postles were of Gnostic origin, is altogether
unsupported, as the Belgian editors of his work justly observe. Christ
is frequently represented also as seated amid His apostles, of whom
SS. Peter and Paul were favourite subjects of the old artists: see
Raoul-Rochette c. VI, where he mentions, after the older antiquaries,
the ancient representations of S. Ciriaca, S Priscilla, SS. Stephen,
Cyprian, Laurence, Agnes, and other martyrs. During Diocletian's
persecution, the provincial council of Eliberis in Spain decreed, that
there should be no paintings on the walls of churches: its 36th canon
was evidently intended to save sacred pictures from the profanations
perpetrated by the pagans. The faithful however, fertile in
expedients to gratify their devotion, now began to use those portable
representations of pious subjects called diptychs, because they
generally consisted of two tablets which could at pleasure be _folded_
together. They were formed of ivory or wood, and resembled the
presents of that name formerly sent by the consuls on the day of their
entrance into office: on these were usually inscribed the names and
the portraits of the new magistrates. (Symmachus lib. 2, ep. 80, all
71). The sacred diptychs, of which many are preserved in the Vatican
Library, were easily saved from the fury of the Iconoclasts. Their
folding form without their portability is preserved in many of the
ancient altar-pieces of Italian and other churches and from them the
modern altar-pieces are derived: they did not however supersede the
use of frescoes, or mosaics, as is evident from innumerable ancient
and modern ecclesiastical monuments of this city. In the preceding
chapter we laid before our readers the doctrine of the catholic church
concerning respect paid to images, p. 80.]

[Footnote 124: "He is risen; he is not here. But _go, tell_ his
disciples and _Peter_, that he goeth before you into Galilee". Mark
XV, 6 7.]

[Footnote 125: This Hebrew word, which frequently occurs in psalms
of praise, CIV, 34, CV, 45, CVI, 1, etc. has been preserved, as well
as _Amen_, and _Sabaoth_, in its original form in most liturgies.
According to S. Gregory (Ep. 64, ind. 2). who appeals to S. Jerome's
authority, it was introduced into the Roman liturgy in the time of
Pope Damasus. S. Gregory forbade it to be sung at funerals, (as it had
been at that of Fabiola: S. Jerome in Epitaphio Fabiolae;) or during
Lent.]

[Footnote 126: Gavant and others, foll