A History of the Church, from the Earliest Ages to the Reformation

PAGE

191

192-3

193-4

794 But the Council of Francfort, under Charlemagne, was much
more moderate

CHAPTER XII.-On the Schism between the Greek and Latin Churches.

Some political causes which accelerated the division between the

Churches

320-451. The extent and authority of the See of Constantinople in-
creased widely, and its jurisdiction was confirmed by the Council
of Chalcedon, in spite of the Legates of Leo the Great
588 After continued disputes, John the Faster assumed the title of Uni-
⚫versal Patriarch, which led to fresh quarrels. The internal dis-
sensions of the Greek Church always gave Rome an influence in
⚫ its affairs
767 The doctrine of the double procession, having been previously
agitated in Spain, was received by the French clergy at the Council
of Gentilli, and advocated by Charlemagne at Aix-la-Chapelle, in

853 Photius was raised to the See of Constantinople, and then he and

Nicholas I. excommunicated each other

809

Photius charged the Roman Church with five errors

There were, besides, differences about the limits of their respective

jurisdiction. Photius was deposed, and the act confirmed by a

Council held at Constantinople, in 869; but this had no effect

in healing the schism

1054 Another dispute between Michael Cerularius and Leo IX. completed

the division; and the Latin Act of Excommunication was placed

· on the grand altar of St. Sophia

CHAPTER XIII.-The condition of the Church at the Death of

Charlemagne..

The subjects of this Chapter are chiefly retrospective

1-313 The nature of the primitive ecclesiastical government. The ele-

ments of three forms of government may be discovered in it-the

Episcopal, the Presbyterian, and the Independent; but they im-

mediately resolved themselves into a limited episcopacy

The rise of synods; their co-operation for the union of the various

churches

The principal bond of union was the catalogue of the Sacred Books;

and perhaps the salvation of the Church may be ascribed to that

union

An opinion of Semler considered, Note

The writings of the Antenicene Fathers contain the most important

doctrines, but no theological system

Miraculous powers falsely attributed to the early Church, at least

after the middle of the second age

The nature of those which it asserted

On Exorcists and Dæmoniacs. The words of Cyprian

Several literary forgeries disgraced the Antenicene Church

195-6

196

The distinction of the converts into Catechumens and Faithful,

was as early as Tertullian. Its motive two-fold

There were two original sacraments or mysteries; but the ceremo-

nies of penitential absolution, ordination, &c., were concealed from

the uninitiad; and even baptism and the eucharist were sur-

rounded with some superstitious reverence

The birthday's of the martyrs were of early institution; and honours

- were offered at their tombs

A.D.

PAGE

The use of prayers and offerings for the dead, and the practice of

occasional fasting, was very early

Some of the forms of the external economy of the Church are to be

sought in Jewish, some in Pagan practices. On the distinction

between clergy and laity, the power of the presbytery, liturgies, the

sacrifice, votive donations, &c.

Two conclusions may be drawn. (1.) That the Antenicene Church

was not a perfect model of a Christian society. (2.) That the

fundamental doctrines of Christianity are steadily perceptible from

the beginning. The corruptions, which were even then in exist-

ence, might have been easily corrected on the establishment of

the Church

320-604. A great progress in abuse during this period

The monastic system took root in the 4th and 5th ages

211-12

The celibacy of the clergy was treated in the Councils of Ancyra

and Nice, and in that of Constantinople in Trullo

The exertions of Pope Siricius and Gregory the Great

The penitential system was maintained in full vigour, till the insti-
tution of private confession by Leo the Great

The doctrine of purgatory was first expressly laid down to the

Church by Gregory the Great

A great number of Pagan ceremonies found their way into the

Church in the 5th and 6th centuries; and, among other evils, the

use and abuse of images

213

The origin of the spiritual power of the Christian clergy; a power

unknown to the Pagan priesthood. To what objects it was

directed before Constantine.

