Page:History of the First Council of Nice.djvu/15

Rh Israel; and, although Christ did not regard it as holy, he never appointed any other in its stead.

One of the canons forbids kneeling at prayers on Sundays. Dr. A. P. Stanley thinks this rule was adopted because the apostles used always to pray standing. But I suppose it was so ordered because Sunday was considered a day of triumph and rejoicing, not of humiliation. It was believed that on that day Christ rose from the dead, and conquered death and hell. Kneeling was a sign of submission to an enemy; therefore it was inappropriate for Sunday. It is strange no public prayers were offered at the Council. Another canon forbids the election of a eunuch to the office of bishop. To degrade manhood was deemed by some the best way to exalt their religion. Such folly needed to be discouraged by a stronger condemnation. Constantine showed the greatest respect to the confessors and ascetics. He put his lips to the scars received in persecution, and fancied he drew godliness from them.

Perhaps he did this to win the hearts of the good bishops. However, his superstition was equal to his cunning. He praised and patronized monks, nuns, hermits and devotees of every sort, who deprived themselves of the comforts of life, and despised nearly all social obligations. To live in rags and dirt, and eat herbs like some beasts was the holiest fashion in the estimation of the early Fathers. (They could not have deduced it from the life of Christ.) That kind of Christians, as well as martyrs, were often reputed to be workers of miracles.

No mention is made of the Bible being read publicly in the meetings of the "Great and Holy Synod," as it was called. St. Jerome said that he