foldier, a hermit, a bifhop, and a faint, established the mo- CHA P. nafteries of Gaul; two thoufand of his difciples followed XXXVII. him to the grave and his eloquent historian challenges the deferts of Thebais, to produce, in a more favourable climate, a champion of equal virtue. The progress of the monks was not lefs rapid, or univerfal, than that of Chriftianity itself. Every province, and, at last, every city, of the empire, was filled with their increasing multitudes; and the bleak and barren ifles, from Lerins to Lipari, that arife out of the Tufcan fea, were chofen by the anachorets, for the place of their voluntary exile. An eafy and perpetual intercourse by fea and land connected the provinces of the Roman world; and the life of Hilarion difplays the facility with which an indigent hermit of Palestine might traverse Egypt, embark for Sicily, efcape to Epirus, and finally fettle in the island of Cyprus (20). The Latin Chriftians embraced the religious inftitutions of Rome. The pilgrims, who visited Jerufalem, eagerly copied, in the most diftant climates of the earth, the faithful model of the monaitic life. The difciples of Antony fpread themselves beyond the tropic over the Chriftian empire of Ethiopia (21). The monaftery of Banchor (22), in Flint-fhire, which contained above two thousand brethren, difperfed a numerous colony among the Barbarians of Ireland (23); and Iona, one of the Hebrides, which was planted by the Irish monks, diffused over the northern regions a doubtful ray of science and superstition (24).

(20) When Hilarion failed from Parætonium to Cape Pachynus, he offered to pay his passage with a book of the Gofpels. Pofthumian, a Gallic monk, who had vifited Egypt, found a merchant-fhip bound from Alexandria to Marseilles, and performed the voyage in thirty days (Sulp. Sever. Dialog. i. 1.). Athanafius, who addreffed his Life of St. Antony to the foreign monks, was obliged to haften the compofition, that it might be ready for the failing of the fleets (tom. ii. p. 451.).

(21) See Jerom (tom. i. p. 126.), Affemanni Bibliot. Orient. tom. iv. p. 93. p. 857-919. and Geddes, Church Hiftory of Ethiopia, p. 29, 30, 31. The Habyffinian monks adhere very strictly to the primitive inftitution.

(22) Camden's Britannia, vol. i. p. 666, 667.

(23) All that learning can extract from the rubbish of the dark ages is copia ouily flated by the archbishop Ufher, in his Britannicarum Ecclefiarum Antiquitates, cap. xvi. p. 425-503.

(24) This fmall, though not barren, fpot, Iona, Hy, or Columkill, only two miles in length and one in breadth, has been diftinguished, I. By the monastery of St. Columba, founded A. D. 566: whofe abbot exercised an

extraordinary

Causes of its rapid

СНАР. These unhappy exiles from focial life, were impelled by the XXXVII. dark and implacable genius of fuperftition. Their mutual refolution was fupported by the example of millions, of either fex, of every age, and of every rank; and each proprogrefs. felyte, who entered the gates of a monaftery, was perfuaded, that he trod the steep and thorny path of eternal happiness (25). But the operation of these religious motives was variously determined by the temper and fituation of mankind. Reason might fubdue, or paffion might fufpend, their influe ence: but they acted moft forcibly on the infirm minds of children and females; they were ftrengthened by secret remorse, or accidental misfortune; and they might derive fome aid from the temporal confiderations of vanity or intereft. It was naturally fuppofed, that the pious and humble monks, who had renounced the world, to accomplish the work of their falvation, were the best qualified for the fpiritual government of the Chriftians. The reluctant hermit was torn from his cell, and seated, amidst the acclamations of the people, on the epifcopal throne: the monasteries of Egypt, of Gaul, and of the Eaft, fupplied a regular fucceffion of faints and bishops; and ambition foon discovered the fecret road which led to the poffeffion of wealth and honours (26). The popular monks, whofe reputation was connected with the fame and fuccefs of the order, affiduoufly laboured to multiply the number of their fellow-captives. They infinuated themselves into noble and opulent families; and the fpecious arts of flattery and feduction were employed to fecure thofe profelytes, who might beftow wealth or dignity on the monaftic profeffion. The indig

nant

extraordinary jurisdiction over the bishops of Caledonia. 2. By a claffic library, which afforded some hopes of an entire Livy; and, 3. By the tombs of fixty kings, Scots, Irish, and Norwegians; who repofed in holy ground. See Ufher (p. 311. 360--370.), and Buchanan (Rer, Scot. 1. ii, p. 15. edit. Ruddiman).

(25) Chryfoftom (in the first tome of the Benedictine edition) has confecrated three books to the praife and defence of the monaftic life. He is encouraged by the example of the ark, to prefume, that none but the elect (the monks) can poffibly be faved (1. i. p. 55, 56.). Elsewhere indeed he becomes more merciful (1. iii. p. 83, 84.), and allows different degrees of glory like the fun, moon, and ftars. In his lively comparison of a king and a monk (1. iii. p. 116-121.), he supposes (what is hardly fair), that the king will be more fparingly rewarded, and more rigorously punished.

