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The history of the popes, from the close of the middle ages : drawn ...

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372 HISTORY OF THE POPES.<br />

<strong>The</strong> abuses with which <strong>the</strong> Church had so <strong>of</strong>ten been re-<br />

proached are nei<strong>the</strong>r denied nor extenuated in <strong>the</strong> reform<br />

decrees. <strong>The</strong> very first sentence <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> first decree candidly<br />

acknowledges that ecclesiastical discipline had become greatly<br />

relaxed, and that <strong>the</strong> morality <strong>of</strong> both clergy and people was<br />

at a low ebb.^ Never<strong>the</strong>less, <strong>the</strong> fa<strong>the</strong>rs, with a holy earnest-<br />

ness and zeal, which stand out in every decree, and, so to speak,<br />

in every sentence, set <strong>the</strong>mselves to stop this depravity, and<br />

to restore <strong>the</strong> original purity in every respect. It was not<br />

enough for <strong>the</strong>m to attack merely <strong>the</strong> grossest abominations,<br />

but with a high idealism, which can only be explained by <strong>the</strong><br />

consciousness that <strong>the</strong> true Church <strong>of</strong> Christ has divine powers<br />

at her disposal, which need but to be awakened to cause every-<br />

thing to blossom forth again in all its former beauty, <strong>the</strong>y<br />

fixed <strong>the</strong>ir hopes on <strong>the</strong> highest aims. <strong>The</strong>y would lend no<br />

ear to <strong>the</strong> advice that <strong>the</strong>y should meet at least <strong>the</strong> worst<br />

excesses <strong>of</strong> a depraved clergy by allowing <strong>the</strong> marriage <strong>of</strong><br />

priests.^ <strong>The</strong>y do not shrink <strong>from</strong> reminding <strong>the</strong> worldly<br />

prelates <strong>of</strong> a precept <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> first centuries <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Church,<br />

according to which <strong>the</strong> table and household <strong>of</strong> a bishop must<br />

be simple and moderate ;^ <strong>the</strong>y lay it down as a principle<br />

that only <strong>the</strong>y should be consecrated as bishops whose lives,<br />

<strong>from</strong> boyhood to mature age, have been spent in <strong>the</strong> praiseworthy<br />

exercises <strong>of</strong> ecclesiastical duties,^ who are filled with<br />

<strong>the</strong> knowledge that <strong>the</strong>y are chosen, not for <strong>the</strong>ir own benefit,<br />

not for riches or luxury, but to work and to suffer for <strong>the</strong><br />

honour <strong>of</strong> God.^ <strong>The</strong> same requirements were also extended<br />

to <strong>the</strong> Cardinals.*<br />

<strong>The</strong> whole reform plan <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> fa<strong>the</strong>rs <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Council is built<br />

^ [Synodus] ad restituendam collapsam admodum ecclesiasticam<br />

disciplinam depravatosque in clero et populo christiano mores<br />

emendandos se accingere volens. Sess. 6, de ref, c. i.<br />

^ Cf. sess. 24, can. 9.<br />

^ Sess. 25, 2. I. In <strong>the</strong> notes that follow <strong>the</strong> reference is in<br />

each case to <strong>the</strong> decree on reform.<br />

* Sess. 6, c. I.<br />

® Sess. 25, 0. I.<br />

^ Ibid, and sess. 24, c. i.

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