IshouldnothavepresumedtochooseforanylecturesofminesuchasubjectasthatwhichIhavetriedtotreatinthisbook。ThesubjectwaschosenbytheInstitutionwherethelecturesweredelivered。StilllessshouldIhavepresumedtoprintthemofmyownaccord，knowinghowfragmentaryandcrudetheyare。Theywereprintedatthespecialrequestofmyaudience。Leastofall，perhaps，oughtItohavepresumedtopublishthem，asIhavedone，atCambridge，whereanyinaccuracyorsciolismandthatsuchdefectsexistinthesepages，Icannotbutfear
　　wouldbeinstantlydetected，andseverelycensured:butnevertheless，itseemedtomethatCambridgewasthefittestplaceinwhichtheycouldseethelight，becausetoCambridgeImainlyowewhatlittlerightmethodorsoundthoughtmaybefoundinthem，orindeed，inanythingwhichIhaveeverwritten。Intheheydayofyouthfulgreedinessandambition，whenthemind，dazzledbythevastnessandvarietyoftheuniverse，mustneedsknoweverything，orratherknowabouteverything，atonceandonthespot，toomanyareapt，asIhavebeeninpastyears，tocomplainofCambridgestudiesastoodryandnarrow:butastimeteachesthestudent，yearbyyear
　　whatisreallyrequiredforanunderstandingoftheobjectswithwhichhemeets，hebeginstofindthathisUniversity，inasfarashehasreallyreceivedherteachingintohimself，hasgivenhim，inhercriticism，hermathematics，aboveall，inPlato，somethingwhichallthepopularknowledge，thelecturesandinstitutionsoftheday，andevengoodbooksthemselves，cannotgive，aboonmorepreciousthanlearning；namely，theartoflearning。Thatinsteadofcastingintohislazylaptreasureswhichhewouldnothaveknownhowtouse，shehastaughthimtomineforthemhimself；andhasbyherwiserefusaltogratifyhisintellectualgreediness，excitedhishunger，onlythathemaybethestrongertohuntandtillforhisownsubsistence；andthus，thedeeperhedrinks，inafteryears，atfountainswiselyforbiddentohimwhilehewasaCambridgestudent，andseeshisoldcompanionsgrowingupintosound-headedandsound-heartedpracticalmen，liberalandexpansive，andyetwithafirmstanding-
　　groundforthoughtandaction，helearnstocomplainlessandlessofCambridgestudies，andmoreandmoreofthatconceitandhasteofhisown，whichkepthimfromreapingthefulladvantageofhertraining。
　　TheseLectures，asIhavesaid，arealtogethercrudeandfragmentary——
　　how，indeed，couldtheybeotherwise，dealingwithsovastasubject，andsolongaperiodoftime？TheyaremeantneitherasEssaysnorasOrations，butsimplyasacollectionofhintstothosewhomaywishtoworkoutthesubjectforthemselves；and，Itrust，asgivingsomeglimpsesofacentralidea，inthelightofwhichthespiritualhistoryofAlexandria，andperhapsofothercountriesalso，maybeseentohaveinitselfacoherenceandorganicmethod。
　　Iwasofcoursecompelled，bythecircumstancesunderwhichtheseLecturesweredelivered，tokeepclearofallpointswhicharecommonlycalled"controversial。"Icannotbutfeelthatthiswasagain，ratherthanaloss；becauseitforcedme，ifIwishedtogiveanyinterpretationatallofAlexandrianthought，anyTheodicyatallofherfate，torefertolawswhichIcannotbutbelievetobedeeper，wider，moretrulyeternalthanthepointswhichcausemostofourmoderncontroversies，eithertheologicalorpolitical；lawswhichwill，I
　　cannotbutbelievealso，reassertthemselves，andhavetobereassertedbyallwiseteachers，verysoonindeed，anditmaybeundermostnovelembodiments，butwithoutanychangeintheireternalspirit。
