ART OF SCULPTURE IN ENGLAND.

195 The Sacrifice of Isaac, sculptured ou a Sdiccpha^us at Rome. of those remains of ancient genius, whicli still continued, not- withstanding the destruction of the people who had given them bu'th, to govern the imaginations of succeeding ages. The examples to which I would chiefly call attention are taken from sarcophagi in the cryi^t of St. Peter's at Rome, and are evidently applications of profane compositions to Christian purposes. In regard to these, as well as the adop- tion of profane symlDols, frequently found on old Christian monuments, it may not be irrelevant to observe, that the early Christians, to avoid the persecution directed against them, symbolized their religious rites, borrowing for that purpose such of the usages of the pagan mysteries, ^dth whicli many of them were acquainted, as they found suitable. AVhen St. Austin was sent to convert the Saxons, A.D. 59G, the Pope, Gregory I., instructed him to accommodate the Christian forms of worship as well as he could to the previous customs of his disciples, to convert the heathen temples into churches, and to establish Cluistian, in the place of pagan, rites. This fact may serve to account for the preservation of many pagan symbols which are found in this country.