Hitherto the principles of the _Encratites_ had been rejected by the Churches; but now being refined by the Monks, and imposed not upon all men, but only upon those who would voluntarily undertake a monastic life, they began to be admired, and to overflow first the _Greek_ Church, and then the _Latin_ also, like a torrent. _Eusebius_ tells us, [2] that _Constantine_ the great had those men in the highest veneration, who dedicated themselves wholly to the divine philosophy; and that he almost venerated the most holy company of Virgins perpetually devoted to God; being certain that the God to whom he had consecrated himself did dwell in their minds. In his time and that of his sons, this profession of a single life was propagated in _Egypt_ by _Antony_, and in _Syria_ by _Hilarion_; and spred so fast, that soon after the time of _Julian_ the Apostate a third part of the _Egyptians_ were got into the desarts of _Egypt_. They lived first singly in cells, then associated into _coenobia_ or convents; and at length came into towns, and filled the Churches with Bishops, Presbyters and Deacons. _Athanasius_ in his younger days poured water upon the hands of his master _Antony_; and finding the Monks faithful to him, made many of them Bishops and Presbyters in _Egypt_: and these Bishops erected new Monasteries, out of which they chose Presbyters of their own cities, and sent Bishops to others. The like was done in _Syria_, the superstition being quickly propagated thither out of _Egypt_ by _Hilarion_ a disciple of _Antony_. _Spiridion_ and _Epiphanius_ of _Cyprus_, _James_ of _Nisibis_, _Cyril_ of _Jerusalem_, _Eustathius_ of _Sebastia_ in _Armenia_, _Eusebius_ of _Emisa_, _Titus_ of _Bostra_, _Basilius_ of _Ancyra_, _Acacius_ of _Caesarea_ in _Palestine_, _Elpidius_ of _Laodicea_, _Melitius_ and _Flavian_ of _Antioch_, _Theodorus_ of _Tyre_, _Protogenes_ of _Carrhae_, _Acacius_ of _Berrhaea_, _Theodotus_ of _Hierapolis_, _Eusebius_ of _Chalcedon_, _Amphilochius_ of _Iconium_, _Gregory Nazianzen_, _Gregory Nyssen_, and _John Chrysostom_ of _Constantinople_, were both Bishops and Monks in the fourth century. _Eustathius_, _Gregory Nazianzen_, _Gregory Nyssen_, _Basil_, &c. had Monasteries of Clergymen in their cities, out of which Bishops were sent to other cities; who in like manner erected Monasteries there, till the Churches were supplied with Bishops out of these Monasteries. Hence _Jerome_, in a Letter written about the year 385, [3] saith of the Clergy: _Quasi & ipsi aliud sint quam Monachi, & non quicquid in Monachos dicitur redundet in Clericos qui patres sunt Monachorum. Detrimentum pecoris pastoris ignominia est_. And in his book against _Vigilantius_: _Quid facient Orientis Ecclesiae? Quae aut Virgines Clericos accipiunt, aut Continentes, aut si uxores habuerint mariti esse desistunt_. Not long after even the Emperors commanded the Churches to chuse Clergymen out of the Monasteries by this Law. _Impp. Arcad & Honor. AA. Caesario PF. P._