rophy which overleaps the bounds of kindred and
nationality, and embraces a common humanity in its compassionate regards
and benevolent efforts, was unknown. Socrates, the noblest of all the
Grecians, was in no sense cosmopolitan in his feeling. His whole nature
and character wore a Greek impress. He could scarce be tempted to go
beyond the gates of Athens, and his care was all for the Athenian
people. He could not conceive an universal philanthropy. Plato, in his
solicitude to reduce his ideal state to a harmonious whole, answering to
his idea of Justice, sacrificed the individual. He superseded private
property, broke up the sacred relations of family and home, degraded
woman, and tolerated slavery. Selfishness was to be overcome, and
political order maintained, by a rigid communism. To harmonize
individual rights and national interests, was the wisdom reserved for
the fishermen of Galilee. The whole method of Plato's "Politeia,"
breathes the spirit of legalism in all its severity, untempered by the
spirit of Love. This was the living force which was wanting to give
energy to the ideals of the reason and conscience, to furnish high
motive to virtue, to prompt to deeds of heroic sacrifice and suffering
for the good of others; and this could not be inspired by philosophy,
nor constrained by legislation. This love must descend from above. "The
Platonic love" was a mere intellectual appreciation of beauty, and
order, and proportion, and excellence. It was not the love of man as the
offspring and image of God, as the partaker of a common nature, and the
heir of a common immortality. Such love was first revealed on earth by
the incarnate Son of God, and can only be attained by human hearts under
the inspiration of his teaching and life, and the renewing influence of
the Holy Spirit. "Love is of God, and every one that loveth is born of
God and knoweth God." To "love our neighbor as ourself" is the golden
precept of the Son of God, who is incarnate Love. The equality of all
men as "the offspring of God" had been nominally recognized by the Stoic
philosophers; its realization had been rendered possible to the popular
thought by Roman conquest, law, and jurisprudence; these had prepared
the way for its fullest announcement and practical recognition by the
world. At this providential juncture St. Paul appears on Mars' Hill, and
in the presence of the assembled philosophers proclaims, "_God hath made
of one blood all nations of me