subjects, and that to treat them as they deserve would require an amount both of learning and of ability to which I can make no pretension. I shall be content if I have succeeded in detect

ing some forgotten link in the great chain of causes, or in casting a ray of light on some of the obscurer pages of the history of opinions.

The Belief in Satanic Miracles, having been universal among
Protestants and Roman Catholics, passed away by a silent
and unreasoning process under the influence of Civilisa-
tion-Witchcraft arose from a vivid Realisation of Satanic
Presence acting on the Imagination-and afterwards on
the Reason-Its Existence and Importance among Savages
-The Christians attributed to Magic the Pagan Miracles
-Constantine and Constantius attempted to subvert Pa-
ganism by persecuting Magic-Magical Character soon
attributed to Christian Rites-Miracle of St. Hilarion-
Persecution suspended under Julian and Jovian, but
afterwards renewed-Not entirely due to Ecclesiastical
Influence Compromise between Christianity and Pa-
ganism-Prohibited Pagan Rites continue to be practised
as Magic-From the Sixth to the Twelfth Century, ex-
treme Superstition with little Terrorism, and, conse-
quently, little Sorcery-Effects of Eclipses, Comets, and

-

PAGE

Pestilence, on the Superstition-The Cabalists-Psellus
-The Revival of Literature in the Twelfth Century pro-
duced a Spirit of Rebellion which was encountered by
Terrorism-which acting on the popular Creed, produced
a bias towards Witchcraft-The Black Death-Influence

of the Reformation in stimulating Witchcraft-Luther—

The Inquisitors-The Theology of Witchcraft - First

Evidence of a Rationalistic Spirit in Europe-Wier-

answered by Bodin-Rationalistic Spirit fully manifested

in Montaigne-Charron-Rapid and silent Decadence of

the Belief in Witches-Opinions and Influence of La

Bruyère, Bayle, Descartes, Malebranche, and Voltaire-

Gradual Cessation of the Persecution in France-In Eng-

land, the First Law against Witchcraft was made under

Henry VIII.-Repealed in the following Reign, but re-

newed under Elizabeth-Cranmer and Jewel-Reginald

Scott pronounced Witchcraft a Delusion-The Law of

James I. Opinions of Coke, Bacon, Shakespeare, Brown,

and Selden-English Witchcraft reached its climax in the

Commonwealth-Declined immediately after the Restora-

tion-The Three Causes were, the Reaction against

Puritanism, the Influence of Hobbes, and the Baconian

Philosophy as represented by the Royal Society-Charge

of Sir Matthew Hale-Glanvil undertakes the Defence

of the Belief-Supported by Henry More, Cudworth,

Casaubon, &c.-Opposed by Webster and Wagstaafe-

Baxter vainly tries to revive the Belief by Accounts of

Witch Trials in America-Rapid Progress of the Scepticism

-Trial of Jane Wenham-Repeal of the Laws against

Witchcraft-Wesley's Summary of the History of the

Movement-Great Moderation of the English Church as

compared with Puritanism-Extreme Atrocity of the

Witch Persecution in Scotland, and its Causes-Slow

Decline of the Belief in Scotland-Conclusion

PAGE

. 1

CHAPTER II.

THE DECLINING SENSE OF THE MIRACULOUS.

THE MIRACLES OF THE CHURCH.

Miracles related by the Fathers and Medieval Writers as

ordinary and undoubted Occurrences-Rapid Growth of

Scepticism on the Subject since the Reformation-The

Sceptical Habit of Mind acts more powerfully on Contem-

porary than on Historical Narrations-Among the early

Protestants, the Cessation of Miracles supposed to have

taken place when the Fathers passed away--Persecution

regarded by some English Divines as a Substitute for

Miracles-Opinions of Locke and Newton on the Subject

-Tendencies of the Eighteenth Century adverse to the

Miraculous-Middleton-Discussion of his Principles by

Church, Dodwell, Gibbon, Hume, Farmer, Warburton,

and Douglas-General Abandonment of the Patristic

Miracles-Rise of Tractarianism-Small place Catholic

Miracles occupied in the Discussion it evoked-Weakness

of the common Arguments against the continuance of

Miracles -- Developement of Continental Protestantism

into Rationalism - Rationalistic Tendencies in Roman

Catholic Countries-Origin and Decline of the Evidential

School in England-Modification of the Conception of

Miracles-Reasonableness of the Doctrine of Interference

-Summary of the Stages of Rationalism in its relation

to the Miraculous-Its Causes-Its Influence on Chris-

tianity

PAGE

139

CHAPTER III.

ESTHETIC, SCIENTIFIC, AND MORAL DEVELOPEMENTS OF

RATIONALISM.

The Expectation of Miracles grows out of the Religious
Conceptions of an early Stage of Civilisation, and its
Decline implies a general Modification of Religious
Opinions-Fetishism probably the First Stage of Re-

ligious Belief-Examples of Fetish Notions in the
Early Church-Patristic Opinions concerning the Cross
and the Water of Baptism-Anthropomorphism the next
Stage-Men then ascribe the Government of the Universe
to Beings like themselves; but, being unable to concen-
trate their Attention on the Invisible, they fall into
Idolatry-Idolatry a Sign sometimes of Progress, and
sometimes of Retrogression-During its continuance, Art
is the most faithful Expression of Religious Realisation
-Influence of the National Religions on the Art of
Persia, Egypt, India, and Greece-The Art of the Cata-
combs altogether removed from Idolatry-Its Freedom
from Terrorism-Its Symbolism-Progress of Anthropo-
morphism-Position of the First Person of the Trinity
in Art-Growing Worship of the Virgin-Strengthened
by Gnosticism-by Dogmatic Definitions-by Painting,
Celibacy, and the Crusades-Its Moral Consequences
-Growth of Idolatrous Conceptions-Stages of the Vene-
ration of Relics-Tendency towards the Miraculous invests
Images with peculiar Sanctity-The Portrait of Edessa
-The Image at Paneas-Conversion of the Barbarians
makes Idolatry general-Decree of Illiberis-The Icono-
clasts The Second Council of Nice - St. Agobard-
Mahometanism the sole Example of a great Religion re-
straining Semi-barbarians from Idolatry-Three Causes
of its Success-Low Condition of Art during the Period
of Medieval Idolatry-Difference between the Religious
and Esthetic Sentiment-Aversion to Innovation-Con-
trast between the Pagan and Christian Estimate of the
Body-Greek Idolatry faded into Art-Its Four Stages-
A corresponding Transition takes place in Christendom—
Greek Influence on Art-Iconoclasm-Tradition of the
Deformity of Christ-The Byzantine Style-Broken by a
Study of Ancient Sculpture renewed by Nicolas of Pisa-
Christian School of Giotto and Fra Angelico-Corresponded
with the Intellectual Character of the Time-Influence of
Dante-Apocalyptic Subjects-Progress of Terrorism in
Art-Increase of Scepticism-Religious Paintings re-
garded simply as Studies of the Beautiful-Influence of
Venetian Sensuality-Sensuality favourable to Art-Pa-
rallel of Titian and Praxiteles-Influence of the Pagan