over their pastors; he governed and ordered the temporal affairs of the common church; he appointed and displaced teachers in the south and in the east, and sent to the far northern Britain the Abbot Augustine (in the year 596), with various other pious men, to impart to its people the gracious gifts of the gospel.[1] All the teachers and members of Christianity looked up to him as to the supreme teacher and priest, as to the temporal head of the church. His views however of his dignity and rank, as the Roman bishop and father (Papa) were very unlike those which I heard expressed by his latest successor. But I will let Neander speak on this subject according to the documents which he—but not I—had studied:
“Gregory was animated by the conviction that, as the successor of the Apostle Peter, the care of the whole church, the Greek Church also included,—as well as its highest guidance—had devolved upon him. But, although he permitted to the Roman Church the dignity of supreme judge, over all the other churches, he was nevertheless far from wishing to disallow or infringe the independent dignity of the others. When
- ↑ One day, while Gregory was merely Abbot in a monastery of Rome, as he was walking amongst the people who bought and sold on one of the markets of the city, his attention was drawn to some youths of noble appearance who were offered there for slaves. He inquired to what people they belonged, and learned with great sorrow that this people so distinguished by nature, were as yet wholly destitute of the higher gifts of grace. Afterwards, when bishop of Rome, Gregory purchased the freedom of all Anglo-Saxon youths, had them instructed in Christianity, and never rested until he made the whole of their nation participators in its life and doctrine. Author's Note.
- Vol. II.—12
