Butofthefactofthechangetherewasnodoubt。FortheoldHebrewseersweremendealingwiththeloftiestanddeepestlaws:theRabbiswereshallowpedants。TheoldHebrewseerswererighteousandvirtuousmen:theRabbisbecame，induetime，someoftheworstandwickedestmenwhoevertrodthisearth。
　　ThustheytoohadtheirshareinthatdownwardcareerofpedantrywhichwehaveseencharacterisethewholepastAlexandrineage。They，likeZenodotusandAristarchus，werecommentators，grammarians，sectariandisputers:theywerenotthinkersoractors。TheirinspiredbooksweretothemnomorethewordsoflivinghumanbeingswhohadsoughtfortheAbsoluteWisdom，andfounditaftermanysinsanddoubtsandsorrows。
　　Thehumanwritersbecameintheireyesthepuppetsandmouthpiecesofsomemagicalinfluence，notthedisciplesofalivingandlovingperson。
　　Thebookitselfwas，intheirbelief，notinanytruesenseinspired，butmagicallydictated——bywhatpowertheycarednottodefine。Hischaracterwasunimportanttothem，providedHehadinspirednonationbuttheirown。But，thoughtthey，ifthewordsweredictated，eachofthemmusthavesomemysteriousvalue。Andifeachwordhadamysteriousvalue，whynoteachletter？Andhowcouldtheysetlimitstothatmysteriousvalue？Mightnotthesewords，evenrearrangementsofthelettersofthem，beusefulinprotectingthemagainstthesorceriesoftheheathen，indrivingawaythoseevilspirits，orevokingthosegoodspirits，who，thoughseldommentionedintheirearlyrecords，hadaftertheirreturnfromBabylonbeguntoformanimportantpartoftheirunseenworld？ForastheyhadlostfaithintheOnePreserveroftheirrace，theyhadfilledupthevoidbyaponderousdemonologyofinnumerablepreservers。ThisprocessofthoughtwasnotconfinedtoAlexandria。Dr。Layard，inhislastbookonNineveh，givessomecuriousinstancesofitsprevalenceamongthematanearlierperiod，wellworthyourcarefulstudy。ButitwasatAlexandriathattheJewishCabbalismformeditselfintoasystem。ItwastherethattheJewslearnttobecomethejugglersandmagic-mongersofthewholeRomanworld，tillClaudiushadtoexpelthemfromRome，aspeststorationalandmoralsociety。
　　Andyet，amongthesehaplesspedantstherelingerednoblerthoughtsandhopes。Theycouldnotreadthegloriousheirloomsoftheirracewithoutfindinginthemrecordsofantiquegreatnessandvirtue，ofolddeliverancesworkedfortheirforefathers；andwhatseemedpromises，too，thatthatgreatnessshouldreturn。Thenotionthatthosepromiseswereconditional；thattheyexpressedeternalmorallaws，anddeclaredtheconsequencesofobeyingthoselaws，theyhadlostlongago。BylookingonthemselvesasexclusivelyandarbitrarilyfavouredbyHeaven，theywereruiningtheirownmoralsense。
　　ThingswerenotrightorwrongtothembecauseRightwaseternalanddivine，andWrongthetransgressionofthateternalright。Howcouldthatbe？ForthentherightthingstheGentilesseemedtodowouldberightanddivine；——andthatsuppositionintheireyeswasallbutimpious。Nonecoulddorightbutthemselves，fortheyonlyknewthelawofGod。So，rightwiththemhadnoabsoluteoruniversalground，butwasreducedintheirmindstotheperformanceofcertainactscommandedexclusivelytothem——aformofethicswhichrapidlysankintothemostpettyandfrivolouscasuistryastotheoutwardperformanceofthoseacts。Thesequelofthoseethicsisknowntoalltheworld，inthespectacleofthemostunrivalledreligiosity，andscrupulousrespectability，combinedwithamoreutterabsenceofmoralsense，intheirmostcultivatedandlearnedmen，thantheworldhaseverbeheldbeforeorsince。
