The Two Republics Or Rome and the United States of America

/ ? THE TWO REPUBLICS ROM AND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA BY ALONZO T. JONES No past event has any intrinsic importance. The knowledge of it is valu- able only as it leads us to form just calculations with respect to the future. — MACAULAY. REVIEW AND HERALD PUBLISHING CO., BATTLE CREEK, MICH.; CHICAGO, ILL.; TORONTO, ONT.; ATI.ANTA, GA. 1891. COPYRIGHTED 1891, BY A. T. JONES. To THE COMMON PEOPLE, who heard our common Master gladly, and whose silent, practical experience "throughout the history of the Church, has always been truer and has led the Church in a safer path than have the public decrees of those who claim to be authoritative leaders of theological thought," this book is respectfully dedicated by THE AUTHOR. PREFACE. OME, in its different phases, occupies the largest place R of any national name in history. Rome, considered with reference to government, is interesting and important. Considered with reference to religion, it is yet more interesting and more important. But when considered with reference to the interrelationship of government and religion, it is most interesting and most important. It is Rome in this last phase that is the principal subject of study in this book. As in this particular Rome occupies one extreme and the United States of America the other, the latter is considered also, though the plan and limit of the book has made it necessary to give less space to this than the subject deserves. The principle of Rome in all its phases is that religion and government are inseparable. The principle of the government of the United States is that religion is essentially distinct and totally separate from civil government, and entirely exempt from its cognizance. The principle of Rome is the abject slavery of the mind ; the principle of the United States of America is the absolute freedom of the mind. As it was Christianity that first and always antagonized this governmental principle of Rome, and established the governmental principle of the United States of America, the fundamental idea, the one thread-thought of the whole book, is to develop the principles of Christianity with reference to civil government, and to portray the mischievous results of the least departure from those principles. f 5 1 CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. THE LAST DAYS OF THE REPUBLIC. Capital and labor — Electoral corruption — Anti-monopoly legislation — The distribution of the land — Senatorial corruption and State charity — Caius Gracchus is killed—The consulship of Marius— More State charity and the social war — Revolt in the East— Bloody strifes in the city—Dictatorship of Sulla — Sulla, Pompey, and Cscsar — Pompey and Crassus, consuls — Land monopoly and anti- poverty reform. 17-46 CHAPTER II. THE TWO TRIUMVIRATES. The Senate offends Caesar — Pompey, Crassus, and Caesar — The con- sulate of Caesar — Reform by law — The triumvirate dissolved — Legal government at an end — Ccesar crosses the Rubicon — Caesar dictator, demi-god, and deity — Caesar's government — The murder of Caesar -- Octavius presents himself — Plot, counterplot, and war — Octavius becomes consul — The triumvirs enter Rome — " The saviors of their country " — Antony and Cleopatra. 47-80 CHAPTER III. THE ROMAN MONARCHY. The father of the people — The accession of Tiberius — The enemy of public liberty — A furious and crushing despotism—Accession of Caligula — Caligula imitates the gods — Caligula's prodigality— The delirium of power — Claudius and his wives —Messalina's depravity — Agrippina the tigress — Roman society in general — Ultimate paganism. 81-108 [7] 8 CON7'ENTS. CHAPTER IV. THE " TEN PERSECUTIONS. " Roman law and the Jews — The persecution by Nero — Government of Domitian — Pliny and the Christians — Government of Trajan — Riotous attacks upon the Christians — Government of Commodus — Government of Septimius Severus --Government of Caracalla — Persecution by Maximin — The persecution by Decius — Chris- tianity legalized — The ten persecutions a falde. 109-136 CHAPTER V. CHRISTIANITY AND THE ROMAN EMPIRE. Freedom in Jesus Christ —Pagan idea of the State — Rights of indi- vidual conscience — Christians subject to civil authority— The limits of State jurisdiction — The Roman religion — The Roman laws — Sources of persecution -- Superstition and selfishness — The gov- ernors of provinces—State self-preservation — State religion means persecution — Christianity victorious — Christianity means rights of conscience. 137-166 CHAPTER VI. THE RISE OF CONSTANTINE. The persecution under Diocletian — The attack is begun —Afflictions of the persecutors— Rome surrenders—Six emperors at once— Roman embassies to Constantine—The Edict of Milan. 