　　ForImaysay，Ihope，nowwhatifsaidtenyearsagowouldhaveonlyexcitedlaughter，thatIcannotbutsubscribetotheopinionofthemanywisemenwhobelievethatEurope，andEnglandasanintegralpartthereof，isontheeveofarevolution，spiritualandpolitical，asvastandawfulasthatwhichtookplaceattheReformation；andthat，beneficialasthatrevolutionwilldoubtlessbetothedestiniesofmankindingeneral，itdependsuponthewisdomandcourageofeachnationindividually，whetherthatgreatdelugeshallissue，astheReformationdid，inafreshoutgrowthofEuropeannoblenessandstrengthorusherin，afterpitiableconfusionsandsorrows，asecondByzantineageofstereotypedeffeminacyandimbecility。ForIhaveaslittlesympathywiththosewhopratesoloudlyoftheprogressofthespecies，andtheadventofIknow-not-whatCockaigneofuniversalpeaceandplenty，asIhavewiththosewhobelieveonthestrengthof"unfulfilledprophecy
　　thedownfallofChristianity，andtheendofthehumanracetobeathand。Nevertheless，onemaywellbelievethatprophecywillbefulfilledinthisgreatcrisis，asitisineverygreatcrisis，althoughonebeunabletoconceivebywhatmethodofsymbolismthedryingupoftheEuphratescanbetwistedtosignifythefallofConstantinople:andonecanwellbelievethatadayofjudgmentisathand，inwhichforeverynationandinstitution，thewheatwillbesiftedoutandgatheredintoGod'sgarner，fortheuseoffuturegenerations，andthechaffburntupwiththatfireunquenchablewhichwilltryeveryman'swork，withoutbeingofopinionthatafterafewmoreyearsareover，thegreatmajorityofthehumanracewillbeconsignedhopelesslytonever-endingtorments。
　　Ifprophecybeindeedadivinemessagetoman；ifitbeanythingbutacabbala，uselesseithertothesimple-mindedortothelogical，intendedonlyfortheplaythingofafewdevoutfancies，itmustdeclaretheunchangeablelawsbywhichtheunchangeableGodisgoverning，andhasalwaysgoverned，thehumanrace；andthereforeonlybyunderstandingwhathashappened，canweunderstandwhatwillhappen；onlybyunderstandinghistory，canweunderstandprophecy；andthatnotmerelybypickingout——toooftenarbitrarilyandunfairly——afewnamesanddatesfromtherecordsofalltheages，butbytryingtodiscoveritsorganiclaws，andthecauseswhichproduceinnations，creeds，andsystems，healthanddisease，growth，change，decayanddeath。If，inonesmallcornerofthisvastfield
　　Ishallhavethrownasinglerayoflightuponthesesubjects——ifIshallhavedoneanythinginthesepagestowardsillustratingthepathologyofasinglepeople，IshallbelievethatIhavedonebetterservicetotheCatholicFaithandtheScriptures，thanifIdidreally"knowthetimesandtheseasons，whichtheFatherhaskeptinHisownhand。"ForbytheformeractImayhavehelpedtomakesomeonemanmoreprudentandbravetoseeandtodowhatGodrequiresofhim；bythelatterIcouldonlyaddtothatparalysisofsuperstitiousfear，whichisalreadybuttoocommonamongus，andbuttoolikelytohinderusfromdoingourdutymanfullyagainstourrealfoes，whetheritbepestilenceathomeortyrannyabroad。
　　Theselastwordsleadmetoanothersubject，onwhichIamboundtosayafewwords。Ihave，attheendoftheseLectures，madesomeallusiontothepresentwar。TohaveenteredfurtherintopoliticalquestionswouldhavebeenimproperintheplacewherethoseLecturesweredelivered:butIcannotrefrainfromsayingheresomethingmoreonthismatter
　　andthat，first，becauseallpoliticalquestionshavetheirrealrootinmoralandspiritualones，andnotastoomanyfancyinquestionsmerelyrelatingtothebalanceofpowerorcommercialeconomy，andaretheworldbeingundertheguidanceofaspiritual，andnotaphysicalBeingfinallydecidedonthosespiritualgrounds，andaccordingtothejustlawsofthekingdomofGod；and，therefore，thefuturepoliticalhoroscopeoftheEastdependsentirelyonthepresentspiritualstateofitsinhabitants，andofuswhohaveandrightly