　　Insuchastateofminditwasimpossibleforthemtolookontheiroldprophetsastrueseers，beholdingandapplyingeternalmorallaws，and，therefore，seeingthefutureinthepresentandinthepast。Theymustbethemereutterersofanirreversiblearbitraryfate；andthatfatemust，ofcourse，befavourabletotheirnation。Sonowaroseaschoolwhopickedoutfromtheiroldprophetseverypassagewhichcouldbemadetopredicttheirfutureglory，andasciencewhichsettledwhenthatglorywastoreturn。Bythearbitraryrulesofcriticismapropheticdaywasdefinedtomeanayear；aweek，sevenyears。Themostsimpleandhumanutteranceswerefoundtohavereconditemeaningsrelativetotheirfuturetriumphovertheheathenswhomtheycursedandhated。IfanyofyouevercomeacrossthepopularJewishinterpretationsofTheSongofSolomon，youwillthereseethefollyinwhichacuteandlearnedmencanindulgethemselveswhentheyhavelostholdofthebeliefinanythingreallyabsoluteandeternalandmoral，andhavemadeFate，andTime，andSelf，theirrealdeities。
　　Butthisdreamofafuturerestorationwasinnowiseennobled，asfaraswecansee，withanydesireforamoralrestoration。Theybelievedthatapersonwouldappearsomedayorothertodeliverthem。Eventheywerehappilypreservedbytheirsacredbooksfromthenotionthatdeliverancewastobefoundforthem，orforanyman，inanabstractionornotionendingin-ationor-ality。Injusticetothemitmustbesaid，thattheyweretoowisetobelievethatpersonalqualities，suchaspower，will，love，righteousness，couldresideinanybutinaperson，orbemanifestedexceptbyaperson。Andamongtheearlierofthemthebeliefmayhavebeen，thattheancientunseenTeacheroftheirracewouldbetheirdeliverer:butastheylostthethoughtofHim，theexpectedDelivererbecameamerehumanbeing:orrathernotahumanbeing；forastheylosttheirmoralsense，theylostintheverydeepestmeaningtheirhumanity，andforgotwhatmanwasliketilltheylearnedtolookonlyforaconqueror；amanifestationofpower，andnotofgoodness；adestroyerofthehated
　　heathen，whowastoestablishthemasthetyrantraceofthewholeearth。Onthatfearfuldayonwhich，foramoment，theycastawayeventhatlastdream，andcried，"WehavenokingbutCaesar，"theyspokethesecretoftheirhearts。ItwasaCaesar，aJewishCaesar，forwhomtheyhadbeenlongingforcenturies。Andiftheycouldnothavesuchadeliverer，theywouldhavenone:theywouldtakeupwiththebestembodimentofbruteTitanicpowerwhichtheycouldfind，andcrucifytheembodimentofRighteousnessandLove。AmidallthemetaphysicalschoolsofAlexandria，IknownonesodeeplyinstructiveasthatschooloftheRabbis，"thegloryofIsrael。"
　　Butyouwillsay:"ThisdoesnotlooklikeaschoollikelytoregenerateAlexandrianthought。"True:andyetitdidregenerateit，bothforgoodandforevil；forthesemenhadamongthemandpreservedfaithfullyenoughforallpracticalpurposes，theoldliteratureoftheirrace；aliteraturewhichIfirmlybelieve，ifIamtotrusttheexperienceof1900years，isdestinedtoexplainallotherliteratures；
　　becauseithasfirmholdoftheoneeternalroot-ideawhichgiveslife，meaning，Divinesanction，toeverygermorfragmentofhumantruthwhichisinanyofthem。Itdidso，atleast，inAlexandriafortheGreekliterature。AbouttheChristianera，acultivatedAlexandrianJew，adiscipleofPlatoandofAristotle，didseemtohimselftofindinthesacredbooksofhisnationthatwhichagreedwiththedeepestdiscoveriesofGreekphilosophy；whichexplainedandcorroboratedthem。
