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114 Alive Benevolence of the Chriftians. [CENT. 3. under Gallienus, the behaviour of the Chriftians was diftinguished for its exemplary excellence. With the utmoft tenderness and compaffion, they extended their affiftance to the utmost limits of their ability; and acting in every respect in a manner the very reverse of their Pagan brethren, fearless of danger, and intent only upon doing good, they visited the loathfome abodes of infection, and voluntarily shared their poffeffions with the needy and the diseased *. Such indeed was the powerful influence of their virtues, that fome Goths, who had taken captive feveral prefbyters, were so affected by their piety and goodnefs, as to become converts to the Christian faith, and to relinquish a part at least of their usual ferocity, for a degree of mildness more suitable to a profeffor of the Gospel.

Eufeb. viii. 23.

CHAP.

CHAP. II.

DOCTRINE, GOVERNMENT, AND DISCIPLINE OF THE CHURCH DURING THE THIRD CENTURY.

Doctrines-Creed of Tertullian-Platonic Chriftians—Monkery-St. Anthony-Opinions concerning the State of the Soul-Public Edifices erected for the Christian WorshipEncroachments of the Clergy-New Orders of Clergy— Copiate-Parabolani - Acolythifts-Exorcifts-Notaries -Catechumens-Baptism, Confirmation, &c.—Penitential Difcipline-Fafts-Accommodation of Chriftianity to the Prejudices of the People-Mysteries.

N the history of the preceding century the

IN

creed of St. Irenæus, bishop of Lyons, which he affirms to have been the general creed of the Christian church, was diftin&tly detailed. The creed which Tertullian gives as the fyftem of belief in his time correfponds in most respects with that of Irenæus; and it must have been compofed at the farthest about the beginning of this century.

"We believe," fays the father, "in one God, but under this difpenfation (which we call ovμ), that to the one God there is a fon, his word, who proceeded from him, by whom all things were made, and without whom nothing was made, He, fent

116

Creed of Tertullian.

CENT. 3. by the Father to a virgin, and born of her, became Man and God, the Son of Man, and the Son of God, and was named Jefus Chrift. We believe that he fuffered, was dead and buried, according to the Scriptures, and being raised by the Father, and taken up into heaven, that he fits at the right hand of the Father, and fhall come again to judge both the quick and the dead. Who fent, according to his promife from the Father, the Holy Ghost, the comforter, the fanctifier of the faith of those who believe in the Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft*."

The opinions of the Platonic Christians, that the Scriptures were not to be understood according to their literal, but agreeably to their allegorical fenfe, had at this time deeply pervaded the Chriftian world. The plaineft precepts of the Gospel were fuppofed to contain fome latent meaning, and ample fcope was opened to the most abfurd and chimerical interpretations. With the opinions, the Chriftian teachers had adopted the habits and manners of the philofophic fchools. They affumed the drefs of the pompous fophift, and delivered the plain doctrines of the Gofpel with ftrained and ftudied eloquence. The belief that folitude, contemplation, and abftinence were neeeffary to elevate the foul to a knowledge of divine truth, was derived from this philofophy, and was

Tertul. ad Prax. c 2.

carneftly

Monkery.

117

CENT. 3.] earnestly inculcated during this century. One of the firft inftances which we find recorded of these voluntary feclufions from the common affairs of life, is that of Paul, who retired from the Decian perfecution to the deferts of Thebais, where he refided ninety years. His example was not, however, a folitary proof of human folly; many others retired to forests, to caverns, and to dens, where they practised in folitude the moft fevere difcipline, and made pretences, not only to extraordinary devotion, but to extraordinary illumination; and a voluntary feclufion from fecular affairs was commonly inculcated as the perfection of piety and virtue. Anthony, whofe eventful, if not miraculous, life has been recorded by the pen of Athanafius, retired at a very early age into the Egyptian deferts; and the refpect which was paid to his character, and his wonderful relations, greatly contributed to extend the ardour for retirement.

Some new doctrines concerning the ftate of the foul after death appear to have made a confiderable progress during this century. The undistinguished believer was configned to purification, and the expiation of his fins in a state after this life, and anterior to his participation of the joys of heaven; but the martyrs were fuppofed to be received to eternal glory immediately upon the diffolution of the body. The annual commemoration of their fuf.

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118

Religious edifices.

[CENT. 3. ferings and victory was folemnly and fervently observed in the Church. In compliance with the fuperftitions of their Pagan brethren, and with a view to recommend themselves to their favour, the Chriftians appointed the celebration of these anniversaries on the days appropriated to Pagan feftivals, and introduced into them whatever might → captivate the fancy, and recommend these rites to their heathen neighbours.

We have beheld the Chriftians during the two preceding centuries compelled to affemble in the houses, perhaps, of fome of the more opulent of their fociety, or in fome fecret and fequeftered retreat. In the third century, their appearance became more respectable, and they were either permitted to erect, or connived at in erecting, convenient edifices for religious worship. This feafon of external profperity was improved by the ministers of the church, for the exertion of new claims, and the affumption of powers, with which they had not been previously invested. At first these claims were modeftly urged, and gradually allowed; but they laid a foundation for the en

A fuperftitious refpect for martyrs probably arose about the time of Polycarp, at whofe death we have seen various prodigies were reported to have taken place. Forty years afterwards, this * refpect had fo far obtained, that Tertullian fays, We make oblations for the dead, and for their martyrdom, on certain days yearly.

Greg. Nyffon. Opera, vol. ii. p. 1006,

croachments

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