146 BRAMBLES AND BAY LEAVES. 



But these things are of the past, and though fit for the age of 

 mystery and Paganism, are painfully unfit for the age of Christianity 

 and progress. Beautiful as things of the past, noble memorials of 

 an age of mystery, and a race of giants, they would have died out Ion g 

 ago, had the Christian masters of the world been Christians in their life 

 and character. Debauchery, pillage, slavery, exaction, and blood- 

 Ished have marked their steps, and the children of the sun have seen 

 ittle yet of that spirit of love which forms the first feature of the 

 Christian's preaching.* 



* Vide "History of the Indian Archipelago," by Horace St. John. 



C^'^^D 



