The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-09-01

tati0h. As delegated power its existence
was acknowledged only thus much was
oxaotod from the master of tho empire
that he should replace his tito OF deity by that
Of" God favored Imperial Lord" Another oint
ultimately secured was the choice of Christi unity
as the form Of all public acts OF religion in which
tho State and its officers took part and this was
coupled with other forms Of aid and patronage,
for all which, however the state in turn claimed
safeguard and equivalent in the unimpared
acknowledgment and exercise OF its suprem-
ncy. To define that supremacy is not possible.
because. prior to the disruption Of tho Western
Empire by tho Tcutonic nations the Church was
never strong enough to exact definition. 1t is
certain that Constantine and his successors
acted rs II they believed themselves entitled to
watch over tho Church to determine which Of
conflicting opinions was orthodox, aud to en-
force theological decisions by the force OF tho
secular arm. As we have socn, general coun-
ell was the first, and it remained tho most ef-
fectiyc engine Of Caesars ecclesiastical power.
In such assemblies tho Church preserved the
appearance Of free action in debating and got
Ting questions Of deep moment concerning Der
doctrine and discipline. but whenever the bal
nnco was in suspense. tho Emperor threw into
the scale the sword Of state. But Il ia import
ant To notice further that "a the Emperor was
the supreme judge in all causes. ecclesiastical
no less than secular disputes wore brought un-
der the c1gnzanco Of the civil courts. In fart
the power Of the imperial tribunals soon cana
TO Doe invoked in order 20 escape the adverse
decision Of Church authorities in questions
purely clerical 1t was only with reluctance
that the exemption OF ecclesiastical eases from
civil jurisdiction was to some extent conceded
Ono other fact ought not To- be passed over in
tho most succinot review 81 tho results 1ow-
ing from tho now alliance adjusted between
Church and state. As regards the internal or
gtniDtion OF the Christian community, it is
obvious that the tendency 10 cXalt the clergy
AMI Il press the power of the people would a.
qulre Immense momentum through the close
relation Of the Church to the civil authority.
aud tine consequent increase OF her wealth and
inhuonre. Tho sense OF responsibility on the
part Of the Bishops TO their noeks was. Of
course greatly lossencd by the diminished
weight OF the popular voice in their elections.
In the case o; the moro important soes, the Eni-
pcror not only exertol pressure. but sometimes
dire uy nominated the prelatc. Manifestly also
the social dignity and privileges Of the clergy.
their exemption from most Of the public bur
dons the provision made for their support. and
the augmented riches Of the Church tended in
cvtaby 10 make its ministry more worldly and
to tempt mon 10 seek II without any spiritual
qualifications.
TO state. in word. tho inference pressed
upon us by the history OF the first four centuries.
1t is open to grave doubt whether the so-callcd
conversion Of Constantine was in reality q tri-
umuh or misfortune When that striking rcvo-
luton occurred. Christianity had already won
conclusive victory. and apparently had less to
fear from tho prosecutions than from tho Sc
ductions Of the State. That carcaturc Of mono
ntft..
conurcd into being as the Indispensable prop
OF CTsarism. had succumbed to the common de-
rision Of Christian and Of Pagan. The old re-
lisions of Greece and Italy rs was docsvcly
proved whom Julian cssaycd TO resurrect them.
had suffered more from the contemptuous toll
Grafton Of the empire than Christianity had suf-
fercd from its repression. Tho organization
which had wiihstood the persecution of Diocle-
tian was certain to survive the empire and per-
haps might have pushed the work Of conversion
among the Teutonic nations more promptly and
effectively II 1t had been wholly untrammellol
and interrupted by n marriage with the
civil power. At all events. the whole
succeeding history Of tho world would have
been changed. That strange compound
Of substance and shadow Of precedcnis. legal
Il tions and traditions. which we call the Holy
Roman Empire would not have shaped for cen
turtles the thoughts and the maginations Of
men and the Papal system, in the form which
lll'd 'lrll,d and Innocent gave it. could never
have existed.
W. should have liked to call attention to some
OF the salient topics discussed in tho later chap
tors OF Mr.. Smiths work. Some precise nfor-
nation was especially needed 10y the general
reader as 10 the curious relation long main
tain"d by the Bishop Of Rome toward the east
crn Emperor after Italy had passed under the
sway ri Goth and Lombard. For lucid view
OF this somewhat obscure matter however
and Of the pregnant revolution Elected in cccle-
siasti'al affairs through the compact with the
Carloyingian House. and the modified arrange
mcnt concluded with Ohio. under whom tho
Holy Roman Emure assumed definite shape
and organi' consistency. we must refer the
reader 10 the book Itself. NJ. W. IL.