　　takenuptheircause；inshort，onmanyofthosequestionsonwhichI
　　havetouchedintheseLectures:andnext，becauseIfeelbound，injusticetomyself，toguardagainstanymistakeaboutmymeaningorsuppositionthatIconsidertheTurkishempirearighteousthing，oronelikelytostandmuchlongeronthefaceofGod'searth。
　　TheTurkishempire，asitnowexists，seemstomeanaltogetherunrighteousandworthlessthing。ItstandsnolongerupontheassertionofthegreattruthofIslam，butonthemerestbruteforceandoppression。Ithaslongsincelosttheonlyexcusewhichoneracecanhaveforholdinganotherinsubjection；thatwhichwehavefortakingonourselvesthetutelageoftheHindoos，andwhichRomehadforitstutelageoftheSyriansandEgyptians；namely，thegoverningwithtolerablejusticethosewhocannotgovernthemselves，andmakingthembetterandmoreprosperouspeople，bycompellingthemtosubmittolaw。
　　Idonotknowwhenthisexcuseisasufficientone。GodshowedthatitwassoforseveralcenturiesinthecaseoftheRomans；GodwillshowwhetheritisinthecaseofourIndianempire:butthisIsay，thattheTurkishempirehasnoteventhatexcusetoplead；asisprovedbythepatentfactthatthewholeEast，theverygardenoftheoldworld，hasbecomeadesertandaruinundertheupas-blightoftheirgovernment。
　　AsfortheregenerationofTurkey，itisaquestionwhethertheregenerationofanynationwhichhassunk，notintomerevaliantsavagery，butintoeffeteandprofligateluxury，ispossible。Stillmoreisitaquestionwhetheraregenerationcanbeeffected，notbytheriseofanewspiritualideaasinthecaseoftheKoreish，butsimplybymoreperfectmaterialappliances，andcommercialprudence。Historygivesnoinstance，itseemstome，ofeithercase；andifourattempttoregenerateGreecebyfreeingithasbeenanutterfailure，muchmore，itseemstome，wouldanysuchattemptfailinthecaseoftheTurkishrace。Forwhatcanbedonewithapeoplewhichhaslosttheonegreatqualitywhichwasthetenureofitsexistence，itsmilitaryskill？LetanyonereadtheaccountsoftheTurkisharmiesinthefifteenth，sixteenth，andseventeenthcenturies，whentheywerethetutorsandmodelsofallEuropeintheartofwar
　　andthenconsiderthefactthatthoseveryarmiesrequirenowtobeofficeredbyforeignadventurers，inordertomakethemcapableofevenkeepingtogether，andlethimaskhimselfseriously，whethersuchafallcaneverberecovered。When，intheageofTheodosius，andagaininthatofJustinian，theRomanarmieshadfallenintothesamestate；whentheItalianlegionsrequiredtobeledbyStilichotheVandal，andtheByzantinebyBelisartheSclavandNarsesthePersian，theendofallthingswasathand，andcame；asitwillcomesoontoTurkey。
　　ButifTurkeydeservestofall，andmustfall，itmustnotfallbyourtreachery。Itssinswillsurelybeavengeduponit:butwrongmustnotavengewrong，orthepenaltyisonlypassedonfromonesinnertoanother。WhatsoeverelementofgoodisleftintheTurk，tothatwemustappealasouronlymeans，ifnotofsavinghim，stillofhelpinghimtoaquieteuthanasia，andabsorptionintoaworthierraceofsuccessors。HeissaidIknownothowtrulytohaveonevirtueleft；
　　thatoffaithfulnesstohisword。Onlybyshowinghimthatwetooabhortreacheryandbadfaith，canweeitherdohimgood，ortakeasafestanding-groundinourownperil。Andthiswehavedone；andforthisweshallberewarded。Butthisissurelynotallourduty。EvenifweshouldbeabletomakethecivilandreligiousfreedomoftheEasternChristiansthepriceofourassistancetotheMussulman，thestrugglewillnotbeover；forRussiawillstillbewhatshehasalwaysbeen，andthenorthernAnarchwillbechecked，onlytoreturntothecontestwithfiercerlustofaggrandisement，toenactthepartofanewMacedon，againstanewGreece，divided，notunited，bythetreacherousbondofthatbalanceofpower，whichisbutwarundertheguiseofpeace。
