Page:The early Christians in Rome (1911).djvu/26

VII

THE ASCETIC AND THE MORE PRACTICAL SCHOOLS OF TEACHING

Two schools of teaching, showing how these difficulties were to
be met, evidently existed in the early Church—(A) The
school of Rigourists—Tertullian is a good example of a
teacher of this school—Effect of this school on artisans—On
popular amusements—On soldiers of the Legions—On
slaves—On family life—From this stern school came the
majority of the martyrs—(B) The gentler and more practical
school—exemplified in such writings as the Dialogue of
Minucius Felix and in writings of Clement of Alexandria,
etc.—Results of the teaching of the gentler school—Art was
still possible among Christians, although permeated with
heathen symbols—The Christian might still continue to
live in the Imperial court—might remain in the civil
service—in the army, etc.—Examples for such allowances
found in Old Testament writings—(C) The Rigourist school
again dwelt on—Its great influence on the pagan empire—The
final victory of Christianity was largely owing to the
popular impression of the life and conduct of followers of
this school—This impression was voiced by fourth century
writers such as Prudentius and Paulinus of Nola, and is
shown in the work of Pope Damasus in the catacombs 144

VIII

WHAT THE RELIGION OF JESUS OFFERED IN RETURN FOR THIS HARD
LIFE TO RIGOURISTS, AND IN A SLIGHTLY LESS DEGREE TO ALL
FOLLOWERS OF THE SECOND SCHOOL

(A) Freedom from ever-present fear of death—S. Paul,
Ignatius, and especially epitaphs in the Roman catacombs
are referred to here—(B) New terminology
for death, burial, etc., used—(C) The ever-present
consciousness of forgiveness of sins—(D) Hope of
immediate bliss after death—The power of the revelation
of S. John in early Christian life—(E) Was
Christian life in the early centuries after all a dreary
existence, as the pagans considered it? 153