　　Andhisannouncementofthisfact，weakanddefectiveasitwas，hadthemostenormousandunexpectedresults。ThefatherofNewPlatonismwasPhilotheJew。
　　LECTUREIII——NEOPLATONISM
　　WenowapproachtheperiodinwhichAlexandriabegantohaveaphilosophyofitsown——tobe，indeed，theleaderofhumanthoughtforseveralcenturies。
　　Ishallenteronthisbranchofmysubjectwithsomefearandtrembling；
　　notonlyonaccountofmyownignorance，butonaccountofthegreatdifficultyofhandlingitwithouttrenchingoncertaincontroversialsubjectswhicharerightlyandwiselyforbiddenhere。FortherewasnotoneschoolofMetaphysicatAlexandria:thereweretwo；which，duringthewholeperiodoftheirexistence，wereininternecinestrugglewitheachother，andyetmutuallyborrowingfromeachother；theHeathen，namely，andtheChristian。Andyoucannotcontemplate，stilllesscanyouunderstand，theonewithouttheother。SomeoflateyearshavebecomeallbutunawareoftheexistenceofthatChristianschool；andthewordPhilosophy，ontheauthorityofGibbon，who，howeverexcellentanauthorityforfacts，knewnothingaboutPhilosophy，andcaredless，hasbeenusedexclusivelytoexpressheathenthought；amisnomerwhichinAlexandriawouldhaveastonishedPlotinusorHypatiaasmuchasitwouldClementorOrigen。Idonotsaythatthereis，oroughttobe，aChristianMetaphysic。Iamspeaking，asyouknow，merelyasahistorian，dealingwithfacts；andIsaythattherewasone；asprofound，asscientific，assevere，asthatofthePaganNeoplatonists；
　　startingindeed，asIshallshowhereafter，onmanypointsfromcommongroundwiththeirs。Onecanhardlydoubt，Ishouldfancy，thatmanypartsofSt。John'sGospelandEpistles，whateverviewwemaytakeofthem，iftheyaretobecalledanything，aretobecalledmetaphysicandphilosophic。AndonecannomoredoubtthatbeforewritingthemhehadstudiedPhilo，andwasexpandingPhilo'sthoughtinthedirectionwhichseemedfittohim，thanwecandoubtitoftheearlierNeoplatonists。
　　Thetechnicallanguageisoftenidentical；soaretheprimaryideasfromwhichhestarts，howsoeverwidelytheconclusionsmaydiffer。IfPlotinusconsideredhimselfanintellectualdiscipleofPlato，sodidOrigenandClemens。AndImust，asIsaidbefore，speakofboth，orofneither。Myonlyhopeofescapingdelicategroundliesinthecuriousfact，thatrightlyorwrongly，theforminwhichChristianitypresenteditselftotheoldAlexandrianthinkerswassoutterlydifferentfromthepopularconceptionofitinmodernEngland，thatonemayverylikelybeabletotellwhatlittleoneknowsaboutit，almostwithoutmentioningasingledoctrinewhichnowinfluencesthereligiousworld。
　　Butfargreaterismyfear，thattoamodernBritishauditory，trainedintheschoolofLocke，muchofancientthought，heathenaswellasChristian，mayseemsoutterlytheproductoftheimagination，soutterlywithoutanycorrespondingrealityintheuniverse，astolooklikemereunintelligiblemadness。Still，Imusttry；onlyentreatingmyhearerstoconsider，thathowmuchsoeverwemayhonourLockeandhisgreatScotchfollowers，wearenotboundtobelievethemeitherinfallible，oraltogetherworld-embracing；thattherehavebeenothermethodsthantheirsofconceivingtheUnseen；thatthecommongroundfromwhichbothChristianandheathenAlexandriansstart，isnotmerelyaprivatevagaryoftheirown，butonewhichhasbeenacceptedundoubtingly，undersomanyvariousforms，bysomanydifferentraces，astogivesomethingofaninductiveprobabilitythatitisnotameredream，butmaybearightandtrueinstinctofthehumanmind。Imeanthebeliefthatthethingswhichwesee——natureandallherphenomena——
