It  was  a  hard  and  stern  discipline,  which  undoubtedly
left  out  some  of  the  most  charming,  right  and  lovable
sides  of  life  and  human  nature ;  but  it  may  be  doubted  if
any  less  stem  discipline  could  have  availed  to  teach  the
world  as  it  then  was  and  bend  it  to  the  reign  of  law.  It
is  a  case  similar  to  that  of  Scotland  under  the  old  Cal-
vinistic  rigime,  stern  and  hard  and  narrow ;  but  would
any  milder  and  more  lovable  rule  ever  have  been  able  to
tame  a  stubborn  and  self-willed  race,  among  whom  law
had  never  before  been  able  to  establish  itself  firmly?

And  as  to  the  prophetess,  she  had  had  long  time  to
think  and  to  learn  wisdom  ;  the  question  had  been  agitated
for  a  great  many  years  ;  but  she  had  learned  nothing  and
forgotten  nothing,  and  only  clung  more  closely  to  the  policy
of  compromising  with  idolatry.  Her  end  is  expressed  with
a  grim  irony,  which  was  probably  far  more  full  of  mean-
ing to  the  Thyatirans  than  to  modem  readers  :  there  are
allusions  in  the  passage  that  escape  us.  She  should  have
her  last  great  sacrificial  meal  at  one  of  those  associations.
352     XXIV.    The  Letter  to  the  Church  in  Thyatira

"  I  set  her  on  a  dining-couch,  and  her  vile  associates  with
her,  and  they  shall  have  opportunity  to  enjoy  great — tri-
bulation :  unless  they  repent,  for  she  has  shown  that  she
cannot  repent."

Probably,  part  of  the  effect  of  this  denunciation  depends
on  the  ancient  custom  and  usage  as  regards  women.
