ching of past
prophets, even while it was slaying and persecuting those who were
living. But discussion and custom cannot be thus combined; their
'method,' as modern philosophers would say, is antagonistic.
Accordingly, the progress of the classical states gradually awakened
the whole intellect; that of Judaea was partial and improved religion
only. And, therefore, in a history of intellectual progress, the
classical fills the superior and the Jewish the inferior place; just as
in a special history of theology only, the places of the two might be
interchanged.

A second experiment has been tried on the same subject--matter. The
characteristic of the Middle Ages may be approximately--though only
approximately--described as a return to the period of authoritative
usage and as an abandonment of the classical habit of independent and
self-choosing thought. I do not for an instant mean that this is an
exact description of the main mediaeval characteristic; nor can I
discuss how far that characteristic was an advance upon those of
previous times; its friends say it is far better than the peculiarities
of the classical period; its enemies that it is far worse. But both
friends and enemies will admit that the most marked feature of the
Middle Ages may roughly be described as I have described it. And my
point is that just as this mediaeval characteristic was that of a
return to the essence of the customary epoch which had marked the
pre-Athenian times, so it was dissolved much in the same manner as the
influence of Athens, and other influences like it, claim to have
dissolved that customary epoch.

The principal agent in breaking up the persistent medieval customs,
which were so fixed that they seemed likely to last for ever, or till
some historical catastrophe overwhelmed them, was the popular element
in the ancient polity which was everywhere diffused in the Middle Ages.
The Germanic tribes brought with them from their ancient dwelling-place
a polity containing, like the classical, a king, a council, and a
popular assembly; and wherever they went, they carried these elements
and varied them, as force compelled or circumstances required. As far
as England is concerned, the excellent dissertations of Mr. Freeman and
Mr. Stubbs have proved this in the amplest manner, and brought it home
to persons who cannot claim to possess much antiquarian learning. The
history of the English Constitution, as far as the world cares for it,
i