CHAPTER IV.

THE GREEK CHURCH.

Considerations imparting an interest to the Greek church-Ancient churches of Corinth and Athens-Seminary at Athens-Bishoprics in Greece in the fourth century-View of the decline of the Greek church, and of the introduction of some of its more remarkable usages-Gospel contaminated by false philosophy -Progress towards a splendid ritual-Regeneration believed to result from baptism-Origin of the prejudice against marriage-Rise of monachismChristianity becomes the religion of the Roman empire-Multiplication of churches-Rise of picture and image worship-Invocation of departed saintsPrivate confession-Pilgrimages, etc.-Origin of masses-Festivals-The church oppressed with rites and ceremonies--General councils-Idolatry at its height-Controversy on the subject-Councils-Triumph of idolatry-Controversy respecting the procession of the Holy Ghost-Greek fondness for controversy Ignorance of the Scriptures-Vain effort to unite the eastern and western churches-Fall of Constantinople-Attempts of the Roman pontiff to subject the Greek church to his authority-Correspondence between the German reformers and the Greek patriarch-The patriarch Cyril LucarisHis opinions anathematized-Doctrine of transubstantiation adopted by the Greek church-Reflections.

WHEN the traveller in Greece lights upon the ruins of some far-famed ancient structure, and, seated upon a fragment among the broken columns, allows his imagination to ascend, through a long series of ages, to the time when those columns were reared, he finds his mind kindle into enthusiasm. Such emotions I sometimes had in that country, while contemplating the remains of the GREEK CHURCH-a monument far more interesting, than any which pagan Greece has transmitted to these times. It was reared by apostolical hands. It connects its history with that of the whole Christian church; and, like the ancient church of God, was made, in a peculiar sense, the depository of the divine oracles, in their original language-even of that part of them, which unfolds the wonders of redemption. These it preserved, uncorrupted, through ages of darkness, till the art of printing placed them out of danger. We re

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member the honor, which God in past ages conferred upon it. We remember, also, its fidelity to its trust, and its claims to the gratitude of the whole Christian world. -And now, we shall rejoice to see the fountain of the waters of life, of which that church was so long the trusty guardian, opened again to its members, and the graces and virtues of piety universally restored.

A history of the Greek church does not enter into my design, neither does a full exhibition of its doctrines, usages, and discipline. A brief view is all I shall attempt, which I shall preface with a rapid sketch of the decline of the church from its original standard of faith and practice, as well as of the introduction of some of its more remarkable usages. My leading object, throughout, will be to shew, in what respects a reform is desirable, and what there is to encourage the expectation of

one.

The remarks upon the ancient church of Corinth, in the former part of this volume, were written upon the spot where that city stood, and while the utter desolation visible around, urged the mind to seek relief in agreeable recollections. I fear a dispassionate attention to St. Paul's epistles would lead to less favorable conclusions, and perhaps would justify even the severity of Milner, who thought, that while no church of the apostolic age was more numerous, none probably had less of a Christian spirit. The admonitions of the apostle, however, exerted a very salutary influence upon its members; and towards the close of the first century, we hear Clement, that fellow-laborer of Paul whose name was declared to be in the book of life, addressing them in these terms of high commendation:

"What strangers, that came among you, did not take honorable notice, formerly, of the firmness and fulness of your faith? Who of them did not admire the sobriety and gentleness of your godly spirit in Christ? Who did not extol the liberal practice of your Christian hospitality? How admirable was your sound and mature knowledge

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of divine things. Ye were wont to do all things without respect to persons; and ye walked in the ways of God in due subjection to your pastors, and submitting yourselves the younger to the elder. Ye charged young men to attend to the gravity and moderation becoming the Christian character; young women to discharge their duties with a blameless, holy, and chaste conscientiousness, to love their husbands with all suitable tenderness and fidelity, and to guide the house in all soberness and gravity. Then ye all showed a humble spirit, void of boasting and arrogance, more ready to obey than to command, more ready to give than to receive. Content with the divine allotments, and attending diligently to the word of Christ, ye were enlarged in your bowels of love, and his sufferings on the cross were before your eyes. Hence a profound and happy peace was imparted to you all; an unwearied desire of doing good, and a plentiful effusion of the Holy Ghost, were with you. Full of holy counsel, in all readiness of mind, with godly assurance of faith, ye stretched forth your hands to the Lord Almighty, intreating him to be gracious to you, if in any thing ye unwillingly offended. Your care was day and night, for all the brethren, that the number of his elect might be saved in mercy and a good conscience. Ye were indeed sincere and harmless, forgiving one another. All dissension and schism in the church was abominable to you; ye mourned over the faults of your neighbors; ye sympathized with their infirmities as your own; ye were unwearied in all goodness, and ready to every good work. Adorned with a venerable and upright conversation, ye performed all things in his fear; and the law of God was written deep indeed on the tables of your hearts."

