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Romans, but in groves consecrated to him; they believed a future 
state of rewards and punishments, suitable to their behaviour in 
this ; they offered victims to him, and celebrated some festivals in 
honour of him; and in most things observed a great simplicity in 
all their religious rites, during a long series of ages.”* 
I have been particular in tracing the religion of our pagan an- 
cestors to the patriarchal institutions ; because, by a gross miscon- 
ception, that religion has been considered a tissue of profane and 
diabolical practices, revolting equally in doctrine and discipline. It 
must be allowed, that it degenerated from its original simplicity, 
and that the immense power and craft of its ministers had disfigured 
it with many superstitious abuses ; yet, if we examine the general 
history of paganism, the system of our ancestors will be found 
superior in theology, ethics, and ritual. The quick and easy re- 
ception of Christianity, in this Island, isan unequivocal proof, not 
only of the liberal and tolerating spirit of the religion it supplanted, 
but also of enlightened civilization and charitable forbearance, cer- 
tainly without parallel in the early records of the Christian world. 
Our first Christian teachers were all confessors : none were martyrs ! 
The singular fact is attested by Cambrensis, who inconsiderately 
brings it forward as an opprobrium on our nation. He says, that 
none of the saints of that country (Ireland) cemented the founda- 
tion of the rising church with their blood; and that it was the only 
country in which all were confessors, not one being able to boast of 
the crown-of martyrdom !+ 
* Univer. Hist. v, 18. p. 353. 
+ Omnes sancti terre istius confessores sunt, et nullus martyr ; quod in alio regno Christiano 
difficile erit invenire, Mirum itaque quod gens crudelissima et sanguinis sitabunda, fides ab an- 
tiquo fundata et semper tepedissima, pro Christi ecclesia corona martyrii nulla. Non igitur in- 
ventus est in partibus istis, qui ecclesia surgentis fundamenta sanguinis effusione cementaret + 
non fuit qui faceret hoc bonum, non fuit usque ad unum. Topograph. Hibern. Dist. 3. c. 29. 
