By such seasonable relief did this holy religion, which had already spread its roots in secret throughout the Roman empire, soon overshadow its vast extent, and stood unconquered by the subsequent irruptions of the Saracens from the East, and the Barbarians of the North, which threatened the extinction of Christianity and civilization together; but, having subdued the imperial armies, were themselves subdued by the more powerful doctrine of Jesus Christ.

At what a vast expence of toil and suffering, were the integrity of the witnesses of our divine Religion manifested-the fruits of which we now enjoy in peace and prosperity! How thankful should we be to God-how candid and charitable to each other-how studious to improve and to adorn so great a blessing!

SERMON XVII.
XVII.

EPITOME OF CHURCH HISTORY.

II.

MATT. xiii. 26. Then appeared the tares also.

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ON the accession of Constantine, the sudden transition of the Christian world from the deepest temporal distress, to the summit of temporal prosperity, though doubtless most wisely and seasonably ordained, proved a more dangerous trial, than all they had suf fered in their former adversity. Ambitious: men, who filled the chief offices of the church, as well as of the state, neglected no means of exalting their power and emolument. First, the people were excluded from all share of

Church-government. Then, the Presbyters were reduced under the absolute power of the Bishops. Next the Bishops of Rome, Antioch, Alexandria, and afterwards Constantinople, claimed peculiar pre-eminence. And the Bishop of Rome being the most opulent, and the most sumptuous in his palace, table, and attendants, upon every election to the Roman See, cabals and tumults, and a kind of civil war laid waste the city. Hence the other Bishops, with their adherents, became involved in various commotions and animosities; the same spirit spreading downwards, from rank to rank, among the Presbyters and Deacons, all studying, by every device, to elevate themselves one above another. And now they, who, through fear of their perse cutors, had been used to assemble in the obscurest dwellings, or even vaults where the dead were buried, took possession of the most splendid temples, and, after purifying them afresh, celebrated in them the Christian wor ship, with all the pomp of Pagan processions, illuminations, and ceremonies of every de-, scription.

Upon the irruption of the Goths, indeed, into Italy, Paganism appeared to revive; and, for a season, the idolatrous festivals, the combats of gladiators, and the images of the ancient Deities were restored. At length, the savage nations that overran the Western Empire, after committing great violences, were converted and civilized. Augustine, with forty Benedictine Monks, is said to have christianized the inhabitants of the county of Kent; and, by degrees, to have extended his spiritual empire over all the kingdoms of the Saxon Heptarchy.

These, however, and other similar conversions, were too much conversions of force and influence-a continuation of the reign of superstition, with a change of objects-the statues of Christ and of the saints were substituted for those of the ancient Divinities. Ceremonies were multiplied: but manners degenerated. Endless festivals, perpetual acclamations kept up, day and night by successive companies of singers, altars and chests of relics, of solid silver, clouds of fragrant incense from golden

censers, attested the opulence of the Christian Priesthood; and displayed the rich spoils of which they had bereaved their Pagan predecessors, Meanwhile, as pride and luxury advanced, the clergy continued augmenting their power and their revenue-private confessions. made them masters of the secrets of the laityrhetorical sermons were received, like the exhibitions of the theatre, with clapping of hands -few bishops were capable of composing their discourses-those most admired were recitals of the exploits of pretended saints.

During this external prosperity of the Christian world, the pliant spirit of Paganism, by adopting the prevailing forms of Religious worship, escaped in general unmolested: and the Eclectic Philosophers, who, before Christianity became the Religion of the state, enriched their system from the Gospel, but ranged themselves under the standard of Plato, still, without any violent change, retaining much of the philosophy of Plato, repaired ostensibly to the standard of Christ. But the rage of Persecution, thus arrested by