The sun., 1881-12-04

not uncommon In the circus. At the theatre. or
in public assembly for sophist to rise. like
divine envoy In the name Of the eternal verities.
The reign OF the philosophers conduced won
dsrfully to moral and social progress. On the
contrary. IL caused military strength. art. and
literature to decline. The philosophers and
the men OF letters wore By no means one and the
same. The philosophers despised the frivolty
OF literature the literary men smiled at the bar
barity Of the phiosophers' style. their want OF
manners, their uncouth boards, their strange
cloaks. Nevertheless. the influence OF tho En-
peror inclined the balance In favor OF the phi
losophers; the Latin language was neglected
and tho fate OF Latin literature was sealed.
The plastic arts came to be regarded as Qiost
vanities. Both Christianity and philosophy
were working the ruin OF all the arts OF design.
The world was getting too far removed from
form and beauty; It would have nothing TO do
with anything but that which ameliorated the
fate OF the weak and softened the strong.
tits fact never to be forgotten that In the
Roman empire liberty OF thought was absolute.
From Nero to Constantine no thinker or savant
was ever troubled In his researches. All sects
that tolerated other scots were allowed to livs
at their ease in the empire. What caused the
Christians to be 90 constantly prosecuted was
their intolerance. their spirit OF exclusion.
Their attitude was disdsinful when it was not
provoking. They had the mania OF martyrdom
upon them. Far from making common cause
with the good citizens and helping to defend the
fatherland. they triumphed In Its mistortunes.
The student will follow NJ. Renan with un-
tagging interest into the curious details OF tho
origin. growth. and decadence OF the heresies
OF the early Christian Characterization.
Montanism. Marcionism. and into the history
OF the recrudeecence and gradual decay OF Mil.
lenarinnism. and the consequent rage Of mar
tyrdom. until he sees the Church gradually be-
coming more moderate. more liberal. more
democratic. moro oatnolio; while the religious
aristocrsciee. the SUCCESSORS OF tho fanatics.
create for themselves little world apart In
monasteries and cloisters. He will see that the
Church has known five degrees OF advance
ment four Of which are traversed In the period
embraced In N. RenAns work. First oil all the
primitive ecclesia. where all the members are
equally inspired By the Holy Ghost. Then the
elders. or pres6vteroi. assume within the Church
4 considerable right OF police and absorb the
ecclesia. Then the president OF the elders. the
episoopos or bishop. absorbs nearly all the
powers OF the elders. and. consequently. those
OF the ecclesid Then the episcopoi OF the differ
ont churches. CORES spondinR together. create a
norm. rtste nnilteu Of average orthodox opin-
ion. and form the Catholic Church. Among the
episcopoi there 10 one. he OF Rome. who is owl
IDENTITY destined to q great future. The Church
OF Rome held an undsputed primacy. partly on
account Of its excellent reputation and partly
on account OF the history of that Church
which had been founded By Potter and Paul.
Since Christ had made Cephas the corner stone
OF his church. II was argued that this privilege
must likewise extend to his successors. The
Bishop OF Rome becomes the Bishop of Bishops.
Pope Victor tls9-199 A. d. pushes this preten-
sion to an excess By claiming the right to ex-
communicate. BY this act tho Church OF Rome
placed itself above history The spirit which.
In 1870 will cause the infallibity of the Pope to
be proclaimed. 10 recognizable at the end OF tho
second century By signs that are already Ger.
tain. The Pope. the Church OF Jeeus. trans.
formed into monarchy. with Rome for capi.
tai. may be perceived In the distant future: but
tho principle OF this latter Transformation is
still feeble at the end Of the second century. 1t
may be added that 1t has not had. like the other
transformations. q universal character. The
Latin Church alone has accepted 1t. and even in
tho bosom OF that church the attempt OF the Pa
pacy has AZ last led to revolt and protestation.
Thus NJ. Renan shows that the great organisms
TINT still form 30 essential part OF the moral
and political life Of European nations were all
created by those naV and sincere men whose
faith has become inseparable from the moral
culture OF humanity. At tho end OF the second
century the Episcopate 10 entirely mature. the
Papscy exists in germ.
From another point of view. NJ. Renan shows
US Christianity and the Roman EN- pirs in the at
tituds OF two animals on the point OF devouring
each other. without knowing what are the causes
OF their hostility. When a society of men takes
such an attitude rs the Christians did in the
mi idat ~ n grant aociatv whan haponea
In the State a republic OF itself. even were 1t
composed OF angels. 1t 10 a scourge. 1t is not
without reason that they were detestsd these
men in appearance so gentle and so beneiicent.
They wore in reality demolishing the Roman
empire They were drinking its strength they
were robbinR Its funcfions. especially the army.
OF the finest subjects. 1t is no good saving
man 10 good citizen because he pays his taxes.
is charitable. sober. and settled. when he Is in
reality q citizen Of heaven. and considers the
earthly iatherand simply rs n prison where he
is chained up side by side with wrctches. Tho
fatherland. ones country. Is an earthly thing;
a man who wants to play the angel is always
poor patriot. Religious exaltation. says NJ.
Rsnan. 10 dangerous for the State. In vain tho
martyr will maintain that he does not revolt.
that no is the most submissive OF subjects. The
fact that he courts persecution. that he puts the
submitting to the law OF theocrscy. is more hurt
ful to the State than the worst OF revolts. /; is
never without reason thar people are universally
hated; nations have in this matter an instinct
that never deceives. Tho Roman empire felt
that this secret republic would kill 1t. BY fol-
lowing the bad policy OF violent persecution II
only accelerated the result that 1t was seeking
20 prevent
II is obviously impossible. within present
limits. to attempt even to give an outline OF the
splendid pages that NJ. Renan has devoted to
the consideration of the moral. social. and lit
erary results OF the historical events which form
the subject OF his present volume. The princi-
pal object of notice like the present is 10 call
the attention OF the reader to the appearance OF
great work. to enable him 10 ju ige by gem
eral statement Of the contents whether he will
care TO read the volume or not. and 10 indicate
to tho student some of the principal points
which have been treated by the author IN
sinGuarly remarkable or novel manner. We
might mention. for instance. the chapters on
CELSIUS and Lucian. the satirist. the first ap-
partition OF that form OF human genius OF which
yotaire WAS the co m etc In ca rnati and which