Historical analysis of Christian civilisation

Front matter

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Chapter I

Definition of History. — Importance of Historical Studies. — The Law of Progress. — Characteristics of Nations. — The End of Humanity.— Principles of Christianity .—Christian Tendencies of the Age. — Scepticism and Fanaticism. — Object of the present Work. —Unity and Superiority of the Christian Civilisation. — Phases

of the Christian Civilisation. First Period. — Corruption and

Decline of the Roman Empire. — Propagation of the Christian Doctrine. — Its Contrast with the older Laws. — Authenticity of the Primitive Sources of the History of Christianity. — Persecutions of the Propagators of Christianity and of the Early Christians. — Triumph of Christianity. — Controversies fatal to the Progress of Christianity. — The Bishop of Rome. — The First Councils. — Moral Ascendancy of the Christians. — Early Christian Literature. — Gnosticism. — Origen. — Heresies. — Practical Principles of St. Paul 1—21

Chapter II

First Period continued. — The Emperor Constantine. — His Character. — His Institutions. — State of Christianity in his Time. — His Death (387).— His Sons. — Julian, Emperor (361 ). — Jovian (368). — Valentinian I. and II. — Oratian. — Theodosius the Great — His Character and Death (395).— The Roman Court— State of the Empire. — The Colonies. — State of the Roman Armies. — The Germanic Hordes. — Their Situation in Northern Europe. — Invasions of the Huns. — Of the Goths. — Alaric. — Victories of Stilicho. — His Death. — Sack of Borne by Alaric (410). — Kingdom

V

CONTENTS.

of the Visigoths in Spain. — The Vandals. — Genseric. — Destruction of Carthage. — The Hun*.— Attila.— Pillage of Rome by Genseric (455). — Nullity of the Roman Emperors of the West. — Extinction of the Empire of the West (476).— Influence of the Church. — Monastic Communities. — The Fathers of the Church. — The Ecclesiastical Organisation. — The Pontiffs. — Christian Literature of the Fourth and Fifth Centuries. — Arianism. — Its Triumph and Condemnation.-— Schism of the Donatists. — Pelagius. — Heresies of Nestorius and Eutyches. — Progress of Christianity.— First Period concluded 22—48

CHAPTBB m.

Second Period. — The Empire of the East — Causes of its Weakness. — The Emperors of the East, from Arcadius to Justinian (408- 527). — Justinian. — Military Expeditions of his Reign, against the Vandals, the Persians, the Avars, the Goths, the Bulgarians. — The Successors of Justinian. — The Dynasty of Heraclius, to 718. — That of Leo the Iconoclast, to $02. — That of Michael I., to 867. — That of Basil the Macedonian, to 1057. — The Churches of the East and the West. — Theological Dissensions. — Influence of the Laws. — Italy, an instance of it — Reformation of the Roman Jurisprudence. — The Code. — The Pandects. — The Byzantine Literature.— Architecture. — The Barbarian Kingdoms. — The Ostrogoths.— The Lombards. — The Visigoths. — The Burgundians. — The Franks. — Clovis. — The Controversy on the Origin of France. — Death of Clovis (511). — Clotaire (558). — France re-united under Clotaire II. (613). — The Mayors of the Palace. — Charles Martel.— Laws of the Barbarians. — Their Influence. — M. Guizot — Administration of the Barbarians. — The Judicial Duel.— The Ordeals.— Their Origin.— State of Europe. 49—80

Chapter IV

Second Period continued. — The Arabs. — Mohammed. — The Koran. — Mohammed's Successors. — The Ommeiyades. — The Abbassides. — The Mohammedan Civilisation contrasted with the Christian. — France.— The Carolingians. — Charles Martel.— His Death (741). Pepin the Short, King (752).— His Death (768).— Charlemagne. — His Military Expeditions. — Crowned at Rome (800). — His Administrative Institutions. — His Death (814). — Partition of the Carolingian Empire. — Death of Louis the Debonair (840). — War between Lothaire and his Brothers. — Disastrous State of the Christian Nations.— Charles the Bald, Emperor (843). — His Death (877). — Louis the Stammerer.— Charles the Fat, Emperor

