Page:Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (1827) Vol 2.djvu/466

 448 THE DECLINE AND FALL CHAP, tiquity ; and the ears of monarchs were never invaded XX ' by the harsh sound of popular eloquence, till the pulpits of the empire were filled with sacred orators, who possessed some advantages unknown to their pro- fane predecessors^. The arguments and rhetoric of the tribune were instantly opposed, with equal arms, by skilful and resolute antagonists ; and the cause of truth and reason might derive an accidental support from the conflict of hostile passions. The bishop, or some distinguished presbyter to whom he cautiously delegated the powers of preaching, harangued, without the danger of interruption or reply, a submissive multi- tude, whose minds had been prepared and subdued by the awful ceremonies of relioion. Such was the strict subordination of the catholic church, that the same concerted sounds might issue at once from an hundred pulpits of Italy or Egypt, if they were tutted^ by the master hand of the Koman or Alexandrian primate. The design of this institution was laudable, but the fruits were not always salutary. The preachers recom- mended the practice of the social duties; but they ex- alted the perfection of monastic virtu?, which is painful to the individual and useless to mankind. Their cha- ritable exhortations betrayed a secret wish, that the clergy might be permitted to manage the wealth of the faithful, fur the benefit of the poor. The most sublime representations of the attributes and laws of the Deity were sullied by an idle mixture of metaphysical subtil- ties, puerile rites, and fictitious miracles : and they ex- patiated, with the most fervent zeal, on the religious merit of hating the adversaries, and obeying the mini- sters, of the church. When the public peace was e See Thomassin, Discipline de I'Eglise, torn. ii. 1. iii. c. 83. p. 1761 — 1770; and Bingham, Antiquities, vol. i. 1. xiv. c. 4. p. 688 — 717. Preaching was considered as the most important office of the bishop ; but this function was som^etimes intrusted to such presbyters as Chrysostom and Augustin. ^ Queen Elizabeth used this expression, and practised this art, whenever she wished to prepossess the minds of" her people in favour of any extraordi- nary measure of government. The hostile effects of this music were appre- hended by her successor, and severely felt by his son. " When pulpit, drum ecclesiastic," etc. See Heylin's Life of Archbishop Laud, p. 153.