CHAPTER SEVENTEEN.
THE MEETING.
As Jovinian and his attendant proceeded over the rugged paths, theynaturally looked out somewhat anxiously to reaching their journey's endin safety.
For several days they were compelled to put up at the huts of themountaineers, and twice to seek shelter in caverns which it was evidenthad been used by other wayfarers. They were now travelling over some ofthe Cottian Alps. Here the mountains, broken by precipices, amid whichthey had to wind their way, rose on every side--the rocky bulwarks ofthose secluded valleys towards which they were directing their course.Here crag rose above crag, enormous masses of rock extending into theglens beneath--abysses of a depth which the eye could not penetrate.Innumerable springs of water gushed forth from the rocks, some unitingand forming torrents, which dashed foaming downwards into the hollowsbelow. At length, surmounting a lofty ridge, they looked down upon avalley which presented scenery of the most beautiful description. Socompletely encircled was it by a rocky chain of mountains, that itappeared as if no rough winds could ever disturb its tranquillity.Sparkling fountains, issuing from the sides of the hills, made their waytowards a bright stream which flowed at the bottom of the valley,irrigating the land in its course. The declivities were clothed withtrees of every description, among which were numbers bearing fruit--themulberry, the chestnut, the cherry, the walnut, and others. Cottagescould be seen scattered about in every direction, showing that thisfavoured spot was thickly inhabited.
Here and there were dwellings of greater pretensions, which peeped forthfrom amid the groves. One edifice specially struck Jovinian: it had theform of a basilica such as those lately erected in Rome, and he had nodoubt that it was used for Christian worship. No heathen temples wereanywhere seen, although here and there a mass of ruins might have markedthe spot where the shrine of an idol had stood. Jovinian's heart beatmore joyously than it had done for a long time. One of thoseresidences, he was certain, must be the abode of Severus. Many monthshad passed since he last had heard from him, and a still longer periodsince he had been able to despatch a letter to his friend. Jovinian,therefore, was not expected; but his arrival would, he hoped, causepleasure as well as surprise. The travellers, therefore, did not spendmany moments in contemplating the enchanting scenery spread out beforethem, but, urging on their steeds, descended by a narrow pathway,leading from the heights they had gained through a deep gorge, which hadto be passed before the valley could be entered. From the first peasantthey met they inquired the way to the house of Severus.
"It is hard by the basilica which he has had erected for us," was theanswer; "and if Christians, as I know you to be, you will be welcomed asbrethren, for so every one is received who comes in that character tohis door."
Already the shadows of the mountains were extending over the valley.They drew near a villa of elegant form, although not of costlymaterials; and Jovinian observed Severus walking to and fro on theterrace before the entrance. Throwing himself from his horse, Jovinianadvanced towards his friend, who immediately recognised him, although hehad grown into manhood since their separation.
Hurrying forward, Severus embraced him warmly. "We did not doubt yourfaithfulness, but we feared some accident had happened to you, since noletter has reached us for a year or more," said Severus. "You willrejoice the hearts of my wife and child, who have been most anxiousabout you."
Jovinian was soon in the presence of Eugenia and Julia--the latterblushing as she received his affectionate greeting.
"I have never had cause to regret coming here instead of remaining atRome," said Severus. "Although I hold that we are bound to bravelyfight the good fight of faith against the world, the flesh, and thedevil--being in the world, yet not of it--I should have proved of farless benefit to my fellow-creatures in Rome than, by God's grace, I havebeen able to be here by faithfully preaching the pure Gospel,instructing the children, and advancing at the same time the temporalinterests of the community. I have not confined myself to this valleyalone, but have visited many others surrounding it. It is withgratitude to our Heavenly Father I am able to say that not a heathentemple remains within them, and that the people have mostly, if notaltogether, abandoned all their idolatrous practices and superstitions;but still there is much work to be done, as there ever will be while theprince of this world has power over the children of men; and to thatwork, I trust, my beloved son, you will, from henceforth, devoteyourself." Such was Jovinian's earnest desire.
