The Influence of The English Church on Anglo-Saxon Civilization BEING THE LECTURES DELIVERED BEFORE THE CHURCHMAN'S LEAGUE OF THE Preface HE question of the mutual relations between TH history of the English people affords many instructive illustrations, is one of peculiar interest and importance, and has often claimed the attention of thoughtful minds. While progress in Civilization may be recognized as being a part of the Divine order of things, yet there is much in the principles of Civilization which is antagonistic to Christianity, so that the inevitable conflict, so constantly spoken of in the New Testament, between Christianity and the World, is continually existing. The purifying and refining force of Christianity, however, has been so felt by Civilization, that it is an undeniable fact of history that the most civilized nations are the most Christian, and that Civilization reaches its highest point in those nations which possess the highest ideals of Christian duty and strive to carry their principles into action. We shall plainly see, if we read aright the lessons of the past, that true progress will be found in the end to consist, not in the mere attainment of material prosperity, but in the development of character, and that no nation has ever permanently flourished in which that principle has been lost sight of or disregarded. The purpose of these lectures, delivered in Saint |