CONTENTS. XI

(884). — Dissolution of the Carolingian Empire. — Formation of the Kingdoms of Germany, Italy, Burgundy, Navarre, Lorraine, and France. — Eudes. — Charles the Simple, King (898). — His Death (929). — Raoul.— Louis d'Outremer.— Hugh Capet, King of France (987). — Britain. — Conquest of the Saxons. — The Heptarchy.— Egbert — Alfred. — His Exploits, Virtues, and Administration.— Invasion of the Danes. — Canute, King of all England (1017). — Expulsion of the Danes. — Edward the Confessor. — Haroli — Battle of Hastings (1066). — Norman Influence. — Influence of Pontifical Rome. — Changes in the Church, Literature, and Fine Arts. — Second Period in the Christian Civilisation concluded.—-Its Character 81—111

Chapter V

Third Period of the History of Europe and Christian Civilisation. — The Middle Ages.— Character of that Period.— Feudalism.— The Fiefs and their Privileges. — State of the Church of Rome. — Her Corruption. — Hildebrand. — His Efforts — Elected Pope inl 078. — His Reforms. — Struggle between Papacy and Henry IV. of Germany.— Subsequent Zeal of the Popes. — Alexander III. — Innocent III. — France. — Activity of the French Nation. — State of the North and South contrasted. — Successors of Hugh Capet. — Louis

VI. ( 1 108). — The Municipalities. — Their Revolutions. — Louis

VII. (1187).— Philip Augustus (1180).— Greatness of his Reign. —The Albigensian War.— Louis VIII. (1223-1226).— Regency of Blanche of Castille. — Saint Louis (1231 ).— His Virtues and lofty Faculties. — Judiciary and Social Progress. — England. — Consequences of the Norman Conquest — Successors of William the Conqueror.— William II. (1087).— Henry I. (1100).— Stephen (1135).— Henry II. (1154).— Richard Cceur de Lion(1189).— John (1199).— The Magna Charta (1215).— Henry III. (1216).— Commencement of the English Parliament. — Edward I. (1272). — Character of the English Constitution. — Importance of the Study of Laws. — Observation of Montesquieu on the English Constitution 112—138

Chapter VI

Third Period continued. — Importance of Method in the Study of History. — Germany. — Character of her History. — Conrad of Franconia (911).— Henry I. (919).— Otho I. (936).— Greatness of his Reign.— Otho II. (973).— Otho III. (983).— Henry II. (1002).— Conrad II. (1024).— Henry III. (1039).— Henry IV. (1056). — State of Lombard/. — Its Municipal Organisation. — xii CONTENTS.

State of Southern Italy. — Conquests of the Normans. — Quarrel of Henry IV. with Gregory VII. — Wars in Germany. — Henry V. (1106).— Lothair II. (1125).— Conrad III., of Hohenstauffen (1137).— Origin of the Guelfsand Ghibellins.— Frederic I., Barbarossa (1152). — His Wars in Germany and Lombardy. — Henry VI. (1190).— Philip (1198).— Otho IV. (1208).— Frederic II. (1212).— His War with the Pope and the Guelfs.— His Death (1250). — Interregnum. — Constitutions of Italy and Germany. — The Crusades. — Object and Consequences of the Crusades. — Tendencies of the Church. — St Bernard. — The Mendicant Orders. — Ecclesiastical Legislation. — Changes in Feudalism. — Chivalry. — Its Origin. — Commerce. — Architecture. — Its Splendour during the Middle Ages. — The Vernacular Literature of Italy, France, and Germany. — The Universities. — Scholasticism.— Abelard. — Attacks on the Church and Clergy. — Arnold of Brescia, — The Vaudois. — Study of the Roman Law. — Chronicles.— Science. — Roger Bacon. — Character of this Epoch.