It was with no small pleasure that he again met Eros, who greeted himwith warm affection. The once ignorant slave had become the trustedoverseer of Severus' property, and at the same time an active promoterof the truth. There were two other persons of whom Jovinian wished tohear--Marcia and Coelia.
"They are both happily married, and are mothers. Marcia resides at thefurther end of this valley, and Coelia in the one beyond, where theirhusbands, greatly aided by them, minister to the spiritual wants oftheir neighbours," was the answer.
Jovinian, who visited them, could scarcely recognise in the cheerfulsmiling matrons the once unhappy vestals.
Before long Jovinian became the husband of Julia; and he found in her anactive helpmate in all his efforts for the good of the people among whomthey had cast their lot.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN.
JOVINIAN REVISITS HIS NATIVE CITY.
Years passed by; Jovinian became a deacon and presbyter of the Church ofthe valleys, and, in conjunction with other faithful men, was the meansof extending the blessings of the Gospel among the inhabitants of eventhe most remote districts. No sound of the tumults which agitated thelarger portion of the western empire penetrated to these remote valleys.The news which came from Rome was unsatisfactory. Revolts and cruelwarfare had occurred in various directions. Magnentius had assumed theimperial purple. The tide of war had extended westward, in the veryneighbourhood of the valleys of the Cottian Alps. A battle had beenfought, when, the usurper being defeated, Constantius became sole masterof the Roman empire. In the council held at Milan he obtained thebanishment of Athanasius of Alexandria, a bishop highly respected forhis orthodoxy; and Arianism was once more in the ascendency.Christianity, by the accounts received, appeared to be spreading atRome, but so corrupted by idolatry that in many respects it couldscarcely be distinguished from the old faith. At length Julian becamemaster of the Roman empire, and, for a short time, the heathen systemwas declared to be the religion of the state.
Many at Rome, and elsewhere, who had been supposed Christians, nowopenly resumed their idolatrous practices, proving the real character oftheir faith.
By the death of Julian--who was shortly after succeeded by Valentinian--Christianity once more obtained the support of a sovereign.
For many years Jovinian and Julia enjoyed uninterrupted happiness, andwere blessed with a numerous family.
At length Severus and Eugenia, both advanced in years, were taken fromthem, their places being well filled by their daughter and her husband.Although contented with his lot, and knowing that he was of use in theposition he filled, Jovinian had for long desired to re-visit Rome, andascertain for himself the state of affairs in regard to the Church inthat city. He hoped that he should find some faithful men with whom hecould hold brotherly intercourse, and that he might return to the homeof his adoption with fresh strength and knowledge. He had now a son whowould be able to perform the duties he had taken upon himself; and Juliaso ably ruled his household that he could leave his home for a periodwithout detriment. Although she naturally felt some anxiety at thethoughts of his performing so long a journey, she did not attempt toalter his resolution, believing that he would thereby benefit those hewas about to visit, and gain for himself spiritual strength.
Instead of travelling by land--the fatigues of which he was less able toendure than he had been on his former journey northward--he decided onproceeding to the nearest port at which he could embark. Even then hehad many fatigues to endure, a mountainous region to traverse, andtorrents to
pass over. Under the providence of God, however, the portwas reached in safety. He found a vessel on the point of sailing forOstia, and, after a rapid passage, he landed at that town.
He had reason to mourn the changes he everywhere witnessed. The formerbishop had long been dead, and his successor seemed bent on gainingproselytes by every possible means.
There were several new Christian churches; but as Jovinian entered themhe saw people prostrating themselves before figures closely resemblingthe heathen gods. A few persons seemed somewhat dissatisfied with thestate of things; but in the whole place he found nobody to whom he couldspeak openly as to a brother.
His stay, therefore, was short; and engaging a vehicle, he hastened onto Rome, by the same road he had taken when compelled to return by hisuncle Gaius. On approaching the sanctuary of Mars, the driver, whoprofessed to be a Christian, informed him that it had been takenpossession of by a body of holy recluses. On getting near the gate, aman was seen rushing with frantic speed, a sword dripping gore in hishand, as if he were flying from the avengers of blood. As the murdererneared the gate, it was thrown open; and springing in, he was receivedby several men in long coarse garments, and at once the door was closed.When the officers of the law arrived, they were refused admission. "Weclaim the ancient privileges of the place," cried the monks. Theofficers, not venturing to dispute the point, returned to the city.
