These considerations make it evident why
it was that philosophy was so completely at
fault in dealing with the mass of human cor-
ruption by which it was surrounded. Being
devoid of profound spiritual convictions, it had
no means of penetrating to the depths of the
human spirit. In exerting the power of habit,
it found the ground completely preoccupied,
and an enemy in possession of the very centre
of its strength. All that a philosopher could
say to one in whom the principles of evil had
taken root was, " Begin the work of reform-
ation by performing virtuous actions. After

* The Seventh Book of the Ethics is a most strikiog proof
of the difficulties with which ancient philosophy had to struggle
n the work of reforming mankind.
