364 GREEK SCIENCE. 



were emitted, occasionally crackling, and sometimes, he says, entire 

 flames blazed from him, not burning his garment." 



Although it is clear that philosophical speculations upon the natural 

 properties of matter were by no means valued or pursued in what 

 we should now call a truly scientific manner; yet the following 

 singular passage from St. Jerome may afford a sufficient proof that 

 the facts which had been before recorded, were neither lost nor 

 forgotten. " Arguit in hoc loco Porphyrius et Julianus Augustus, vel 

 imperitiam historic! mentientis, vel stultitiam eorum qui statim secuti 

 sint Salvatorem, quasi irrationabiliter quemlibet vocentem hominem 

 sint secuti : cum tantse virtutes, tantaque signa pracesserint, qua? 

 Apostolos antequam crederent, vidisse non dubium est. Certe fulgor 

 ipse, et majestas divinitatis occultae qua3 etiam in human& facie reluce- 

 bat, ex primo ad se videntes trahere poterat aspectu. Si enim in 

 magnete lapide et succinis haec esse vis dicitur, ut anulos et stipulam 

 et festucas sibi copulent ; quanto magis Dominus omnium creaturarum 

 ad se trahere poterat quos vocabat." Sti. Hieronymi, Presb. lib. i. 

 1 Com. in Matt.' cap. ix. 



