1887.] on Society in (he Fourth Century after CJirist. 77 



strongly enforced the lesson, taught by these narratives, of the 

 duty of fairness and kindness in judging alike of ancient and 

 contemporary characters. 



13. The passion for theological disputation which prevailed in 

 this century was illustrated by remarkable passages from St. 

 Jerome and St. Augustine. 



14. The lecturer then proceeded to deal with the subject of 

 Asceticism, its extraordinary growth and strange developments, 

 together with the disastrous effects which it produced on many 

 minds. This part of the subject was chiefly illustrated by details 

 derived from St. Chrysostom, St. Jerome, and Cassianus ; while 

 from anecdotes of St. Antony (whom the lecturer, however, 

 regarded as a purely legendary person) and St. Macarius, it was 

 shown that even the most rigid hermits were sometimes ready to 

 acknowledge that the ordinary course of Christian virtue might be 

 a more excellent way than their own. 



In the epilogue to the lecture it was pointed out that there 

 were many points of resemblance between the fourth century and 

 our own, and some remarks were made on the elements which 

 saved the civilisation of the fourth century from total destruction, 

 and which may still be fruitful in blessings to mankind. 



