Truth Triumphant - Benjamin G. Wilkinson

churches? Such a kingship requires a union of
church and state. Such a kingdom was especially
condemned by Jesus.
Justinian declared the pope to be “THE HEAD
OF ALL THE HOLY CHURCHES.” Though the
popes forgot that this title was given by fallible
man, not by God, they have never forgotten to
claim that power. The bitter injustice done to the
Italian people by Justinian’s enthronement of the
papacy in their midst, which created a sovereignty
within a sovereignty, may be seen in the character
of the emperor. What kind of man was Justinian?
Gibbon declares:
The reign of Justinian was a uniform yet
various scene of persecution; and he appears to
have surpassed his indolent predecessors, both in
the contrivance of his laws and the rigor of their
execution. The insufficient term of three months
was assigned for the conversion or exile of all
heretics; and if he still connived at their precarious
stay, they were deprived, under his iron yoke, not
only of the benefits of society, but of the common
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