OR THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

which seems to constitute a considerable partof Christian devotion, had not been introduced,into the temples of antiquity ; and the ears ofmonarchs were never invaded by the harshsound of popular eloquence, till the pulpits ofthe empire were filled with sacred orators, whopossessed some advantages unknown to theirprofane predecessors.® The arguments andrhetoric of the tribune were instantly opposed,with equal arms, by skilful and resolute antago-nists ; and the cause of truth and reason mightderive an accidental support from the conflictof hostile passions. The bishop, or some dis-tinguished presbyter, to whom he cautiouslydelegated the powers of preaching, harangued,without the danger of interruption or reply, asubmissive multitude, whose minds had beenprepared and subdued by the awful ceremoniesof religion. Such was the strict subordinationof the catholic church, that the same concertedsounds might issue at once from an hundredpulpits of Italy or Egypt , if they were tuned Kby the master hand of the Roman or Alexan-drian primate. The design of this institutionwas laudable, but the fruits were not always

* See Thomassin (Discipline de TEglisc, tom. ii, 1. iii, c. 83, p. 1761-1770) and Bingham (Antiquities, vol. i, 1. xiv, c. 4, p. 688 717).Preaching was considered as the most important office of the bishop jbut this function was sometimes entrusted to such presbyters as Chry-sostom and Augustin.

h Queen Elizabeth used this expression, and practised this art,whenever she wished to prepossess the minds of her people in favour ofany extraordinary measure of government. The hostile effects of thismusic were apprehended by her successor, and severely felt by his sonw When pulpit, drum ecclesiastic,” &c. See Heylin’s Life of Archbi-shop Laud, p, 152.

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