"What will the recluses do with the murderer?" asked Jovinian of thedriver.
"He will become one of them," was the answer. "Several of their numberhave been guilty of like crimes, and have thus escaped from justice!"
From what Jovinian had witnessed at Ostia, he was somewhat prepared forthe scene which Rome presented as he drove through the streets.Christian basilicas--some of considerable magnificence--rose in everydirection; but a large number of heathen temples remained, a few onlyhaving been pulled down to afford sites or materials for thebefore-mentioned edifices. Many temples were, however, closed, whileothers had been slightly altered to fit them for the Christian worship.At the corners of the streets were shrines, as in days of yore. Theyone and all contained female statues, which the driver told Jovinianwere those of the mother of God. In the arms of several of the statueswas an infant, who, his loquacious guide informed him, was "Jesus," herson. Jovinian recognised the figures as those of the Babylonian Astarteand her son Horos: she, under the name of Isis, had long been worshippedin Rome.
Amulius had gone to be with the Lord whom he served on earth; but he hadleft a son, Prudentius, who had inherited his property, and had invitedJovinian to take up his abode with him should he ever visit Rome.
Prudentius--who had been a mere boy when he had last seen Jovinian--remembered him with affection, and warmly greeted him on his arrival.He had a numerous family, whom he had brought up in the simple faith ofthe Gospel; but he expressed his anxiety lest they should be led away bythe corruptions which everywhere prevailed.
"By my father's wish I refrained from entering the ministry, and havepractised the law instead," observed Prudentius. "It was his opinionthat I should thus be far more free to advocate the truth,--for, had Ibecome a deacon or presbyter, I should have been under the orders ofsuperiors who were too likely to support the errors long creeping inamong us."
"I had heard that the inhabitants of Rome had become almost universallyChristians," said Jovinian.
"Alas, alas! they are so only nominally," answered his friend."Paganism in a modified form prevails as of yore. The more abominablerites, it is true, have been suppressed; but although the people havebeen taught no longer to trust in the heathen gods, they have retainedtheir superstitions and the larger portion of their former customs. Theaim of the bishops and other leaders in the Church has been toamalgamate the two systems, so as to induce the pagans to more readilyafford them their support.
"Recently multitudes have been added to the Church; but, as you willhave an opportunity of judging, the number of faithful men among us isfew indeed. Our present bishop is, it is said, very ill; and, should hedie, we have reason to fear no improvement will take place under hissuccessor.
"The Arians are still numerous at Rome, and will make an effort to havea bishop of their own profession elected. Damasus, a presbyter, who haslately appeared among us, is said to have been educated among therecluses of Mount Carmel, in the East,--a college which I have amplereason to believe supports the Babylonian worship so prevalent in allparts. He has been received here by a powerful party, of whom I haveever had the greatest mistrust, as I have observed that they are amongthe chief promoters of the worship of the Virgin Mary, which is sorapidly gaining ground in the city. These men belong to what is knownas the `Holy College,' and are the successors of the heathen pontiffs,by whom, after the latter had become Christians, they were successivelyelected. They exercise almost as much influence among the Christianpopulation as their predecessors did among the heathen."
Jovinian recollected the plans he had heard discussed by Coecus, and sawtoo clearly how successfully they had been carried out.
On inquiring of his friend for information about the last days of hisuncle, who had long been dead, Prudentius replied, "Yes: hearing he wasill, my father, being a relative, went to visit him, and afford him thelast consolation of religion; but Gaius made no sign, and, turning hisface to the wall, so died."
"The pontiff Coecus: what ending did he make?" asked Jovinian.
"He lived to a great age, and, when Julian attempted to overthrow theChristian Church, he openly advocated the restoration of the heathentemples; but, finding that his plans were unsuccessful, he took poisonand so died, and went to his place," answered Prudentius.
"But the harm he has done lived after him," observed Jovinian; and hethen recounted to his friend the knowledge he had gained of the plans ofthe pontiffs for the destruction of religion.
