Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. II.djvu/475

449 DEATH OF ALOjNSO DE AGUILAR. 449 proseljtism, were content with the exaction of trib- chapter ute from the vanquished ; at least, more vindictive '. — feelings were reserved only for idolaters, who did not, like the Jews and Christians, acknowledge with themselves the unity of God. With these latter denominations they had obvious sympathy, since it was their creed which formed the basis of their own.^* In Spain, where the fiery tempera- ment of the Arab was gradually softened under the influence of a temperate climate and higher mental culture, the toleration of the Jews and Christians, us we have already had occasion to notice, was so remarkable, that, within a few years after the con- quest, we find them not only protected in the enjoyment of civil and religious freedom, but min- gling on terms almost of equality with their con- querors. It is not necessary to inquire here, how far the c-ufesof •' i ' intolerance- different policy of the Christians was owing to the peculiar constitution of their hierarchy, which, composed of a spiritual militia drawn from every country in Europe, was cut off by its position from all human sympathies, and attached to no interests but its own ; which availed itself of the superior 35 Heeren seems willing to coun- tians, if Locke reasons justly, be- tenance the learned Pluquel in re- cause they firmly believe the im- garding Islaraism, in its ancient maculate conception, divine char- form, as one of the modifications acter, and miracles of the Messiah ; of Christianity ; placing the prin- heterodox in denying vehemently cipal difference between that and his character of Son, and his equal- Socinianism, for example, in the ity, as God, with the Father, of mere rites of circumcision and bap- whose unity and attributes they en- tism. (Essai sur I'lnfluence des tertain and express the most awful Croisades,traduit par Villers, (Par- ideas." See his Dissertation on is, 1808,) p. 175, not.) " The Mus- the Gods of Greece, Italy, and sulmans," says Sir William Jones, India; Works, (London, 1799,) " are a sort of heterodox Chris- vol. i. p. 279 VOL. II. 57