Thereforewecan，astheChristianphilosophersofAlexandriadid，rejoiceovereverytruthwhichtheirheathenadversariesbeheld，andattributethem，asClementdoes，tothehighestsource，totheinspirationoftheoneanduniversalLogos。WithClement，philosophyisonlyhurtfulwhenitisuntruetoitself，andphilosophyfalselysocalled；truephilosophyisanimageofthetruth，adivinegiftbestowedontheGreeks。TheBible，inhiseyes，assertsthatallformsofartandwisdomarefromGod。Thewiseinmindhavenodoubtsomepeculiarendowmentofnature，butwhentheyhaveofferedthemselvesfortheirwork，theyreceiveaspiritofperceptionfromtheHighestWisdom，givingthemanewfitnessforit。
Allseverestudy，allcultivationofsympathy，areexercisesofthisspiritualendowment。ThewholeintellectualdisciplineoftheGreeks，withtheirphilosophy，camedownfromGodtomen。Philosophy，heconcludesinoneplace，carrieson\"aninquiryconcerningTruthandthenatureofBeing；andthisTruthisthatconcerningwhichtheLordHimselfsaid:\'IamtheTruth。\'Andwhentheinitiatedfind，orratherreceive，thetruephilosophy，theyhaveitfromtheTruthitself；thatisfromHimwhoistrue。\"
While，then，thesetwoschoolshadsomanygroundsincommon，wherewastheirpointofdivergence？Weshallfindit，Ibelieve，fairlyexpressedinthedyingwordsofPlotinus，thegreatfatherofNeoplatonism。\"IamstrivingtobringtheGodwhichisinusintoharmonywiththeGodwhichisintheuniverse。\"WhetherornotPlotinusactuallysospoke，thatwaswhathisdisciplesnotonlysaidthathespoke，butwhattheywouldhavewishedhimtospeak。Thatonesentenceexpressesthewholeobjectoftheirphilosophy。
ButtothatPantaenus，Origen，Clement，andAugustinewouldhaveanswered:\"Andwe，ontheotherhand，assertthattheGodwhichisintheuniverse，isthesameastheGodwhichisinyou，andisstrivingtobringyouintoharmonywithHimself。\"Thereistheexperimentumcrucis。
ThereisthevastgulfbetweentheChristianandtheHeathenschools，whichwhenanymanhadoverleaped，thewholeproblemoftheuniversewasfromthatmomentinverted。WithPlotinusandhisschoolmanisseekingforGod:withClementandhis，Godisseekingforman。Withtheformer，Godispassive，andmanactive:withthelatter，Godisactive，manispassive——passive，thatis，insofarashisbusinessistolistenwhenheisspokento，tolookatthelightwhichisunveiledtohim，tosubmithimselftotheinwardlawswhichhefeelsreprovingandcheckinghimateveryturn，asSocrateswasreprovedandcheckedbyhisinwardDaemon。