their doctrines
Andrto this end their doctrines and labours Were principally directed, by promoting a scrupulous observance of external rites and ceremonies, i&t superstitious acts of devotions, and a liberal compliance with their pecuniary requisitions,, which were too generally considered as the means of conciliating the divine favour, and satisfying every obligation of duty.The bishops of Rome had gradually acquired a superiority over the other bishops from the beginning of the reign of Constantine.] About the year , Lucina made Marcellus her heir, and gave him all her .great substance. uFrom that time," saith Polydor, '"the bishops of Rome were greatly enriched,"f which enal tb effect & greater appearance of splendour and magnificence than the MBT Shoes other MBT bishops, by which MBT Shoes Sale mortals too often form their ideals of preeminence and dignityand this superiority was at different periods advanced, until, in the year , Symmachus was elected supreme bishop.During the ages of gross superstition whieh succeeded, there arose a fewindividuals endued with light andsense to discover the enormities abounding in the church, and fortitude to bear their testimony against them; yet the power of darkness Was so great, and the dominion of priestcraft so firmly fixed, that their at tempts were quickly frustrated, and, generally, their lives became a sacrifice to the. vindictive clergy, But MBT Trainers about the year , some light began to arise on the revival of learning. Gratian having composed an abridgment of the canon laws, which, before, were Very effective, and could not be explained in the schools, his epitome was unanimously adopted, and the study of it Was considered as a branch , of academical learning, and, shortly after, was introduced amongst the number of the sciences; as was also the civil law, or famous Pandect of Julian ; which was found, revived, and became a grand object of the labours and studies of the learned. Colleges were erected in several parts of Italy, which animated other European nations to imitate their example; so that a spirit of inquiry began to revive in some places, and the human mjnd to emerge from that state of stupidity in which it had been involved.
These contributions
These contributions had been voluntary, and answered the general purposes: for as these wants were confined within narrow limits, they were easily satisfied. And many contributing very liberally from motives of brotherly kindness and benevolence, a foundation was laid in many places as a stock or public fund; and when human wisdom and policy gained the ascendency, the zealous ecclesiastics artfully propagated the notion that munificence to the church would atone for sin, and purchase iiiture happiness: and, accordingly, it soon became enriched with secular possessions. Many of the great found it easier to give freely than to live well; and many others now fohnd means to sanction their ambitious projects, and their most unjustifiable methods of gratifying MBT Trainers their avaricious desires of accumulating wealth, by dividing their spoils with the churchthat is, with the mercenary priesthoodall which greatly contributed to increase their wealth The bishops, in order to get the revenues into their own possession, relieved the deacons froR the charge of the administration, into whose hands if, had been originally given, or intrusted, by the apostles. And now, having none MBT Shoes to control their ambition, or oppcxfe their proceedings, they spon undertook to exact MBT Shoes Sale pecuniary rewards, which they authoritatively demanded, as the conditions and price of their spiritual commodities Their " wheat," for the fine and ddicate palate, and their "barley," for the more gross, the vulgar and superstitious"And see thou hurt not the oiljind the wine." As in the purest ages of Christianity there were some that were but mere formalists or worshippers ift thouW ward court, so in this time of spiritual darkness theri wee sonje who, notwithstanding they were blinded with the general prejudice of the diving authority of the churchto impose matters oft |uth, and religiously conformed to her decrees, yet they also laboured to impress the necessity of holiness of life; and were diligent in visiting the sick and afflicted; MBT encouraging them to, seek for an inward communion with God, and the consolations of his spirit: that "wine" that ani mates Che drooping soul and " the iP of joy and gladness which comforts the mourners in ZioiuAlthough there were a few of these who appear to have been highly esteemed and respected, yet it was in the general a time of famine and extreme scarcity. " Not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord. Not a scarcity of Jealous ecclesiastics, for they Were very numerous; but their ohief views were the advancement of their own power and interest.
The proclamation
The proclamation was fitly made by the third living creature, whose u face was like a man"a rational being; but the event fully discovers the insufficiency of human abilities to lead to happiness under any profession of religion."And I MBT Trainers beheld, and lo, a black horse." The impure mixture of Jewish and heathenish rites and ceremonies, t&e introducing of images, canonizing and invoking of saints, and other superstitious inventions, gradually reversed Christianity into idolatry, which to it is most abhorrent. The MBT visible profession was therefore no longer the light of Christianity, but the blackness of spiritual darkness.The reader will take notice that the expression is not as before, " And there went out another horse," Ac. But " beheld, and lo, a black horse." Accordingly we find, that the directors of ecclesiastical affairs, instead of zealously propagating their religion abroad, were otherwise engaged. " He that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand." They were employed in weighing different opinions and conjectures; balancing controverted doctrines; and determining by different councils what were to be received as matters of faith ; imposing their contradictory decrees, as each party had the power in their hands, under the penalties of pecuniary and' corporal punishments. For those vain fictions, which an attachment to pagan philosophy and popular opinions, had engaged the greatest part of the Christian doctors to adopt, before the reign of the emperor Constantine, were now confirmed, enlarged, and embellished in various ways, and, according to Mosheim's account, MBT Shoes that emperor introduced amongst the bishops new degrees MBT Shoes Sale of eminence and rank." And heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures say, A measure of wheat for a penny, ajid three measures of barley for a penny."In the church in early times it was found necessary to raise some contributions for public uses; of which the support of the poor, erecting edifices, and occasionally administering to the wants of those who laboured in the work and propagation of the gospel abroad, under circumstances which required relief, appear to have been the principal part.