Million Book Collection - The Fishers of Men Ministries

WHEN CHRIST APPEARED.13divine* promptings, of its impetuosity and lawless-ness. What image is there in nature so strikingand awful as the long waves of the Atlantic bearingdown in storm upon a helpless ship, andsweeping it upon an iron-bound coast ! So brokethat wild sea of human error over the individualmind of man. The observer looked round uponall the nations, and it was everywhere the samea multiplicity of gods filling up the whole circleof human life, many-named, many-natured, but allwithout truth, purity, and justice ; full of violentand sensual deeds, and still viler imaginations.What stay was there for the spirit of man againstthat universal flood ? Its vastness was everywhWho was strong enough, who wise enough, to resistwhat all his fellows accepted ? And the struggleof a single soul against it might seem like thatof "some strong swimmer in his agony" alone atnight amid the waste of waters.3. For this polytheism was no dormant, otiospower withdrawn into the backround and crouing apart from the actions and feelings of dailylife. Its presence was indicated in every homeby the little images of the Lares ; homage wasdone to it at every table by libations ; everyhouse had its consecrated emblems ; every streetits statues of Hermes and serpents ; in the forum.there were feasts in honour of the gods ; theshops, taverns, and manufactories had little altarson which wine and incense were offered to them ;BRARY ST. MAWS COLLEG