Many days passed by; and the more Jovinian saw of the state of things inRome, the more convinced he was that those plans had been fearfullysuccessful.
The Bishop, Liberius, was declining rapidly, and great excitementprevailed among those who would take part in the election of hissuccessor. A fresh candidate had appeared, in the person of Ursinus--aman of considerable influence in Rome, who had lately become a deacon,but who was in no way distinguished for his Christian virtues.
Jovinian and Prudentius had together been visiting some of the churches,and were returning with heavy hearts at what they saw, when they metJuventius, the city prefect.
"The Bishop Liberius can live but a few hours longer," observed theprefect. "I feel greatly anxious as to what may happen. Armed men arecollecting from all quarters, and repairing, some to the residence ofDamasus and others to that of Ursinus; and I much fear that the rivalfactions will resort to force instead of waiting the result of a legalelection."
"Can these men believe themselves to be ministers of our holy Religion,followers of Him who exhorted His disciples to love one another, torefrain from violence, and do all the good they can to theirfellow-creatures?" exclaimed Prudentius. "Alas, alas! how do theydiffer from those who in the early ages gained the love and respect evenof the heathen!"
As they were speaking, a man rushed past them, crying as he ran, "Thebishop is dead! the bishop is dead!"
"Then I must summon my guards to preserve order," observed Juventius,hurrying off.
"Can the prefect possibly fear that those who are desirous of becomingthe leaders of Christ's flock should resort to force of arms?" exclaimedJovinian.
"He has observed what has been taking place in the city for some dayspast, since the illness of Liberius became known, and he considers thetemporal value of the post the candidates are seeking," answeredPrudentius. "If we wish to avoid the risk of getting entangled amongthe mob, it would be wise to return home."
The two friends were at this time at a considerable distance from thehouse of Prudentius. They accordingly bent their steps as he advised.They were approaching the Basilica Sicininus, when they saw advancingtow
ards it a large body of armed men, headed by a person whom Prudentiusrecognised as Ursinus, one of the candidates for the vacant bishopric.This basilica being the principal church, it was considered that theparty which held it would have the best chance of success. Another banddirectly afterwards came rushing along from an opposite direction,evidently with the intention of endeavouring to intercept the first.
The two friends, with the greatest difficulty, avoided being carried onwith the tumultuous throng by stepping into a deep archway which happilypresented itself. They observed, however, that the first party gainedthe threshold of the entrance to the church, and with loud shouts andshrieks took possession. The second band attempting to force a way in,being less numerous, was driven off, leaving several dead on the ground,while others were bleeding from severe wounds.
As they retreated they uttered cries of vengeance, threatening ere longto return and drive out the occupants of the sacred edifice.
Jovinian and Prudentius now again attempted to make their way homeward;but they were once more stopped by having to avoid a band led byUrsinus, who issued out of the church, leaving a strong garrison withinit. Before long they met another party of the supporters of Damasus,whom, however, they put to flight. Now reaching the abodes of some oftheir opponents, they broke into the houses, which, having thrown outthe furniture, they set on fire.
This example was quickly imitated by others of the opposite party. Thefriends had not gone far when they caught sight of Damasus himself, atthe head of a larger band than had yet appeared, supported by severalpresbyters, deacons, and other officials, while among them appeared aparty of men wearing cowls and coarse garments, who were evidently monksinvited by Damasus to assist him. Whether ecclesiastics or not, thewhole multitude carried arms, spears, swords, or daggers. They wereencountered by a band of the hitherto victorious followers of Ursinus.A fierce fight took place under the walls of the burning houses; neitherparty would give way, and many had fallen, when Juventius, the cityprefect, appeared with his guards. In vain he shouted and ordered thecombatants to desist; no one listened to him, until, rushing forward, heendeavoured to separate them.
Indignant at his interference, the leaders turned their rage towardshim, and, attacked by both parties, he was compelled to retreat. A partof the maddened mob pursued him, shouting out that as he was a civilofficer he had no business to interfere in the affairs of the Church.Finding not only that all his efforts to restore order were futile, butthat the rioters were sufficiently strong to overpower him, he, togetherwith his guards, escaped for safety into the suburbs.
