Felix retracts his Opinion.

449

CENT. 8.] tractation of his opinions, which however he never fincerely abjured, but clofed his life with a firm conviction of their truth. The dominion of the Saracens proved more favourable to Elipand, who with impunity enjoyed under their jurisdiction the profeffion of his religious fentiments.

VOL. I

Gg

CHAP.

[ 450 ]

CHAP. IV.

OF LEARNING AND LEARNED MEN IN THE
EIGHTH CENTURY.

Univerfal Ignorance- John Damafcenus- TheodulphusBartholomew-Etherius-Paulinus-Expofitors of Scrip ture-Alcuin-Ambrofe Authert-Homilies-Paul the Deacon-The Venerable Bede-Byzantine Hiftorians—Excellence of the British Fathers and Missionaries—Boniface -Vigilius, &c.

PERSECUTED, and almoft expelled, by

the tumults and defolations of the eastern empire, annoyed by the factions and contentions of the weft, in every part oppofed by increasing fuperftition and ignorance, the only refuge which was left for oppreffed fcience was in the retreats of monafteries, whence the feldom dawned upon a benighted world. Even the controverfies, which agitated the paffions, and darkened the understandings of the Chriftians of this period, were dif cuffed in writing by few, if their compofitions are compared with the bulky volumes of preceding ages. Thofe of the Greeks, who were engaged the great controverfy concerning images, obfcured and weakened their arguments by logical fubtleties: nor were the Latins more fuccefsful in the difpute

John Damafcenus, &c.

CENT. 8.] 451 concerning the perfon of Chrift. The veneration for images was ftrenuously fupported; and the fectaries in general were vigorously attacked by John Damafcenus, the most diftinguished Greek author of this century, who withdrew from the fecular and honourable station of counsellor of state, to the retirement of a cloifter; and whofe adoption of the Ariftotelian fubtleties, and elucidation of the doctrines of its great mafter, confiderably increased the reputation of that philofophy. Under the title of Four Books concerning the Orthodox Faith, John Damafcenus exhibited a complete fummary of the doctrines of the church, which obtained the highest reputation among the Greeks. The doctrine of the proceffion of the Holy Spirit from the Father and the Son was infifted upon by Theodulphus bishop of Orleans, who farther diftinguished himself as the author of a Treatife upon Baptifm, and feveral poems. A refutation of the Koran was written by Bartholomew, a monk of Edeffa in Syria; and the errors of Felix of Urgil, and of the archbishop Elipand, were attacked by Etherius a Spanish priest, and by Paulinus bishop of Aquileia.

Amongst the expofitors of the facred writings, we shall discover few marks of genius or originality. The prevalent opinions, concerning the faithfulness and excellence of the ancient commentators, were unfavourable to the exertions of reafon and criticifm; fince the divines of this age, in confequence

452

Alcuin, Authert, &c.

[CENT. 8. of this fentiment, conceived they perfectly fulfilled their duty in retailing the obfervations made by their predeceffors. The erudition and ingenuity of John Damafcenus were not fufficient to elevate him above this prejudice; he fatisfied himself with exhibiting a commentary on St. Paul's Epiftles, extracted from the works of Chryfoftom. The encouragement afforded by Charlemagne to the elucidation of the facred writings, was not fo favourable to them as it might have been, had not the ignorance of the age induced both the monarch and his expofitors to fanciful and ufelefs inferences, rather than to folid and practical illuftrations. Our countryman, who is ftyled by way of eminence the Venerable Bede, is amongst the most celebrated expofitors of fcripture in this century. Alcuin alfo, an Englishman, the preceptor and ⚫ friend of Charlemagne, wrote a commentary on St. John; and Ambrofe Authert, who attempted an Explanation of the Revelations, obtained a distinguished rank amongst the facred critics of this period. Homilies upon the Epiftles and Gospels were compiled by the command of Charlemagne, which the priests were required to commit to memory, and to recite to the people. Alcuin, and Paul the deacon, had the principal fhare in these performances others, however, produced fimilar compilations, the tafte for which greatly increased towards the conclufion of this century.

The

CENT. 8.

Venerable Bede.

453

The moral writers of this period are few in number, and very defective in excellence. Virtue was indeed recommended by the powerful arguments of example; but it was the example of preceding ages, the piety and morality of departed faints, which was exhibited as a model to their defcendants. It must indeed be confeffed, that their actions were sometimes rather the refult of fanaticifm than of piety; and their example, in fome refpects, much more calculated to incite men to abfurdity than to real excellence. Paul the Deacon, in his Hiftory of the Lombards, must be diftinguished in a rank fuperior to the hiftorians and biographers of the faints. Nor must the labours of Bede be forgotten: both civil and ecclefiaftical affairs occupied his time and attention; and the venerable abbot of Farrow has given to the world an Ecclefiaftical Hiftory, which, though in fome refpects chargeable with great credulity, is efteemed a faithful account of the tranfactions which took place during the period in which he wrote. The chronology of Bede is regulated by the Hebrew Bible; and he is diftinguifhed as the first writer who rejected the chronology of the Septuagint The authors of the Byzantine Hiftories, George Syncella and Theophanes, are deferving of attention.

If in this feafon of ignorance fcience might be faid to exift, her principal refidence must be certainly placed in Great Britain or Ireland. The preceptor of Charlemagne was a Briton; and his.