139—172

Chapter VII

Third Period continued. — Character of the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Centuries.— State of Papacy.— Boniface VIII. (1294).— Decline of the Pontifical Influence. — Corruption of the Higher Clergy. — Schism. — Three Popes in 1409. — Council of Constance (1414). — John Hus8 and Jerome of Prague burnt — Council of Basle (1431).— Savonarola, r- France.— Philip the Fair (1285).— The States- General. — The Parliaments. — Reigns of Philip the Fair's Three Sons.— Philip of Valois( 1328).— John (1350).— Miserable State of France. — The Jacquerie. — Charles V. (1364). — Charles VI. (1380).— Victory and Oppression of the Nobles.— Civil War. —Treaty of Troyes (1420).— Charles VII. (1424).— Joan of Arc. —Louis XI. (1461).— England.— Character of Edward I. (1272). —Progress of the Judiciary Institutions. — Wars. — Edward if. (1807).— Edward III. (1327).— Richard II. (1377).— The House of Lancaster.— The House of York.— Henry VIL, Tudor (1485). —Henry VIII. (1509). — Germany.— Accession of Rodolf of Hapsburg(1273).— Adolf.— Albert I.— Henry VII. of Luxemburg (1308).— Lewis of Bavaria (1318).— Charles IV. (1347).— The Golden Bull.— Wenceslas (1878).— Robert (1400).— Sigismund (1410). — Albert II. (1438).— Frederic III. (1440).— Maximilian (1493). — The Hanseatic League. — Switzerland. — Italy. — Venice. — Genoa. — Pisa. — Lombardy. — Florence. — Rome. — Naples. — Remarkable Epochs. — Great Political Movements in Europe during the Fourteenth Century 173 — 227

CONTENTS. Mil

CHAPTER VHI.

Third Period continued. — Spain. — The Spaniards.— The Goths sub- - dued by the Arabs. — relagus. — Khalifate of Cordova. — Civil Wars among the Arabs. — Formation of the Spanish States.— Partitions. — Navarre. — Arragon. — Castillo. — Portugal — Constitution of Spain.— -The Fueros.— The Nobility.— The Clergy.— The Cortes. — The People.— The Spanish Language and Literature.— Arabio Influence in Spain. — Scandinavia.-— Conversion of Scandinavia. — Barbarism of Sweden and Norway. — More advanced State of Denmark.— Victories of the Danes. — Union of Calmar (1397).— Subjection of Sweden. — GustavusWasa. — Scandinavian Constitutions. — Languages and Literature.— Iceland.— The Sagas.— Poland.— The Race of Piast— Influence of Christianity.— Wars of Poland. — Her Constitution. — Casimir the Great— His Death (1370).— The Jagellons.— Casimir of Lithuania (447). — His Civil Institutions.— Character of the Polish Monarchy.— Extinction of Poland. — Russia. — Her Origin.— Novgorod.— Ruric (850). — Wladimir the Great (980). — Russia converted to the Greek Church. — Russia under the Mongolian Yoke from 1224 to 1477. — Ivan the Terrible commences the System of Russian Absolutism. — Accession of the House of Romanow (1618).— Hungary.— The Race of Arpad. — St Stephen, the Hero Legislator (996). — Magyars embrace Christianity.— Progress of Hungary. — Finally annexed to Austria, in 1527. — Constantinople. — Extinction of the Greek Empire. — Prospects of Christianity in the East — Third Period concluded.

228—266

Chapter IX

Fourth Period in the History of Europe and of Christian Civilisation. — Character of Modern History. — The Sixteenth Century. — Revival of Letters. — Poggio. — Invention of Printing.— Results of the Classical Pursuits.— Architecture. — Painting. — Music- Literary and Scientific Revolutions. — Copernicus.— Galileo. — Discoveries of the Portuguese. — Progress of Commerce. — Columbus.— Conquests and Atrocities of the Spaniards. — Settlements of the French, Dutch, and English. — State of Europe. — Spain. — Unity of Spain. — Queen Isabella. — Accession of Charles. — Italy. — France. — Louis XII. (1498). — Venice. — Francis I. (1515). — Charles V., King of Spain, elected Emperor of Germany (1519).— War.— Battle of Pavia (1525).— War in Italy.— Progress of the Turks. — Renewal of the War. — Peace of Crespy (1544).— Henry II. of France (1547).— Philip II; of Spain b

XIV C0NTBNT8.

