AN ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY, ANCIENT AND MODERN, FROM THE BIRTH OF CHRIST, TO THE BEGINNING OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. VOL. III. THE RISE, PROGRESS, AND VARIATIONS OF CHURCH POWER ARE CON- AND PHILOSOPHY, AND THE POLITICAL HISTORY OF PRINTED FOR W. BAYNES AND son, 23, and R. baynes, 28, PATERNOSTER-ROW. 1825. Concerning the Prosperous Events which hap pened to the Church during this Century. XII. PART I. Several of received the I. A CONSIDERABLE part of Europe lay yet in- CENT. volved in pagan darkness, which reigned more especially in the northern provinces. It was, therefore, in these regions of gloomy superstition, that the zeal of the missionaries was principally thenorthern exerted in this century; though their efforts provinces were not all equally successful, nor the methods light of the they employed for the propagation of the gospel gospel. equally prudent. Boleslaus, duke of Poland, having conquered the Pomeranians, offered them peace upon condition that they would receive the Christian doctors, and permit them to exercise their ministry in that vanquished province. This condition was accepted, and Otho, bishop of Bamberg, a man of eminent piety and zeal, was sent, in the year 1124, to inculcate and explain the doctrines of Christianity, among that superstitious and barbarous people. Many were converted to the faith by his ministry, while great VOL. III. B |