167-182 CHAPTER VII. ANCIENT SUN WORSHIP. The secret of sun worship — The rites of sun worship — Sun worship in the mysteries — Jehovah condemns sun worship — Sun worship in Judah — Sun worship destroys the kingdom— Sun worship of Au- gustus and Elagabalus — Aurelian's temple to the sun—Constantine a worshiper of the sun. 183-202 CHAPTER VIII. THE FALLING AWAY THE GREAT APOSTASY. The root of the apostasy — Heathen rites adopted —The mysteries— The forms of sun worship adopted— Rome exalts Sunday — Heathen philosophy adopted — Clement's philosophic mysticism — Origen's philosophic mysticism —Imperial aims at religious unity —Paganism and the apostasy alike—The two streams unite in Constantine. 203-226 CONTENTS. 9 CHAPTER IX. THE EXALTATION OF THE BISHOPRIC. "All ye are brethren "—A clerical aristocracy created—Bishopric of Rome asserts pre-eminence — Contentions in Rome and Carthage — The bishops usurp the place of Christ — An episcopal Punic War — The bishopric of Antioch — Disgraceful character of the bishopric. 227-244 CHAPTER X. THE RELIGION OF CONSTANTINE. His low utilitarianism — Pagan and apostate Christian — His perjury and cruelty —Many times a murderer —The true cross and Constantine — Is this paganism or Christianity ? —A murderer even in death— Little better than a pagan. 245-262 CHAPTER XI. CONSTANTINE AND THE BISHOPS. The new theocracy — The new Israel delivered — Final war with Licin- ius — Original State chaplaincies — The bishops and the emperor — Constantine sent to heaven — The mystery of iniquity. 263-278 CHAPTER XII. THE UNION OF CHURCH AND STATE. A false unity — The Catholic Church established — Which is the Catholic Church ?— Councils to decide the question — The Donatists appeal to the emperor — The State becomes partisan — Clergy exempt from public offices—Fruits of the exemption—The church of the masses — The church a mass of hypocrites. 279-300 CHAPTER XIII. THE ORIGINAL SUNDAY LEGISLATION. Israel rejects the Lord as king — The Lord would not forsake the people — The kingdom not of this world — The new and false theocracy — Constantine's Sunday law — Sunday legislation is religious only — The empire a "kingdom of God "— By authority of Pontifex Maxi- mus — Council of Nice against the Jews — Sabbath-keepers accursed from Christ — All exemption abolished — The church obtains the monopoly — Origin of the Inquisition. 301-328 10 CONTENTS. CHAPTER XIV. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CATHOLIC FAITH. The Trinitarian Controversy— Iromoousion or Homoiou8ion? — The secret of the controversy — Constantine's design — Constantine's task — The Council of Nice — Character of the bishops— Constantine's place in the council— The framing of the creed— The creed and its adoption—Their own estimate of the creed — The true estimate of the council. 329-354 CHAPTER XV. ARIANISM BECOMES ORTHODOX. Arius returned ; Athanasius banished— Athanasius is returned and again banished — Macedonius made bishop of Constantinople — General Council of Sardica — Athanasius again returned — General councils of Arles and Milan— The bishop of Rome is banished — Hosius forced to become Arian—Athanasius again removed —Liberius becomes Arian and is recalled —Double council ; Rimini and Seleucia — The emperor's creed declared heretical— The world becomes Arian. 355-382 CHAPTER XVI. THE CATHOLIC FAITH RE-ESTABLISHED. Jovian, Valentinian, and Valens—The contentions begin again—The order of the hierarchy — Gregory, bishop of Constantinople—The Meletian schism — The Council of Constantinople —Council of Aquileia — Penalties upon heretics — The empire is "converted." . 383-402 CHAPTER XVII. MARY IS MADE THE MOTHER OF GOD. Chrysostom deposed and banished—Chrysostom recalled and again banished — A general council demanded—Cyril of Alexandria —Nes- torius of Constantinople — Cyril and Nestorious at war — The bishop of Rome joins Cyril— General Council of Ephesus— Condemnation of Nestorius— Council against council — All alike orthodox —Cyril bribes the court and wins. , . 403-42$ CONTENTS. 11 CHAPTER XVIII. THE EUTYCHIAN CONTROVERSY. The controversy begins — Eusebius in a dilemma —Forecast of the In- quisition — A general council is demanded — The second general Council of Ephesus— Eutyches is declared orthodox — The unity of the council — Peace is declared restored. 429-446 CHAPTER XIX. THE POPE MADE AUTHOR OF THE FAITH. Pretensions of the bishops of Rome — "Irrevocable" and "universal" —Leo demands another council —The general Council of Chal- cedon " A frightful storm "— Condemnation of Dioscorus — Leo's letter the test —Leo's letter approved —Leo's letter "the true faith" — Unity of the council is created — Leo's doctrine seals the creed -- The creed of Leo and Chalcedon — Royalty ratifies the creed -- The council to Leo — Imperial edicts enforce the creed — Leo " confirms" the creed — The work of the four councils. 447-482 CHAPTER XX. THE CHURCH

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