(1556).— War.— Peace of Cateau Cambresis (1559).— Royal Prerogatives in France. — Polity of Charles V. and Philip II. of Spain.— Result* of the Reign of Charles V.— State of the Church. — Martin Luther. — His Attacks on the Pope and Clergy. — Diet of Worms (1521). — Influence of Luther. — His Separation from other Reformers.— The Anabaptists.— Thomas Munxer (1533).— The Protestants and Huguenots. — Diets of Augsburg and Worms. — Hostilities between Catholics and Protestants. — Victories of Charles V. — His Despotism. — Peace of Augsburg (1555). — Death and Character of Luther. — General Advantages of the Reformation characterised by M. Guicot — Calvin and Calvinism. —Council of Trent (1545).— The Jesuits. — General Reformation in the Roman Catholic Churoh .... 267—307

Chapter X

Fourth Period continued. — England. — State of the nation under Henry VIII. — The Reformation introduced. — Edward VI. (1547). — Mary. — Elizabeth (1558). — Establishment of the Church of England. — Government of Elizabeth. — Relations with Scotland. — Mary, Queen of Scots. — James I. (1603). — Spain.— Philip II.— State of Spain.— War against the Turks.— The Netherlands. — Revolt of the Southern Provinces. — They form themselves into Federal States. — Conquest of Portugal (1580).— Death of Philip II. (1598).— France.— Religious dissensions.— Conspiracy of Amboise. — Commencement of the Civil War (1562).— Peace of Longjumeau (1568).— Of St Germain (1570).— Massacre of St. Bartholomew (1572). — Henry III. (1574).— Treaty of 1576.— The Holy League.— Its Democratic Spirit— Henry of Guise.— Murder of Henry III. (1589).— Henry IV., of Bourbon, King of France (1593). — His Government— Assassinated in 1610. — Louis XIII. — Richelieu. — His Character and Policy. — Fall of La Rochelle. — Death of Richelieu and Louis XIII. (1642).— Regency.— The Fronde.— Germany.—Successors of Charles V. : Ferdinand I., Maximilian II., and Rodolf II.— The Latter's Intolerance, and Death (1612).— Mathias, Emperor. — Religious Dissensions in Bohemia. — Ferdinand L, Emperor (1619).— The Thirty Years' War.— The Palatine Period (1619-1623).— Danish Period (1625- 1629).— Swedish Period (1630-1635).— French Period (1685-1648).— Ferdinand III. (1637).— The Peace of Westphalia.— Character of this Epoch. — Condition of the different Classes of Sooiety.

306—349

CONTENTS. XV

Chapter XI

Fourth Period continued. — France. — Administration of Mazarin. — Louis XIV. — Character of his Reign.— Regency of the Duke of Orleans. — Corruption of Society. — External Policy of France. — Financial System of Law. — horn* XV. — His Ministers. — War of the Succession of Austria (1742-1748). — Scepticism. — Corruption.— Beaumarchais. — State of France. — Accession of Louis XVI. (1774).— His Character and Difficulties.— Turgot— Necker. -—States-General of 1789. — England. — Accession of Charles I. (1625), — Struggle between the King and Parliaments. — No Parliament from 1630 to 1688.— Hampden.— The Kinggives way, but too late. — Civil War. — Victories of Cromwell.— His Ascendancy.— Trial and Execution of Charles I. (1649). — Character of the Revolution. — Government of Cromwell. — His Death (1658).— Charles II. (1660).— James II. (1685).— Revolution of 1688.— William III. and Mary. — Progress of England. — Queen Anne (1702).— George I. (1714.)— Walpole and Chatham.— Peace of Paris (1763). — American Insurrection (1773).— Progress of the English Constitution under Charles II., and after 1688. — The Netherlands. — Internal Dissensions. — The Armenians and Gomarists.— Barneveld (1619). — Prosperity of the Netherlands,— William of Orange.— Vicissitudes of Holland. — Germany. — Frederic III. (1637).— Leopold I. (1658).— Wars with France and Turkey.— Joseph L (1705).— Charles VI. (1711).— War of Succession.— Prussia. — Maria Theresa. — Frederic IL of Prussia. — The Seven Years' War.— Joseph II. (1765).— Leopold II. (1790). — Spain, Italy, and Portugal .... 850—891

