152 Progress and Civilisation. PT. m. 



cated classes were immersed in the speculations of 

 the Greek philosopher. Far from repulsing with 

 intolerance any form of religion which addressed 

 itself to the understanding, they were quite ready 

 to accept or at least to examine it. The fables of 

 their pagan deities were utterly insufficient to con- 

 tent that craving after religion which is a necessity 

 of our nature. When, therefore, the earnest teachings 

 of St. Paul were addressed to them they met with 

 no unwilling listeners. The temper in which the 

 governor Festus replied to him, ' almost thou per- 

 suades t me to be a Christian,' is descriptive of the 

 attitude in which the more educated portion of the 

 Greeks and Komans were disposed to meet him. It 

 is, I think, a mistake to suppose that the writings 

 or the influence of the Greek philosophers were 

 hostile to the introduction of Christianity. On the 

 contrary, they prepared the way for it, and there is 

 much in the teachings of Socrates not far removed 

 from the spirit of the Gospel. When, therefore, the 

 new doctrines were preached to them, there were 

 many who were ready to embrace a belief which at 

 once satisfied their understandings and warmed their 

 hearts. 



Thus the purifying and ennobling Faith of Christ 



