22. The Book Of Hermesn

Faith, hope and charity are three such inseparable sisters that they may be taken one for another. Thus in religion universal and hierarchic orthodoxy, restoration of temples in all their splendour; reestablishment of high ceremonial in its primitive pomp; hierarchic instruction of symbols, mysteries, miracles; legends for children, light for grown men who will beware of scandalizing little ones in the simplicity of their faith: this in religion is our whole Utopia, as it is also the desire and need of humanity. Coming now to philosophy, our own is that of realism and positivism. Being is by reason of that Being of Whom no one doubts. All exists for us by science. To know is to be. Science and its object become identified in the intellectual life of him who knows. To doubt is to be ignorant. Now, a thing of which we are ignorant does not as yet exist for us. To live intellectually is to learn. Being develops and amplifies by science. The first conquest of science, and the first result of the exact sciences, is the sentiment of reason. The laws of Nature are algebraic. Thus the sole reasonable faith is the adhesion of the student to theorems, the entire essential justice of which lies outside his knowledge, though its applications and results are demonstrated adequately to his mind. So does the true philosopher believe in that which is and does not admit a posteriori that all is reasonable. But no more charlatanism in philosophy, no more empiricism, no more system! The study of being and its compared realities! A metaphysic of Nature! Then away with mysticism! No more dreams in philosophy; philosophy is not poesy but pure mathematics of realities, physical and moral. Leave unto religion the freedom of its infinite aspirations, and let it leave in turn to science the exact conclusions of absolute experimentalism. Man is the son of his works; he is what he wills to be; he is the image of the God he makes; he is the realization of his own ideal. Should that ideal lack basis, the whole edifice of his immortality collapses. Philosophy is not the ideal, but ought to serve as its foundation. The known is for us the measure of the unknown; by the visible we appreciate the invisible; sensations are to thoughts even as thoughts to aspirations. Science is a celestial trigonometry: one side of the absolute triangle is that Nature which is submitted to our investigations; the second is our soul, which embraces and reflects Nature; the third is the Absolute, in which our soul is magnified. No more atheism possible henceforward, for we pretend no longer to define God. God is for us the most perfect and best of intelligent beings, and the ascending hierarchy of beings demonstrates His existence amply.' Do not let us ask for more; but, to understand Him ever better, let us grow perfect by ascending towards Him. No more ideology; being is being, and cannot perfectionize save according to real laws of being. Observe, and do not prejudge; exercise our faculties, do not falsify them; enlarge the domain of life in life; behold truth in truth! Everything is possible to him who wills only what is true! Rest in Nature, study, know, then dare; dare to will, dare to act and be silent! No more hatred of anyone. Everyone reaps what he sows. The consequence of works is fatal: to judge and chastise the wicked is for the Supreme Reason. He who enters into a blind alley must retrace his steps or be broken. Warn him gently, if he can still hear you, but human liberty must takes its course. We are not the judges of one another. Life is a battlefield. Do not pause in the warfare on account of those who fall, but avoid trampling them.