　　Europeneedsaholierandmorespiritual，andthereforeastrongerunion，thancanbegivenbyarmedneutralities，andtheso-calledcauseoforder。SheneedssuchabondasintheElizabethanageunitedthefreestatesofEuropeagainsttheAnarchofSpain，anddeliveredtheWesternnationsfromarisingworld-tyranny，whichpromisedtobeevenmorehideousthantheelderoneofRome。If，asthen，Englandshallproclaimherselfthechampionoffreedombyacts，andnotbywordsandpaper，shemay，asshedidthen，defytherulersofthedarknessofthisworld，fortheGodofLightwillbewithher。But，asyet，itisimpossibletolookwithoutsadforebodingsuponthedestinyofawar，begunupontheexpressunderstandingthatevilshallbelefttriumphantthroughoutEurope，wheresoeverthatevildoesnotseem，toourownselfishshort-sightednes
　　tothreatenuswithimmediatedanger；withpromises，thatunderthehollownameoftheCauseofOrder——andthatpromisemadebyarevolutionaryAnarch——thewrongsofItaly，Hungary，Poland，Sweden，shallremainunredressed，andthatPrussiaandAustria，twotyrannies，theonefarmorefalseandhypocritical，theotherevenmorerottenthanthatofTurkey，shall，iftheywillbutobserveahollowanduncertainneutralityforwhocantrusttheliarandtheoppressor？——beallowednotonlytokeeptheirill-gottenspoils，butevennowtoplayintothehandsofourfoe，byguardinghisPolishfrontierforhim，andkeepingdownthevictimsofhiscruelty，underpretenceofkeepingdownthoseoftheirown。
　　Itistrue，thealternativeisanawfulone；onefromwhichstatesmenandnationsmaywellshrink:butitisaquestion，whetherthatalternativemaynotbeforceduponussoonerorlater，whetherwemustnotfromthefirstlookitboldlyintheface，asthatwhichmustbesomeday，andforwhichwemustprepare，notcowardly，andwithcriesaboutGod'swrathandjudgmentsagainstus——whichwouldbeabject，weretheynotexpressedinsuchsecond-handstock-phrasesastomakeonealtogetherdoubttheirsincerity，butchivalrously，andwithawfuljoy，asanoblecalling，anhonourputuponusbytheGodofNations，whodemandsofus，assomesmallreturnforallHisfreebounties，thatweshouldbe，inthisgreatcrisis，thechampionsofFreedomandofJustice，whicharethecauseofGod。Atallevents，weshallnotescapeourdutybybeingafraidofit；weshallnotescapeourdutybyinventingtoourselvessomeotherduty，andcallingit"Order。"
　　Elizabethdidsoatfirst。ShetriedtokeepthepeacewithSpain；sheshrankfrominjuringthecauseofOrderthenanobleronethannow，becauseitwasthecauseofLoyalty，andnotmerelyofMammonbyassistingtheScotchandtheNetherlanders:butherdutywasforceduponher；andshediditatlast，cheerfully，boldly，utterly，likeahero；sheputherselfattheheadofthebattleforthefreedomoftheworld，andsheconquered，forGodwaswithher；andsothatseeminglymostfearfulofallEngland'sperils，whentherealmeaningofitwasseen，andGod'swillinitobeyedmanfully，becamethefoundationofEngland'snavalandcolonialempire，andlaidthefoundationofallherfutureglories。Soitwasthen，soitisnow；soitwillbeforever:
　　hewhoseekstosavehislifewillloseit:hewhowillinglythrowsawayhislifeforthecauseofmankind，whichisthecauseofGod，theFatherofmankind，heshallsaveit，andberewardedahundred-fold。
　　ThatGodmaygrantus，thechildrenoftheElizabethanheroes，allwisdomtoseeourduty，andcouragetodoit，eventothedeath，shouldbeourearliestprayer。Ourstatesmenhavedonewiselyandwellinrefusing，inspiteofhot-headedclamours，toappealtotheswordaslongastherewasanychanceofapeacefulsettlementevenofasingleevil。Theyaredoingwiselyandwellnowindecliningtothrowawaythescabbardaslongasthereishopethatadeterminedfrontwillawetheoffenderintosubmission:butthedaymaycomewhenthescabbardmustbethrownaway；andGodgrantthattheymayhavethecouragetodoit。