conferred

The popular influence which it

Other motives afterwards combined to raise the authority and in-

fluence of the hierarchy

The great number (1800) of the Bishops increased their weight in

the commonwealth; but this was diminished by their intestine dis-

sensions

The ill and wicked policy, which led the Church to appeal to the

temporal sword

The influence of the Presbytery in the government of the diocese

gradually decayed; and the authority of the Bishop rose far above

218-9

The Bishop of Rome was exalted as the Bishop of the Imperial city,

as the only Patriarch of the West, by the absence of the Imperial

Government, by the especial claim of St. Peter's protection, and

of the Keys; hence he derived respect, which he converted into

authority
217-8

600-800 A vast field for ecclesiastical exertion, for good as well as for
evil, was opened by the barbarian conquests; the inordinate growth
of episcopal power was another characteristic of this period; an-
other was the establishment of the Pope's temporal monarchy
by the donation of Pepin
The Athanasian Creed, originally written in Latin, is commonly attri-
buted to Vigilius Tapsensis, who lived at the end of the fifth century;
the principle of this creed is the exclusive salvation of those within
the Church. The truths which it contains are not expressed in the
words of Scripture; it was composed many ages after the apostolical
times, when evangelical purity was in no prevalence

Constantine instructed the magistrates to execute the episcopal

sentence, but he restrained their power within narrow limits.

Some decrees of subsequent emperors on the same subject and

with the same view

Justinian enlarged the jurisdiction of the Bishops, and entirely

219-20

221-2

A.D.

exempted them from the lay courts, and there the matter rested in
the Eastern Church; in the West, Charlemagne increased their
privileges to an inordinate extent, which their territorial pos-
sessions stretched still farther

The foundations of the Papal omnipotence were laid by the for-
geries of the donation of Constantine, and the False Decretals;
how far Charlemagne may have been influenced by the former

1-325 The Antenicene clergy were supported by voluntary oblations.

Constantine opened a variety of new sources

What exemptions the clergy soon afterwards enjoyed

The ancient manner of dispensing the church funds

PAGE

223

224

470 (about.) A law for the quadripartite division of the funds was enacted

in the West

778

Changes introduced by the system of feudalities

Foundation of benefices and right of patronage

The territorial and other possessions of the clergy were very con-

siderable, even before Charlemagne, and not always acquired by

worthy means

Much on the other hand was derived from fair and honourable

sources; and all was liable to plunder

No tithes were paid to the Antenicene Church; but both Ambrose

and Augustin inculcated the payment vehemently, and pressed

the divine obligation. Chrysostom and Jerome were more mo-

derate

Some special endowments may have been made before the end
of the seventh century; but the first legislative act which con-
ferred the right was that of Charlemagne. Other constitutions fol-
lowed, but the payment does not seem to have been commanded

1215 as a duty of common right,' till the fourth Lateran Council,

under Innocent III. (Canon 54*)

The power and influence of the Church, at the period of the bar

barian conquests, were the instruments by which the religion was

preserved

It afterwards conferred great benefits on society by the general
exercise of charity, by the severity of its penitential discipline, by
its more civilized principles of legislation, by attempts to abolish
slavery, and to diminish civil outrage and international warfare,
by preserving the ancient writings, and disseminating the im-
perfect education of the age

234-5

CHAPTER XIV.-The Government and Projects of the Church during the

Ninth and Tenth Centuries.

The contents of this Chapter are divided under three separate

heads:-

I. The original law of Papal election continued to the time of

Charlemagne, and was not disturbed by him. It became, in two

respects, offensive to the Popes; they began to dispense with the

Imperial confirmation under the Carlovingian princes, and

Charles the Bald (875) resigned his right

960 Otho the Great, after a long prevalence of disorder in the pontifical

elections, resumed the privilege of the empire, and extended it

so far as to appoint Popes by his own authority

1047-59 The liberty of the See was gradually recovered, and the ap-

pointment vested in the College of Cardinals by Nicholas II.

Remarks on the fluctuations of the contest, and the causes which

*Quod Decimæ ante Tributa solvantur.'

A.D.

II. The encroachments of ecclesiastical on civil authority were of

various descriptions

Evils proceeding from the indistinct limits of spiritual and secular
jurisdiction; yet these were not very perceptible till after the death
of Charlemagne

On the increase of power and privilege conferred on the higher
clergy, by the establishment of the feudal system. They became
an Örder in the State, &c.