The wildest disorder and confusion prevailed throughout the streets ofRome during that night.
Not without great risk to themselves had Jovinian and Prudentius beenable to reach home.
From the roof to which they mounted they could see fires blazing in alldirections, while the shrieks and cries of the enraged factions rose upfrom the streets--some near, and others in the far distance.
Whenever the followers of Ursinus met those of Damasus, they attackedeach other with the greatest fury.
During the whole night the tumult raged. In the morning bodies of deadmen were seen scattered about in all directions. Ursinus still held thebasilica, which his followers began to fortify. The party of Damasusresolved to dislodge them. For this purpose he and his supporters wereemployed the whole day in gathering together all they could induce tojoin them. Heathens, provided they came armed, were as welcome asothers. The prospect of sacking the houses of the other party affordedthem sufficient temptations. Once more did the prefect attempt torestore order; but barely escaped with his life. The voting for the tworival candidates for the bishopric had been going on,--first one party,then the other, being at the head of the poll. The rage of the rivalfactions increased when either appeared to be successful or were losingground. The tumult raged with even greater violence than on theprevious night. Now Damasus, at the head of an organised band, advancedthrough the streets towards the basilica. Ursinus himself, with a lessnumerous party, in vain attempted to reach it, in order to support itsgarrison. The doors were burst open, and the forces of Damasus rushedin. A fearful combat took place. The edifice in which prayers andhymns of praise were wont to ascend resounded with the frantic shouts ofthe combatants, with the shrieks of the wounded and the groans of thedying. For hours the fight continued to rage. Now the assailantsgained an entrance; now they were again driven out by the desperateefforts of the besieged, who believed that a general massacre would takeplace should they once be overcome.
At length so many of their number had fallen, that, bursting through thedoor opposite to that at which the chief attack was going on, they madetheir escape, pursued by their enemies. The party of Damasus, flushedwith victory, drove back the followers of Ursinus wherever they weremet; and he himself, believing that his cause was lost, retreated with afew of his ecclesiastical supporters from the city.
When morning broke he was nowhere to be found. His few followers wiselyretired to their homes; and the prefect, returning, was at length ableto restore order.
Fearful were the scenes which Rome presented, as Jovinian and Prudentiusonce more ventured forth. Smoking ruins in all directions; corpsesscattered in every street; some, where the combat had been fiercest, layin heaps, many blackened and charred by the burning houses near whichthey had fallen. Fighting had taken place in several other churchesbesides the Basilica of Sicininus, and blood stained their pavements;the bodies of many of the dead still lay where they had fallen.Prudentius proposed going on to the Basilica of Sicininus, where thefiercest struggle had taken place. On entering the church they startedback with horror. Before them lay, with distorted countenances and inattitudes showing the ferocity with which they had fought, scatteredthroughout every part of the building, the corpses of the slain. Theywere chiefly those of the defeated party, although several of theiropponents had of course fallen. On counting them, they were found tonumber one hundred and thirty-seven. The prefect had issued orders forthe interment of the dead. It had been a question whether they shouldreceive Christian burial, or be deposited together in one of thecatacombs outside the walls. But Damasus insisted that the followers ofUrsinus only should be thus buried,--"he having arranged," he said, "afitting funeral for those who had fallen as martyrs for the truth."
Prudentius, when he met the prefect, inquired whether he intended tobring Damasus and his followers to account for the tumult.
"It is more than I dare do!" he answered. "Were I to make the attempt,it would probably cause another outbreak, with equally disastrousresults. Supported by the emperor, your Christian bishop has more powerthan I have, and I must allow him full licence to promote, as he thinksbest, what he calls the interests of religion. I leave you to judge,however, whether the late events are calculated to recommend it to theminds of the heathen. The Romans may yet rue the day they consented tobe ruled by their bishops."
Damasus was declared duly elected, by the presbyters and deacons, andthe Christian population of Rome.
The following day he paraded through the streets in a handsome chariot,attended by a numerous body-guard richly clothed. In his hand hecarried the Lituus,--the long used insignia of the augurs, since knownas the bishop's crozier,--proving that he considered himself to be theirlineal successor.
