Beacon Lights of History, Volume 04: Imperial Antiquity

Part 1

LORD'S LECTURES

BEACON LIGHTS OF HISTORY, VOLUME IV

IMPERIAL ANTIQUITY.

BY JOHN LORD, LL.D.,

AUTHOR OF "THE OLD ROMAN WORLD," "MODERN EUROPE," ETC., ETC.

CONTENTS

CYRUS THE GREAT.

ASIATIC SUPREMACY.

The Persian Empire Persia Proper Origin of the Persians The Religion of the Iranians Persian Civilization Persian rulers Youth and education of Cyrus Political Union of Persia and Media The Median Empire Early Conquests of Cyrus The Lydian Empire Croesus, King of Lydia War between Croesus and Cyrus Fate of Croesus Conquest of the Ionian Cities Conquest of Babylon Assyria and Babylonia Subsequent conquests of Cyrus His kindness to the Jews Character of Cyrus Cambyses; Darius Hystaspes Xerxes Fall of the Persian Empire Authorities

JULIUS CAESAR.

IMPERIALISM.

Caesar an instrument of Providence His family and person Early manhood; marriage; profession; ambition Curule magistrates; the Roman Senate Only rich men who control elections ordinarily elected Venality of the people Caesar borrows money to bribe the people Elected Quaestor Gains a seat in the Senate Second marriage, with a cousin of Pompey Caesar made Pontifex Maximus; elected Praetor Sent to Spain; military services in Spain Elected Consul; his reforms; Leges Juliae Opposition of the Aristocracy Assigned to the province of Gaul His victories over the Gauls and Germans Character of the races he subdued Amazing difficulties of his campaigns Reluctance of the Senate to give him the customary honor Jealousy of the nobles; hostility between them and Caesar The Aristocracy unfit to govern; their habits and manners They call Pompey to their aid Neither Pompey nor Caesar will disband his forces; Caesar recalled Caesar marches on Home; crosses the Rubicon Ultimate ends of Caesar; the civil war Pompey's incapacity and indecision; flies to Brundusi Caesar defeats Pompey's generals in Spain Dictatorship of Caesar Battle of Pharsalia Death of Pompey in Egypt Battles of Thapsus and of Munda They result in Caesar's supremacy His services as Emperor His habits and character His assassination,--its consequences Causes of Imperialism,--its supposed necessity when Caesar arose; public rebuke of Caesar by Cicero An historical puzzle Authorities

MARCUS AURELIUS.

THE GLORY OF ROME.

Remarkable character of Marcus Aurelius His parentage and education Adopted by Antoninus Pius Subdues the barbarians of Germany Consequences of the German Wars Mistakes of Marcus Aurelius; Commodus Persecutions of the Christians The "Meditations,"--their sublime Stoicism Epictetus,--the influence of his writings Style and value of the "Meditations" Necessities of the Empire Its prosperity under the Antonines; external glories Its internal weakness; seeds of ruin Gibbon controverted by Marcus Aurelius Authorities

CONSTANTINE THE GREAT.

CHRISTIANITY ENTHRONED.

Constantine and Diocletian Influence of martyrdoms Influence of Asceticism,--its fierce protest Rise of Constantine His civil wars for the supremacy of the Roman world The rival Emperors and their fate: Maximinian, Galerius, Maxentius, Maximin, Licinius Constantine sole Emperor over the West and East Foundation of Constantinople,--its great advantage The pomp and ceremony of the imperial Court Crimes of Constantine; his virtues Conversion of Constantine His Christian legislation; edict of Toleration Patronage of the Clergy; union of Church and State Council of Nice Theological discussion Doctrine of the Trinity Athanasius and Arius The Nicene Creed Effect of philosophical discussions on theological truths Constantine's work; the uniting of Church with State Death of Constantine His character and services Authorities

PAULA.

WOMAN AS FRIEND.

Female friendship Paganism unfavorable to friendship Character of Jewish women Great Pagan women Paula, her early life Her conversion to Christianity Her asceticism Asceticism the result of circumstances Virtues of Paula Her illustrious friends Saint Jerome and his great attainments His friendship with Paula His social influence at Rome His treatment of women Vanity of mere worldly friendship ^Esthetic mission of woman Elements of permanent friendship Necessity of social equality Illustrious friendships Congenial tastes in friendship Necessity of Christian graces Sympathy as radiating from the Cross Necessity of some common end in friendship The extension of monastic life Virtues of early monastic life Paula and Jerome seek its retreats Their residence in Palestine Their travels in the East Their illustrious visitors Peculiarities of their friendship Death of Paula Her character and fame Elevation of woman by friendship

CHRYSOSTOM.

SACRED ELOQUENCE.