　　aretemporal，andbornonlytodie；mereshadowsofsomeunseenrealities，fromwhomtheirlawsandlifearederived；whiletheeternalthingswhichsubsistwithoutgrowth，decay，orchange，theonlyreal，onlytrulyexistingthings，inshort，arecertainthingswhicharenotseen；inappreciablebysense，orunderstanding，orimagination，perceivedonlybytheconscienceandthereason。Andthat，again，theproblemofphilosophy，thehighestgoodforman，thatforthesakeofwhichdeathwereagain，withoutwhichlifeisworthless，adrudgery，adegradation，afailure，andaruin，istodiscoverwhatthoseunseeneternalthingsare，toknowthem，possessthem，beinharmonywiththem，andtherebyalonetorise
　　toanyrealandsolidpower，orsafety，ornobleness。Itisastrangedream。Butyouwillseethatitisonewhichdoesnotbearmuchupon"pointsofcontroversy，"anymorethanon"Locke'sphilosophy；"nevertheless，whenwefindthissamestrangedreamarising，apparentlywithoutintercommunionofthought，amongtheoldHindoos，amongtheGreeks，amongtheJews；andlastly，whenweseeitspringingagainintheMiddleAge，inthemindofthealmostforgottenauthorofthe"DeutscheTheologie，"andsobecomingtheparent，notmerelyofLuther'sdeepestbelief，oroftheGermanmysticschoolsoftheseventeenthandeighteenthcenturies，butofthegreatGermanPhilosophyitselfasdevelopedbyKant，andFichte，andSchelling，andHegel，wemustatleastconfessittobeapopulardelusion，ifnothingbetter，vastenoughandcommonenoughtobeworthalittlepatientinvestigation，wheresoeverwemayfinditstirringthehumanmind。
　　ButIhavehope，still，thatImayfindsympathyandcomprehensionamongsome，atleast，ofmyaudience，asIproceedtoexaminetheancientrealistschoolsofAlexandria，onaccountoftheirknowledgeofthemodernrealistschoolsofGermany。ForIcannotbutsee，thatarevulsionistakingplaceinthethoughtsofournationuponmetaphysicsubjects，andthatScotland，asusual，istakingtheleadtherein。ThatmostillustriousScotchman，Mr。ThomasCarlyle，firstvindicatedthegreatGermanRealistsfromthevulgarmisconceptionsaboutthemwhichweresocommonatthebeginningofthiscentury，andbroughtthemindsofstudiousmentoamorejustappreciationofthephilosophicseverity，themoralgrandeur，ofsuchthinkersasEmmanuelKant，andGottliebFichte。ToanotherScotchgentleman，who，Ibelieve，hashonouredmebyhispresencehereto-night，weowemostvaluabletranslationsofsomeofFichte'sworks；tobefollowed，Itrust，bymore。Andthough，asahumblediscipleofBacon，IcannotbutthinkthatthemethodbothofKantandFichtepossessessomewhatofthesameinherentdefectasthemethodoftheNeoplatonistschool，yetIshouldbemostunfairdidInotexpressmydeepobligationstothem，andadviseallthosetostudythemcarefully，whowishtogainaclearconceptioneitheroftheoldAlexandrianschools，orofthoseintellectualmovementswhichareagitatingthemodernmind，andwhichwill，Idoubtnot，issueinaclearerlight，andinanoblerlife，ifnotforus，yetstillforourchildren'schildrenforever。
　　ThenameofPhilotheJewisnowallbutforgottenamongus。Hewaslaughedoutofsightduringthelastcentury，asadreamerandanallegorist，whotriedeclecticallytopatchtogetherPlatoandMoses。
　　Thepresentage，however，israpidlybeginningtosuspectthatallwhothoughtbeforetheeighteenthcenturywerenotaltogethereitherfoolsorimpostors；oldwisdomisobtainingafairerhearingdaybyday，andisfoundnottobesocontradictorytonewwisdomaswassupposed。Wearebeginning，too，tobemoreinclinedtojustifyProvidence，bybelievingthatliesarebytheirverynatureimpotentanddoomedtodie；
