d from the Hebrews has
died down into formalism. I speak of the period immediately preceding
the later Renaissance and the Reformation. Strange to say, it was in a
large measure the Ottoman Turk who came to the rescue. He over-ran
Greece, captured Constantinople, and was the cause of a great westward
exodus of Greek talent and learning. Italy in particular was filled with
Greeks whose profit and pride it was to spread far and wide the
literature and culture of their nation. The avidity with which this new
learning was received was marvellous; still more marvellous was the
effect. It was, in truth, a _renaissance_, a new birth of intellect. It
meant no less than a general revival of the spirit of inquiry, of
open-eyed observation, of a desire and a resolve to see things as they
were, and not as tradition and dogma had taught men to see them. Italy,
France, Germany and England became alive with fresh efforts of the
reason, inspired with fresh ideas of taste and beauty in artistic
creation, and with new hopes and schemes of progress. The astonishing
abundance, the immense variety, and the splendid quality of the
Elizabethan literature are due to no other recognisable cause. It was
one and the same cause that made Michael Angelo, Shakespeare, and Bacon
possible. A new springtime seemed to have dawned upon the world of
thought. This was the second period of Hellenic influence, an influence
wholly intellectual and artistic.

Following the re-awakening of speculation came the Reformation. The
Reformation brought the reading of the Bible at first hand, and a new
style of preaching and exhorting directly from it. In religion and
morals the reformers fell back upon the Scriptures themselves. They
drank in the Scriptures, and therewith the Hebraic spirit which pervades
them. In most cases the salutary effect upon character and conduct can
hardly be overstated. In other cases there was extravagance and harm.
Uncompromisingly, and not very intelligently, did they speak Scripture,
think Scripture, and act Scripture, like Hebrews born out of due
season. Knox invested himself with the austere authority of the Hebrew
prophet; Calvin was fain to hew Agag in pieces before the Lord. The
Puritans of England became fanatical in their sombre conception of sin
and in the rigour of their exaggerated Hebraism. Here was the second
period of Hebraic influence, an influence wholly moral and religious.

In each case the new invasion of the Hellenic