Reverse of the obelisk at essie, 
given in N° VII. 
a thoufand years after the light ofChriftianity had dawned over mod of 
for ^ uro P ean kingdoms, the energy of its dodtrines lay in a manner dormant 
centur i es > owing to the Gothic darknefs which fo univerfally prevailed after 
^tu 0rnan ern pire was overrun by the favage nations. All works of tafte and lite- 
iy as r . e faring in fuch a general dedrudtion, the infpiration of religious principles 
gav r attended to. But f° on as the progrefs of fcience, and returning peace, 
c °P e for the evangelical dodtrines to renew their influence and fway, their 
P ° Wer rev i v ed with redoubled luftre ; the principles of Chriftianity ap- 
the ] C * ntere ding to human happinefs, that they were clofely interwoven with 
of cp government ; their eftabliihment was a principal objedt in the policy 
d ar j n ' e na tions, and roufed up the princes of the European continent to the mod 
a]j ^ eil terprizes of zeal. While the power of thefe principles was adting with 
f 0r & rand eur of its original force upon the minds of the people, the Crufades , 
tak e ii 6 recover y °f the Holy Land out of' the pofieffion of infidels, were under- 
ar^ 0 ’ Unn umbered multitudes flocked to the facred ftandard, and enlifted with 
Of ^5. and heavenly hope under the banners of the Crofs. Thefe Iplendid enfigns 
ki nt> a 0;ved enterprize were beheld with reverence and awe. It was the glory ot 
/al e »i t0 ^ ave their fhields and armour damped with the figure of the Crofs of Jeru- 
th e * ^ Was the firft badge of didindtion, in the ages when chivalry arofe, before 
ty as j C ^' ar en hgns were appropriated as marks of didinguifhed charadters. It 
t C Igllted in as the fymbol of the Divine Benignity, with which they were 
pi et 0 adorned, and defired to fliew the world how much they rejoiced in that 
and 5 ^kich it was an emblem. Hence it was equally emblazoned on the robes 
facr e ^^ des of heroes and of faints j its figure embelliflied the churches at every 
fecr ate , r * ne > and, effedted on monuments, by works of elaborate fculpture, con- 
and aggrandized the tombs of the illudrious dead. 
tnofl- kigh altars, the Crofs was enriched with every coftly ornament. The 
filver Prcci0 ^ gems united their rays in beautifying the fined workmanfhip of 
and gold. 
< ePent ati°ns of thefe, to give dignity to the following pages,, or to the con- 
Seotl «nd P ° rtrait> illuminated devotional books j and in that form travelled into. 
^ atl dard Were instated on monumental dones, by artids who never had feen at 
% °f : ke Crofs, an altar, or a church. 
Sufficient 
