第1章

IshouldnothavepresumedtochooseforanylecturesofminesuchasubjectasthatwhichIhavetriedtotreatinthisbook。ThesubjectwaschosenbytheInstitutionwherethelecturesweredelivered。StilllessshouldIhavepresumedtoprintthemofmyownaccord，knowinghowfragmentaryandcrudetheyare。Theywereprintedatthespecialrequestofmyaudience。Leastofall，perhaps，oughtItohavepresumedtopublishthem，asIhavedone，atCambridge，whereanyinaccuracyorsciolism(andthatsuchdefectsexistinthesepages，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，now(whatifsaidtenyearsagowouldhaveonlyexcitedlaughter)，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，andnot(astoomanyfancy)inquestionsmerelyrelatingtothebalanceofpowerorcommercialeconomy，andare(theworldbeingundertheguidanceofaspiritual，andnotaphysicalBeing)finallydecidedonthosespiritualgrounds，andaccordingtothejustlawsofthekingdomofGod；and，therefore，thefuturepoliticalhoroscopeoftheEastdependsentirelyonthepresentspiritualstateofitsinhabitants，andofuswhohave(andrightly) 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，notbytheriseofanewspiritualidea(asinthecaseoftheKoreish)，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。Heissaid(Iknownothowtruly)tohaveonevirtueleft； 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，iftheywillbutobserveahollowanduncertainneutrality(forwhocantrusttheliarandtheoppressor？)——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；sheshrankfrominjuringthecauseofOrder(thenanobleronethannow，becauseitwasthecauseofLoyalty，andnotmerelyofMammon)byassistingtheScotchandtheNetherlanders: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。\"Butwehaveyettolearn(atleastifthedoctrineswhichIhavetriedtoillustrateinthislittlebookhaveanytruthinthem)whethershotorshellhasthepoweroftakingawayhumanlife；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。