Million Book Collection - The Fishers of Men Ministries

146 THK FORMATION OK CHRISTENDOMand maintenance of mortal beings are effected by thevisible gods, the sun, planets, and stars, in the mannerprescribed by those laws. The actions and the fortunesof particular men stand under the protectionand guidance of the demons.In connection with his belief in providence is hisbelief in the continuance of the human intelligenceafter death. He declares that these two beliefs standor fall together. This continuance applies only to thedivine part in man, which springs from the divinereason, not to the body or to the sensuou soul. Andit seems to rest on three things in his mind, the kinshipof the ha man spirit with the divine, the necessityof a future retribution and recompense for the evils oflife, ' and the consolation l which the thought O of a futureexistence and recognition bestows.This doctrine of providence is of great importancein Plutarch's conception of the world, and in defendingit he vehemently attacks two sorts of opponents.First, the Epicureans, who were willing to admit that" all things were full of gods." l These gods, however,did not trouble themselves with human affairs, so thatthose of this sect denied entirely the doctrine of providence.Secondly, the Stoics, whose fatalism destroyed,as he averred, the conception of possibility, and thefreedom of the will, and made error and wickednessinto something necessary, and the godhead the causeof evil.2Plutarch's view of all moral obligation runs up intoreligion. Piety is the attitude of his mind. Inlegislation the first and the greatest thing is theopinion entertained of the gods. It is the bondwhich holds together all communion and making of1 Zeller, v. 164. 8 Ibid., v. 159.