　　Itisreportedthatourrulershavesaid，thatEnglishdiplomacycannolongerrecognise"nationalities，"butonlyexisting"governments。"Godgrantthattheymayseeintimethattheassertionofnationallife，asaspiritualandindefeasibleexistence，wasforcenturiesthecentralideaofEnglishpolicy；theideabyfaithinwhichshedeliveredfirstherself，andthentheProtestantnationsoftheContinent，successivelyfromtheyokesofRome，ofSpain，ofFrance；andthattheymayreassertthatmostEnglishofalltruthsagain，lettheapparentcostbewhatitmay。
　　Itistrue，thatthisendwillnotbeattainedwithoutwhatiscallednowadays"adestructionofhumanlife。"ButwehaveyettolearnatleastifthedoctrineswhichIhavetriedtoillustrateinthislittlebookhaveanytruthinthemwhethershotorshellhasthepoweroftakingawayhumanlife；andtobelieve，ifwebelieveourBibles，thathumanlifecanonlybedestroyedbysin，andthatallwhichislostinbattleisthatanimallifeofwhichitiswritten，"Fearnotthosewhocankillthebody，andafterthathavenomorethattheycando:butI
　　willforewarnyouwhomyoushallfear；himwho，afterhehaskilled，haspowertodestroybothbodyandsoulinhell。"Letamanfearhim，thedestroyingdevil，andfearthereforecowardice，disloyalty，selfishness，sluggishness，whicharehisworks，andtobeutterlyafraidofwhichistobetrulybrave。Godgrantthatweoftheclergymayrememberthisduringthecomingwar，andinsteadofweakeningtherighteouscourageandhonourofourcountrymenbyinstillingintothemselfishandsuperstitiousfears，andatheoryofthefuturestatewhichrepresentsGod，notasasaviour，butatormentor，mayboldlytellthemthat"HeisnottheGodofthedeadbutoftheliving；forallliveuntoHim；"andthathewhorendersuphisanimallifeasaworthlessthing，inthecauseofduty，commitshisrealandhumanlife，hisverysoulandself，intothehandsofajustandmercifulFather，whohaspromisedtoleavenogooddeedunrewarded，andleastofallthatmostnobledeed，thedyinglikeamanforthesakenotmerelyofthislandofEngland，butofthefreedomandnationallifeofhalftheworld。
　　LECTUREI——THEPTOLEMAICERA
　　BeforeIbegintolectureuponthePhysicalandMetaphysicalschoolsofAlexandria，itmaybebetter，perhaps，todefinethemeaningofthesetwoepithets。Physical，weshallallagree，meansthatwhichbelongsto[Greektext:phusis]；natura；nature，thatwhich[Greektext:
　　phuetai]，nascitur，grows，byanorganiclife，andthereforedecaysagain；whichhasabeginning，andtherefore，Ipresume，anend。AndMetaphysicalmeansthatwhichwelearntothinkofafterwethinkofnature；thatwhichissupernatural，infact，havingneitherbeginningnorend，imperishable，immovable，andeternal，whichdoesnotbecome，butalwaysis。These，atleast，arethewisestdefinitionsofthesetwotermsforusjustnow；fortheyarethosewhichwerereceivedbythewholeAlexandrianschool，evenbythosecommentatorswhosaythatAristotle，theinventorofthetermMetaphysics，namedhistreatisesoonlyonaccountofitsfollowinginphilosophicsequencehisbookonPhysics。
　　But，accordingtothesedefinitions，thewholehistoryofAlexandriamightbetous，fromonepointofview，aphysicalschool；forAlexandria，itssocietyanditsphilosophy，wereborn，andgrew，andfed，andreachedtheirvigour，andhadtheiroldage，theirdeath，evenasaplantorananimalhas；andaftertheyweredeadanddissolved，theatomsofthemformedfoodfornewcreations，enteredintoneworganisations，justastheatomsofadeadplantoranimalmightdo。