　　thateverythingwhichhashadanygreatorpermanentinfluenceonthehumanmind，musthaveinitsomegermofeternaltruth；andsettingourselvestoseparatethatgermoftruthfromthemistakeswhichmayhavedistortedandoverlaidit。Letusbelieve，oratleasthope，thesameforafewminutes，ofPhilo，andtrytofindoutwhatwasthesecretofhispower，whatthesecretofhisweakness。
　　First:Icannotthinkthathehadtotreathisownsacredbooksunfairly，tomakethemagreewiththeroot-ideaofSocratesandPlato。
　　SocratesandPlatoacknowledgedaDivineteacherofthehumanspirit；
　　thatwasthegroundoftheirphilosophy。SodidtheliteratureoftheJews。SocratesandPlato，withalltheGreeksagestilltheSophisticera，heldthattheobjectofphilosophywasthesearchafterthatwhichtrulyexists:thathewhofoundthat，foundwisdom:Philo'sbookstaughthimthesametruth:buttheytaughthimalso，thatthesearchforwisdomwasnotmerelythesearchforthatwhichis，butforHimwhois；notforathing，butforaperson。IdonotmeanthatPlatoandtheelderGreekshadnotthatobjectalsoinview；forIhavesaidalreadythatTheologywaswiththemtheultimateobjectofallmetaphysicscience:butIdothinkthattheysawitinfinitelylessclearlythantheoldJewishsages。
　　Thosesageswereutterlyunabletoconceiveofanabsolutetruth，exceptasresidinginanabsolutelytrueperson；ofabsolutewisdom，exceptinanabsolutelywiseperson；ofanabsoluteorderandlaw，exceptinalawgiver；ofanabsolutegood，exceptinanabsolutelygoodperson:anymorethaneithertheyorwecanconceiveofanabsolutelove，exceptinanabsolutelylovingperson。Isayboldly，thatIthinkthemright，onallgroundsofBaconianinduction。Forallthesequalitiesareonlyknowntousasexhibitedinpersons；andifwebelievethemtohaveanyabsoluteandeternalexistenceatall，tobeobjective，andindependentofus，andthemomentarymoodsandsentimentsofourownmind，theymustexistinsomeabsoluteandeternalperson，ortheyaremerenotions，abstractions，words，whichhavenocounterparts。
　　ButherearoseapuzzleinthemindofPhilo，asitinrealityhad，wemaysee，inthemindsofSocratesandPlato。HowcouldhereconciletheideaofthatabsoluteandeternaloneBeing，thatZeus，FatherofGodsandmen，self-perfect，self-contained，withoutchangeormotion，inwhom，asaJew，hebelievedevenmorefirmlythanthePlatonists，withtheDaemonofSocrates，theDivineTeacherwhombothPlatoandSolomonconfessed？Orhow，again，couldhereconciletheideaofHimwiththecreativeandprovidentialenergy，workinginspaceandtime，workingonmatter，andapparentlyaffectedandlimited，ifnotbaffled，bytheimperfectionofthemindswhichhetaught，bytheimperfectionofthematterwhichhemoulded？
　　This，asallstudentsofphilosophymustknow，wasoneofthegreatpuzzlesofoldGreekphilosophy，aslongasitwasearnestandcaredtohaveanypuzzlesatall:ithasbeen，sincethedaysofSpinoza，thegreatpuzzleofallearnestmodernphilosophers。
　　PhiloofferedasolutioninthatideaofaLogos，orWordofGod，Divinityarticulate，speakingandactingintimeandspace，andthereforebysuccessiveacts；andsodoing，intimeandspace，thewillofthetimelessandspacelessFather，theAbysmalandEternalBeing，ofwhomhewastheperfectlikeness。IncallingthispersontheLogos，andmakinghimthesourceofallhumanreason，andknowledgeofeternallaws，heonlytranslatedfromHebrewintoGreekthenamewhichhefoundinhissacredbooks，"TheWordofGod。"AsyetwehavefoundnounfairallegorisingofMoses，ortwistingofPlato。Howthenhasheincurredthisaccusation？
