The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-04-19


All who had been sitting rose at the same time
except Livis, Julia, Antonio, and the two
Agrippinas.
This" whispered Tiberus in Afer's ear, lis
not much like failure, or derision, or disgrace
for the Greek"
"My predecessor, julius Cesar" said Angus
tus at length, looking round as he stood still,
"was the best astronomer and mathematician
of his age-we have his calendar now to re-
cord it; the best engineer of his age-look at
his bridge over the Rhine; the best orator, ex-
cept one, to whom Rome perhaps verlistened;
most charming talker and companion on any
subject; vert great and simple writer as
great general probably ever lived;
consummate politician keen, wary, swift,
yet profound thinker at all times; a man
whose intellect was one vast sphere of light
and yet remember we'll in what anxiety and
curiosity he lived respecting the power which
governs the universe, and with what minute
and even frivolous precau tions he was forever
trying to propitiate good award Tor his
various undertakings; how he muttered charms
whether he was ascending his chariot or de-
scendipg, or mounting his horse or dismount-
ing in short, at every turn. Evidently it is
not the brightest intellects, or the most per-
fectly educated, which are the most disposed
to scorn such ideas as we have just heard from
Dionysius; it is precisely they who are pre-
pared to ponder them the most"
Julius Caesar" said Tiberus, 1" thought,
suspect, pretty much as great many others
do, that this is q very dark difficult subject;
and that we cannot expect to come to any GER
| tain conclusions"
mot to many conclusions" said Dionysius
that much fully grant. But two or three
| broad and general truths are attainable by
means of reasonipgs close, secure, and ire
sistible as any in geometry. One such proof
and pray do not forget that said it was only
one out of many-making clear the fact that a
| single eternal God reigus ever all things, I
| have laid before Augustus and this company
| already. My last remarks, however, were not
Inspirations, but were only intended to show
| how those conceptions-to tear which from the
mind would be to tear the heat from fire and
the rays from ight-tend exactly to that con-
cluson which I had first established by a
rigorous demonstration"
"Would not some call your inference from
| these con captions themselves demon stration
also :" asked Germanicus.
| al think" replied the Athenian, " that all
would so call it if we had but time to examine
it thoroughly. There are three other complete
lines of argument, however, each of them as
interesting as poem; but SO abstruse that
will not travel along them. I will merely show
the gates which open into these three ascents
of tho glorious mountain. 1t could. then, be
demonstrated, first, that all things objects
of mind or of knowledge, somcrhere: secondly,
that all things undergo some action, or are
objects of power, somericrc thirdly, that all
things are loved and cared for somcrhc,e and
| this as forming one whole work or production
that is, in their relations with each other.
| Now, the knowledge, the power, and the love
| Cor care) in question can belong only to that
| first force of whom l speak and distinctly
affirm, Augustus, that believe should be
quite able, not to prove by probable reasons
merely, but to demonstrate positively and alb
solutely, the existence of one omnipotent God
by three distinct arguments, starting from the
three points 1 have here mentioned Yet
pass by those golden gates with wstful
| glance at them, and no other"
| cit is the horn gates, you know" said Labo,
smiling, " which open to the true Dreams"
"Ah! poor Virgil" said Augustus, first with
a smile, and then with long, heartfelt ST gh
II wish he could have heard you, my Athenian. %
"The natures of things" said the Athenian
and the number of individuals are known
and counted somewkere; the attraction of ply
steal things is weighed in a balance somewhere
and all things are maintained in their order by
limits, and protected in their relations by n
measured mark, somearhcre. But as have for
hidden myself this vast and difficult field, 1
| will turn elsewhere"
Before you turn elsewhere" exclaimed
Antistius Labio, 81 would fain test by sim
gle question the soundness of the principle
from which you will draw no deductions ;
you say all things undergo some action. Does
not this imply the actual presence of some
force in or upon all thngs"
at is not to be Denied" answ cred the Athe
MAN.
"What force" asked Labio, lis actually
present in or upon inert matter?''
The force of cohesion" replied the Athe-
MAN; and, moreover, the force of weight
which l take to be only the same force with