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，inductive(forthetwoexpressionsarenearerakinthanmostfancy)，hasdawnedonhissoul，hewillwelcomelovingly，awfully，anycorroborationfromforeignschools，andcrywithjoy:\"Behold，thisisnotaltogetheradream:forothershavefounditalso。Surelyitmustbereal，universal，eternal。\"No；besurethereisfarmoreoriginality(inthecommonsenseoftheword)，andfarless(inthetruesenseoftheword)，thanwefancy；andthatitisapaltryandshallowdoctrinewhichrepresentseachsucceedingschoolasmerelythepuppetsanddupesofthepreceding。Moreoriginality，becauseeachearnestmanseemstothinkoutforhimselfthedeepestgroundsofhiscreed。Lessoriginality，because，asIbelieve，onecommonLogos，Word，Reason，revealsandunveilsthesameeternaltruthtoallwhoseekandhungerforit。