罗马帝国消亡史经典英文版 (111).docxVIP

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经典英文巨著、宝贵学习参考资料

经典英文巨著、宝贵学习参考资料

PartIV.

I.Bothinhisnativeandhisepiscopalprovince,theheresyoftheunfortunateNestoriuswasspeedilyobliterated.TheOrientalbishops,whoatEphesushadresistedtohisfacethearroganceofCyril,weremollifiedbyhistardyconcessions.Thesameprelates,ortheirsuccessors,subscribed,notwithoutamurmur,thedecreesofChalcedon;thepoweroftheMonophysitesreconciledthemwiththeCatholicsintheconformityofpassion,ofinterest,and,insensibly,ofbelief;andtheirlastreluctantsighwasbreathedinthedefenceofthethreechapters.Theirdissentingbrethren,lessmoderate,ormoresincere,werecrushedbythepenallaws;and,asearlyasthereignofJustinian,itbecamedifficulttofindachurchofNestorianswithinthelimitsoftheRomanempire.Beyondthoselimitstheyhaddiscoveredanewworld,inwhichtheymighthopeforliberty,andaspiretoconquest.InPersia,notwithstandingtheresistanceoftheMagi,Christianityhadstruckadeeproot,andthenationsoftheEastreposedunderitssalutaryshade.Thecatholic,orprimate,residedinthecapital:inhissynods,andintheirdioceses,hismetropolitans,bishops,andclergy,representedthepompandorderofaregularhierarchy:theyrejoicedintheincreaseofproselytes,whowereconvertedfromtheZendavestatothegospel,fromtheseculartothemonasticlife;andtheirzealwasstimulatedbythepresenceofanartfulandformidableenemy.ThePersianchurchhadbeenfoundedbythemissionariesofSyria;andtheirlanguage,discipline,anddoctrine,werecloselyinterwovenwithitsoriginalframe.Thecatholicswereelectedandordainedbytheirownsuffragans;buttheirfilialdependenceonthepatriarchsofAntiochisattestedbythecanonsoftheOrientalchurch.^113InthePersianschoolofEdessa,^114therisinggenerationsofthefaithfulimbibedtheirtheologicalidiom:theystudiedintheSyriacversionthetenthousan