PAUL TO SENECA. PAUL to SENECA Greeting. S often as I read your letters, I imagine you present with me; nor indeed do I think any other, than that you are always with us. 2 As soon therefore as you be gin to come, we shall presently see each other. I wish you all prosperity. | CHAP. VII. ANNEUS SENECA to PAUL Greeting. PROFESS myself extremely pleased with the reading your letters to the Galatians, Corinthians, and people of Achaia. 2 For the Holy Ghost has in them by you delivered those sentiments which are very lofty, sublime, deserving of all respect, and beyond your own invention. 3 I could wish therefore, that when you are writing things so extraordinary, there might not be wanting an elegancy of speech agreeable to their majesty. 4 And I must own, my brother, that I may not at once dishonestly conceal anything from you, and be unfaithful to my own conscience, that the emperor is extremely pleased with the sentiments of your Epistles; 5 For when he heard the be ginning of them read, he declared, That he was surprised to find such notions in a person, who had not had a regular education. 6 To which I replied, That the Gods sometimes made use of mean (innocent) persons to speak by, and gave him an instance of this in a mean countryman, named Vatienus, who, when he was in the country of Reate, had two men appeared to him, called Casvelation from the gods. Farewell. tor and Pollux, and received a re PAUL AND SENECA. mperor) that which is so very, yours, I do a thing both disagreecontrary to his religion, and way able to myself, and contrary to our of worship; seeing he is a wor- religion: shipper of the heathen gods. 3 I know not what you particularly had in view, when you told him of this; but I suppose you did it out of too great respect for me. 4 But I desire that for the future you would not do so; for you had need be careful, lest by shewing your affection for me, you should offend your master: 5 His anger indeed will do us Lo harm, if he continue a heathen; nor will his not being angry be of any service to us: 6 And if the empress act worthy of her character, she will not be angry; but if she acts as a woman, she will be affronted. Farewell. I CHAP. IX. where ANNEUS SENECA to PAUL Greeting. KNOW that my letter, in I acquainted you, that I had read to the Emperor your Epistles, does not so much affect you as the nature of the things (contained in them), 2 Which do so powerfully divert men's minds from their former manners and practices, that I have always been surprised, and have been fully convinced of it by many arguments heretofore. 3 Let us therefore begin afresh ; and if any thing heretofore has been imprudently acted, do you forgive. 4 I have sent you a book de copia verborum. Farewell, dearest Paul. 2 For I ought, as I have often declared, to become all things to all men, and to have that regard to your quality, which the Romar. law has honoured all senators with; namely, to put my name last in the (inscription of the) Epistle, that I may not at length with uneasiness and shame be obliged to do that which it was always my inclination to do. Farewell, most respected master. Dated the fifth of the calends of July, in the fourth consulship of Nero, ard Messala. 3 You therefore, who are so eminent, and so far exalted above all, even the greatest, do not think yourself unfit to be first named in the inscription of an Epistle; 4 Lest I should suspect you intend not so much to try me, as to banter me; for you know yourself to be a Roman citizen. 5 And I could wish to be in that circumstance or station which you are, and that you were in the same that I am. Farewell, dearest Paul. Dated the xth of the calends of April, in the consulship of Aprianus and Capito. PAUL AND SENECA. CHAP. XII. A LL happiness to you, my dearest Paul. Do you not suppose I am extremely concerned and grieved that your innocence should bring you into sufferings? 2 And that all the people should suppose you (Christians) so criminal, and imagine all the misfortunes that happen to the city, to be caused by you? many, and he shall be devoted to be burnt with fire instead of all. 8 One hundred and thirty-two houses, and four whole squares (or islands) were burnt down in six days: the seventh put an end to the burning. I wish you all happiness. 9 Dated the fifth of the calends of April, in the consulship of Frigius and Bassus. CHAP. XIII. ANNEUS SENECA to PAUL Greeting. LL happiness to you, my dearest Paul. A 3 But let us bear the charge with a patient temper, appealing (for our innocence) to the court (above), which is the only one our hard fortune will allow us to address to, till at length our misfortunes shall end in unalterable hap-cal style, and therefore such mighty piness. 4 Former ages have produced (tyrants) Alexander the son of Philip, and Dionysius; ours also has produced Caius Cæsar; whose inclinations laws. were their only 5 As to the frequent burnings of the city of Rome, the cause is manifest; and if a person in my mean circumstances might be allowed to speak, and one might declare these dark things without danger, every one should see the whole of the matter. 6 The Christians and Jews are indeed commonly punished for the crime of burning the city; but that impious miscreant, who delights in murders and butcheries, and disguises his villanies with lies, is appointed to, or reserved till, his proper time. 7 And as the life of every excellent person is now sacrificed instead of that one person (who is the author of the mischief), so this one shall be sacrificed for 2 You have wrote many volumes in an allegorical and mysti matters and business being committed to you, require not to be set off with any rhetorical flourishes of speech, but only with some proper elegance. 3 I remember you often say, that many by affecting such a style do injury to their subjects, and lose the force of the matters they treat of. PAUL AND THECLA. sow the most strong seed in a fertile soil, not anything material, which is subject to corruption, but the durable word of God, which shall increase and bring forth fruit to eternity. 