Page:The Classical Heritage of the Middle Ages.djvu/101

 V] DIONYSroS THE AREOPAGITE 83 Enneads of Plotiniis which formed part of its mate- rials. Indeed, materials for it abounded in the minds and temperaments of the mystic, yet still dialectically constructive, Syro-Judaic, Hellenic, Christianized per- sonalities of Alexandria. They offered themselves temptingly to the hand strong enough to build with them. There was all that had entered into Neo- platonism, both in its more severely dialectic modes as established by Plotinus, and in its magic-mystic pagan foolishness as left by lamblichus. There was the Jewish angel lore, and the encroaching Eastern mood and fancy mingling with it, and there was Chris- tianity, — what did not that include as understood or felt by high and low, by shouting rabble or angry dogmatist, by the semi-pagan or by him who was all turned to Christ; by men and women, by dreamers, mystics, rhetoricians, soldiers, sycophants, and tyrants, Greeks, Syrians, Copts, hot-hearted African Latins, Italians, Romans, and all the sheer or semi-Hellenized or Romanized barbarians who thronged the Empire? There had been and still were great builders who had taken their materials from this mass of " Christian '* beliefs. From it materials were drawn for formula and creed ; also the principles of liturgic and sacramental doctrine and corresponding sacerdotal function. A great man like Augustine, his heart Ulled, not with vapors, but with real love of God, and having a mind of universal power, might from out of this same mass mould vital truths of Christ to a juristic scheme of sin and grace. But other portions made a potent part of faith for more men than would understand Augus- tine. These included the popular beliefs regarding