82 
was crumbling, sue erected a sfcate, the universal Church ; and 
in favour of it she evoked a self-sacrificing devotion which 
ancient patriotism never equalled. But society has been le- 
created ; and Mr. Lecky cannot deny that many men whose 
characters have been deeply penetrated by Christianity m 
modern times have displayed a sublimity of devotion to their 
country which will bear a most favourable comparison with 
the greatest examples of it in the ancient world. 
77. But it is urged that the teaching of Christianity tends to 
assign a low place to what, for want of a better name, we must 
designate the heroic or political type of virtue, if not entirely 
to ignore it, and in place of it to bring into the greatest pro- 
minence the virtues of the milder and more unobtrusive cha- 
racter. These Mr. Lecky, by a singular misnomer, has desig- 
nated the servile virtues. He owns the importance of her 
elevation of the latter, but seems to think that she has unduly 
depreciated the former. Let us investigate how the case 
actually stands. . . , c ,, 
78. It is an unquestionable fact that the virtues ol the 
heroic type have occupied the highest place in every ancient 
system of morals; and as far as virtue has received the 
homage of mankind, their admiration has been confined to 
this aspect of it. Some of the milder virtues have received a 
feeble meed of praise ; but to one of them, humility, I do not 
know that any recognition has been given either in popular or 
philosophic systems of morality. It is no less remarkab e that 
to these virtues Christianity has assigned the highest place m 
her spiritual temple. • 
79 This is a fact demanding the most attentive considera- 
tion. ’ The whole current of pagan thought, whether popular 
or philosophic, I may add, one prominent aspect of Jewish 
thought, was in favour of the heroic or political aspect ot 
virtue. The most prominent aspect of the Jewish saint is 
unquestionably formed on the heroic type. Tet, despite o 
this concurrence of opinion, the authors of Christianity have 
unhesitatingly assigned the highest place to the milder virtues, 
and the general judgment of mankind since they have done so 
has concurred in opinion that they were right. Such a fact 
is worthy of attentive meditation on the part of those ^ho 
pronounce the Gospels to be a body of myths invented by 
boundless credulity. 
80. I fully agree with Mr. Lecky, that the high position 
assigned by Christianity to this class of virtue has had the 
effect of elevating those portions of society which the dominant 
classes crushed with an iron tyranny; but I cannot concede 
that there is anything in the character of mildness, meekness. 
