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Causes of the decline of their influence
Corruption of most human institutions
The Jesuits become rich and then corrupt
Esprit de corps of the Jesuits
Their doctrine of expediency
Their political intrigues
Persecution of the Protestants
The enemies they made
Madame de Pompadour
Suppression of the Order
Their return to power
Reasons why Protestants fear and dislike them
JOHN CALVIN。
PROTESTANT THEOLOGY。
John Calvin's position
His early life and precocity
Becomes a leader of Protestants
Removes to Geneva
His habits and character
Temporary exile
Convention at Frankfort
Melancthon； Luther； Calvin； and Catholic doctrines
Return to Geneva； and marriage
Calvin compared with Luther
Calvin as a legislator
His reform
His views of the Eucharist
Excommunication； etc
His dislike of ceremonies and festivals
The simplicity of the worship of God
His ideas of church government
Absence of toleration
Church and State
Exaltation of preaching
Calvin as a theologian； his Institutes
His doctrine of Predestination
His general doctrines in harmony with Mediaeval theology
His views of sin and forgiveness； Calvinism
He exacts the same authority to logical deduction from admitted
truths as to direct declarations of Scripture
Puritans led away by Calvin's intellectuality
His whole theology radiates from the doctrine of the majesty of God
and the littleness of man
To him a personal God is everything
Defects of his system
Calvin an aristocrat
His intellectual qualities
His prodigious labors
His severe characteristics
His vast influence
His immortal fame
LORD BACON。
THE NEW PHILOSOPHY。
Lord Bacon as portrayed by Macaulay
His great defects of character
Contrast made between the man and the philosopher
Bacon's youth and accomplishments
Enters Parliament
Seeks office
At the height of fortune and fame
His misfortunes
Consideration of charges against him
His counterbalancing merits
The exaltation by Macaulay of material life
Bacon made its exponent
But the aims of Bacon were higher
The true spirit of his philosophy
Deductive philosophies
His new method
Bacon's Works
Relations of his philosophy
Material science and knowledge
Comparison of knowledge with wisdom
GALILEO。
ASTRONOMICAL DISCOVERIES。
A brilliant portent
The greatness of the sixteenth century
Artists； scholars； reformers； religious defenders
Maritime discoveries
Literary； ecclesiastical； political achievements
Youth of Galileo
His early discoveries
Genius for mathematics
Professor at Pisa
Ridicules the old philosophers； invents the thermometer
Compared with Kepler
Galileo teaches the doctrines of Copernicus。
Gives offence by his railleries and mockeries。
Theology and science
Astronomical knowledge of the Ancients
Utilization of science
Construction of the first telescope
Galileo's reward
His successive discoveries
His enemies
High scientific rank in Europe
Hostility of the Church
Galileo summoned before the Inquisition； his condemnation and
admonition
His new offences
Summoned before a council of Cardinals
His humiliation
His recantations
Consideration of his position
Greatness of mind rather than character
His confinement at Arceti
Opposition to science
His melancholy old age and blindness
Visited by John Milton； comparison of the two； when blind
Consequence of Galileo's discoveries
Later results
Vastness of the universe
Grandeur of astronomical science
BEACON LIGHTS OF HISTORY。
DANTE。
A。D。 1265…1321。
RISE OF MODERN POETRY。
The first great genius who aroused his country from the torpor of
the Middle Ages was a poet。 Poetry； then； was the first influence
which elevated the human mind amid the miseries of a gloomy period；
if we may except the schools of philosophy which flourished in the
rising universities。 But poetry probably preceded all other forms
of culture in Europe； even as it preceded philosophy and art in
Greece。 The gay Provencal singers were harbingers of Dante； even
as unknown poets prepared the way for Homer。 And as Homer was the
creator of Grecian literature； so Dante； by his immortal comedy；
gave the first great impulse to Italian thought。 Hence poets are
great benefactors； and we will not let them die in our memories or
hearts。 We crown them； when alive； with laurels and praises； and
when they die； we erect monuments to their honor。 They are dear to
