| 139 holy character but a little period after the age of the apostles. It, however, was comparatively tolerable till after the middle of the third century; from which period scarcely a vestige of christianity could be found. Cyprian says, that even before the Decian persecution, "long peace had corrupted the discipline. Each had been bent on improving his patrimony, and had forgotten what believers had done under the apostles, and what they ought always to do.-They were brooding over the arts of amassing wealth. The pastors and deacons each forgot their duty. Works of mercy were neglected, and discipline was at its lowest ebb. Luxury and effeminacy prevailed. Meretricious arts in dress were cultivated. Fraud and deceit were practiced among brethren. Christians could unite themselves in matrimony with unbelievers; could swear, not only without reverence but without veracity. Even bishops deserted their places of residence and their flocks. They travelled [traveled] through distant provinces in quest of pleasure and gain, gave no assistance to the needy brethren at home, but were insatiable in their thirst for money. They possessed estates by fraud, and multiplied usury. What have we not deserved to suffer for such conduct?"-An awful persecution followed by Dioclesian, and his successor Maximin Galerius, insomuch [inasmuch] that during the reign of the former, medals were struck off with this inscription, "Nomine Christianorum Deleto." "The name of Christians being extinguished." When suddenly an unexpected and mighty arm was extended towards them in the person of Constantine, who publicly embraced Christianity. He abolished the ancient religion of the Romans, and established the sort of Christianity that then existed. The heathen gods were drawn by cords through the streets for public ridicule and contempt. Their priests were cast out, dispersed and banished. Immense and splendid temples were every where erected, and richly endowed, and the greatest honor put on the professors of christianity. But for all this Constantine was a cruel tyrant and a monstrous villian [villain]. The most of those who were exalted to places of power and trust were engaged in pompous rites and ceremonies, and knew little of the doctrines taught by Christ and his apostles. Their elevation to wealth and power was followed by an amazing increase of luxury and vice. Bishops contending with bishops run to sad extents of debauchery, and the whole mass of people were exceedingly corrupt. Shoals of profligate men, allured by gain or driven by fear pressed into the church, discipline ceased, and superstition reigned without control. The gentile converts to this christianity introduced a round of prayers and procession, by which they had been accustomed to appease their gods; hastily transferred the virtues which had been supposed to christian temples and christian ordinances.-These new converts were easily subjected to the most abominable impositions. Prodigies and miracles, therefore, without number were multiplied. The bones and relics of dead saints performed wonders. Dust and earth brought from Palestine was viewed as a certain and powerful remedy against the violence of wicked spirits; and before the close of the century, the great business of the priests was to impose in ten thousand ways, in the vilest manner, upon the credulity of the ignorant multitude.-Arius now made a great stir, denying the divinity of Christ, and drew vast numbers over to his opinions, and was assisted by Constantine, but suddenly died in the year 336; but his doctrines continued to spread far and wide.
In the sixth century the world was at ease; and superstition had made rapid strides. The ministers were excessively ignorant, and led away themselves by the strangest phantasies [fantasies], deluded and destroyed the people. Strange rites were performed; miracles without number believed, and the most superstitious services rendered to departed souls; images were worshipped. Tombs and grave yards were places to meet departed spirits in multitudes. The doctrine of purgatory had gained strong hold upon the minds of the people. Some starved themselves with a frantic obstinacy; and others erected high pillars and stood on them for years. Simeon, a Syrian, who was one of their leaders, spent thirty seven years of his life upon five pillars, with the idea of getting as near heaven as he could, attracting the admiration of a superstitious world.
The finest monastic order was instituted about the beginning of the fourth century, by a person of the name of Anthony, who sold his possessions and lived a life of the most rigid self-denial, in the wilderness, and such vast numbers followed his example, that if the wilderness was not glad for them, it literally abounded with them. His monastic ragulations [regulations] rapidly spread into Palestine and Syria, and were soon established throughout Europe, Asia, and Africa. Some followed Anthony's instructions, and lived in monasteries, whilst others followed his example, and dwelt alone in the wildest parts of the wilderness.
In the seventh century, two immense powers, the Mohammedan and the Papal, arose, which laid the east and the west in desolation, and finally swallowed up every fragment of the church, if any was yet remaining, for Monachism
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