ity is only a second nature superposed upon the first and much more noble. The God of Nature is not so much necessary for man as the God of Spirits, which can do the greatest of miracles, that of creating the highest and noblest of worlds-that of changing humanity and rendering it Divine and immortal. The spirit can perceive very well the force of those reasons, but the soul senses them not, all petrified as she is with matter and unable to attribute reality to all that which it holds of this world, and which strikes the senses.

Can I also know this King? Would you at least explain to me this famous secret that God unveiled to Him, for rendering man immortal and equal to God? My dear friend, these are profound ideas, the meaning of which will be very difficult for you to penetrate, as I cannot explain to you the whole in detail. You desire to make the acquaintance of the King. Very well, to know a superior mind, for example, Socrates, would it be sufficient for you to see only his form? Is it not clear that you must study the mind and thought of a spirit to know him? The King is Awakened, although the world has believed Him still Dead. As for us we have seen Him in His Mysterious Sleep, as well as when awake. Blessed are they whom God will have enlightened to see Him! They will understand by this that God has revealed to Him the secret of not dying and of becoming like God.

Then seeing in the Monk the Apostle of the King; my Father, I said to him, I am but a simple compiler of traditions. I respect the belief of every one, but it is perhaps better for another to enter into a philosophical discussion upon these questions, than for me. Moreover, my ideas. are arrested and it is impossible for me to deviate from the more rigorous naturalism. It is precisely that which is necessary, he said, for understanding well the thought of

God, which will be the object of our discussion, for Nature is only the product of the Divine thought. Moreover, I do not understand what purpose it serves, for a man to move heaven and earth to fill his sack with ancient and modern coins, and to refuse to examine those close at hand. He would perhaps try to render himself rich immediately. The Sage must have toleration to examine the whole, freewill to choose or reject that which suits him. Besides, I do not find it good to oblige a person to listen to me, and if you prefer, we shall herewith put an end to our conversation. Oh! no, I said to him; and I know you will be infinitely pleased to be able to continue all that is necessary relative to that interesting history.

CHAPTER II.

THE LORD REVEALS HIMSelf to the GRAND MONARCH.

The Appearance of the Lord to the King Philosopher- God sends the King to sleep-The Lord reveals Himself to the King as God-ChristLight-The Lord awakes the King-The Lord reveals to the Grand Monarch the Promise of Christ: the Cult of Spirit and Truth-The Mystery that the Gospel teaches-The Philosophical Gospel has only for its aim the Explanation, by the light of modern science, the Mystery of the Holy Faith of our Fathers-The Gospel is revealed by Providence-Resume of the Gospel; the principles it teaches.

THE APPEARANCE OF THe Lord to the KING PHILosopher.

THE Priest elevating his hands to heaven, offered a prayer in those words :-Noble, despondent souls, let us address our prayers to the true Comforter, the God-Christ-Light. Herein, continued he, is the history of this extraordinary King. Our King Philosopher passed his infancy in that strange idea of persistently seeking to see God Himself, with his common eyes. His desire was to speak with the Supreme Intelligence, and to pray that He would be pleased to explain to him the mystery of the world, and reveal to him the destiny of man upon the earth. One day, as he entered into the Temple of St. Sophia-situated very near to the palace of his fathers—to pray to God, the Lord appeared to him under the form of an Angel and said to him:— Can we know God by seeing Him? The beast has also an eye like thine. Withdraw thyself from my face! Idolatry and animality are to me horrors! Is it possible to touch the Supreme Spirit with the hand? though He be not far from every one of us-God and Spirit (Acts xvii,27). His worship is spiritual. We can only see God with the