primarily, and not of ideas. Christianity j made itself master of ideas and man- I ners, communicated to them a new im- ' ! pulse, and gave them a different dlrec- I tion. The whole process, however, was, in the i nature of things, gradual; the rigor of slave J > laws became relaxed, their observance was ! i neglected, their equity doubted, their expedi- ; ency questioned, until at length the institu -1 tion crumbled to its downfall.