3 That which by your wisdom you have attained to, shall abide without decay for ever. 4 Believe that you ought to avoid the superstitions of Jews and Gentiles. 5 The things which you have in some measure arrived to, prudently make known to the em peror, his family, and to faithful friends; 6 And though your sentiments will seem disagreeable, and not be comprehended by them, seeing most of them will not i gard your discourses, yet the Word of God once infused into them, will at length make them become new men, aspiring towards God. i 7 Farewell Seneca, who art most dear to us. Dated on the Calends of August, in the consulship of Leo and Savinus. The ACTS of PAUL and THECLA. (Tertullian says that this piece was forged by a Presbyter of Asia, who being convicted, "confessed that he did it out of respect of Paul," and Pope Gelasius, in his Decree against apocryphal books, inserted it among them. Notwithstanding this, a large part of the history was credited and looked upon as genuine among the primitive Christians. Cyprian, Eusebius, Epiphanius, Austin, Gregory, Nazianzen, Chrysostom, and Severus Sulpitius, who all lived within the fourth century, mention Thecla, or refer to her history. Basil of Seleucia wrote her acts, sufferings, and victories, in verse; and Euagrius Scholasticus, an ecclesiastical historian, about 590, relates that "after the Emperor Zeno had abdicated his empire, and Basilik had taken possession of it, he had a vision of the holy and excellent martyr Thecla, who promised him the restoration of his empire; for which, when it was brought about, he erected and dedicated a most noble and sumptuous temple to this famour martyr Thecla, at Seleucia, a city of Isauria, and bestowed upon it very noble endowments, which (says the author) are preserved even till this day." Hist. Eccl. lib. 3 cap. 8.-Cardinal Baronius, Locrinus, Archbishop Wake, and others; and also the learned Grabe, who edited the Septuagint, and revived the Acts of Paul and Thecla, consider them as having been written in the Apostolic age; as containing nothing superstitious, or disagreeing from the opinions and belief of those times; and, in short, as a genuine and authentic history. Again, it is said, that this is not the original book of the early christians; but however that may be, it is published from the Greek MS. in the Bodleian Library at Oxford, which Dr. Mills copied and transmitted to Dr. Grabe.] HEN Paul went up to Iconium, after his flight from Antioch, Demas, and Hermogenes became his companions, who were then full of hypocrisy. no A Demas and Hermogenes become Paul's 2 But Paul looking only at the companions. 4 Paul visits Onesipho8 Invited by Demas and Her goodness of God, did them mogenes. 11 Preaches to the house-harm, but loved them greatly. hold of Onesiphorus. 12 His sermon. rus. 3 Accordingly he endeavoured Paul's companions PAUL AND THECLA. to make agreeable to them, all the oracles and doctrines of Christ, and the design of the Gospel of God's well-beloved son, instructing them in the knowledge of Christ, as it was revealed to him. 4 ¶ And a certain man named Onesiphorus, hearing that Paul was come to Iconium, went out speedily to meet him, together with his wife Lectra, and his sons Simmia and Zeno, to invite him to their house. 5 For Titus had given them a description of Paul's personage, they as yet not knowing him in person, but only being acquainted with his character. 6 They went in the king's highway to Lystra, and stood there waiting for him, comparing all who passed by, with that description which Titus had given them. 7 At length they saw a man coming (namely Paul), of a low stature, bald (or shaved) on the head, crooked thighs, handsome legs, hollow-eyed; had a crooked nose; full of grace; for sometimes he appeared as a man, sometimes he had the countenance of an angel. And Paul saw Onesiphorus, and was glad. 8 And Onesiphorus said: Hail, thou servant of the blessed God. Paul replied, The grace of God be with thee and thy family. 9 But Demas and Hermogenes were moved with envy, and, under a shew of great religion, Demas said, And are not we also servants of the blessed God? Why didst thou not salute us? 10 Onesiphorus replied, Because I have not perceived in you the fruits of righteousness; nevertheless, if ye are of that sort, ye shall be welcome to my house also. and preachings. 11 Then Paul went into the house of Onesiphorus, and there was great joy among the family on that account: and they employed themselves in prayer, breaking of bread, and hearing Paul preach the word of God concerning temperance and the resurrection, in the following manner: 12 ¶ Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God. 13 Blessed are they who keep their flesh undefiled (or pure); for they shall be the temple of God. 14 Blessed are the temperate (or chaste); for God will reveal himself to them. 15 Blessed are they who abandon their secular enjoyments; for they shall be accepted of God. 16 Blessed are they who have wives, as though they had them not; for they shall be made angels of God. 17 Blessed are they who tremble at the word of God; for they shall be comforted. 18 Blessed are they who keep their baptism pure; for they shall find peace with the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. 19 Blessed are they who pursue the wisdom (or doctrine) of Jesus Christ; for they shall be called the sons of the Most lligh. 20 Blessed are they who observe the instructions of Jesus Christ; for they shall dwell in eternal light. 21 Blessed are they, who for the love of Christ abandon the glories of the world, for they shall judge angels, and be placed at the right hand of Christ, and shall not suffer the bitterness of the last judgment. 22 Blessed are the bodies and |