Million Book Collection - The Fishers of Men Ministries

THE THIRD AGE OF THE MARTYR CHURCH.359come down to us from God, the divine judgmentawakened our faith from a declining, and if I mayso speak an almost slumbering state; and whereaswe deserved yet more for our sins, the most mercifulLord has so moderated all, that what haspassed has seemed rather a trial of what we werethan an actual infliction. Everyone was applyinghimself to the increase of wealth, and forgettingboth what was the conduct of believers under theApostles, JL and what ought to be their conduct inevery age, they with insatiable eagerness for gaindevoted themselves to the multiplying of possessions.The priests were wanting in religious de-votedness ; the ministers in entireness of faith;there was no mercy in works, no discipline inmanners. Men wore their beards disfigured, andwomen stained their complexion with a dye. Theeyes were changed from what God made them,and a lying colour was passed upon the hair. Thehearts of the simple were misled by treacherousartifices, and brethren became entangled in seductivesnares; ties of marriage were formed withunbelievers; members of Christ abandoned to theheathen. Not only rash swearing was heard, buteven false; persons in high place were swollenwith contemptuousness ; poisoned reproaches fellfrom their mouths; and men were sunderedunabating quarrels. Numerous bishops, who oughtto be an encouragement and example to others,despising their sacred calling, engaged themselves