556 RELIGIOUS DEVELOPMENT-III 



volumes of Sismondi s &quot;History of the Italian Repub 

 lics, as well as Gibbon s Decline and Fall of the Eoman 

 Empire&quot;; and this history had served to show me what 

 any body of ecclesiastics, not responsible to sound lay 

 opinion, may become. In looking over the past history 

 and present condition of Italy, there constantly rang in 

 my ears that great warning by Christ himself, &quot;By their 

 fruits ye shall know them. 