　　Icannotthink，again，thathewasunfairinsupposingthathemightholdatthesametimetheJewishbeliefconcerningCreation，andthePlatonicdoctrineoftherealexistenceofArchetypalideas，bothofmoralandofphysicalphenomena。IdonotmeanthatsuchaconceptionwaspresentconsciouslytothemindoftheoldJews，asitwasmostcertainlytothemindofSt。Paul，apractisedPlatonicdialectician；
　　butitseemstome，astoPhilo，tobeafair，perhapsanecessary，corollaryfromtheGeneticPhilosophy，bothofMosesandofSolomon。
　　Butinonethinghewasunfair；namely，inhisallegorising。Butunfairtowhom？ToSocratesandPlato，Ibelieve，asmuchastoMosesandtoSamuel。ForwhatisthepartoftheoldJewishbookswhichheevaporatesawayintomeremysticsymbolsoftheprivateexperiencesofthedevoutphilosopher？Itspracticaleverydayhistories，whichdealwiththecommonhumanfactsoffamilyandnationallife，ofman'soutwardandphysicallabourandcraft。Thesetohimhavenomeaning，exceptanallegoricone。ButhashethrownthemawayforthesakeofgettingastepnearertoSocrates，orPlato，orAristotle？Surelynot。
　　Tothem，astotheoldJewishsages，manismostimportantwhenregardednotmerelyasasoul，butasaman，asocialbeingoffleshandblood。
　　Aristotledeclarespoliticstobethearchitectonicalscience，thefamilyandsocialrelationstobetheeternalmaster-factsofhumanity。
　　Plato，inhisRepublic，setsbeforehimselftheConstitutionofaState，asthecrowningproblemofhisphilosophy。Everyworkofhis，likeeverysayingofhismasterSocrates，dealswiththecommon，outward，vulgarfactsofhumanlife，andassertsthatthereisadivinemeaninginthem，andthatreverentinductionfromthemisthewaytoobtainthedeepesttruths。SocratesandPlatowereaslittleinclinedtoseparatethemanandthephilosopherasMoses，Solomon，orIsaiahwere。WhenPhilo，byallegorisingawaythesimplehumanpartsofhisbooks，isuntruetoMoses'steaching，hebecomesuntruetoPlato's。Hebecomesuntrue，Ibelieve，toahigherteachingthanPlato's。Helosessightofaneternaltruth，whichevenoldHomermighthavetaughthim，whenhetreatsMosesasonesectionofhisdisciplesinafteryearstreatedHomer。
　　Forwhatisthesecretoftheeternalfreshness，theeternalbeauty，ay，Imaysayboldly，inspiteofalltheirabsurditiesandimmoralities，theeternalrighteousnessofthoseoldGreekmyths？WhatisitwhichmadeSocratesandPlatoclinglovinglyandreverentlytothem，theyscarceknewwhy，whiletheydeploredtheimmoralitiestowhichtheyhadgivenrise？Whatisitwhichmadethosemyths，aloneofalloldmythologies，theparentsoftrulybeautifulsculpture，painting，poetry？
　　Whatisitwhichmakesuslovethemstill；find，evenattimesagainstourconsciences，newmeaning，newbeautyinthem；andbringshomethestoryofPerseasorofHercules，aliketothepractisedreasonofNiebuhr，andtheuntutoredinstinctsofNiebuhr'slittlechild，forwhomhethrewthemintosimplestforms？Whyisitthatinspiteofourdisagreeingwiththeircreedandtheirmorality，westillpersist——andlongmaywepersist，orratherbecompelled——asitwerebyblindinstinct，totrainourboysuponthoseoldGreekdreams；andconfess，wheneverwetrytofindasubstitutefortheminoureducationalschemes，thatwehaveasyetnone？BecausethoseoldGreekstoriesdorepresenttheDeitiesasthearchetypes
