A history of the church...

Front matter

Book XtG ,

CATHEDRAL AT MILAN.

MOSQUE OF ABRAHAM.

Contents

Introduction Page 13

1. Subjection of a great part of the world to Augustus Caesar, at the birth of Christ. — 2. Civil state of the world favorable to the diffusion of Christianity. — 3. Religious state less favorable. — 4. State of the Jews. — 5. Religious state of the Jews. — 6. Pharisees. — 7. Sadducees. — 8. Essenes. — 9. Herodians. — 10. Scribes, Rabbis, and Nazarites. — 11. Government of Judea in the hands of Herod the Great. — 12. Jewish nation expecting the Messiah.

General Division 18

Introduction

CIVIL AND RELIGIOUS STATE OF THE WORLD AT THE BIRTH OF CHRIST.

1. At the time Jesus Christ made his appearance upon the earth, to prepare the way for the establishment of the Christian Church, a great part of the known world had become subject to the Roman empire, under Augustus Caesar.

The Roman empire, at this time, was a most magnificent object. It extended from the river Euphrates on the east, to the Atlantic Ocean on the west. In length it was more than three thousand miles ; and in breadth it exceeded two thousand. The whole included above sixteen hundred thousand square miles.

This vast territory, which was divided into provinces, comprised the countries now called Spain, France, the greater part of Britain, Italy, Greece, Germany, Asia Minor, Egypt, Africa, and the Mediterranean Sea, with its islands and colonies. The subjects of the empire, at this period, have been estimated at one hundred and twenty millions.

2. The state of the world, at this time, in respect to the prevalence of peace, civilization, and learning, was admirably adapted to the rapid diffusion of Christianity.

The world, in general, had not only become subject to the Eoman dominion, but it was now at peace. This was a state of things, which had not existed before for many years, and justly entitled the period, in which our Savior descended upon earth, to the character of the pacific age. This tranquillity was indeed necessary, to enable the ministers of Christ to execute, with success, their sublime commission to the human race.

A degree of civilization also prevailed, which had not before existed. Barbarous tribes had submitted to the Roman laws, which, with all their imperfections, were the best which human wisdom had devised. Distant nations, differing in language and manners, were united in friendly intercourse. A degree of literature was also spread abroad in countries, which had before lain under the darkest ignorance. The Greek language was both extensively read and spoken • and presented a medium to the heralds of the cross, of communicating, to almost all nations, the doctrines which they were commissioned to preach.

3. The religious state of the world was less favorable to the diffusion of Christianity. A dark and gloomy system of superstition and idolatry was prevailing among all nations, except the Jewish, by means of which the human mind had become exceedingly debased. Men were poorly qualified to judge immediately of a system, so different as was that of Christianity, and by far too sensual to embrace, at once, one so pure.

The notion of a Supreme Being was not, indeed, entirely effaced from the heathen world ; but the knowledge of the true God was doubtless lost. Every heathen nation worshipped " lords many and gods many." These gods were multiplied without end. Every part of creation was supposed to have some divinity presiding over it. The earth, and air, and ocean were thought to be full of deities, who were

14 INTRODUCTION.

supposed to be diverse from one another, in respect to sex, and rank, and power. They, moreover, indulged the most lawless passions, and were guilty of the most polluting vices.

Yet to these gods a deep and universal homage was paid. They were courted and appeased by costly gifts, and honored by rites and ceremonies too indecent even to be named. Temples, the most magnificent, were erected to their honor, and a most expensive priesthood maintained to serve at their unhallowed worship.

Such is an outline of the religious state of the heathen world, when Christ made his appearance on earth. The knowledge of the pure and exalted character of Jehovah was lost. Human accountability was unknown, and holiness of life was unnamed and unconceived of.

4. In respect to the Jewish nation, which inhabited Judea, where Christ was born, more correct notions of religion were entertained, since they possessed the Scriptures of the Old Testament, from which these notions were derived.

5. But even among the Jews, the state of religion was exceedingly low. They, indeed, still maintained the ancient forms of worship ; but the life and spirituality, the original beauty and excellency of that worship, had departed.

6. At this period, also, the Jews were divided into several religious sects, all of which acknowledged the authority of Moses, and united in the same forms of worship ; but they were so far separated by their peculiarities, as to be continually involved in the most bitter hostilities.

7. The most popular, and by far the most numerous of these sects, was that of the Pharisees, who derived their name from a Hebrew word, which signifies to separate ; because they pretended, though very hypocritically, to uncommon separation from the world, and devotedness to God.

The origin of this sect is involved in uncertainty. From small beginnings, however, they had risen to great power ; and, in the time of the Savior, they held the principal civil and religious offices in the nation.

In respect to some of the doctrines of the Scriptures, they seem to have been correct. They believed in the existence of angels, both good and bad ; in the immortality of the soul ; the resurrection of the body 5 and a state of future rewards and punishments. But they also held to the traditions of their elders, which they considered of equal authority with the Scriptures. Nay, in many instances, they explained the oracles of God by these traditions, and in such a manner as wholly to destroy their meaning.

In their religious practice, the Pharisees pretended to uncommon strictness. They abounded in washings, and fastings, and long prayers. They assumed great gravity in dress and demeanor, and exhibited no small zeal in all the forms of religion. But, with all their pretensions, they were noted for their hypocrisy ; and by our Savior were compared to whited sepulchres, fair and wholesome externally, but full of deformity and death within. (

8. Next to the Pharisees, the Sadducees were the most powerful sect. They derived their name from Sadoc, who nourished about 260, B. C. This sect were infidels. They denied the existence of a future state, and the immortality of the soul, and worshipped God only to secure his favor in the present world.