us； since their writings give perpetual pleasure； and appeal to our
loftiest sentiments。 They appeal not merely to consecrated ideas
and feelings； but they strive to conform to the principles of
immortal art。 Every great poet is as much an artist as the
sculptor or the painter： and art survives learning itself。 Varro；
the most learned of the Romans； is forgotten； when Virgil is
familiar to every school…boy。 Cicero himself would not have been
immortal； if his essays and orations had not conformed to the
principles of art。 Even an historian who would live must be an
artist； like Voltaire or Macaulay。 A cumbrous； or heavy； or
pedantic historian will never be read； even if his learning be
praised by all the critics of Germany。
Poets are the great artists of language。 They even create
languages； like Homer and Shakspeare。 They are the ornaments of
literature。 But they are more than ornaments。 They are the sages
whose sayings are treasured up and valued and quoted from age to
age； because of the inspiration which is given to them；an insight
into the mysteries of the soul and the secrets of life。 A good
song is never lost； a good poem is never buried； like a system of
philosophy； but has an inherent vitality； like the melodies of the
son of Jesse。 Real poetry is something； too； beyond elaborate
versification； which is one of the literary fashions； and passes
away like other fashions unless； redeemed by something that arouses
the soul； and elevates it； and appeals to the consciousness of
universal humanity。 It is the poets who make revelations； like
prophets and sages of old； it is they who invest history with
interest； like Shakspeare and Racine； and preserve what is most
vital and valuable in it。 They even adorn philosophy； like
Lucretius； when he speculated on the systems of the Ionian
philosophers。 They certainly impress powerfully on the mind the
truths of theology； as Watts and Cowper and Wesley did in their
noble lyrics。 So that the most rapt and imaginative of men； if
artists； utilize the whole realm of knowledge； and diffuse it； and
perpetuate it in artistic forms。 But real poets are rare； even if
there are many who glory in the jingle of language and the
structure of rhyme。 Poetry； to live； must have a soul； and it must
combine rare things；art； music； genius； original thought； wisdom
made still richer by learning； and； above all； a power of appealing
to inner sentiments； which all feel； yet are reluctant to express。
So choice are the gifts； so grand are the qualities； so varied the
attainments of truly great poets； that very few are born in a whole
generation and in nations that number twenty or forty millions of
people。 They are the rarest of gifted men。 Every nation can boast
of its illustrious lawyers； statesmen； physicians； and orators； but
they can point only to a few of their poets with pride。 We can
count on the fingers of one of our hands all those worthy of poetic
fame who now live in this great country of intellectual and
civilized men； one for every ten millions。 How great the pre…
eminence even of ordinary poets！ How very great the pre…eminence
of those few whom all ages and nations admire！
The critics assign to Dante a pre…eminence over most of those we
call immortal。 Only two or three other poets in the whole realm of
literature； ancient or modern； dispute his throne。 We compare him
with Homer and Shakspeare； and perhaps Goethe； alone。 Civilization
glories in Virgil； Milton； Tasso； Racine； Pope； and Byron；all
immortal artists； but it points to only four men concerning whose
transcendent creative power there is unanimity of judgment；
prodigies of genius； to whose influence and fame we can assign no
limits； stars of such surpassing brilliancy that we can only gaze
and wonder；growing brighter and brighter； too； with the progress
of ages； so remarkable that no barbarism will ever obscure their
brightness； so original that all imitation of them becomes
impossible and absurd。 So great is original genius； directed by
art and consecrated to lofty sentiments。
I have assumed the difficult task of presenting one of these great
lights。 But I do not presume to analyze his great poem； or to
point out critically its excellencies。 This would be beyond my
powers； even if I were an Italian。 It takes a poet to reveal a
poet。 Nor is criticism