Chapter XII

Fourth Period continued. — Scandinavia. — Succession of Christian II. in Denmark. — Peace of Stettin (1570). — State and Decline of Denmark. — Sweden. — Successors of Gustavus Wasa. — Gustavus Adolphus( 1611).— Charles XII. (1697).— Wars and Decline of Sweden. — Constitutions of Sweden and Norway. — Poland. — Succession of the Jagellons. — Wars. — Internal Dissensions. — Influence of Russia.— First Partition of Poland (1772); the Second (1793).— Poland extinct (1795).— Russia,— Accession of the House of Romanow (1613).— State of Russia,— Peter the Great — Catharine II.— Russian Policy. — Sketches of the Intellectual, Moral, and Social History of Europe sinoe the Sixteenth Century. — Intellectual Developments. — Lord Bacon. — Descartes. — Newton. — Leibnitz.— Pascal — Natural Philosophy. — Chemistry.— Natural History. — Botany. — Medicine.— Architecture. — b2 xvi CONTENTS.

Punting.— Music — Literature — Formation of the Modern Languages and Literatures. — Literature of England.— Of France.— Of Germany and Spain. — Decline of the Political Influence of the Church of Rome.— Character of the Religious Assemblies and Institutions. — Surpassing Activity of the Church of Rome.-— Dissensions. — The Jansenists. — Triumph and Decline of the Jesuits. — Present State of the Church of Rome and of Protestantism.— Progress of the Material Interests and of Commerce- Characters of France, England, and Russia. — Germany. — Spain. — Italy. — Switzerland. — Holland. — Material State of the Nations of Europe. — Discoveries. — Innovations. — General Progress. — The Fourth Period in the History of European Civilization, concluded.— Fifth Period, commencing with the French Revolution of 1789. — Its Character and Consequences. — Napoleon. — Present State of Europe. — Prospects of Christian Civilisation. — Nature of Man.— Final Reign of Truth and of Christian Justice.

392—488

Historical Library, or Catalogue of Historical Works ; 481 — 502

EPITOME

HISTORY OF EUROPE.

Chapter I

Definition of History. — Importance of Historical Studies. — The Law of Progress. — Characteristics of Nations. — The End of Humanity.— Principles of Christianity. — Christian Tendencies of the Age. — Scepticism and Fanaticism. — Object of the present Work. —Unity and Superiority of the Christian Civilisation. — phases

of the Christian Civilisation. First Period. — Corruption and

Decline of the Roman Empire. — Propagation of the Christian Doctrine. — Its Contrast with the older Laws. — Authenticity of the Primitive Sources of the History of Christianity. — Persecutions of the Propagators of Christianity and of the Early Christians. — Triumph of Christianity.— Controversies fatal to the Progress of Christianity. — The Bishop of Rome. — The First Councils. — Moral Ascendancy of the Christians. — Early Christian Literature. — Gnosticism. — Origen. — Heresies. — Practical Principles of St. Paul.

History relates the multitude of actions and phases by which man manifests his passage upon earth ; they seem, apparently, to have neither regularity nor stability, but a providential law presides over them. It is the law of progress. The true, immortal idea of progress is the offspring of Christianity. It is the consequence of Christian tuition, the spirit of which is, that we are all children of the same Father, — that we are all members of the same community, — that the day will come when there will be but one flock, one pastor, — when the human races will form, not only a unity, but a society. God manifests himself to man through reason and conscience ; but it is by

B history that the supreme government of the Deity is revealed and made manifest to humanity. History, says Schiller, is the tribunal of the world, it is indeed the great earthly judge, hailing and analysing the merits which should be recompensed and held as a standard for the future, and denouncing the crimes that must be eternally reprobated. History, by relating the progress of the past, hastens and regulates the future movements of the human mind ; and the study of that progress which is the law of all, is the study of the advance of principles, affections, and intellectual "powers, and marks out the mode in which individuals and nations shall unfold themselves, so that they may grow up what God designs them to be.