Yet these encomiums were not applicable when Clement wrote his epistle, but some time before, perhaps not long after the apostle's last visit to Corinth. Pride, ambition, and schism, had again distracted the people, and it was under the pressure of these evils, that they asked counsel of the church at Rome, and

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thus gave occasion for the letter which has been quoted. Clement next describes the decline of their piety.

"Thus, when all glory and enlargement were given to you, that Scripture was fulfilled, Jeshurun waxed fat and kicked.' Hence envy, strife, dissension, persecution, disorder, war, and desolation have seized your church. "The child has behaved himself proudly against the ancient, and the base against the honorable, the mean against the eminent, and the foolish against the wise.' Hence righteousness and peace are far from you; because ye all leave the fear of God, and your spiritual sight is become too dim to be guided by the faith of the Gospel. Ye walk not in his ordinances, nor walk worthy of the Lord Christ; but ye all walk too much according to your own evil lusts, nourishing and cherishing a malignant spirit of envy, by which the first death came into the world." a

Corinth was favored with a zealous pastor, near the close of the second century; and the letters which he addressed to the churches of Lacedæmon, Athens, and some other places, evince a commendable interest in the cause of Christ, and lead us to think that the church, over which he presided, still had an honorable standing in the Christian commonwealth. b

Dionysius the Areopagite is believed to have been the first pastor of the church at Athens. Publius, who subsequently sustained the office, was martyred in the reign either of Trajan, or Adrian. After this afflictive

event, religion declined for a season, the public assemblies were deserted, the zeal of the church languished, and its manners were corrupted. Quadratus succeeded in restoring order and discipline, and pure religion immediately revived. "One of the strongest testimonies of these things, is the account which the famous Origen, in the second book of his treatise against Celsus, gives of the Athenian church. While this great man is demonstrating the admirable efficacy of Christian faith (b) Milner, cent. ii, ch. 8.

(a) Milner, cent. i. ch. 15.

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on the minds of men, he exemplifies his positions by this very church of Athens, on account of its good order, constancy, meekness, and quietness. He represents it as infinitely superior, in these respects, to the common political assembly in that city, which was factious and tumultuary. He affirms that it was evident, that the worst paths of the church were better than the best of their popular assemblies. This is a very pleasing testimony to the growth of Christianity, since the time that a handful of seed was sown there by St. Paul: and let the testimony of so penetrating and sagacious an observer as Origen be considered, as one of the many proofs that might be given of the happy effect which real Christianity has on human society. To a mind not intoxicated with vain ideas of secular glory, the Christian part of Athens must appear infinitely more happy and more respectable, than that commonwealth ever had been in the meridian of its glory." While Adrian was at Athens for the purpose of being initiated in the Eleusinian mysteries of the Grecian mythology, and when persecutions against the members of the Athenian church were becoming sanguinary, Quadratus presented him an apology for the gospel, which was not wholly without the desired effect.

In the fourth century, Athens contained a seminary of learning, at which the young men of that period, who could afford it, were accustomed to complete their education. Basil of Cæsarea and Gregory Nazianzen were educated in that seminary. The school was flourishing as late as the sixth century.

It is interesting to glean even these few notices respecting the principal Christian churches in districts so renowned in pagan times, as Attica and the Peloponnesus.

A learned writer on Christian antiquities has stated, that, in the latter part of the fourth century, there were not less than twenty-six bishoprics in the Roman province of Achaia; which embraced the island of Euboea,

(c) Milner, cent. ii. ch. 2.