they denominated heretics, merely because they would not receive their opinions as articles of faith, and bow to their authority in matters of religion.

The same writer says of the Euchites, "They are generally taxed with great crimes: but is it credible that vicious characters could do what they did, or suffer what they suffered? Why were they not punished for these crimes, and not burnt for their opinions? The truth is, they would not be governed in religion by any thing except their own convictions.' Dr. Mosheim says that The accounts which have been given of them, are not in all respects to be depended upon: and there are several circumstances which render it extremely probable, that many persons of eminent piety, and zeal for genuine christianity, were confounded by the Greeks with these enthusiasts, and ranked in the list of heretics, merely on account of their opposing the vicious practices, and the insolent tyranny of the priesthood, and their treating with derision that motley spectacle of superstition that was supported by public authority.'

For several ages the church was divided into two great parties, who violently opposed each other. The Arians and Trinitarians. These alternately persecuted and were persecuted..

The doctrines of each were alternately deemed the true faith and heresy; but the trinitarian party ultimately prevailed, and the Arians became the heretics of ecclesiastical history. It should however be remembered that had arianism finally triumphed, and been permanently adopted by the hierarchial church, the case would have been reversed, the Arians would have been the true believers, and the Trinitarians the heretics. Arius and Athanasius seem both to have been men of learning, piety and

zeal; but their want of moderation and christi an charity much disturbed the peace of the church, and did great injury to religion. The character of the former has no doubt been blackened by his successful enemies, and we have no accounts of him but what have passed through their hands: his doctrines they would be likely to misrepresent after they had destroyed his writings. Had it not been for the support trinitarianism derived from the patronage of successive emperors, and its advancing under the banners of the victorious armies of Justinian, by which the supporters of arianism were crushed, it is possible Arius might have been the reputed saint, and Athanasius the reputed heretic, to this day. It ought never to be forgotten that to worldly power reputed orthodoxy

was indebted for the pre-eminence it attained in the world.

Paul of Samosata was bishop of the church at Antioch, in the third century. He was an eloquent and popular preacher. His popularity probably excited envy. Incapable of proving

him guilty of any crime, some of the neighbouring bishops, because his opinions did not happen to coincide with their own, accused him of heresy, and, by calling in the assistance of a pagan emperor, obtained his removal from the house in which he taught the people christianity. They had not the power of burning him. The manner in which he addressed one of his opponents, Dionysius of Alexandria, shows that he was influenced by the spirit of the gospel. He said, You call me crooked serpent, This does not affect me. I honor you for your age, and for your sufferings for Christ: and every body esteems you for your wisdom and prudence. Do not complain of my obscurity. I will tell you what I mean in the language of scripture without any mixture of my own.' Pelagius, a native of Great Britain, flourished early in the fifth century. His adversaries acknowledged that he lived devoutly from his youth, that he was a man of acute wit, great eloquence, and well esteemed by many for his

piety. He is said to have maintained That man by the exertion of his free will, and his own natural powers alone, is capable of working out his own salvation; that grace is given in proportion to the desire of attaining it; that man is not guilty of the sin of Adam, but that guilt and virtue are merely personal, and that children who die before baptism are not in a state of damnation.' For asserting these opinions be was charged with heresy, anathematized, and by a solemn edict banished Rome.

In those days men were charged with heresy on the most trivial grounds. The least deviation from the established creeds, the slightest opposition to the reigning bishops, constituted a man a heretic, and exposed him to the anathemas of the church. An instance or two of this shall be stated.

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The Semipelagians, according to Dr. Dupin, maintained That man by the mere force of na ture might desire to do good, and that God seconded that good will by his assistance, which depended upon liberty and was given to all men.' For this innocent and rational opinion they were denominated heretics.

Nestorius, bishop of Constantinople, maintained that the Virgin Mary ought not to be called the mother of God, He had many fol

lowers. A number of the clergy adopted the same opinion. For this opinion, which all protestants admit to be true, after synods and councils had met to deliberate, and much bustle and intrigue, Nestorius was condemned and his doctrine anathematized. Thus merely for an opinion, which one would think common sense would lead every man to approve, i. e. that God Almighty was not the son of a woman, the good man was degraded from his office as a bishop, and, with his adherents, placed in the list of heretics.

In the seventh century a council was held at Rome, by Pope Martin I. against what were called Monothelites, i. e. those who taught there was but one will in Jesus Christ. After repeated meetings the council determined in favor of two wills in the one person of Christ, and anathematized a number of bishops for asserting the contrary, with all who then were, or hereafter should be, of that opinion.

These few specimens are sufficient to show on what slight grounds men have been banded with the name of heretics: and they are sad proofs of the ignorance, arrogance, presumption and unchristian spirit which pervaded the church in former times. Happy would it be if every vestige of such antichristian spirit and