BABYLON AND PERSIA

THE GATHAS.IO9marks the same scholar, " which ranks next inantiquity to the Gathas, we already pass into anatmosphere distinct from them. The dialect stilllingers, but the spirit is changed." The fact is thatall history shows how impossible it is for any religionor doctrine to maintain itself on the level of absoluteloftiness and purity on which it was placed by the.founder or reformer. He is one man in a nation,above and ahead of his time, his race, nay, mankindin general ; so are, in a lesser, degree, his immediatefollowers, his first disciples. But the mass of thosewho learn from him and themthe herdis com¬posed of average minds, which, after the first enthu¬siasm has cooled and the novelty has worn off, feelbut ill at ease on an altitude that makes too greatdemands on their spiritual powers. Then there arethe old habits, which, as the strain is irksomely felt,reassert themselves with all the sacredness of eariynay, ancestral, association, all the sweetness of fa¬miliarity. Then begins the work of adaptation ; thenew religion is half uncon.sciously fitted to the old ;there is a gradual revival of ancient idea.s, ancientpoetry, ancient forms and usagesand scarce a life¬time has elapsed after the reformer has passed away,when his work is changed beyond recognition, andthe doctrine and practice of those who still callthemselves his followers, have become a medley ofwhat he taught and the very things against which herose in protest. Still, on the whole, there is realprogress : the new spirit remains, the standard hasbeen raised, and a new step taken towards the ideala step which can never be retraced.