exceptions to this rule on account of their intolerance and spirit of exclusion. We have, then, good reason to mourn sincerely for Marcus Aurelius. Under him philosophy reigned. One moment, thanks to him, the world was governed by the best and greatest man of his age. Frightful decadences followed; but the little casket which contained the "Thoughts" on the banks of the Granicus was saved. From it came forth that incomparable book in which Epictetus was surpassed, that Evangel of those who believe not in the supernatural, which has not been comprehended until our day. Veritable, eternal Evangel, the book of "Thoughts," which will never grow old, because it asserts no dogma. The virtue of Marcus Aurelius, like our own, rests upon reason, upon nature. St. Louis was a very virtuous man, because he was a Christian: Marcus Aurelius was the most godly of men, not because he was a Pagan, but because he was a gifted man. He was the honor of human nature, and not of an established religion. Science may yet destroy, in appearance, God and the immortal soul; but the book of the "Thoughts" will still remain young with life and truth. The religion of Marcus Aurelius is the absolute religion, that which results from the simple fact of a high moral conscience placed face to face with the universe. It is of no race, neither of any country. No revolution, no change, no discovery, will have power to affect it. Transcriber's Notes: Phrases in italics are indicated by _italics_. Words in the text which were in small-caps were converted to title-case. The "oe" ligature is indicated by "[oe]" (e.g. Ph[oe]nician). Missing word added: pg 34 the word "it" has been added to the phrase: "if (it) had been announced" Words re-arranged: pg 126 "the be strongest" --> "be the strongest" Typos corrected: pg 32 "Pysche" --> "Psyche" pg 54 "apochryphal" --> "apocryphal" pg 95 "Judean" --> "Judæan" (2 occurrences) pg 109 "Mithracism" --> "Mithraicism" pg 150 "ctizens" --> "citizens" End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of English Conferences of Ernest Renan, by Ernest Renan