Million Book Collection - The Fishers of Men Ministries

RESURRECTION OF CULTURED HEATHENISM 145abundance is it seated in the body and in the soul ofthe whole, and ever fights a battle with the better."The Supreme God communicates himself to theworld, and first of all to the heavenly gods,2 the sun,and the stars, and planets, with whom the gods of theGreek mythology are identified. The sun is the chiefof these, and is the visible image of the Supreme God.Far below these are ranged the " demons," intermediatebeings, greatly surpassing men in knowledge andpower, but in the construction of their soul and bodysubject to sensuousness. They are capable of pleasureand pain, they are of a changeable, and in a certainsense even mortal nature, for though very long-lived,they are not absolutely free from death or a changecorresponding to death. Further, they are exceedinglydiverse in moral qualities. Bad gods are never spokenof, but there are bad demons. It is possible for ademon to turn himself to evil by his free-will; and asnot only men can become heroes, and even demons,but demons also can become gods, so on the other sidethe case may occur that demons are drawn down intohuman bodies through sensual inclination. The godsare too far from the human world to interfere themselvesin its course, but they take part in this throughtheir servants the demons, to whom is entrusted therovidence over particular things.In accordance with this hierarchy of intelligencessuperior to man, Plutarch recognises a tripledence. This in its primary ground and origin isnothing else but the thought and will of the SupremeGod. This will is fulfilled in a triple manner. Thedisposition of the universe and its general laws proceedimmediately from the maker of the world. The origin1 Onlsis, sec. 49. 2 See Ztller, v. 157.VOL. III. K