During the first three centuries there was nothing in the ordinary costume of a Christian minister to distinguish him from any of his fellow-citizens; [470:1] but, it would appear, that when the pastor officiated in the congregation, he began, at an early date, to wear some peculiar piece of apparel.  In an old document, purporting to have been written shortly after the middle of the second century, he is described, at the period of his advancement to the episcopal chair, as “clothed with the dress of the bishops.” [470:2] As the third century advanced, there was a growing disposition to increase the pomp of public worship; in some places vessels of silver or of gold were used at the dispensation of the, Lord’s Supper; [470:3] and it is highly probable that, about this time, some few decorations were assumed by those who took part in its administration.  But still the habit used by ecclesiastics at divine service was distinguished by its comparative simplicity, and differed very little from the dress commonly worn by the mass of the population.

What a change must have passed over the Church from the period before us to the dawn of the Reformation!  Now, the making of images was forbidden, and no picture was permitted to appear even on the walls of the sacred edifice:  [470:4] then, a church frequently suggested the idea of a studio, or a picture-gallery.  Now, the whole congregation joined heartily in the psalmody:  then, the mute crowd listened to the music of the organ accompanied by the shrill voices of a chorus of thoughtless boys.  Now, prayers, in the vernacular tongue and suited to the occasion, were offered with simplicity and earnestness; then, petitions, long since antiquated, were muttered in a dead language.  Now, the Word was read and expounded in a way intelligible to all:  then, a few Latin extracts from it were mumbled over hastily; and, if a sermon followed, it was, perhaps, a eulogy on some wretched fanatic, or an attack on some true evangelist.  There are writers who believe that the Church was meanwhile going on in a career of hopeful development; but facts too clearly testify that she was moving backwards in a path of cheerless declension.  Now, the Church “holding forth the Word of life” was commending herself to philosophers and statesmen:  then, she had sunk into premature dotage, and her very highest functionaries were lisping the language of infidelity.

CHAPTER II.

BAPTISM.

When the venerable Polycarp was on the eve of martyrdom, he is reported to have said that he had served Christ “eighty and six years.” [472:1] By the ancient Church these words seem to have been regarded as tantamount to a declaration of the length of his life, and as implying that he had been a disciple of the Saviour from his infancy. [472:2] The account of his martyrdom indicates that he was still in the enjoyment of a green old age, [472:3] and as very