Classical Theology.—Lxxiii.

CLASSICAL THEOLOGY . —LXXIII .

LONDON , SATURDAY , FEBRUARY 13 , 1864

JUNO AND JANUARY . The Altare ah altitucline , or exalted Altar , was l-aised , as the words imply , hig h , above the pavement , and signifies the particular place where sacrifices were wholly and only devoted to . the

celestial deities ; whereas twos ( Bomos ) , was used not peculiarly to denote the high altar , but likewise those low ones , denominated arce ; according to whom they were consecrated , namely , as to © col xfl" « " ( Theoi K & onioi ) , the celestial gods , and

& eol e i X 8 onoi ( Theoi Epixhonioi ) , the terrestrialgods , but collectively of each . The signification of Ma-yaAoi Qt-oi . ( Magaloi Theoi ) , implies the great gods , or deities . The altar of Jupiter the Olympian , described by Pausanias , was more than twenty feet in height ; whereas those of the heroes , or

Epixthonioi Eroes , called Eskarai , were not above half a foot high . The Greeks also dug out little trenches , named Lakkoi and Bothroi , which they used instead of altars , when they sacrificed to Ipocthdnioi ( ypeeSyioi ) , and Katakhonioi , & c .

( KaToxfloyioi ) , or the infernal deities . The figures of the Dodeca eisi ( AS ^ ca ei < n ) , Theoi megaloi (@ eoi p . eya \ oi ) , or Duodecim sunt Dei mdgni , which is to say , the twelve higher deities , were painted in the portico of the Ceramicus , where the Athenians

slain in war were buried , and represented in other porticos , as of the Pantheon . * The names of these tAvelve could be classified with an equal number of divinities of many nations , answering to the same attributes , and placed side by side as follows : —

Zeus , Jupiter . Juno , Hera . Poseidon , ISTeptunus . Pallas , Minerva . Apollon , Apollo . Demeter , Ceres . Hephaitus , Vulcanus . A phrodite , Venus . Ares , Mars . Artemis , Diana-Hermes , Mercurius . Hestia , Vesta .

The Athenians had , likewise , an altar erected to the highest honour of these deities , called Bw / tus TBi' StoSeKa eeov ( Bomus ton dodeca Theon ) , that is , the altar of the twelve gods and goddesses . In fact , the ancients avowed the greatest veneration

towards these once mi ghty beings of then- worshi p and immortality , and reverential honour to their heroic sons , for the gods , we may bear in mind ,

Classical Theology.—Lxxiii.

saw the daughters of man " that they were fair . " Likewise the ancient nations generally , as 'did the Jews , put much assured belief in the transmigration of souls . In truth , all nations have " possessed religious systems of their own , which ^ have

crumbled , and are crumbling , before the revealed religion of Christ , which again has many systems . So lone- as religion forms an established system of a nation or country , the priests respectively , if deeply learned , can have no views

contrary to those of his Church , and it is not of the religion but on its system that they would think of solemnly deliberating upon making any change . Consequently , by the adjustment of knowledge , a doctor of divinity , or rather

any ecclesiastic , proves his positive deficiency in theological reasoning , by attempting- to depart from his Church ; and , by detracting fromthe truths of the Holy Testaments , proclaims himself unfit for his holy office . Some diAdne being ,

namely a God , is believed to have instituted all religions that have been established according to the history of their many founders . Thus one religion has given place to another , and more or less each have pointed to one Savour and one

religion , relative to which the Christian Religion is an universally predicted religion . It is so , even as it is divided into many systems , the abuses of which , in its own sure and certain way , it takes upon itself to reform , as , with a mysterious

progress , silently and surely , it approaches day by day , hour by hour , hy in-visible agencies , and glorious achievements , nearer , and nearer to its . final victory and fulfilment . " Let there be lig ht . ' And Ave catchup the expressive words and say , " Let

there be li ght . " Let each sentence of the Holy Scriptures be correctly and plainly expounded , literally as they have been translated into our own language , and there can be no fear as to the result .

Architectural London In 1884.

ARCHITECTURAL LONDON IN 1884 .

( From the Builder . ) The possible aspect of London as it mi ght appear to the problematical New Zealander , in that far-off future in which civilization and commercial prosperity may have been displaced from thenpresent centre and removed to the antipodes , has been traced b

y a master hand . But that dreamy picture of architectural ruin belongs to a state of things too distant , and too inconceivable to create any really serious interest in the present generation , or to materially influence the studies or aspirations of our existing architects and engineers .