87 
the monastic ideal of life was utterly inadequate to meet the 
needs of their expanding natures. So many of the assertions 
of the Church were seen to be false that all religious institutions 
were suspected of being worthless, and the wholesome con- 
ditions of social and family life were disintegrated. The 
new spirit transformed men’s ways of regarding the Church, 
and the Renaissance thinkers on the subject may be classified 
as (1) those who regarded Christianity as a divine institution 
in need of reform ; (2) those who thought it a profitable 
fallacy ; (3) those who considered it an exploded super- 
stition ; and (4) those who wasted their lives in trying to 
harmonize Moses and Plato, scholastic theology and Greek 
philosophy. 
Thus a rapid lowering of the moral tone was produced 
although such astonishing advances were being made in all 
the arts of civilization. Italy paid full penalty for this 
licence in later years, and was eventually conquered by 
Charles V., King of Spain and Emperor of Germany, only 
regaining her independence after 300 years of subjection. 
The misfortunes of Italy were, however, productive of good 
results elsewhere, for the new spirit was thus dispersed through 
Western Europe, and France, Spain and England were in 
turn affected by it. If it is a difficult matter to date the 
beginning of the Renaissance it is impossible accurately to 
indicate its end, for the ideals born during that period are 
still actively at work transforming and developing all those 
conditions known as modern civilization. 
We may fitly conclude with Tennyson’s words : — 
“ Yet I doubt not thro’ the ages one increasing purpose runs, 
“ And the thoughts of men are widen’d with the process 
of the suns.” 
Oi 
to 
