Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-01-18

lodged by himself
The scholars abandoned the PROSTATE So
phist, whose successor surrendered the chair
10 the victorious Abeillard, and became his
disciple. This" says Mr.. Berington
"may be regarded as the most brilliant
epoch in the life of Abeillard. He rose every
morning TO the smiles of an approving pub
lie, and the church, at the same time willing
TO testify the high opinion she entertained OF
his merit. presented him with canonicate in
the Cathedral OF Paris" Here it might be
expected that his ambition would rest con-
tent, and that after oyerbearing competition,
he would quietly enjoy the need of victory.
Such surely would have been his dispositions,
had the object of his battle been the acquire
ment OF truth, but il was the luxury OF con-
quest that he sought, and when no logician,
was hardy enough to resist the brilliant ora
tor, he became tired of dominion, and essay
ed new warfare in the mazes Of metaphy-
steal theology. Here our author abandons
Abeillard, that he may exhibit the situation
OF the world during the period OF the bio
graphy which he had recorded. In dellnea-
ting the character Of Gregory 7th, he aims
not to disguise the project of that pontiff to
reduce all other potentates TO ecclesiastical
vassalage, but affects to derive it from chris
tan principles. This insinuation, however
silly contriyed, is rather bold appeal to
creduliiy, for men can now discriminate the
welfare of religion from the interests of a
hierarchy, and papacy, no longer terrible or
rich, has given place to less gaudy, but not
less guilty corruptions of true christianity.
As to our authors doctrine, it is wholly CHI
merical, and it is much more likely that Gre
cory used the opportunity afford by his sta
ton to his great abilities of gratifying an
avarice of power, than which none more in
ordinate ever agitated a human breast. Of
this object the system most directly promo
tive was to reform the vices of his clergy,
and to correct the numerous abuses which
relaxation of discipline bad created through
out the different religious communities Had
this policy beenrevived by Leo 10th, il is i'm
possible 10 say what would have been the
fate OF Luther and the reformation.
But to return to Abeillard. At Laon he
became the pupil of Anseln nor did his the
illogical studies end more favorabIy TO their
director than his philosophical apprentice
ship had done to William de Champeaux.
The unexpected excellence of bis common
tary on Ezekiel alarmed the vanity and shook
the reputation of Ahselm, and this professor
by the advice oftwo ofhis pupils who dread
ed the raising glory of Abellard, interdcted
his labours. Returning to Paris he cohtinu-
ed the exposition of Ezekiel. which procu-
red tor him applauses greater even than those
which had ewarded his philosophical efforts.
But the theological arguments OF the times
were so thoroughly verbal, that the success
of Abeillard is perhaps less fairly imputable
to superior knowledge Of divinity than TO his
prominence in dialectick. In investigating
the origin of many romish tenets, it is quite
ludlcrous to detect it, as We may often do,
in some childish interpretations Of scripture
The source Of the deposing doctrine is thus
stated by Mr.. Berington, who, be it remem
bered, is a romish clergyman. 6 From the
RIGHTEOUSNESS of allegorical exposition any
maxims might be drawn. They read in the
Gospel OF ST. Luke that our Saviour be, ore
his passion told his disciples that swords
would be necessary f; they answered, behold
here are two swords He replied, il is e.
nough. The sense OF this passage is obvi.
Gus, but commentators discovered that by
the two swords were signihed the spiritual
and temporal powers by which the world is
governed, and that these powers belonged
both to the church, because The two swords
were IN the hands of the apostles The
church, indeed, they said, should herself on
ly exercise the spiritual power and intrust
the other to the prince. Our Saviour said to
Peter, put up thy sword into the scabbard,
that is, the sword, Peter is thine, but it is not
in thy hand it should be used give it to the
Prince, who shall employ it as thou shalt or
der and direct, on such deductions as these
was grounded the deposing doctrine Of Rome,
and all the vain supersrlcture OF preroga
tive and privilege which the church exerci-
sed with an unbounded sway through the