: 2 2 AN 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. And Chancellor of the University of Gottingen. TRANSLATED FROM THE ORIGINAL LATIN, AND ACCOMPANIED WITH NOTES AND CHRONOLOGICAL TABLES, a Mew Edition. TO WAICH IS ADDED, IN SIX VOLUMES. VOL. II. London: 12, Tabernacle Walk ; and J. Deighton, Cambridge. FIFTH CENTURY. PART 1 The EXTERNAL HISTORY of the CHURCH. CHAPTER I. Concerning the prosperous events that happened to the Church. PART I. the Roman 1. In order to arrive at a true knowledge of CENT. , are the outward state of the church, and the events which happened to it duriug 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, re markable 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 proVOL II. B vinces ; |