchurchhadreceived，inasingledonation，thesumoftwohundredthousandsestercesfromastrangerofPontus，whoproposedtofixhisresidenceinthecapital。^136Theseoblations，forthemostpart，weremadeinmoney；norwasthesocietyofChristianseitherdesirousorcapableofacquiring，toanyconsiderabledegree，theencumbranceoflandedproperty。Ithadbeenprovidedbyseverallaws，whichwereenactedwiththesamedesignasourstatutesofmortmain，thatnorealestatesshouldbegivenorbequeathedtoanycorporatebody，withouteitheraspecialprivilegeoraparticulardispensationfromtheemperororfromthesenate；^137whowereseldomdisposedtogranttheminfavorofasect，atfirsttheobjectoftheircontempt，andatlastoftheirfearsandjealousy。Atransaction，however，isrelatedunderthereignofAlexanderSeverus，whichdiscoversthattherestraintwassometimeseludedorsuspended，andthattheChristianswerepermittedtoclaimandtopossesslandswithinthelimitsofRomeitself。^138TheprogressofChristianity，andthecivilconfusionoftheempire，contributedtorelaxtheseverityofthelaws；andbeforethecloseofthethirdcenturymanyconsiderableestateswerebestowedontheopulentchurchesofRome，Milan，Carthage，Antioch，Alexandria，andtheothergreatcitiesofItalyandtheprovinces。
　　[Footnote128:ThecommunityinstitutedbyPlatoismoreperfectthanthatwhichSirThomasMorehadimaginedforhisUtopia。Thecommunityofwomen，andthatoftemporalgoods，maybeconsideredasinseparablepartsofthesamesystem。]
　　[Footnote129:Joseph。Antiquitat。xviii。2。Philo，deVit。
　　Contemplativ。]
　　[Footnote130:SeetheActsoftheApostles，c。2，4，5，withGrotius'sCommentary。Mosheim，inaparticulardissertation，attacksthecommonopinionwithveryinconclusivearguments。
　　Note:ThisisnotthegeneraljudgmentonMosheim'slearneddissertation。ThereisnotraceinthelatterpartoftheNewTestamentofthiscommunityofgoods，andmanydistinctproofsofthecontrary。Allexhortationstoalmsgivingwouldhavebeenunmeaningifpropertyhadbeenincommon—M。]
　　[Footnote131:JustinMartyr，Apolog。Major，c。89。Tertullian，Apolog。c。39。]
　　[Footnote132:IrenaeusadHaeres。l。iv。c。27，34。OrigeninNum。Hom。iiCypriandeUnitat。Eccles。Constitut。Apostol。l。
　　ii。c。34，35，withthenotesofCotelerius。TheConstitutionsintroducethisdivineprecept，bydeclaringthatpriestsareasmuchabovekingsasthesoulisabovethebody。Amongthetithablearticles，theyenumeratecorn，wine，oil，andwool。Onthisinterestingsubject，consultPrideaux'sHistoryofTithes，andFraPaolodelleMaterieBeneficiarie；twowritersofaverydifferentcharacter。]
　　[Footnote133:Thesameopinionwhichprevailedabouttheyearonethousand，wasproductiveofthesameeffects。MostoftheDonationsexpresstheirmotive，"appropinquantemundifine。"SeeMosheim'sGeneralHistoryoftheChurch，vol。i。p。457。]
　　[Footnote134:TumsummacuraestfratribusUtsermotestaturloquax。
　　Offerre，fundisvenditisSestertiorummillia。
　　AddictaavorumpraediaFoedissubauctionibus，SuccessorexheresgemitSanctisegensParentibus。]
　　HaecocculunturabditisEcclesiaruminangulis。
　　EtsummapietascrediturNudaredulcesliberos。
　　Prudent。Hymn2。
　　ThesubsequentconductofthedeaconLaurenceonlyproveshowproperausewasmadeofthewealthoftheRomanchurch；itwasundoubtedlyveryconsiderable；butFraPaoloc。3appearstoexaggerate，whenhesupposesthatthesuccessorsofCommoduswereurgedtopersecutetheChristiansbytheirownavarice，orthatoftheirPraetorianpraefects。]
　　[Footnote135:Cyprian，Epistol。62。]
　　[Footnote136:TertulliandePraescriptione，c。30。]
　　[Footnote137:Diocletiangavearescript，whichisonlyadeclarationoftheoldlaw；"Collegium，sinullospecialiprivilegiosubnixumsit，haereditatemcaperenonposse，dubiumnonest。"FraPaoloc。4thinksthattheseregulationshadbeenmuchneglectedsincethereignofValerian。]
　　[Footnote138:Hist。August。p。131。Thegroundhadbeenpublic；
　　andwasrowdisputedbetweenthesocietyofChristiansandthatofbutchers。
　　Note*:Carponarii，rathervictuallers。—M。]
　　Thebishopwasthenaturalstewardofthechurch；thepublicstockwasintrustedtohiscarewithoutaccountorcontrol；thepresbyterswereconfinedtotheirspiritualfunctions，andthemoredependentorderofthedeaconswassolelyemployedinthemanagementanddistributionoftheecclesiasticalrevenue。^139
　　IfwemaygivecredittothevehementdeclamationsofCyprian，thereweretoomanyamonghisAfricanbrethren，who，intheexecutionoftheircharge，violatedeveryprecept，notonlyofevangelicalperfection，butevenofmoralvirtue。Bysomeoftheseunfaithfulstewardstherichesofthechurchwerelavishedinsensualpleasures；byotherstheywerepervertedtothepurposesofprivategain，offraudulentpurchases，andofrapacioususury。^140ButaslongasthecontributionsoftheChristianpeoplewerefreeandunconstrained，theabuseoftheirconfidencecouldnotbeveryfrequent，andthegeneralusestowhichtheirliberalitywasappliedreflectedhonoronthereligioussociety。Adecentportionwasreservedforthemaintenanceofthebishopandhisclergy；asufficientsumwasallottedfortheexpensesofthepublicworship，ofwhichthefeastsoflove，theagapoe，astheywerecalled，constitutedaverypleasingpart。Thewholeremainderwasthesacredpatrimonyofthepoor。Accordingtothediscretionofthebishop，itwasdistributedtosupportwidowsandorphans，thelame，thesick，andtheagedofthecommunity；tocomfortstrangersandpilgrims，andtoalleviatethemisfortunesofprisonersandcaptives，moreespeciallywhentheirsufferingshadbeenoccasionedbytheirfirmattachmenttothecauseofreligion。^141Agenerousintercourseofcharityunitedthemostdistantprovinces，andthesmallercongregationswerecheerfullyassistedbythealmsoftheirmoreopulentbrethren。^142Suchaninstitution，whichpaidlessregardtothemeritthantothedistressoftheobject，verymateriallyconducedtotheprogressofChristianity。ThePagans，whowereactuatedbyasenseofhumanity，whiletheyderidedthedoctrines，acknowledgedthebenevolence，ofthenewsect。^143