the
condition of Greece with which history first presents us:--

'The mantic art is an institution totally different from the
priesthood. It is based on the belief that the gods are in constant
proximity to men, and in their government of the world, which
comprehends every thing both great and small, will not disdain to
manifest their will; nay, it seems necessary that, whenever any hitch
has arisen in the moral system of the human world, this should also
manifest itself by some sign in the world of nature, if only mortals
are able to understand and avail themselves of these divine hints.

'For this a special capacity is requisite; not a capacity which can be
learnt like a human art or science, but rather a peculiar state of
grace in the case of single individuals and single families whose ears
and eyes are opened to the divine revelations, and who participate more
largely than the rest of mankind in the divine spirit. Accordingly it
is their office and calling to assert themselves as organs of the
divine will; they are justified in opposing their authority to every
power of the world. On this head conflicts were unavoidable, and the
reminiscences living in the Greek people, of the agency of a Tiresias
and Calchas, prove how the Heroic kings experienced not only support
and aid, but also opposition and violent protests, from the mouths of
the men of prophecy.'

In Judaea there was exactly the same opposition as elsewhere. All that
is new comes from the prophets; all which is old is retained by the
priests. But the peculiarity of Judaea--a peculiarity which I do not
for a moment pretend that I can explain--is that the prophetic
revelations are, taken as a whole, indisputably improvements; that they
contain, as time goes on, at each succeeding epoch, higher and better
views of religion. But the peculiarity is not to my present purpose. My
point is that there is no such spreading impetus in progress thus
caused as there is in progress caused by discussion. To receive a
particular conclusion upon the ipse dixit, upon the accepted authority
of an admired instructor, is obviously not so vivifying to the
argumentative and questioning intellect as to argue out conclusions for
yourself. Accordingly the religious progress caused by the prophets did
not break down that ancient code of authoritative usage. On the
contrary, the two combined. In each generation the conservative
influence 'built the sepulchres' and accepted the tea