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future was of a most striking kind. The utmost a philosopher hoped was to 
keep things right, but a millennium in the future was never hoped for by 
him. And when modern unbelief appeals to the progressive advancement 
of modern life, I say this is an aspect of Christianity, because before 
Christianity the hopes of the future were of the most dismal character. I 
should like to know more of the actual historical character of the fact which 
is set down by Mr. Gosse, in his thirteenth paragraph, where he says, — 
“ It is, doubtless, an instructive question to ask ourselves, Why has the 
spread of Christian truth been in so many parts of the world a death-blow 
to the fine arts ! ” 
This passage must be accepted with considerable qualification. I suppose that 
the author meant to refer to the effect of the Beformation. What is the 
actual position which Christianity has held with respect to the fine arts ? The 
fine arts of Greece and Borne were unquestionably associated with the 
ancient idolatries, and, to a great extent, with the moral degradation of 
ancient society. Christianity has nothing to do with it, as a result. 
In Benan’s “ Life of St. Paul,” one which unbelievers are not very fond of, 
speaking of his speech at Athens, Benan says he lifted up his hammer 
and broke the elegant creations of Greek genius to pieces. He in his 
intense admiration of them calls them “ their gods and goddesses.” 
Of course Christianity was hostile to the Pagan forms of art, which were all 
idolatrous ; they ministered to the worst forms of moral corruption ; but while 
this is the case, as a matter of fact, there is nothing in the New Testament 
which is opposed to the general progress of art, and there cannot be a doubt 
that Christianity has created an art of its own. (Cheers.) I do not use too 
strong a term in saying that the moral improvement of art has been more or 
less effected by Christianity. But there is a great danger in mixing art too 
largely with Christian worship, because we see that a certain aspect of it has 
a tendency to corrupt it. Although Christian art may not have produced that 
pure exhibition of the beauty of the human form which is seen in Greek and 
Boman statuary, it has created the magnificent Gothic cathedrals and other 
works, and Christian painters have been able to create productions of art, as 
great as were ever accomplished by the artists of Greece and Borne. In one 
paragraph, Mr. Gosse says, a Scadinavian woman might choose her own hus- 
band, while in another it is stated that the power of a man over a married 
woman was of the most terrific nature. I cannot understand how the two 
statements are capable of reconciliation. But this shows us that, taking 
Paganism in its best form, woman was degraded, and I cannot help thinking 
that the elevation of woman to the proper position which she now occupies 
in society is greatly due to the results of Christianity. Christianity has 
fallen upon very favourable ground in the German and Northern races of 
mankind, but I cannot see the portion of this paper which gives so ex- 
tremely favourable a view of the position of woman in the Northern races, is 
quite borne out by the character given by Tacitus of the Germans. No 
doubt the highest teaching with regard to the position of woman is that given 
by St. Paul in the well-known passage which I need hardly quote. (Cheers.) 
