been more profitably spent on their
own Scriptures, to becoming acquainted with the Mohammedan religion, and
even to unravelling the intricacies of the controversial theology which
had grown up round, and overlaid, the original simplicity of the
Koran.[2] The great Fathers of the Church were laid aside unread, and
even the Prophets and Apostles, and the Gospel itself, found few to
study them. While the higher classes were indifferent to religion, the
lower were sunk in poverty[3] and ignorance.[4] The inevitable result of
this indifference, ignorance, and poverty, was a visible deterioration
in the character of Spanish Christianity, of which there are only too
many proofs.

[1] Samson, "Apol.," c. vii.

[2] Alvar, "Ind. Lum.," sec. 35--"Ac dum illorum sacramenta
inquirimus, et philosophorum sectas scire non pro ipsorum
convincendis erroribus sed pro elegantia leporis et locutione
luculenter diserta. Quis rogo hodie solers in nostris fidelibus
laicis invenitur, qui Scripturis sanctis intentus volumina
quorumcunque Doctorum Latine conscripta respiciat? Quis
Evangelico, quis Prophetico, quis Apostolico ustus tenetur
amore? Nonne omnes iuvenes Christiani vultu decori, linguae
diserti, habitu gestuque conspicui, Gentilicia eruditione
praeclari, Arabico eloquio sublimati, volumina Chaldaeorum
avidissime tractunt?"

[3] Florez, xix. 383, Charter of 993; see also "Dozy," iii. 31;
and for the condition of Christians in the Free States, Buckle,
"Hist. of Civiliz.," i. 443.

[4] Dozy (l.l.).

We find the abbot Samson distinctly accusing Hostegesis, Bishop of
Malaga, of simony, asserting that he sold the priesthood to low and
unworthy people;[1] while Alvar charges Saul, Bishop of Cordova, with
obtaining his bishopric by bribery.[2] Other irregularities imputed to
Hostegesis were that he held his see from his twentieth year, contrary
to the canons of the church, and that he beat priests, in order to
extort money from them, till they died under his hands.

Besides the election to the priesthood, by unworthy means, of unworthy
men, whose ignorance and impudence the congregation had to endure in
silence,[3] many were informally ordained without vouchers for character
being given, or the assent of their fellow-clergy and flocks being
obtained.[4] Many churches presented the unseemly spectacle of two rival
pastors, contrary to the ordinances received from the Fathe