(26) Thomaffin (Difcipline de l'Eglife, tom. i. p. 1426—1469.), and Mabillon (Oeuvres Pofthumes, tom, ii. p. 115-158.). The monks were gradually adopted as a part of the ecclefiaftical hierarchy.

nant father bewailed the loss, perhaps of an only fon (27); CHA P. the credulous maid was betrayed by vanity to violate XXXVII, the laws of nature; and the matron afpired to imaginary perfection, by renouncing the virtues of domeftic life, Paula yielded to the perfuafive eloquence of Jerom (28); and the profane title of mother-in-law of God (29), tempted that illuftrious widow, to confecrate the virginity of her daughter Euftochium. By the advice, and in the company, of her fpiritual guide, Paula abandoned Rome and her infant fon retired to the holy village of Bethlem; founded an hospital and four monafteries; and acquired, by her alms and pennance, an eminent and confpicuous ftation in the catholic. church. Such rare and illustrious penitents were celebrated as the glory and example of their age; but the monafteries were filled by a crowd of obfcure and abject plebeians (30), who gained in the cloyfter much more than they had facrificed in the world. Peafants, flaves, and mechanics, might escape from poverty and contempt, to a fafe and honourable profeffion; whose apparent hardships are mitigated by cuftom, by popular applaufe, and by the fecret relaxation of difcipline (31). The fubjects of Rome, whose persons and fortunes were made refponfible for unequal and exorbitant tributes, retired from the oppreffion of the Imperial government; and the pufillanimous youth preferred the pennance

of

(27) Dr. Middleton (vol. i. p. 110.) liberally cenfures the conduct and writings of Chryfoftom, one of the most eloquent and fuccessful advocates for the monaftic life.

(28) Jerom's devout ladies form a very confiderable portion of his works: the particular treatise, which he ftyles the Epitaph of Paula (tom, i. p. 169-192.), is an elaborate and extravagant panegyric. The exor dium is ridiculously turgid: "If all the members of my body were changed "into tongues, and if all my limbs refounded with a human voice, yet "fhould I be incapable, &c.”

(29) Socrus Dei effe cœpifti (Jerom. tom. i. p. 140, ad Eußlochium), Rufinus (in Hieronym. Op. tom. iv. p. 223.), who was justly fcandalifed, asks his adverfary, From what Pagan poet he had stolen an expreffion fo impious and abfurd?

(30) Nunc autem veniunt plerumque ad hanc profeffionem fervitutis Dei, et ex conditione fervili, vel etiam liberati, vel propter hoc a Dominis liberati five liberandi; et ex vitâ rufticanâ, et ex opificum exercitatione, et plebeio labore. Auguftin. de Oper. Monach, c. 22. ap. Thomaffin, Discipline de l'Eglife, tom. iii. p. 1094. The Egyptian, who blamed Arfenius, owned that he led a more comfortable life as a monk, than as a fhepherd. See Tillemont, Mem. Ecclef. tom. xiv. p. 679.

(31) A Dominican friar (Voyages du P. Labat, tom. i. p. 1o.), whe lodged at Cadiz in a convent of his brethren, foon understood, that their repose was never interrupted by nocturnal devotion; quoiqu'on ne lais pas de fonner pour l'édification du peuple."

1

CHA P. of a monaftic, to the dangers of a military, life. The affrightXXXVII. ed provincials of every rank, who fled before the Barbarians,

of the monks,

found shelter and fubfiftence; whole legions were buried in thefe religious fanctuaries; and the fame cause, which relieved the diftrefs of individuals, impaired the ftrength and fortitude of the empire (31).

Obedience The monaftic profeffion of the ancients (32) was an act of voluntary devotion. The inconftant fanatic was threatened with the eternal vengeance of the God whom he deferted: but the doors of the monaftery were still open. for repentance. Thofe monks, whofe confcience was fortified by reafon or paffion, were at liberty to refume the character of men and citizens; and even the fpoufes of Chrift might accept the legal embraces of an earthly lover (33). The examples of fcandal, and the progrefs of fuperftition, fuggefted the propriety of more forcible restraints. After a fufficient trial, the fidelity of the novice was fecured by a folemn and perpetual Vow; and his irrevocable engagement was ratified by the laws of the church and ftate. A guilty fugitive was purfued, arrested, and restored to his perpetual prifon; and the interpofition of the magiftrate oppreffed the freedom and merit, which had alleviated, in fome degree, the abject flavery of the monaftic discipline (34). The actions of a monk, his words, and even his thoughts, were determined by an inflexible rule (35), or a capricious fuperior: the flightest offences

fum.

