PERIOD FIRST. Early Christian Monasticism (Forma tive Period). PERIOD SECOND. From Saint Benedict, the Lawgiver (429), until the founding of the first great order of Beggar Monks (1210). PERIOD THIRD. History of the Beggar Monks until the Reformation (1517). PERIOD FOURTH. time. From the Reformation until our A chapter will be added on the Monastic Institutions of the United States of America. The influence of the monks upon letters during the Middle and Dark Ages, the assistance rendered by them to the Popes in establishing the papal power, and the part played by them in the Reformation, are subjects to each of which a chapter would be devoted. BRIGHTON, Mass., March, 1870. THE AUTHOR. CONTENTS. The spirit of asceticism founded in human nature, and hence legitimate. Its grounds. Two kinds of asceti- cism. I. NEGATIVE. Three conclusions drawn from the conscious inability of man to attain to perfect good- ness. The historical development of this principle, and its close connection with the belief in a personal devil. The three great manifestations of the monastic spirit: First, Celibacy. The high estimate in which this state is held in the Roman Catholic church, due to the system of Oriental dualism incorporated into her theology; tes- timony of the Catholic fathers in its favor: was it sanc- tioned by Jesus? Second, Poverty. How it expresses the monastic spirit; monkish garbs an evidence of vanity. Third, Obedience. Danger to the State from monkish vows; opposed to the spirit of Christianity. II. POSITIVE. Danger of self-contemplation; its self- ishness; limitation; a moderate indulgence in self-ex- is the oldest civilization? The Chinese. The Cushites. Great antiquity of monasticism; as old as religion; Two sources of information, — monumental and biblical; The testimony of the former; the Sacred Books of the An- cients examined. Chaldea. The Nabatean Agriculture. Azada (about 4500 B.C.), the first great monk. India. The Vedas; The Law of Manu examined; Its monkish character; Gotama Buddha; Examination of the monk- ish code called the Winaya Pitaka. Persia. The Zend-Avesta. China. The Chou-King; Confucius a monk. Greece. The Order founded by Pythagoras; the Pagan Jesuits; Monasticism as it exists to-day in CHAPTER III. JEWISH MONKS. Elijah; John the Baptist. The Essenes. Sources from PAGE 109 |