They gradually assumed the military character

The superstitious method of trials was useful to priestly authority,
yet, on many occasions, it was opposed by the clergy
The intellectual superiority of the clergy naturally and necessarily
enlarged their influence and power

The property of the church was liable to perpetual spoliation
833 et seq. On the deposition, penance, and temporary humiliation of
Lewis the Meek, by the episcopal authority. This act had a pre-
cedent in the deposition of Vamba, King of the Visigoths, in
Spain, at the twelfth Council of Toledo (682)
These were episcopal, not papal, usurpations
842-859 Other instances of the power of the Bishops and the weak-
ness and dependence of the Crown, in the reign of Charles the
Bald

Pope Nicholas I. interfered respecting the marriage (870) of
Lothaire, King of Lorraine, and Adrian II. in the succession to that

throne

880 Hincmar, of Rheims, employed strong expressions and a fortunate

prophecy against Lewis III.

Charles the Bald accepted the vacant empire as the donation of John

VIII. This precedent was of great value to the Popes in after

ages

Further progress of ecclesiastical usurpation

978 Robert of France put away his wife and performed penance in obe-

dience to the interdict of Gregory V.

III. The progress of Papal authority was not rapid until the for-

gery of the False Decretals; and even these were not brought into

full operation before the time of Gregory VII.

Some French Prelates retorted the threat of excommunication

against Pope Gregory IV.

862, &c. Pope Nicholas I. restored to his see, by his own authority, a

Bishop who had been deposed by Hincmar of Rheims, and had

appealed to Rome

Five years afterwards the Pope gained another triumph over the

Archbishop

845-882 Hincmar occupied the See of Rheims-the great Churchman
of the ninth century

A vague notion of the Pope's omnipotence was gaining ground
among the laity in this age

876 John VIII. appointed the Archbishop of Sens his permanent vicar

and legate in France, in spite of Hincmar and the clergy. The

pontifical power was further advanced by exemptions of monas-

teries, by the principle that Bishops derived their power from the

Pope, by the exclusive convocation of councils

245-6

247-8

250-1

253-4

CHAPTER XV.-On the Opinions, Literature, Discipline, and external

Fortunes of the Church.

The vicissitudes of religion, during these ages, in the different

countries of the West, generally corresponded with their literary

revolutions

256

A.D.

A half-enlightened age is more fertile in controversies than one of

perfect darkness

It is a question whether the bodily presence was universally re-

ceived in the beginning of the ninth age

831-846 Paschasius Radbertus originated the controversy concerning the

I body and blood of Christ

His doctrine is expressed in two propositions. Ratramn and John

Scotus were ordered by Charles the Bald to write on the same sub-

ject. The controversy, died away before the end of this century,

without any result, and reposed during the tenth

260-1

848 Godeschalcus advanced predestinarian opinions, which were con-
demned by the council of Mayence, convoked by Rabanus Maurus.
Next year he was again condemned by Hincmar, deposed, flagel-
lated, imprisoned for life, and deprived of Christian sepulture 258-9-60
960-1000 Bernard, a Thuringian hermit, preached the approaching end
of the world; the opinion generally spread and produced great
commotion and mischief to society
800-999 Letters, somewhat revived by Charlemagne, partially flourished
during the ninth century; they then expired. In the mean time,
the Arabians diffused them in Spain; thence they passed into
France, and ascended, with Sylvester II., into the Papal Chair
The prostrate discipline of the Church, raised by Charlemagne,
was supported by numerous councils during the ninth age, espe-
cially in France, and through Hincmar. In the mean time, the
False Decretals were making silent progress

817 Benedict of Aniane reformed the monastic order

The election of bishops was nominally restored to the chapters,

and their translations vainly prohibited

896 A posthumous insult was offered to Pope Formosus, who had been

promoted from the See of Porto to that of Rome

261-3

264-5

266

267

956 John XII. introduced the custom of assuming a new name on ele-

vation to the Papal Chair

830 Claudius, Bishop of Turin, the Protestant of the ninth century,

opposed the use of relics and other corruptions

Christianity was generally introduced into the north of Europe before

the middle of the eleventh age'

830-854 Ansgarius attempted the conversion of Sweden; that of Russia
may be assigned to the end of the tenth century; that of Poland
was somewhat earlier; that of Hungary somewhat later

On the contemporaneous progress of the Normans and the Turks

CHAPTER XVI.-The Life of Gregory VII.

SEOTION I.

1049 Leo IX., appointed to the see by the Emperor, is recorded to have

taken Hildebrand with him to Rome, from his monastery at

-270-1

1054 Victor II. succeeded, on the recommendation of Hildebrand