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    mind , faiwiinui y ) born sensudUter ofthe Virgin Mary . " These sectarians are remarkable not only for the boldness of their tenets , but because , from the manner in which this man was questioned and answered , it would appear that they were well aware of the precise meaning of their answers , and that they had rendered themselves already remarkable *

    Under the different names of Patarfcni , Catari , Gazari , Albigesi , Valdesi , Poveri , Lombardi , Bulgari , Bagnolesi , Concorrezesi , &c ' ., &c , are to be found in Italy , as in many other parts of Europe , a constantly recurring succession of heretics , to whom ( we hardly know why , except because it was a bad name , and therefore the best to give to those who were at all events to be run down ) what is called Manichseism * has been always attributed . It

    is somewhat suspicious that amongst all these obnoxious sects a pretty active is somewnat suspicious that amongst all these obnoxious sects a pretty active -spirit of opposition to the corruptions of the church , and a simplicity , instead of a deformity or complexity , of doctrine is always to be found , whatever may have been the case as to their Manicheeism . Ecclesiastical historians are fond of telling us under how many names the obnoxious Manichees took refuge from persecution ; we should rather be inclined to suspect that it was found a convenient thing to try to fasten the obnoxious name on all those

    whose opinions were found to be troublesome . There is at least great mystery attending these sects , every where found , as it were inheriting without communication with each other , the same general principles of inquiry , independence , and simplicity . The heretics of Turin have been placed in the same herd of Manichees , we hardly know why , though it may perhaps be remarked that many of the early followers of that name held no very orthodox notions as to the divinity of Jesus Christ . St . Augustin bears testimony to bis heresy on that point while he ranked among them . f

    In the twelfth century there are many proofs of religious ferment in Italy , independently of that active opposition to the church , which was preached and enforced by Arnold of Brescia and his followers . The Lombard towns , then in the height of their glory , and burning with a spirit of liberty to which , ex ^ - cept in the history of Sparta and Athens , there is no parallel , were successfully engaged in opposing the tyranny of the Emperors of Germany , for * The Emperor Henry III ., in 1052 , hanged several heretics who were discovered to be Mauichaeans , because from their pale complexions it was judged that they did not eat animal food ; another historian says , because they would not kill chickens when desired . Sismondi , IV . 289 .

    t The words of St . Augustin are remarkable : " Tantum sentiebam de Domino Christo meo , quantum de excellentia sapientiae viro , qui nullo possit aequari Quid autem sacramenti haberet vekbum caro factum kst ne suspicari quideni poteram . Tantum cognoveram ex iis quae de illo traderentur , quia manducavit et bibit , dorniivit , auibulavit , exhilaratus est , contristatus est , sermocinatus est , non lues is se camera illam Verbo tuo ( Domine ) nisi cum anima et mente humaha , Novit hoc oinnis qui novit incommutabilitatem Verbi tui , quam ego jam noveram

    quantum poteram , nee omnino quidquam inde dubitabam . Etenfm nunc movere corpora per voluntatem , nunc non movere , nunc altyuo affectu affici , nunc non aftici , nunc prpferre per signa sapientis sentential , nunc esse in silentio , propria sunt rautabilitatis animae et mentis . Quae si falsa de illo scripta essent , etiam omnia periclitarentur mendacio , neque in illis literis ulla fidei salus generi humano remaneret . Quia vera scripta sunt , to turn hominem in Christo agnoscebam , non corpus

    tantum hominia , aut cum corpore sine - mente animum , eed ipsum hominem * . uon persona Veritatisj , sed magna quaedam naturae humau : & excellentia , et perfectioie participatione sapientise prseferri caeteris arbitrabar . " D . Augustin . Confession . \ j . vii . c . xlx . Compare with this passage the Acts of the Council of Nice , where the opinions of Anus are given .

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    30 JRMietfi . —M'Orfc ' s Italian Reformatim .

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Jan. 2, 1828, page 30, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2556/page/30/