Taylor - Eleusianian and Bacchic Mysteries.pdf - Platonic Philosophy

88 Eleusinian andtions exhibited in these rites, in conjunctionwith initiation and the epopteia were symbolsof the gradation of virtues requisite to thisreascent of the soul. And hence, too, if thisbe the case, a representation of the descent ofthe soul [from its former heavenly estate]must certainly form no inconsiderable part ofthese mystic shows all which the;followingobservations will, I do not doubt, abundantlyevince.In the first place, then, that the shows ofthe Greater Mysteries occultly signified thefelicity of the soulboth here and hereafter,when separated from the contact and influence of the body, is evident from what hasbeen demonstrated in the former part of thisdiscourse : for if he who in the present life isin subjection to his irrational part is trulyin Hades, lie who is superior to its dominionis likewise an Inhabitant of a place totallydifferent fromHades.* If Hades thereforebody or outside of body, I know not: God knoweth, who wasrapt into paradise, and heard appf]TO p-r^ata, things ineffable,which it is not lawful for a man to repeat."*PAUL, Epistle to the PJiilippians, iii. 20: "Our citizenship isin the heavens."