Thus enthusiasm was kindled in a despairing and unbelieving world.  And probably the world never saw, in any age, such devotion and zeal for an invisible power.  It was animated by the hope of a glorious immortality, of which Christianity alone, of all ancient religions, inspired a firm conviction.  In this future existence were victory and blessedness everlasting,—­not to be had unless one was faithful unto death.  This sublime faith—­this glorious assurance of future happiness, this devotion to an unseen King—­made a strong impression on those who witnessed the physical torments which the sufferers bore with unspeakable triumph.  There must be, they thought, something in a religion which could take away the sting of death and rob the grave of its victory.  The noble attestation of faith in Jesus did perhaps more than any theological teachings towards the conversion of men to Christianity.  And persecution and isolation bound the Christians together in bonds of love and harmony, and kept them from the temptations of life There was a sort of moral Freemasonry among the despised and neglected followers of Christ, such as has not been seen before or since.  They were in the world but not of the world.  They were the precious salt to preserve what was worth preserving in a rapidly dissolving Empire.  They formed a new power, which would be triumphant amid the universal destruction of old institutions; for the soul would be saved, and Christianity taught that the soul was everything,—­that nothing could be given in exchange for it.

The other influence which seemed to preserve the early Christians from the overwhelming materialism of the times was the asceticism which so early became prevalent.  It had not been taught by Jesus, but seemed to arise from the necessities of the times.  It was a fierce protest against the luxuries of an enervated age.  The passion for dress and ornament, and the indulgence of the appetites and other pleasures which pampered the body, and which were universal, were a hindrance to the enjoyment of that spiritual life which Christianity unfolded.  As the soul was immortal and the body was mortal, that which was an impediment to the welfare of what was most precious was early denounced.  In order to preserve the soul from the pollution of material pleasures, a strenuous protest was made.  Hence that defiance of the pleasures of sense which gave loftiness and independence of character soon became a recognized and cardinal virtue.  The Christian stood aloof from the banquets and luxuries which undermined the virtues on which the strength of man is based.  The characteristic vices of the Pagan world were unchastity and fondness for the pleasures of the table.  To these were added the lesser vices of display and ornaments in dress.  From these the Christian fled as fatal enemies to his spiritual elevation.  I do not believe it was the ascetic ideas imported from India, such as marked the Brahmins, nor the visionary