with tem- poral concerns, though they had promised to leave him undisturbed five days in the week, to finish some theological labors. Comp. Xeander, iii. 291 sq. (ed. Torrey, ii. 139 sq.). * Socrat. L vii. c. 37. 10-i THIRD PERIOD, A.D. 311-590, dination of a monk to the bishopric, becanse, being unaccns- tomed to intercourse with secular magistrates, though he might intercede with the Heavenly Judge for their souls, he could not with the earthly for their bodies. Tlie bishops were re- garded particularly as the guardians of widows and orphans, and the control of their property was intrusted to them. Jus- tinian in 529 assigned to them also a supervision of the pris- ons, which they were to visit on Wednesdays and Fridays, the days of Christ's passion. The exercise of this right of intercession, one may well sup- pose, often obstructed the course of justice ; but it also, in in- numerable cases, especially in times of cruel, arbitrary despot- ism, protected the interests of innocence, humanity, and mercy. Sometimes, by the powerful pleadings of bishops with governors and emperors, whole provinces were rescued from oppressive taxation and from the revenge of conquerors. Thus Flavian of Antioch in 387 averted the wrath of Theodosius on occa- sion of a rebellion, journeying under the double bm'den of age and sickness even to Constantinoj^le to the emperor himself, and with complete success, as an ambassador of their common Lord, reminding him of the words : " If ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you." ' 6. With the right of intercession was closely connected the right of asylum in churches. In former times many of the heathen temples and altars, with som.e exceptions, were held inviolable as places of refuge ; and the Christian churches now inherited also this prerogative. The usage, with some precautions against abuse, was made law by Theodosius II. in 431, and the ill treatment of an unarmed fugitive in any part of the church edifice, or even upon the consecrated ground, was threatened with the penalty of death.* Thus slaves found sure refuge from the rage of their mas- ters, debtors from the persecution of inexorable creditors, women and virgins from the approaches of profligates, the con- quered from the sword of their enemies, in the holy places, until the bishop by his powerful mediation could procure jus- ^ Matt. vi. 14. ^ Cod. Theodos. ix. 45, 1-4. Comp. Socrat. vii. 33. § 17. LEGAL SANCTION OF SUNDAY. 105 tice or mercy. The beneficence of this law, which had its root not iu superstition alone, but in the nobler sympathies of the people, comes most impressively to view amidst the ragings of the great migration and of the frequent intestine wars.' § 17. Legal Sanction of Sunday. 7. Tlie civil sanction of the observance of Sunday and other festivals of the church. Tlie state, indeed, should not and cannot enforce this ob- servance upon any one, but may undoubtedly