P. 78. Atheism a sin of youth: _Laws_, x. p. 888_a_.—Goodness and truth of the gods: _Republ._ ii. p. 379_a_, 380_d_, 382_a_.—Belief in Providence: _Laws_, x. p. 885_c_, etc.; _Republ._ x. p. 612_e_; _Apol._ p. 41_d_. P. 79. _Laws_, x. p. 888_d_, 893_b_ foll., especially 899_c-d_; comp. also xii. p. 967_a-c._—_Timaeus_: p. 40_d-f_. Comp. _Laws_, xii. p. 948_b_. P. 80. The gods in the _Republic_, ii. p. 380_d_. This passage, taken together with Plato’s general treatment of popular belief, might lead to the hypothesis that it was Plato’s doctrine of ideas rather than the rationalism of his youth that brought about strained relations between his thought and popular belief. I incline to think that such is the case; but there is a long step even from such a state of things to downright atheism, and the stress Plato always laid on the belief in Providence is a strong argument in favour of his belief in the gods, for he could never make his ideas act in the capacity of Providence.—The gods as creators of mankind: _Timaeus_, p. 41_a_ foll. P. 81. Xenocrates: the exposition of his doctrine given in the text is based upon Heinze’s _Xenokrates_ (Leipzig, 1892). P. 83. Trial of Aristotle: Diog. Laert. v. 5; Athen. xv. p. 696.—The writings of Aristotle that have come down to us are almost all of them compositions for the use of his disciples, and were not accessible to the general public during his lifetime. P. 84. On the religious views of Aristotle see in general Zeller, ii. 2, p. 787 (Engl. transl. ii. p. 325); where the references to his writings are given in full. In the following I indicate only a few passages of special interest.—Discussion of worship precluded: _Top._ A, xi. p. 105_a_, 5.—Aristotle’s Will: _Diog_. Laert. v. 15.—The gods as determining the limits of the human: _e.g._ _Nic. Eth._ K, viii. p. 1178b, 33: “(the wise) will also be in need of outward prosperity, as he is (only) a man.”—Reservations in speaking of the gods, _e.g._ _Nic. Eth._ K, ix. p. 1179_a_, 13: “he who is active in accordance with reason ... must also be supposed to be the most beloved of the gods; for if the gods trouble themselves about human affairs—_and that they do so is generally taken for granted_—it must be probable that they take pleasure in what is best and most nearly related to themselves (_and that must be the reason_), and that they reward those who love and honour this most highly,” etc. The passage is typical both of the hypothetical way of speaking, and of the twist in the direction of Aristotle’s own conception of the deity (whose essence is reason); also of the Socratic manner of dealing with the gods. P. 85. The passage quoted is from the _Metaphysics_, A viii. p. 1074_a_, 38. Comp. _Metaph._ B, ii. p. 997_b_, 8; iv. p. 1000_a_, 9. P. 86. Theophrastus: Diog. Laert. v. 37. P. 87. Strato: Diels, _Ueber das physikal. System des S., Sitzungsber. d. Berl. Akad._, 1893, p. 101.—His god the same as nature: _Cic. de nat. deor._ i. 35.