按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
all shams； an uncompromising enemy to the blended atheism and
idolatry of his ungodly age。 He was the contemporary of political；
worldly； warlike； unscrupulous popes； disgraced by nepotism and
personal vices；men who aimed to extend not a spiritual but
temporal dominion； and who scandalized the highest position in the
Christian world； as attested by all reliable historians； whether
Catholic or Protestant。 However infallible the Catholic Church
claims to be； it has never been denied that some of her highest
dignitaries have been subject to grave reproaches； both in their
character and their influence。 Such men were Sixtus IV。； Julius
II。； and Alexander VI。；able； probably； for it is very seldom that
the popes have not been distinguished for something； but men；
nevertheless； who were a disgrace to the superb position they had
succeeded in reaching。
The great feature of that age was the revival of classical learning
and artistic triumphs in sculpture； painting； and architecture；
blended with infidel levity and social corruptions； so that it is
both interesting and hideous。 It is interesting for its triumphs
of genius； its dispersion of the shadows of the Middle Ages； the
commencement of great enterprises and of a marked refinement of
manners and tastes； it is hideous for its venalities； its murders；
its debaucheries； its unblushing wickedness； and its disgraceful
levities； when God and duty and self…restraint were alike ignored。
Cruel tyrants reigned in cities； and rapacious priests fattened on
the credulity of the people。 Think of monks itinerating to sell
perverted 〃indulgences〃； of monasteries and convents filled； not
with sublime enthusiasts as in earlier times； but with gluttons and
sensualists； living in concubinage and greedy of the very things
which primitive monasticism denounced and abhorred！ Think of boys
elevated to episcopal thrones； and the sons of popes made cardinals
and princes！ Think of churches desecrated by spectacles which were
demoralizing； and a worship of saints and images which had become
idolatrous；a degrading superstition among the people； an infidel
apathy among the higher classes： not infidel speculations； for
these were reserved for more enlightened times； but an indifference
to what is ennobling； to all vital religion； worthy of the Sophists
in the time of Socrates！
It was in this age of religious apathy and scandalous vices； yet of
awakening intelligence and artistic glories； when the greatest
enthusiasm was manifested for the revived literature and sculptured
marbles of classic Greece and Rome； that Savonarola appeared in
Florence as a reformer and preacher and statesman； near the close
of the fifteenth century； when Columbus was seeking a western
passage to India； when Michael Angelo was moulding the 〃Battle of
Hercules with the Centaurs；〃 when Ficino was teaching the
philosophy of Plato； when Alexander VI。 was making princes of his
natural children； when Bramante was making plans for a new St。
Peter's； when Cardinal Bembo was writing Latin essays； when Lorenzo
de' Medici was the flattered patron of both scholars and artists；
and the city over which he ruled with so much magnificence was the
most attractive place in Europe； next to that other city on the
banks of the Tiber； whose wonders and glories have never been
exhausted； and will probably survive the revolutions of unknown
empires。
But Savonarola was not a native of Florence。 He was born in the
year 1452 at Ferrara； belonged to a good family； and received an
expensive education； being destined to the profession of medicine。
He was a sad； solitary； pensive； but precocious young man； whose
youth was marked by an unfortunate attachment to a haughty
Florentine girl。 He did not cherish her memory and dedicate to her
a life…labor； like Dante； but became very dejected and very pious。
His piety assumed； of course； the ascetic type； for there was
scarcely any other in that age； and he entered a Dominican convent；
as Luther； a few years later； entered an Augustinian。 But he was
not an original genius； or a bold and independent thinker like
Luther； so he was not emancipated from the ideas of his age。 How
few men can go counter to prevailing ideas！ It takes a prodigious
genius； and a fearless； inquiring mind； to break away from their
bondage。 Abraham could renounce the idolatries which surrounded
him； when called by a supernatural voice； Paul could give up the
Phariseeism which reigned in the Jewish schools and synagogues；
when stricken blind by the hand of God； Luther could break away
from monastic rules and papal denunciation； when taught by the
Bible the true ground of justification；but Savonarola could not。
He pursued the path to heaven in the beaten track； after the
fashion of Jerome and Bernard and Thomas Aquinas； after the style
of the Middle Ages； and was sincere； devout； and lofty； like the
saints of the fifth century； and read his Bible as they did； and
essayed a high religious life； but he was stern； gloomy； and
austere； emaciated by fasts and self…denial。 He had； however；
those passive virtues which Mediaeval piety ever enjoined；yea；
which Christ himself preached upon the Mount； and which
Protestantism； in the arrogance of reason； is in danger of losing
sight of；humility； submission； and contempt of material gains。
He won the admiration of his superiors for his attainments and his
piety； being equally versed in Aristotle and the Holy Scriptures。
He delighted most in the Old Testament heroes and prophets； and
caught their sternness and invective。
He was not so much interested in dogmas as he was in morals。 He
had not； indeed； a turn of mind for theology； like Anselm and
Calvin； but he took a practical view of the evils of society。 At
thirty years of age he began to preach in Ferrara and Florence； but
was not very successful。 His sermons at first created but little
interest； and he sometimes preached to as few as twenty…five
people。 Probably he was too rough and vehement to suit the
fastidious ears of the most refined city in Italy。 People will not
ordinarily bear uncouthness from preachers； however gifted； until
they have earned a reputation； they prefer pretty and polished
young men with nothing but platitudes or extravagances to utter。
Savonarola seems to have been discouraged and humiliated at his
failure； and was sent to preach to the rustic villagers； amid the
mountains near Sienna。 Among these people he probably felt more at
home； and he gave vent to the fire within him and electrified all
who heard him； winning even the admiration of the celebrated Prince
of Mirandola。 From this time his fame spread rapidly； he was
recalled to Florence； 1490； and his great career commenced。 In the
following year such crowds pressed to hear him that the church of
St。 Mark； connected with the Dominican convent to which he was
attached； could not contain the people； and he repaired to the
cathedral。 And even that spacious church was filled with eager
listeners；more moved than delighted。 So great was his
popularity； that his influence correspondingly increased and he was
chosen prior of his famous convent。
He now wielded power as well as influence； and became the most
marked man of the city。 He was not only the most eloquent preacher
in Italy； probably in the world； but his eloquence was marked by
boldness； earnestness； almost fierceness。 Like an ancient prophet；
he was terrible in his denunciation of vices。 He spared no one；
and he feared no one。 He resembled Chrysostom at Constantinople；
when he denounced the vanity of Eudoxia and the venality of
Eutropius。 Lorenzo de' Medici； the absolute lord of Florence； sent
for him； and expostulated and remonstrated with the unsparing
preacher；all to no effect。 And when the usurper of his country's
liberties was dying； the preacher was again sent for； this time to
grant an absolution。 But Savonarola would grant no absolution
unless Lorenzo would restore the liberties which he and his family
had taken away。 The dying tyrant was not prepared to accede to so
haughty a demand； and； collecting his strength； rolled over on his
bed without saying a word； and the austere monk wended his way back
to his convent； unmolested and determined。
The premature death of this magnificent prince made a great
sensation throughout Italy； and produced a change in the politics
of Florence； for the people began to see their political
degradation。 The popular discontents were increased when his
successor； Pietro； proved himself incapable and tyrannical；
abandoned himself to orgies； and insulted the leading citizens by
an overwhelming pride。 Savonarola took the side of the people； and
fanned the discontents。 He became the recognized leader of
opposition to the Medici； and virtually ruled the city。
The Prior of St。 Mark now appeared in a double light；as a
political leader and as a p