WasAlexandriathen，frombeginningtoend，merelyanaturalandphysicalphenomenon？
Itmayhavebeen。AndyetwecannotdenythatAlexandriawasalsoametaphysicalphenomenon，vastanddeepenough；seeingthatitheldforsomeeighteenhundredyearsapopulationofseveralhundredthousandsouls；eachofwhom，atleastaccordingtotheAlexandrianphilosophy，stoodinaveryintimaterelationtothosemetaphysicthingswhichareimperishableandimmovableandeternal，andindeed，containedthemmoreorless，eachman，woman，andchildoftheminthemselves；havingwills，reasons，consciences，affections，relationstoeachother；beingparents，children，helpmates，boundtogetherbylawsconcerningrightandwrong，andnumberlessotherunseenandspiritualrelations。
Surelysuchabodywasnotmerelynatural，anymorethananyothernation，society，orscientificschool，madeupofmenandofthespirits，thoughts，affectionsofmen。It，likethem，wassurelyspiritual；andcouldbeonlylivingandhealthy，inasfarasitwasinharmonywithcertainspiritual，unseen，andeverlastinglawsofGod；
perhaps，ascertainAlexandrianphilosopherswouldhaveheld，inasfarasitwasapatternofthatidealconstitutionandpolityafterwhichmanwascreated，thecityofGodwhichiseternalintheHeavens。Ifso，maywenotsuspectofthisAlexandriathatitwasitsownfaultifitbecameamerelyphysicalphenomenon；andthatitstoopedtobecomeapartofnature，andtookitsplaceamongthethingswhichareborntodie，onlybybreakingthelawwhichGodhadappointedforit；sofulfilling，initsowncase，St。Paul\'sgreatwords，thatdeathenteredintotheworldbysin，andthatsinisthetransgressionofthelaw？
Bethatasitmay，theremusthavebeenmetaphysicenoughtobelearntinthat，oranycityofthreehundredthousandinhabitants，eventhoughithadnevercontainedlecture-roomorphilosopher\'schair，andhadneverheardthenamesofAristotleandPlato。Metaphysicenough，indeed，tobelearntthere，couldwebutenterintotheheartofeventhemostbrutishnegroslavewhoeverwasbroughtdowntheNileoutofthedesertbyNubianmerchants，tobuildpiersanddocksinwhosecommercehedidnotshare，templeswhoseworshiphedidnotcomprehend，librariesandtheatreswhoselearningandcivilisationweretohimasmuchasealedbookastheyweretohiscountryman，andfellow-slave，andonlyfriend，theape。Therewasmetaphysicenoughinhimtruly，andthingseternalandimmutable，thoughhisdark-skinneddescendantswerethreehundredyearsindiscoveringthefact，andinprovingitsatisfactorilytoallmankindforever。YoumustpardonmeifIseemobscure；IcannothelplookingatthequestionwithasomewhatAlexandrianeye，andtalkingofthepoornegrodock-workerascertainAlexandrianphilosopherswouldhavetalked，ofwhomIshallhavetospeakhereafter。