69 



the finest monuments of antiquity were destroyed; while 

 the rage against images was carried even to a pitch of 

 extravagance. When the new religion liad extended its 

 sway, and the Christian church grew wealthy, the hierar- 

 chy suffered political considerations to mingle with the 

 concerns of faith. The ministers and votaries of religion 

 began to feel the effects of pomp and decoration. Mo- 

 dern Christianity, like ancient paganism, sought to capti- 

 vate the imagination, and excite superstitious veneration, 

 by a powerful appeal to the senses. Thus the religion, 

 which 'had gloried in the naked simplicity of its worship, 

 and set itself in decided hostility to the splendid super- 

 stitions, and pompous ceremonial of paganism, adopted an 

 imitation of all that it before decried. The idols of the 

 heathens yielded to the crucifix, and images of the Viro'in 

 and saints: the walls of churches were covered with 

 paintings and sculptures: the choirs resounded with vo- 

 cal and instrumental music. Christianity, in her turn, be- 

 came the patroness of the arts; and invoked their aid, to 

 trick her out, in all the beauty of holiness, Avith gor- 

 geous vestments, stately temples, statues, pictures, sculp- 

 tures, solemn processions.* It is Avell known to every tra- 

 veller, 



* " The Saxons, from the first introduction of Christianity among them, 

 '• had made use of images: and perhaps Christianity, without some of those 

 " exterior ornaments, had not made so quick a progress among idolaters; but 

 " they had not paid any kind of worship or address to images ; and this abuse 

 " never prevailed, among Christians, till it received the sanction of the se- 

 " cond council of Nice." Hume, Vol. I. end of chap. ii. 



" The 