Jesus Christ is the great central luminary in history. By his divine revelation he has marked out the path that must be followed by humanity ; but, after him, the field he has opened must be cleared ; a huge, gigantic task — far from being terminated, in some cases only just commenced . Mountains of prejudice and ignorance remain yet to be removed, the intellect and the heart require yet to be drained for a purer growth of Christian morality ; history has to investigate the facts, causes, and ideas of each epoch, and assign to the latter their just import and effects, for they constitute the vital principle, — the eternal life-blood of humanity, of which the material and tumultuous events and revolutions are merely the secondary and transient results. Assuredly, in opening history, in unfolding the records of the past, the men of genius who hold the loftiest position in the loftiest domain of that science could repeat the remarkable words that Moses has addressed to his people : — " See, I have set before thee this day, life and good, and death and evil. It is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off. It is not in heaven, that thou shouldst say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it and do it ? Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldst say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear and do it ? But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayst do it."

The history of humanity, therefore, is explained by the law

THE LAW OF PROGRESS. 3

of progress, which throws a vivid light on its records of past actions and movements. Progress explains the phases of history. They are the result of the nature of man, individually speaking, of the functions of societies, and of the succession assigned to the acts of humanity itself. The conviction of the progressive working of humanity can alone meet the restless yearnings which characterise the modern nations and the ardent wishes of the masses for better days. And by the study of history, above all, the conviction can be acquired that all the principal events tend to the same end, — universal civilisation, and the continuous advancement towards perfection.

The functions of man are of a social nature ; they merge in the whole species. Man isolated would be a nullity. Societies alone act in the world. Moreover, the normal state of every human society exhibits the principal element of the progress of humanity. Societies alone, therefore, possess a power of action in the world ; and among the nations which have had a share in the work of progress accomplished hitherto, each has marked its influence by a characteristic feature ; — each has had a special function in the general advance.

Those fundamental principles and characteristics of nations, derived from the tendencies and acts of each, and without which a nation could not exist, have a unity, and an object, which may conveniently be called the end of activity. A common end in the movement and advancement of societies, is the essential condition of their existence. Without it, the social state becomes impossible. The nature of man demands activity ; his life is a perpetual activity, and men could not be united, and evince such deeply-rooted attraction and sympathy, if there was not a common end to be obtained. The end of humanity cannot emanate from human will. Its basis must be far more solid. It must be a duty ordained by God, and it is called morality. Morality is the great law that regulates all human relations. It lays down to men the means and end of perfection. Morality is the supreme law of societies, of individuals, and of humanity. But religion alone

b2 can create and indicate the common end of human activity, which thus becomes synonymous with religious morality.

The study of the moral, religious and political modification of nations unravels the various ends which they have hitherto attained. The world owes to Christianity the pre-eminence of a new morality and of sublime principles unknown before. Christianity has sown the ideas which have been, during eighteen centuries, at once the instrument and the moving power of human activity ; liberty to the enthralled, — equality to all, — brotherhood of nations, — human unity. It will and must level all obstacles. Its end is to spiritualise man, to animate all races, and to animate them alike ; to engender, through an universal sympathy, the unity of mankind. Christianity has been taught and propagated for ages ; its principles of political liberty, of religious equality, and of national fraternity, are daily growing more and more rooted in all hearts. Nature yields to its divine laws. Its end and object, we repeat it, are to bring the whole world under one common law, to unite by one common duty of fraternity, by feelings of universal sympathy, the most divergent and the most remote nations. Now, therefore, of necessity, the morality of Jesus Christ has to penetrate into all our laws and institutions ; all nations must replace by it, and by it alone, the vitiated part of an older, and grosser, and a more partial system. The work of regeneration must be continued and terminated. The will of God must be done on earth as it is in heaven.

