Page:Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (1827) Vol 2.djvu/122

 lot THE DECLINE AND FALL C H A [ tude of pagans were inclined to estimate the merit of ^[ the sacrifice by its apparent difficulty ; and it was in the praise of these chaste spouses of Christ that the fathers liave poured forth the troubled stream of their eloquence ^ Such are the early traces of monastic principles and institutions, which, in a subsequent age, have counterbalanced all the temporal advantages of Christianity^. Theii aver- The christians were not less averse to the business businesl'^of than to the pleasures of this world. The defence of war and our pcrsons and property they knew not how to re- niTnt," concile with the patient doctrine which enjoined an unlimited forgiveness of past injuries, and commanded them to invite the repetition of fresh insults. Their simplicity was offended by the use of oaths, by the pomp of magistracy, and by the active contention of public life ; nor could their humane ignorance be con- vinced that it was lawful on any occasion to shed the blood of our fellow-creatures, either by the sword of justice, or by that of war; even though their criminal or hostile attempts should threaten the peace and safety of the whole community *". It was acknowledged that, under a less perfect law, the powers of the Jewish con- stitution had been exercised, with the approbation of heaven, by inspired prophets and by anointed kings. The christians felt and confessed, that such institu- tions might be necessary for the present system of the world, and they cheerfully submitted to the authority of their pagan governors. But while they inculcated the maxims of passive obedience, they refused to take any active part in the civil administration or the mili- tary defence of the empire. Some indulgence might ' Dupia (Bibliotheque Ecclesiastique, torn. i. p. 195.) gives a particular account of the dialogue of the ten virgins, as it was composed by Metho- dius, bishop of Tyre. The praises of virginity are excessive. s The ascetics (as early as the second century) made a public profession of mortifying their bodies, and of abstaining from the use of flesh and wine. Mosheim, p. 3 10. '• See the Morale des Peres. The same patient principles have been re- vived since the reformation by the soclnians, the modern anabaptists, and the fjuakers. Barclay, the apologist of the quakers, has protected his bre- lliren by the authority of the primitive christians, p. 542 — 549.