The power of the Pulpit Eloquence always a power The superiority of the Christian themes to those of Pagan antiquity Sadness of the great Pagan orators Cheerfulness of the Christian preachers Chrysostom Education Society of the times Chrysostom's conversion, and life in retirement Life at Antioch Characteristics of his eloquence; his popularity as orator His influence Shelters Antioch from the wrath of Theodosius Power and responsibility of the clergy Transferred to Constantinople, as Patriarch of the East His sermons, and their effect at Court Quarrel with Eutropius Envy of Theophilus of Alexandria Council of the Oaks; condemnation to exile Sustained by the people; recalled Wrath of the Empress Exile of Chrysostom His literary labors in exile His more remote exile, and death His fame and influence Authorities

SAINT AMBROSE.

EPISCOPAL AUTHORITY.

Dignity of the Episcopal office in the early Church Growth of Episcopal authority,--its causes The See of Milan; election of Ambrose as Archbishop His early life and character; his great ability Change in his life after consecration His conservation of the Faith Persecution of the Manicheans Opposition to the Arians His enemies; Faustina Quarrel with the Empress Establishment of Spiritual Authority Opposition to Temporal Power Ambrose retires to his cathedral; Ambrosian chant Rebellion of Soldiers; triumph of Ambrose Sent as Ambassador to Maximus; his intrepidity His rebuke of Theodosius; penance of the Emperor Fidelity and ability of Ambrose as Bishop His private virtues His influence on succeeding ages Authorities

SAINT AUGUSTINE.

Part 2

CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY.

Lofty position of Augustine in the Church Parentage and birth Education and youthful follies Influence of the Manicheans on him Teacher of rhetoric Visits Rome Teaches rhetoric at Milan Influence of Ambrose on him Conversion; Christian experience Retreat to Lake Como Death of Monica his mother Return to Africa Made Bishop of Hippo; his influence as Bishop His greatness as a theologian; his vast studies Contest with Manicheans,--their character and teachings Controversy with the Donatists,--their peculiarities Tracts: Unity of the Church and Religious Toleration Contest with the Pelagians: Pelagius and Celestius Principles of Pelagianism Doctrines of Augustine: Grace; Predestination; Sovereignty of God; Servitude of the Will Results of the Pelagian controversy Other writings of Augustine: "The City of God;" Soliloquies; Sermons Death and character Eulogists of Augustine His posthumous influence Authorities

THEODOSIUS THE GREAT.

LATTER DAYS OF ROME.

The mission of Theodosius General sense of security in the Roman world The Romans awake from their delusion Incursions of the Goths Battle of Adrianople; death of Valens Necessity for a great deliverer to arise; Theodosius The Goths,--their characteristics and history Elevation of Theodosius as Associate Emperor He conciliates the Goths, and permits them to settle in the Empire Revolt of Maximus against Gratian; death of Gratian Theodosius marches against Maximus and subdues him Revolt of Arbogastes,--his usurpation Victories of Theodosius over all his rivals; the Empire once more united under a single man Reforms of Theodosius; his jurisprudence Patronage of the clergy and dignity of great ecclesiastics Theodosius persecutes the Arians Extinguishes Paganism and closes the temples Cements the union of Church with State Faults and errors of Theodosius; massacre of Thessalonica Death of Theodosius Division of the Empire between his two sons Renewed incursions of the Goths,--Alaric; Stilicho Fall of Rome; Genseric and the Vandals Second sack of Rome Reflections on the Fall of the Western Empire Authorities

LEO THE GREAT.

FOUNDATION OF THE PAPACY.

Leo the Great,--founder of the Catholic Empire General aim of the Catholic Church The Church the guardian of spiritual principles Theocratic aspirations of the Popes Origin of ecclesiastical power; the early Popes Primacy of the Bishop of Rome Necessity for some higher claim after the fall of Rome Early life of Leo Elevation to the Papacy; his measures; his writings His persecution of the Manicheans Conservation of the Faith by Leo Intercession with the barbaric kings; Leo's intrepidity Desolation of Rome Designs and thoughts of Leo The jus divinum principle; state of Rome when this principle was advocated Its apparent necessity The influence of arrogant pretensions on the barbarians They are indorsed by the Emperor The government of Leo The central power of the Papacy Unity of the Church No rules of government laid down in the Scriptures Governments the result of circumstances The Papal government the need of the Middle Ages The Papacy in its best period Greatness of Leo's character and aims Fidelity of his early successors, and perversions of later Popes Authorities

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

VOLUME IV.

The Conversion of Paula by St. Jerome. After the painting by L. Alma-Tadema.

Archery Practice of a Persian King. After the painting by F.A. Bridgman.

Tomyris Plunges the Head of the Dead Cyrus into a Vessel of Blood. After the painting by A. Zick.

Julius Caesar. From the bust in the National Museum, Rome.

Surrender of Vercingetorix, the Last Chief of Gaul. After the painting by Henri Motte.

Marcus Aurelius. From a photograph of the statue at the Capitol, Rome.

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