But, on the other hand, if the principles of Christianity are daily gaining ground among the most civilised nations, they have to struggle with a deeply-rooted, sensuous egotism, and with indifference. Moreover, the warmest advocates of Christianity often outstep the boundaries of moderation as well as of Christian truth, and engender many fatal consequences. Thus, despite the secret working of Christianity, we are in a deplorable state of transition. We behold fanaticism on one side, and much hypocrisy and weakness on the other. Many energetic and pure souls, also, truly depressed by all that

THE IDEAL FUTURE. 5

passes round them, plunge in the other extreme. Provoked by the insolence of fanaticism, by their threats of triumph, they, in despair, oppose bold defiance and absolute negation.

But those who take refuge in scepticism forget that the principles of materialism have often kept human thought in thraldom, that they have often given powerful instruments to despotism, and that they reduce humanity to a state of mere animal mechanism. We all possess in our sphere, in the progress of our spiritual being, the expression of that legitimate and most sacred right of human reason, viz., the longing and the right of the human soul to outstep the limits of our visible world, and to regenerate and refresh itself in the ideal of eternity ; for it is through that yearning only that we can attain the elevation of sentiments and of feelings which give to human life its real value, its Christian dignity, the love of virtue, of the beautiful, and the love of our fellow-creatures. Thus only can we obtain faith in the invisible and the ideal, and be cheered by that sacred hope which flashes in the dark prospects of the grave with streams of that vivifying light of an immortal futurity.

Doubtless many proclaim as chimerical these lofty aspirations of the mind : they scorn the sublime presentiments of the heart ; they would confine man to the limited horizon of the visible world ; and those fatal principles have acquired of late a renovated popularity and freshness by the successful publication of a work written with great vigour.* But, believe me, those know but little the profound cravings of our spiritual nature, the power of reason, the dignity and value of humanity, who thus attack our very rights to freedom of thought ; they crush all those unfathomable bursts and aspirations of our soul ; indeed, they degrade the human mind, and almost reduce the sublime principles of Christianity to a dead letter.

We believe that the study of Christian Europe and Christian civilisation must prove, in our present state of society,

• The Vettigee of the Natural History of Creation.

and with the rising generation, a most solemn, a most moral thing. Our object is to awake the attention of the public. to the importance of that study. We will endeavour to trace their pre-eminent features, their broad outlines, with brevity, leaving the details to special histories, which will be referred to ; but saying enough, however, to mark the slow and majestic march of its progress. Such a study proves the pro* gressive amelioration of all ; it engenders resignation in bitter days, courage in the struggles, confidence in futurity, a greater degree of sympathy, and a belief in the final reign of Christian justice. Truly enough, many are plunged in luxurious selfish* ness, others suffer and rise in threatening clamour, — yet, if the attention of the present generation is drawn to the study of Christian civilisation, and to the working of Christian principles, all will learn to do their duties, to do their best, according to their means ; some will understand that they must bear with courage and resignation their momentary weight, and that they will be rewarded in a better world ; others will see that, if the spirit of Christ has not yet penetrated into our laws, institutions and manners, — that if we still behold round us, hideously triumphant, the dark foes of our spiritual progress and perfection, — it is nevertheless manifest, and working in the depths of human nature ; — that the spirit of Christ is the general inspiration of enlightened humanity, and that its influence is felt from one end of the globe to the other. In truth, they will also behold it in the aspiration of pure souls — of noble hearts. Indeed, it dwells in the conscience of all, who know, who feel, that the present state of things, being a state of transition, cannot be of long duration, and that the passions so hostile to the moral progress of humanity must gradually be transformed by the influence of Christianity ; again, and finally, all will learn by the study of the practical application of Christian principles, that our duty as Christians is to co-operate to effect the moral progress and perfection of humanity, and that our most efficacious and simple mode of doing this, is, for each to strain after his own improvement and perfection.