Having taken up his residence in the palace of the Lateran, he gave amagnificent banquet to his chief supporters, which was said to surpassin sumptuousness those, not only of the more wealthy citizens, but ofthe emperor himself. He had become possessed of the wealth left by hispredecessor, and had reason to be sure that more would, ere long, flowinto his coffers from the piety of the matrons of Rome. In this he wasnot mistaken; eternal happiness being freely promised to all who wouldthus enrich the Church. Many pious people also devoted their wealth tothe building of basilicas, to which they claimed the right of appointingthe ministers, following the example of those who had erected heathentemples, of selecting the priests to at
tend them.
Every day Jovinian remained at Rome brought more sorrow to his heart.
There were still many heathen temples; and from the Altar of Victory--which had been restored by Julian--the smoke of sacrifices ascended. Inmany of the basilicas statues which he recognised as those of Isis, orsome other heathen goddess, now generally clothed in rich garments, heldmost prominent places. Numerous other clothed statues were placed inniches with lamps burning before them. Jovinian had no difficulty indistinguishing those which had before represented the heathen gods andgoddesses from the figures of the apostles and martyrs, also carved inwood or stone--the latter exhibiting a melancholy proof of the decadenceof art in the capital. Everywhere, indeed, he found that the plan ofCoecus had been successful. The worship of the Babylonian goddess,under her new name, prevailed throughout the city. AlthoughChristianity had not been crushed, it had been fearfully corrupted; inreality, idolatry had won the victory in the battle which it had longbeen waging with the Christian faith; no longer in Rome was the simpleGospel preached. Flowery discourses, at which the people signifiedtheir approval by loud applause, were delivered from the pulpits. TheChristian ministers now appeared in the same rich garments which hadbeen worn by the heathen priests. Relics were adored, and supposed towork miracles; prayers were offered up for the dead, and to the martyrs,as well as to her whom they called "Mary the virgin mother;" people weretaught that penances were meritorious; ascetic practices wereinculcated; the existence of purgatorial fires, as believed in by theheathen, was taught as a reality, from which the dead could beemancipated alone by the prayers of the priests; while so notorious hadbecome the efforts of the clergy to obtain wealth from the devout amongthe female sex, that an edict was published by the emperor forbiddingecclesiastics to receive any gifts, inheritance or legacy, at the handsof devout women, and the ministers were compelled, according to custom,to publish this decree from all the pulpits in the city,--thus becomingthe heralds of their own rapacious propensities.
In vain Jovinian made every effort to stem the tide of corruption. Hepreached, whenever he could obtain an opportunity, in the churches,faithfully pointing out the fearful errors into which the Christianswere falling, until every basilica was closed against him. Hecontinued, however, to preach in the houses of a few faithful men, andeven at times in the open streets; but at length--branded by the bishopas a heretic and a disturber of the public peace--he received an orderforthwith to quit the city. As his liberty, if not his life, would havebeen in danger had he ventured to disobey the order issued by thepowerful pontiff, he bade farewell to Prudentius, and turned his facenorthward.
From the tranquil valleys among which he had taken up his abode he oftenwrote to his friend, and received letters in return. In one of themPrudentius, giving way to despair, thus expressed his opinion: "By theunholy union which has been effected, idolatry has strangledChristianity in her baneful embrace [Note 1], and has sent forth insteada gaudily-dressed being, which, calling herself the True Faith, insiststhat all mankind shall fall down and worship as she dictates."
"Be not in despair, my friend," answered Jovinian. "God has promised toprotect His Church; and be assured that He will raise up faithful men incoming ages who will protest against all these corruptions, and the timewill come when the simple Gospel will be again faithfully preached, andthe practices of the apostolic age be restored even in Rome itself,where the mystery of iniquity has begun its fearful reign."
THE END.
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Note 1. Sir Isaac Newton states that before the end of the fourthcentury the idolatrous worship of the Virgin Mary had been universallyestablished, while nearly all the corrupt practices of the Church ofRome had been already commenced, although many of her dogmas were notintroduced till centuries later.
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