AN 12 ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY, Ancient and Modern, FROM THE BIRTH OF CHRIST, TO THE BEGINNING of the eighTEENTH CENTURY; IN WHICH THE RISE, PROGRESS, AND VARIATIONS OF CHURCH POWER ARE CONSIDERED In their connexion with the State of Learning and Philosophy, AND The Political History of Europe During that Period. BY THE LATE LEARNED JOHN LAWRENCE MOSHEIM, D. D. TRANSLATED FROM THE ORIGINAL LATIN, AND ACCOMPANIED TO WHICH IS ADDED, AN ACCURATE INDEX. IN SIX VOLUMES. VOL. II. London: PRINTED BY J. HADDON, 12, Tabernacle Walk; FOR W. BAYNES, 54, PATERNOSTER ROW ; Sold also by J. Parker, J. Cooke, and M. Bliss, Oxford; THE FIFTH CENTURY. PART I The EXTERNAL HISTORY of the CHURCH. CHAPTER I. Concerning the prosperous events that happened I. to the Church. V. the Roman 1. IN order to arrive at a true knowledge of CENT. the causes, to which we are to attribute PART I. the outward state of the church, and the events which happened to it during this century, we The state of must keep in view the civil history of this pe- empire. riod of time. It is, therefore, proper to observe, that, in the beginning of this century, the Roman empire was divided into two distinct sovereignties; of which the one comprehended the eastern provinces, the other those of the west. Arcadius, the emperor of the east, reigned at Constantinople; and Honorius who governed the western provinces, chose Ravenna for the place of his residence. This latter prince, remarkable only for the sweetness of his temper, and the goodness of his heart, neglected the great affairs of the empire; and, inattentive to the weighty duties of his station, held the reins of government with an unsteady hand. The Goths took advantage of this criminal indolence; made incursions into Italy; laid waste its fairest provinces; VOL II. B |