　　thekinsmen，theteachers，thefriends，theinspirersofmen。BecausewhiletheschoolboyreadshowtheGodswereliketomen，onlybetter，wiser，greater；howtheHeroesarethechildrenoftheGods，andtheslayersofthemonsterswhichdevourtheearth；howAthenetaughtmenweaving，andPhoebusmusic，andVulcanthecunningofthestithy；howtheGodstookpityonthenoble-
　　heartedsonofDanae，andlenthimcelestialarmsandguidedhimoverdesertandoceantofulfilhisvow——thatboyislearningdeeplessonsofmetaphysic，moreinaccordancewiththereinevernunft，thepurereasonwherebymanperceivesthatwhichismoral，andspiritual，andeternal，thanhewouldfromalldisquisitionsaboutbeingandbecoming，aboutactualitiesandpotentialities，whichevertormentedthewearybrainofman。
　　Letusnotdespisethegembecauseithasbeenbrokentofragments，obscuredbysiltandmud。Stilllessletusfancythatoneleastfragmentofitisnotmorepreciousthanthemostbrilliantpastejewelofourowncompounding，thoughitbepolishedandfacetedneversocompletely。Forwhatareallthesemythsbutfragmentsofthatgreatmetaphysicidea，which，Iboldlysay，Ibelievetobeatoncethejustifierandtheharmoniserofallphilosophictruthwhichmanhaseverdiscovered，orwilldiscover；whichPhilosawpartially，andyetclearly；whichtheHebrewsagesperceivedfarmoredeeply，becausemorehumanlyandpractically；whichSaintPaulthePlatonist，andyettheApostle，raisedtoitshighestpower，whenhedeclaredthattheimmutableandself-existentBeing，forwhomtheGreeksagessought，anddidnotaltogetherseekinvain，hasgatheredtogetherallthingsbothinheavenandinearthinoneinspiringandcreatingLogos，whoisbothGodandMan？
　　Bethisasitmay，wefindthatfromthetimeofPhilo，thedeepestthoughtoftheheathenworldbegantoflowinatheologicchannel。Allthegreatheathenthinkershencefortharetheologians。InthetimesofNero，forinstance，Epictetustheslave，theregeneratorofStoicism，isnomerespeculatorconcerningentitiesandquiddities，correctorincorrect。Heisaslavesearchingforthesecretoffreedom，andfindingthatitconsistsinescapingnotfromamaster，butfromself:
　　nottowealthandpower，buttoJove。HediscoversthatJoveis，insomemostmysterious，butmostrealsense，theFatherofmen；helearnstolookuptothatFatherashisguideandfriend。
　　Numenius，again，inthesecondcentury，wasamanwhohadevidentlystudiedPhilo。Heperceivedsodeeply，Imaysaysoexaggeratedly，theanalogybetweentheJewishandthePlatonicassertionsofanAbsoluteandEternalBeing，sidebysidewiththeassertionofaDivineTeacherofman，thatheissaidtohaveutteredthestartlingsaying:"WhatisPlatobutMosestalkingAttic？"DoubtlessPlatoisnotthat:buttheexpressionisremarkable，asshowingthetendencyoftheage。HetoolooksuptoGodwithprayersfortheguidanceofhisreason。HetooentersintospeculationconcerningGodinHisabsoluteness，andinHisconnectionwiththeuniverse。"ThePrimaryGod，"hesays，"mustbefreefromworksandaKing；buttheDemiurgusmustexercisegovernment，goingthroughtheheavens。ThroughHimcomesthisourcondition；throughHimReasonbeingsentdowninefflux，holdscommunionwithallwhoarepreparedforit:Godthenlookingdown，andturningHimselftoeachofus，itcomestopassthatourbodiesliveandarenourished，receivingstrengthfromtheouterrayswhichcomefromHim。ButwhenGodturnsustothecontemplationofHimself，itcomestopassthatthesethingsarewornoutandconsumed，butthatthereasonlives，beingpartakerofablessedlife。"
