sulted by the majority. They were in reality the sorcerers of the period; and it is quite sufficient to have read a work like the biography of Philostratus to be fully convinced of the serious mistake made by some contemporary historians when they say that magic was one of the consequences of Christianity, in this sense, viz., that it was the legitimate reaction of natural religion as opposed to priestly tyranny and oppression. It is far more reasonable to conclude, that with all its illusions and all its impostures, this magic was one of the far too numerous relics of polytheism which Christianity, even in our own day, has not been able to eradicate entirely. The magician of ancient times wrought his magic wonders, as the witch of our own days is said to do, either by the instrumentality of evil spirits, or by virtue of certain forms, ceremonies, and incantations which are of an immoral tendency. Accordingly we find that the sorcerer is a dangerous creature, whose sole aim is to secure his own personal benefit and the satisfaction of his evil passions; now the ruling power for the
