Sketch of the Religious Sects of the Hindus c1.13

c1.13

These collections of stories were not merely for entertainment; they were used by preachers to illustrate their sermons. The *Gesta Romanorum*, in particular, was a mine of material for the pulpit. The stories were often provided with a moral application, which made them suitable for religious instruction. This practice of using secular stories for religious purposes was common in the Middle Ages, and it helped to preserve many ancient tales that might otherwise have been lost.