Million Book Collection - The Fishers of Men Ministries

THE GOSPEL OF PHILOSOPHIC HEATHENISM 245back, he begins an active life, of which he says,"I go about and teach." In fact, Philostratus wouldhave us believe that during a period of sixty years hetraverses all the parts of the Eoman Empire, extendinghis action over all countries and all men, and with thepurpose of making the wisdom which he possesses thecommon good of all whom he meets. While he iseminently Greek in mind himself, yet he deems allmen as possessors in various degrees of the samedivine substance in their souls to be of one familycapable of improvement and correction. In his eyesall the rites of the various deities, however differingin circumstances, not all of which he approves, areyet but as it were Protean shapes and symbols of theone divinity. In accordance with this view, thoughhe has his own special religion, he frequents thvarious temples and confers with the priests.3. In this function of public teacher a knowledgnot only of absent but of future things is ascribed thim. He possesses all the languages of men withouthaving learnt them, nay, the things which they keepsecret he knows. He quits a ship which is presentlyto founder; he anticipates future events by turningthe conversation upon them. He has a vision atEphesus of the tyrant's murder at Home. He knowswhen persecuted what will happen and what will nothappen to himself.4. His power corresponds to his wisdom. Thushe works miracles, and we are carefully told thathis power does not arise from magic, but is a poweinherent and working in him, as when without utteiing a prayer he withdraws his foot from the fetIn particular the whole world of spirits is subject thim. He stones the plague at Ephesus in the shap