82 Readings in European History exhortation is not suited to all, because all are not bound by the same manner of character. For ofttimes the things which profit some are bad for others. Inasmuch as for the most part the herbs also which feed some animals kill others; and a gentle whistling which stilleth horses setteth dogs astir; and the medicine which abateth one disease giveth force to another ; and the bread which strengtheneth the life of the vigorous putteth an end to that of babes. The speech, therefore, of teachers ought to be fashioned according to the condition of the hearers, that it may both /be suited to each for his own needs, and yet may never /depart from the system of general edification. For what are the attentive minds of the hearers but, as I may so say, certain strings stretched tight on a harp which he that is skillful in playing, to the end that he may produce a tune which shall not be at variance with itself, striketh in various ways ? And therefore the strings give back harmonious melody because they are beaten with one quill indeed but not with one stroke. Whence also every teacher, to the end that he may edify all in the one virtue of charity, ought to touch the hearts of his hearers out of one system of teaching but not with one and the same address. BIBLIOGRAPHY A. Refer- General Accounts: EMERTON, Introduction, pp. 93-109; ADAMS, ences. Civilization, Chapter IX, pp. 92-1 13 ; BEMONT and MONOD, pp. 1 15-124. Gregory the Great : GIBBON, Vol. V, Chapter XLV, end, pp. 25-32 ; OMAN, pp. 198-203. B. Addi- NEWMAN, Manual of Church History, Vol. I. Covering the whole tional read- period before the Protestant Revolt. The most useful recent introduc-
- En *tis/i tion t0 the sub J ect ' with S ood bibliographies. 1
1 The innumerable histories of the Church are all of them somewhat unsatis- factory from the standpoint of the ordinary historical student who turns to them for an account of the general development of the Church and the rise of the papacy. He is likely to be especially confused and impeded by the frequent and often highly technical discussions of heresies and doctrinal controversies which have always had an irresistible charm for ecclesiastical writers. Nevertheless the
