Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1859-09-29

the Pagan Pantheon. 1t was reserved Tor the
Jews. that degraded and stilf-necked people,
the Jest and mark of the scoru of nations, to
introduce the unknown god tc the knowledge
of the ignorant classes When ST. Paul, the
great Apostle Of the GsptilcS, visited Athens
and proceeded to the Pynx, and casting his
eyes upon AcropoliS, that mountain OF temples
and statues and on that city, the field Of
shrnes, to the Olympian gods, he turned to
his audience and exclaimed "Ye men of Ath-
ems, perceive that in all things you are too
SuperStitiouS Y Such q statement as this,
thundcrstruck the proud Greeks. The mission
arv of the cross condemned the use of build
ingS and images to the Lord of heaven and
earth He said that he could even declare to
them, the unknown God whom they ignorant
" worShipped This announcement was doub-
" astounding to the multitude St Paul ad-
dressed his preaching chiefly to the ignorant,
and such aS were most oppressed by the ex-
pcnSe and trouble Of heatheniSh worship and
sacrifices. lie conSoled them with an idea of
the Deity, who required only the conservation
of the heart From that moment the unfor
tunate slaves of PoytheiSm were liberated
from their bonds Instead of giving their
earnings and the tribute of their labor to a set
of idle priests aud PythoueSScS, they preserved
them for their family. St. Paul, who was well
Skilled in all the learning of the Greeks did
not Scruple to quote authors of NEUROLOGICAL
nature In speaking of the Crctans. in the
twelfth verse Of the first chapter Of the Epis-
tie to Titus, he cites line from Epimenidcs !:
"Tne Cretans are always liars, evil beasts,
slowbellies" lie calls Fpimenides a brother
prophet, but this word here, signifies poet It
is evident, that the object of the Apostle was,
to cOuiinc the alteration of the world to one
God. without sacrifices or other inventions of
nrieSt-craft Here we have o fine contrast of
the NEUROLOGICAL and Christian idea of Diviu-
itv. The former is fictitious, the latter, real
the one reveals more human passion the 9th
er declares the unknown God and Father in
Heaven Mythology, as a text book of me-
taphorS, and figures of speech, is very useful
In literature and art, mythology, at the pres
ent day, conferS attractions to the poet, and
the chiSSeling of the sculptor
Mythology, or the Pagan theology, in the
hands of Homer, was forced to contribute for
the advancement of civilization. The ignO-
rance and superstition caused by Paganism,
was unable to check the progress of the mighty
analysis in which its TheSophy was subjected.
The multitude made sacrifices to refinement,
almost without knowing it. Homer's poems
became objects of alteration, better guarded
than many statues of the gods. His genius
may be considered as the handspring of Gre
clan talent Alexander the Great, carried the
Had through ali his campaigns, preserved in
golden box. The consequence of this was
that wherever the conqueIor proceeded, the
natious were obliged TO become civilized, or 10
nay q tribute. II is ludricouS To see the llf-
ference between the couqueSts OF Alexander
aud those OF MaAOmet. Tho former spread
civilization, the latter difused tanatcl>m, tyr
amy, ignorance aud barbariSm, 10y the seine
ter
Let us cast q glance at the third century
before the Christian era, and watch the pro-
greSs Of the refinement pFopagatcd 10y the he
70 Of Macedon All nations that proteSSed
love Of learning aud art, were allowed to re-
tain the privileges OF Greek citizenship
Among the nations that were GeSrous Of adopt
ing civilization We fnd the Jews Under the
Syro-N Macedonian empire the lSraelites erected
colleges in Palestine, aud pursued the study Of
the classics Many Greek cities were built In
SYRIA until the Hellenic language became 50
common that the Jews themselves adopted il
in their writings The Influence of these my
riadS of native Greeks in the Holy Land must
not be overlooked. Many philosophers from
Greece came and resided around Mt. Zion -
Under this influence tie Investigation Of the
records Of antiquity was renewed. PRblic de-
bates were allowed, the temple itself became
q place of dispute Antioch . great city the
capitol of Syria, and the third city 10 the
world, was the principal asylum and resort Of
the followers of Christ, and here they were
first named Christians St Luke aud Saint
ChrYSoStom were natives Of Antioch
The advent Of Christ not onIy satisfied the
expectations of the Jews, buJ crowned the
longingS of the heathen- Sa-eS, E,a-S. and
prophets, IS the Bible asserts, had be- anxious
II awaiting the birth Of our Saviour. When
the Star Of Bethlehem arose, wise men came
from the East to Jerusalem, and VISITED the iu-
eaguatioa Of Cod the Son, the infant Redeem
er, lying IN . manser.
HomerS works are the earliest example Of
! the adoption Of mythology 10 poetry. in 4 lit
erary sense. Before his time, were hymns II
the gods. bat these were mere Pagan compost
tiouS. exciting no emotion but that OF ldola
trv. He used machinery as an assistant 10
arr, In revealing these springs of human char
aeter ana action Though the inference OF the
gods is described aS beng open. still the cause
oppeagS 10 the reason none the less secret and
invisible. In the first book, Apollo desceuds
10 accomplish the prayer Of priest
Tsas Clr,->,s Pr-syci the faysrins F'vse- a,telIs
And lrvm uisallsas laity tap deSeCu,ls,
E-l. NaS hiS bow -he tSEgtlal hearts u uo-EG
Fle-ve - be moved. his silver shafts rr>1u1d,
En,athjRE rcYVngc. sudden night he siTu4d,
And Siaalry JaTkaCS> Fallci .lUssHd hs> as.s.-
1sC Gt<5 "a EieW. bC Gwsn-cl his deadly 91g,
AE- A-SSlis, lE ti1e s>--i-.-TeL axes oe-J".
In this description. Apollois Introduced in
glowing coloFs, before the mind OF the reader,
but at the same time, the Greeks. 10 whom
the object Of Apollos revenge appear equal
IL unconscious and unaware Of the Vi>i0a.-
Homer I'm fact guides the death blow 70 the