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least if the doctrines which I have tried to illustrate in this little book have
any truth in them） whether shot or shell has the power of taking away
human life； and to believe； if we believe our Bibles； that human life can
only be destroyed by sin； and that all which is lost in battle is that animal
life of which it is written； 〃Fear not those who can kill the body； and after
that have no more that they can do： but I will forewarn you whom you
shall fear； him who； after he has killed； has power to destroy both body
and soul in hell。〃 Let a man fear him； the destroying devil； and fear
therefore cowardice； disloyalty； selfishness； sluggishness； which are his
works； and to be utterly afraid of which is to be truly brave。 God grant
that we of the clergy may remember this during the coming war； and
instead of weakening the righteous courage and honour of our countrymen
by instilling into them selfish and superstitious fears； and a theory of the
future state which represents God； not as a saviour； but a tormentor； may
boldly tell them that 〃He is not the God of the dead but of the living； for
all live unto Him；〃 and that he who renders up his animal life as a
worthless thing； in the cause of duty； commits his real and human life； his
very soul and self； into the hands of a just and merciful Father； who has
promised to leave no good deed unrewarded； and least of all that most
noble deed； the dying like a man for the sake not merely of this land of
England； but of the freedom and national life of half the world。
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ALEXANDRIA AND HER SCHOOLS
LECTURE ITHE PTOLEMAIC
ERA
Before I begin to lecture upon the Physical and Metaphysical schools
of Alexandria； it may be better； perhaps； to define the meaning of these
two epithets。 Physical； we shall all agree； means that which belongs to
＇Greek text： phusis＇； natura； nature； that which ＇Greek text： phuetai＇；
nascitur； grows； by an organic life； and therefore decays again； which has
a beginning； and therefore； I presume； an end。 And Metaphysical means
that which we learn to think of after we think of nature； that which is
supernatural； in fact； having neither beginning nor end； imperishable；
immovable； and eternal； which does not become； but always is。 These； at
least； are the wisest definitions of these two terms for us just now； for they
are those which were received by the whole Alexandrian school； even by
those commentators who say that Aristotle； the inventor of the term
Metaphysics； named his treatise so only on account of its following in
philosophic sequence his book on Physics。
But； according to these definitions； the whole history of Alexandria
might be to us； from one point of view； a physical school； for Alexandria；
its society and its philosophy； were born； and grew； and fed； and reached
their vigour； and had their old age； their death； even as a plant or an animal
has； and after they were dead and dissolved； the atoms of them formed
food for new creations； entered into new organisations； just as the atoms of
a dead plant or animal might do。 Was Alexandria then； from beginning to
end； merely a natural and physical phenomenon？
It may have been。 And yet we cannot deny that Alexandria was also
a metaphysical phenomenon； vast and deep enough； seeing that it held for
some eighteen hundred years a population of several hundred thousand
souls； each of whom； at least according to the Alexandrian philosophy；
stood in a very intimate relation to those metaphysic things which are
imperishable and immovable and eternal； and indeed； contained them
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ALEXANDRIA AND HER SCHOOLS
more or less； each man； woman； and child of them in themselves； having
wills； reasons； consciences； affections； relations to each other； being
parents； children； helpmates； bound together by laws concerning right and
wrong； and numberless other unseen and spiritual relations。
Surely such a body was not merely natural； any more than any other
nation； society； or scientific school； made up of men and of the spirits；
thoughts； affections of men。 It； like them； was surely spiritual； and could
be only living and healthy； in as far as it was in harmony with certain
spiritual； unseen； and everlasting laws of God； perhaps； as certain
Alexandrian philosophers would have held； in as far as it was a pattern of
that ideal constitution and polity after which man was created； the city of
God which is eternal in the Heavens。 If so； may we not suspect of this
Alexandria that it was its own fault if it became a merely physical
phenomenon； and that it stooped to become a part of nature； and took its
place among the things which are born to die； only by breaking the law
which God had appointed for it； so fulfilling； in its own case； St。 Paul's
great words； that death entered into the world by sin； and that sin is the
transgression of the law？
Be that as it may； there must have been metaphysic enough to be learnt
in that； or any city of three hundred thousand inhabitants； even though it
had never contained lecture…room or philosopher's chair； and had never
heard the names of Aristotle and Plato。 Metaphysic enough； indeed； to
be learnt there； could we but enter into the heart of even the most brutish
negro slave who ever was brought down the Nile out of the desert by
Nubian merchants； to build piers and docks in whose commerce he did not
share； temples whose worship he did not comprehend； libraries and
theatres whose learning and civilisation were to him as much a sealed
book as they were to his countryman； and fellow…slave； and only friend；
the ape。 There was metaphysic enough in him truly； and things eternal
and immutable； though his dark…skinned descendants were three hundred
years in discovering the fact； and in proving it satisfactorily to all mankind
for ever。 You must pardon me if I seem obscure； I cannot help looking at
the question with a somewhat Alexandrian eye； a