The Sadducees, in point of members, fell much short of the Pharisees ; but they embraced most of the men of rank and wealth. The system which they adopted was eminently suited to the licentious life which they universally followed. They adopted the

INTRODUCTION. 15

maxim, " Let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we die." In their opposition to the Son of God, they appear to have been equally bitter with the Pharisees. Some of the latter were converted to the faith of the Gospel, but not a single Sadducee is mentioned in the New Testament, as having become a follower of Christ.

9. A third sect were the Essenes, who took their rise about 200 years B. C. They derived their name from the Syriac verb Asa, to heal; because they applied themselves to the cure of diseases, especially the diseases of the mind. They appear to have been an order of monks, who lived secluded from the world, and practised great austerity.

The Essenes, though they were considerably numerous, are not mentioned in the New Testament, for the reason, probably, that they lived chiefly in retirement. In doctrine they agreed with the Pharisees, except as to the resurrection of the body, which they denied. They pretended to have great respect for the moral law ; but neglected the ceremonial institutions of Moses.

In their religious practices they observed a rigid austerity. They renounced marriage ; held riches in contempt ; maintained a perfect community of goods ; rejected ornaments ; and cultivated great indifference to bodily pain. In the observance of the Sabbath, they were more strict than any other sect, and in their manner of life were more quiet and contemplative.

10. A fourth sect were the Herodians, who took their name from Herod the Great, and favored that monarch, in his efforts to bring- the Jews into subjection to the Roman power.

A principal article in the religious code of this sect appears to have been, that it was lawful for the Jews to adopt the idolatrous customs of the heathen^ when required to do so by those in power, and also to pay tribute to him, whom conquest had made their master.

The Sadducees, generally, were Herodians ; the Pharisees, on the contrary, were their bitter opposers. All, however, united in hostility to the Son of God, and to that system of truth which he promulgated.

11. Besides these sects, various other classes of men are mentioned, as existing at that time among the Jews, of whom we shall mention only the Scribes, Rabbis, and Nazarites.

The Scribes were a class of men, originally employed to record the affairs of the king. At a later period, they transcribed the Scriptures, and expounded the law and traditions of the elders in the schools and synagogues, and before the Sanhedrin, or great Jewish council. Besides this name, they are frequently called, in the New Testament, lawyers, doctors of law, elders, counsellors, rulers, and those who sat in Moses' seat.

Rabbi, or Master, was a title given to men of rank in the state ; but especially to such Jewish doctors as were distinguished for their learning. This honor was greatly coveted, since it was connected with no small influence over the faith and practice of the people. The title, however, was disapproved of by Christ, who warned his disciples to receive no such distinction in the Church of God.

The Nazarites were those who made a vow to observe a more than ordinary degree of purity, either for life, or for a limited time. During their vow, they abstained from wine, and all intoxicating liquors ; they suffered their hair to grow without cutting, and were not permitted to attend a funeral, or to enter a house defiled by a dead body. Upon the expiration of their vow, they shaved their hair at the door of the tabernacle, and burnt it on the altar.

12. The government of Judea was at this time, as it had been for several years, in the hands of Herod the Great, who held it under the emperor of Rome. Herod was a monster of cruelty, who despised both the Jewish religion and their laws, and appeared to delight in the oppression and degradation of that ancient and once honored nation.

16 INTRODUCTION.

His death occurred the year following the birth of the Savior, having reigned thirty-seven years.

The reign of Herod, who, to distinguish him from others of the same name, is usually called the Great, was remarkable for singular domestic calamities, the result of his own ungovernable temper. Urged by suspicion, he put to death his beloved wife, her mother, brother, grandfather, uncles and two sons. His palace was the scene of incessant intrigue, misery, and bloodshed ; his nearest relations being ever the chief instruments of his worst sufferings and pains. The effects produced upon the mind of Herod by the murder of Mariamne, his wife, was thus powerfully described by Milman : " All the fl passions, which filled the stormy soul of Herod, were alike without bound : from violent love and violent resentment, he sank into as violent remorse and despair. Every where by day he was haunted by the image of his murdered Mariamne ; he called upon her name ; he perpetually burst into passionate tears. In vain he tried every diversion — banquets, revels, the excitements of society. A sudden pestilence broke out, to which many of the noblest of his court, and of his own personal friends, fell a sacrifice ; he recognised and trembled beneath the avenging hand of God."

The late Lord Byron, in his Hebrew Melodies, thus beautifully describes Herod's lament over his wife :

I. " Oh, Mariamne ! now for thee

The heart for which thou bled'st is bleeding; Revenge is lost in agony,

And wild remorse to rage succeeding j Oh, Mariamne ! where art thou ?

Thou canst hear my bitter pleading ; Ah, couldst thou — thou wouldst pardon now, Though Heaven were to my prayer unheeding.

II. u And is she dead? — and did they dare

Obey my frenzy's jealous raving?

My wrath but doomed my own despair :

The sword that smote her 's o'er me waving — But thou art cold, my murdered love !

And this dark heart is vainly craving For her who soars alone, above, And leaves my soul unworthy saving.