(31) See a very fenfible preface of Lucas Holftenius to the Codex Regula. The emperors attempted to fupport the obligation of public and pri vate duties; but the feeble dykes were fwept away by the torrent of fuperftition; and Juftinian furpaffed the most fanguine wishes of the monks (Thomaffin, tom, i. p. 1782-1799. and Bingham, 1. vii. c. 3. p. 253.).

(32) The monaftic inftitutions, particularly those of Egypt, about the year 400, are described by four curious and devout travellers; Rufinus (Vit. Patrum, 1.ii, ili. p 424-536.), Pofthumian (Sulp. Sever. Dialog. i.), Palladius (Hift. Laufiac. in Vit. Patrum, p. 709-863.), and Caffian (fee in tom. vii. Bibliothec. Max. Patrum, his four firft books of Inftitutes, and the twenty-four Collations or Conferences.).

(33) The example of Malchus (Jerom. tom. i. p. 256.), and the defign of Caffian and his friend (Collation xxix 1.), are inconteftible proofs of their freedom; which is elegantly defcribed by Erasmus in his Life of St. Jerom. See Chardon, Hift. des Sacremens, tom. vi. p. 279-300.

(34) See the laws of Juftinian (Novel. cxxiii. No 42.), and of Lewis the Pious (in the Hiftorians of France, tom. vi. p. 427.), and the actual jurifprudence of France, in Deniffart (Decifions, &c. tom. iv. p. 855, &c.).

(35) The ancient Codex Regularum, collected by Benedict Anianinus, the reformer of the monks in the beginning of the ninth century, and published in the seventeenth, by Lucas Holftenius, contains thirty different rules for men and women. Of these, seven were compofed in Egypt, one in the

Eart

1

fences were corrected by disgrace or confinement, extraordi- C HA P.
nary fafts or bloody flagellation; and difobedience, mur- XXXVII.
mur, or delay, were ranked in the catalogue of the most
heinous fins (36). A blind fubmiffion to the commands of
the abbot, however abfurd, or even criminal, they might
feem, was the ruling principle, the first virtue of the Egyptian
monks; and their patience was frequently exercised by the
most extravagant trials. They were directed to remove an
enormous rock; affiduoufly to water a barren staff, that was
planted in the ground, till, at the end of three years, it should
vegetate and bloffom like a tree; to walk into a fiery furnace ;
or to caft their infant into a deep pond: and several saints, or
madmen, have been immortalized in monastic story, by their
thoughtlefs, and fearlefs, obedience (37). The freedom of
the mind, the fource of every generous and rational fenti-
ment, was destroyed by the habits of credulity and fubmiffi-
on; and the monk, contracting the vices of a flave, devoutly
followed the faith and paffions of his ecclefiaftical tyrant.
The peace of the eastern church was invaded by a fwarm of
fanatics, incapable of fear, or reafon, or humanity; and the
Imperial troops acknowledged, without fhame, that they
were much less apprehenfive of an encounter with the fiercest
Barbarians (38).

and habita

Superftition has often framed and confecrated the fantastic Their dress garments of the monks (39); but their apparent fingularity tions. fometimes

Eaft, one in Cappadocia. one in Italy, one in Africa, four in Spain, eight
in Gaul, or France, and one in England.

(36) The rule of Columbanus, fo prevalent in the Weft, inflicts one hundred lafhes for very flight offences (Cod. Reg. part ii. p. 174.). Before the time of Charlemagne, the abbots indulged themfelves in mutilating their monks, or putting out their eyes; a punishment much less cruel than the tremendous vade in pace (the fubterraneous dungeon, or fepulchre), which was afterwards invented. See an admirable difcourfe of the learned Mabillon (Oeuvres Pofthumes, tom. ii. p. 321-336.); who, on this occafion, feems to be infpired by the genius of humanity. For fuch an effort, I can forgive his defence of the holy tear of Vendome (p. 361-399.).

(37) Sulp. Sever. Dialog. i. 12, 13. p. 532, &c. Caffian, Inftitut. 1. iv. c. 26, 27. "Præcipua ibi virtus et prima eft obedientia," Among the Verba feniorum (in Vit. Patrum, l. v. p. 617.), the fourteenth libel or difcourfe is on the fubject of obedience; and the Jefuit Rofweyde, who publifhed that huge volume for the ufe of convents, has collected all the fscattered paffages in his two copious indexes..

(38) Dr. Jortin (Remarks on Ecclefiaftical History, vol. iv. p. 161.) has obferved the fcandalous valour of the Cappadocian monks, which was exemplified in the banishment of Chryfoftom.

(39) Caffian has fimply, though copioufly, defcribed the monaftic habit of Egypt (Inftitut. 1. i.), to which Sozomen (1, iii, c, 14.) attributes fuch allegorical meaning and virtue.