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MEANING AND HISTORY OF THE LOGOS OF PHILOSOPHY. 267 
expositions of the only cosmogony that is entitled to be called 
profound, the Cosmos, now at length ascribed to the true 
Logos, is in all respects accounted for. It is the effect of His 
eternal power and divinity. Its form is the unfolding of His 
mind. Its material is equally His creation, for until creative 
energy began to operate through Him nothing was in existence 
but the Godhead. Lastly, the purpose for which it exists is 
the endless revelation of the glory that was latent in His 
ineffable goodness and grace. Therefore, as will now be 
seen, the revealed Logos, assumed to be the last word that 
may be hoped for by the etiological inquirer, leaves nothing 
unaceounted for, save that for which, it is evident, no cause 
can ever be assigned, namely, the existence of the One Cause 
that had no beginning, the Being Who is because He is. 
In the course of this historical sketch I have found occasion 
to draw attention to the comparative value of the ethical 
method of getting at a conception of the First Cause: what 
we have now under contemplation is such an illustration of 
the superiority of this method as, ] may be permitted to say, 
leaves nothing to be desired. You will see, therefore, what I 
mean when I ask you to observe the philosophic import of the 
statement that “the Logos became flesh” (John i. 14: 
5 Rébyoo odp~ tyévero”). It is assumed that a type of 
character, whose nature and property, as manifested in the 
life of an individual Man, is to sacrifice self in well-doing, 
has- been from everlasting, and that, through the operation 
of a power inherent in it, all origination and movement are 
effected. The philosophy which the revelation of the Logos 
teaches we truly understand when our hearts confess the im- 
mediate influence of this fundamental and all-sufficing Power, 
the primal and indissoluble Life. In life-giving, hope-inspiring, 
regenerative experiences is made known the true secret of 
that authority to which unconscious nature yields a never- 
wavering obedience, and which, as time goes on, is over- 
throwing and demolishing those baseless speculations wherein 
Creator and creation are confounded, and is absorbing, slowly 
indeed, but surely, every realm of thought into the Kingdom 
which shall have no end. 
The Present (Sir G. G. Stokes, Bart., M.P.).—I am sure all 
will join in thanking Mr Clarke for his interesting paper (cheers). 
It is now open for any one to offer remarks thereon. 
