New-York tribune., 1870-02-01
NEW PUBLICATIONS. .


nv, their peneral suhiect-mattcr and arranged IN log
cal seoueuce the chapters sections as tney might
more apnroprately be called, do not How with the
easy current Of history aud on this account are less
attractive for continuous perusal than they would be
in another form To the attentive reader however,
they are better than entertaining: they are interest
ing; and better than interesting they are valuable
The design Of the book isto illustrate the tempo
raj aspect Of ecclesiastical history showing how the
church. in meeting the successive crises OF It's career
succeeded in establishing the absolute heocratic dcs-
potsm which diverted it strangely from its spirit
ua functions The sections entitled The Church
and the Empire The Church and The Carlovlngians,
The False Decretals The Church and the State, The
Papacy and the Church Papai OmnipOtence, Benefit
of Clergy. Primitive Discipline, The Papacy, lhe
Church and the Barbarans, Carlovngian Reconstruc-
ton Church and State The Church and Feudalism,
Temporal Penalties, Abuse of Accommodation.
Emancipation, The Reformed Churches These topics
cover q large field of discussion, and in their hand
ling touch nearly every question that comes
np in ecclesiastical history. About One-haf the
space is devoted to the subject of Accommodation
in it's different aspects beginning with an account of
the doctrines and practices mentioned in the Cos
pes tracing their progress in srictness and severity
till the final extreme of penal authority was at
tanned. and then showing how the disastrous effects
of the Church system produced reactions which led
at last TO the emancipation first of the civil powers,
then of religious bodies from the pIiestly dominion
of Rome The next considerable essay in length
is that which describes the growth of the Papacy
within the Church After this the point most labored
is the Benefit of Clergy. the process by which the
ecclesiastical order obtained its peculiar immunites,
the use made of them. the abuses proceeding from
them the conflicts between clergy and laty and the
position OF the parties at the present time The chap
ter the False Decretas, of which much has been
written lately in connection with the assumptions Of
Pho Mono, is short but woighty and presents fair
critical account of that strange and momentous
matter.
The discussion of themes extensive and so nu-
merous is necessarily condensed and summary. The
author therefore has wisely decided TO conduct it
in the form of statement rather than Ill the form OF
argument. sitting bis facts carefully, packing them
well together and leaving the reader 10 make his in
ferences The inevitable dryness of this method is
relieved by the chasteness of the authors style, the
earnestncss of his temper, and a certain force of
moral conviction that to the general statement i'm
parts a glowing energy which is often equivalent TO
q declaration of faith
OF course the accuracy of these statements or the
fairness of their arrangement, will be challenged on
one side or the other for all the points centers of
warm controversy but rarely in ecclesiastical era-
ture do We meet with much carefulneSs and so
much caudor. Mr. Lea means to put the case hon
estly. and he succeeds as well in matters diff
cult any man may hope to succeed.
The essay that will attract the most attention in
the present attitude of affairs is that the Papacy
and the Church The popular impression among
Proestants is that the Papacy attained its suprem-
acy through intrigue that amounted to cunning
maneuvering that was but another name for fraud,
and audacity that often did not think 1T worth while
TO assume the garb of Justice In a word, it is pre-
sumed 10 have been act of deliberate and violent
usurpatOn. The reader of Mr. Leas pages will learn,
If his reading or his good had not taught him
before that this view is greatly lacking in historical
accuracy. The facts of usurpatOn faithfully in
dicated: the strokes of diplomacy are all counted
and measured; tue influence of craft and Of wilful
ness is credited with its work; but the inevitable
logic Of history which priests submit TO and even
bishops must respect is made TO reveal the iron
framework that supported the providential web.
The simple trnth is that the supremacy of the
Bishop of Rome over the rest was an event unavoid
able in the course of things. It's non-occurrenCe
wodld have been surprising. Instead Of being q
marvel in history, tie marvel is that it did not come
sooner that il was long and surdily resisted. and
that its progress was waverng from generation to
generation. No doubt the False Decretals had
great deal TO do with the development and final con-
summation of the event; bnt the passage of the
terupted. Before their plot conceived, causes
were at work which. in more pliable times, would
have been sufficient TO prominence to the See
of Rome. An ordinary skill in discerning occasions
and improving them, might, had the Church been
the mallcable organization some think it was. have
brought the result to pass without suspicion of
fraud. Rome il must be remembered had almost
every claim TO distinction. It's antiquity, its size
its geographical position, its old fame, Its
actual importance in civilization. its vast
wealth, the great number of its churches,
an immense resident population of Jews having
prepared the way for the faith and supplied for
ii working organization all predicted future emf
ncnce. Until the erection of new imperial seat Of
power at Byzautium Rome was the seat Of govern
ment for the whole Empire, the throne Of both pow
ers the civil and the religions. That its episcopal
chair should be occupied by q succession of the
ablcst men that Western Christendom could COM
mand was but natural. 1t was wholly in the order
of things that these men, hy their learning their
character their capacity for ruling, should give dig
nty and consequence 10 their bishoprio. The power
of Rome was felt in many ways both wise and ben
eGcent Her wealth was prodigally given for two or
three centuries the support of poorer communities
The counsel of her bishops continually sought
in difficult cases of policy or of principle. Their
position near the Imperial Court threw into their
hands many opportunities for acquiring and exertiDg
influence. TO have wholly declined which would
have shown them careless Of their trust. Applicants
for court fayoIs soon discovered that the bishop who
stood in the relation of pastor to the Emperor,
the proper person to transmit the suit TO the Imperial
Majesty. This meant power of n most important
kind power, the perfectly honest use of which gave
vast prestige aud sway TO its possessOr. As Mr.
Lea, whose steps we are tracing well says: "When