Thus the Romans, as well as Greeks, produced works in all departments of literature that will bear comparison with the masterpieces of modern times.  And where would have been the literature of the early Church, or of the age of the Reformation, or of modern nations, had not the great original writers of Athens and Rome been our school-masters?  When we further remember that their glorious literature was created by native genius, without the aid of Christianity, we are filled with amazement, and may almost be excused if we deify the reason of man.  Nor, indeed, have greater triumphs of intellect been witnessed in these our Christian times than are produced among that class which is the least influenced by Christian ideas.  Some of the proudest trophies of genius have been won by infidels, or by men stigmatized as such.  Witness Voltaire, Rousseau, Diderot, Hegel, Fichte, Gibbon, Hume, Buckle.  May there not be the greatest practical infidelity with the most artistic beauty and native reach of thought?  Milton ascribes the most sublime intelligence to Satan and his angels on the point of rebellion against the majesty of Heaven.  A great genius may be kindled even by the fires of discontent and ambition, which may quicken the intellectual faculties while consuming the soul, and spread their devastating influence on the homes and hopes of man.

Since, then, we are assured that literature as well as art may flourish under Pagan influences, it seems certain that Christianity has a higher mission than the culture of the mind.  Religious scepticism cannot be disarmed if we appeal to Christianity as the test of intellectual culture.  The realm of reason has no fairer fields than those that are adorned by Pagan achievements.

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AUTHORITIES.

There are no better authorities than the classical authors themselves, and their works must be studied in order to comprehend the spirit of ancient literature.  Modern historians of Roman literature are merely critics, like Dalhmann, Schlegel, Niebuhr, Muller, Mommsen, Mure, Arnold, Dunlap, and Thompson.  Nor do I know of an exhaustive history of Roman literature in the English language; yet nearly every great writer has occasional criticisms upon the subject which are entitled to respect.  The Germans, in this department, have no equals.