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    j # st discovered , and , with unspeaka * ble pleasure , I now disclose it to theworld . A hymn of Aristotle , in praise of virtue , was known over the world . The chief object of this hymn was to celebrate Hermias , who , from a slave ,

    rose , as it s 6 ems , by his wisdom and valour , to be a petty sovereign . His hospitality and magnificence as a prince won the applause of the Greek philosopher ; and as he was an . eunuvh , he submitted to become the instrument of a passion in his

    eulogist too base to be named . For bis coi > descension in these respects , the Grecian sage extols him in a language which justly brought upon him , even from his corrupt countrymen , the imputatioi * pf impiety . The words of Aristotle imply that his favourite was

    invested w } th a form splendid as the sun . Paul , we have seen , places the character of Jesus in a similar light , the ^ ame term , fAop < pi } , as expressive of external figure and beauty , being used

    by both writers . Aristotle calls this form KaXXig-ov $ vjpa / Au , the most beau- ? tiful thing to be hunted , the finest game , the fairest booty ; Paul calls that of Jesus 4 p 7 ra < y / x , os , a thing greedily to be seized . The former writes that

    Hermias widowed himself of the Ught of the sun , " ccbXiQ xq § w < 7 $ v a , vyaq scil . iatirov ; the latter , that his divine Master , in order to meet death , " emptied himself of his divine form /* Filially , the philosopher of Greece intimates , that for his noble deeds

    Hermias will be advanced by the Muses to the temple of Jupiter ; the Apostle of the Gentiles directly asserts , that God highly exalted Jesus for his obedience and submission to death . According to Aristotle , Hercules , Castor , Pollux , were glorified among

    the stars , while Achilles and Ajax attained immortality in Hades , T * his unfolds the meaning of a language which might otherwise be deemed the raat of a mystagogue . ' * Therefore God has highly exalted him , and given hjm , a name above every other name—? of those in heaven , ( namely , of

    Hercules , the sons of Leda , Bacchus , Romulus , Augustus , &c , see Hoi * . lib . iii . od . 3 >)—of those on earth—^ ( namely , of Jupiter , Apollo , Venus , &c * who were worshiped on earth under material images )—of those under the earth'V »{] QAHi £ lyj the host of

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    Grecian heroes who occupied the J 21 y « . sian fielcls ) . Thia passage , then , is to be considered as holding forth to the Philippics the duty of abolishing all the superstitious practices to which they had hitherto bee # addicted ; . tfyat having now received the name of

    Christ , they should no longer consider the deified heroes of the Pagan world as objects of faith or examples of virtue . Accordingly , the author intimates that God should be the only proper object of worship , and that Jesus ,

    however honourable or exalted , should only be regarded as the person hi whose name this worship should be paid to the universal Father : " Wherefore God has highly exalted him , and given him a name above every other name .... that in the name of Jesus

    every knee should bow , to the glory of God the Father . " Aristotle , under the name of virtue * praises qualities the most debasing to the hum 9 , 11 heart , and the most destructive to the peace and happiness of society ; and to check the pernicious influence of such virtues , Paul describes what true virtue is , as

    illustrated in the character of Jesus , and what , as such , ought to be the subject of meditation and practice to his followers . " Finally , brethren , whatever things are true , whatever things are creditable , whatever things are just ,

    whatever things are pure , whatever things are peaceful , whatever things bear a fair name , if they really deserve the praise of virtue , make these the subjects of meditation . Also what things you have learnt of me , and have received of me , and have heard

    of me , and have seen in me—these make the rule of your practice . " The developement of the qualities recommended by Aristotle , a ^ they stand opposed to the virtues here enumerated , will give additional beauty an 4 propriety to this beautiful passage .

    The words of the apostle , drawn out to their full extent , are to this effect ; " Whatever things are true and credit table , and not the falsehoods , the puerile fables , such as tliQ stories about Hercules ami the sons of Leda ;

    whatever things are just amd pacific , aw not the hostile qualities of Achates , his violence , rapine , reyepge ancl fury ; ¦^ -whatever th&gs a # e pv * re > ^ nd ^ bear a lair name , and not thd ii ^ puriti § s * the practice tQo iafuijious ev ^ u to , be

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    6 £ S Dr . J . Jones an Dr . J . P . Smith ' s Critique on Philipp . ii . 5 .

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Nov. 2, 1821, page 658, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2506/page/26/