　　Thispassageisexceedinglyinteresting，ascontainingboththemarrowofoldHebrewmetaphysic，andalsocertainnotionalelements，ofwhichwefindnotraceintheScripture，andwhichmaylead——asweshallfindtheyafterwardsdidlead——toconfusingthemoralwiththenotional，andfinallythenotionalwiththematerial；inplainwords，toPantheism。
　　Youfindthistendency，inshort，inallthephilosopherswhoflourishedbetweentheageofAugustusandtheriseofAlexandrianNeoplatonism。
　　Gibbon，whilehegivesanapprovingpatonthebacktohispet"PhilosophicEmperor，"MarcusAurelius，blinksthefactthatMarcus'sphilosophy，likethatofPlutarch，containsasanintegralelement，abeliefwhichtohimwouldhavebeen，Ifear，simplyludicrous，fromitsstrangeanalogywiththebeliefofJohn，theChristianApostle。WhatisMarcusAurelius'scardinaldoctrine？ThatthereisaGodwithinhim，aWord，aLogos，which"hasholdofhim，"andwhoishisteacherandguardian；thatoverandabovehisbodyandhissoul，hehasaReasonwhichiscapableof"hearingthatDivineWord，andobeyingthemonitionsofthatGod。"WhatisPlutarch'scardinaldoctrine？ThatthesameWord，theDaemonwhospoketotheheartofSocrates，isspeakingtohimandtoeveryphilosopher；"comingintocontact，"hesays，"withhiminsomewonderfulmanner；addressingthereasonofthosewho，likeSocrates，keeptheirreasonpure，notunderthedominionofpassion，normixingitselfgreatlywiththebody，andthereforequickandsensitiveinrespondingtothatwhichencounteredit。
　　Youseefromthesetwoextractswhatquestionswerearisinginthemindsofmen，andhowtheytouchedonethicalandtheologicalquestions。I
　　sayarisingintheirminds:IbelievethatIoughttosayrather，stirredupintheirmindsbyOnegreaterthanthey。Atallevents，theretheyappeared，utterlyindependentofanyChristianteaching。ThebeliefinthisLogosorDaemonspeakingtotheReasonofman，wasonewhichneitherPlutarchnorMarcus，neitherNumeniusnorAmmonius，asfaraswecansee，learntfromtheChristians；itwasthecommongroundwhichtheyheldwiththem；thecommonbattlefieldwhichtheydisputedwiththem。
　　NeitherhaveweanyreasontosupposethattheylearntitfromtheHindoos。ThatmuchHindoothoughtmixedwithNeoplatonistspeculationwecannotdoubt；butthereisnotajotmoreevidencetoprovethatAlexandriansborrowedthisconceptionfromtheMahabharavata，thanthatGeorgeFoxtheQuaker，ortheauthorofthe"DeutscheTheologie，"didso。TheymayhavegonetoHindoophilosophy，orrather，tosecondandthirdhandtraditionsthereof，forcorroborationsofthebelief；butbesure，itmusthaveexistedintheirownheartsfirst，ortheywouldneverhavegonethither。Believeit；besureofit。Noearnestthinkerisaplagiaristpureandsimple。
　　Hewillneverborrowfromothersthatwhichhehasnotalready，moreorless，thoughtoutforhimself。Whenonceagreatidea，instinctive，inductiveforthetwoexpressionsarenearerakinthanmostfancy，hasdawnedonhissoul，hewillwelcomelovingly，awfully，anycorroborationfromforeignschools，andcrywithjoy:"Behold，thisisnotaltogetheradream:forothershavefounditalso。Surelyitmustbereal，universal，eternal。"No；besurethereisfarmoreoriginalityinthecommonsenseoftheword，andfarlessinthetruesenseoftheword，thanwefancy；andthatitisapaltryandshallowdoctrinewhichrepresentseachsucceedingschoolasmerelythepuppetsanddupesofthepreceding。Moreoriginality，becauseeachearnestmanseemstothinkoutforhimselfthedeepestgroundsofhiscreed。Lessoriginality，because，asIbelieve，onecommonLogos，Word，Reason，revealsandunveilsthesameeternaltruthtoallwhoseekandhungerforit。