PAUL AND SENECA. 13 And what is best, my 6 And now my bonds, which | I suffer in Christ, are manifest, beloved, rejoice in the Lord in which I rejoice and am Jesus Christ, and avoid all glad. filthy lucre. 7 For I know that this shall turn to my salvation for 14 Let all your requests be made known to God, and be ever, which shall be through steady in the doctrine of Christ. your prayer, and the supply of the Holy Spirit. 15 And whatsoever things are sound, and true, and of 8 Whether I live or die; good report, and chaste, and (for) to me to live shall be a just, and lovely, these things life to Christ, to die will be do. joy. 16 Those things which ye 9 And our Lord will grant have heard, and received, us his mercy, that ye may think these things, and have the same love, and be peace shall be with you. like-minded. 17 All the saints salute on 10 Wherefore, my beloved, you. as ye have heard of the coming 18 The grace of our Lord of the Lord, so think and act Jesus Christ be with your spirin fear, and it shall be to you it. Amen. life eternal; 19 Cause this Epistle to be 11 For it is God, who work-read to the Colossians, and eth in you; the Epistle of the Colossians 12 And do all things with- to be read among you. out sin. The EPISTLE of PAUL the APOSTLE to SENECA, with SENECA'S to PAUL. [Several very learned writers have entertained a favourable opinion of Salmeron cites these Epistles. They are undoubtedly of high antiquity. them to prove that Seneca was one of Cæsar's household, referred to by Paul, Philip iv. 22 as saluting the brethren at Philippi. In Jerome's enumeration of illustrious men, he places Seneca, on account of these Epistles, amongst the ecclesiastical and holy writers of the Christian church. Sixtus Senensis has published them in his Bibliotheque, p. 89, 90; and it is from thence that the present translation is made. Baronius, Bellarmine, Dr. Cave, Spanheim, and others, contend that they are not genuine.] CHAP. I. ANNEUS SENECA to PAUL I that conversation, which passed yesterday between me and my Lucilius, concerning hypocrisy and other subjects Greeting. SUPPOSE, Paul, that you have been informed of for there were some of your PAUL AND SENECA. disciples in company with us ;|by whom, at what seasons,and: 2 For when we were retir-to whom I must deliver every ed into the Sallustian gardens, thing which I send. through which they were also 3 I desire therefore you passing, and would have gone would not charge me with neganother way, by our persua-ligence, if I wait for a proper sion they joined company with person. us. 4 I reckon myself very hap3 I desire you to believe, py in having the judgment of that we much wish for your so valuable a person, that you are delighted with my Epis conversation: tles: 4 We were much delighted with your book of many Epis- 5 For you would not be estles, which you have wrote to teemed a censor, a philosopher, some cities and chief towns of or be the tutor of so great a provinces, and contain won-prince, and a master of every derful instructions for moral thing, if you were not sincere. conduct : I wish you a lasting prosperi 5 Such sentiments, as I sup-ty. pose you were not the author of, but only the instrument of CHAP. III. conveying, though sometimes ANNEUS SENECA to PAUC both the author and the instru ment. Greeting. HAVE completed some volumes, and divided them 6 For such is the sublimity, of those doctrines, and their into their proper parts. grandeur, that I suppose the 2 I am determined to read age of a man is scarce suffi- them to Cæsar, and if any facient to be instructed and per-vourable opportunity happens, fected in the knowledge of you also shall be present,when them. I wish your welfare, they are read; my brother. Farewell. CHAP. II. 3 But if that cannot bę, I will appoint and give you notice of PAUL to SENECA Greeting. a day, when we will together RECEIVED your letter read over the performance. yesterday with pleasure; 4 I had determined, if I to which I could immediately could with safety, first to have have wrote an answer, had the your opinion of it, before I young man been at home, published it to Cæsar, that you whom I intended to have sent might be convinced of my affection to you. Farewell, dear to you: 2 For you know when, and est Paul. A PAUL AND SENECA. CHAP. IV. 3 Deference is to be paid to PAUL to SENECA Greeting. all men, and so much the S often as I read your let-more, as they are the more ters, I imagine you pres-likely to take occasions of ent with me; nor indeed do I quarrelling. think any other, than that you 4 And if we shew a submisare always with us. sive temper, we shall over 2 As soon therefore as you come effectually in all points, begin to come, we shall pres-if so be they are, who are caently see each other. I wish pable of seeing and acknowlyou all prosperity. CHAP. V. ANNEUS SENECA to PAUL WE E are very much con cerned at your too long absence from us. 2 What is it, or what affairs are they, which obstruct your coming? edging themselves to have been in the wrong. Farewell, CHAP. VII. ANNEUS SENECA to PAUL Creeting. PROFESS myself extremely pleased with the reading your letters to the Galatians, Corinthians, and people of Achaia. 3 If you fear the anger of 2 For the Holy Ghost has Cæsar, because you have a-in them by you delivered those bandoned your former religion, sentiments which are very lofand made proselytes also of ty, sublime, deserving of all others, you have this to respect, and beyond your own plead, that your acting thus invention. proceeded not from inconstan- 3 I could wish therefore, cy, but judgment. Farewell. that when you are writing things so extraordinary, there PAUL to SENECA LUCILIUS might not be wanting an elegancy of speech agreeable to C CHAP. VI. Greeting. ONCERNING those their majesty. things, about which ye 4 And I must own, my bro wrote to me, it is not proper ther, that I may not at once for me to mention any thing in writing with pen and ink the one of which leaves marks, and the other evidently declares things. dishonestly conceal any thing from you, and be unfaithful to my own conscience, that the emperor is extremely pleased with the sentiments of your 2 Especially since I know Epistles; that there are near you, as well 5 For when he heard the as me, those who will under- beginning of them read, he destand my meaning.. PAUL AND SENECA. clared, That he was surprised to me, you should offend your to find such notions in a per-master : lar education. son, who had not had a regu- 5 His anger indeed will do us no harm, if he continue a heathen; nor will his not being angry be of any service to us : 6 And if the empress act 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 coun-worthy of her character, she tryman, named Vatienus, who, will not be angry; but if she when he was in the country of act as a woman, she will be Reate, had two men appeared affronted. Farewell. to him, called Castor and Pol CHAP. IX. lux, and received a revelation ANNEUS SENECA to PAUL from the gods. Farewell. A CHAP. VIII. I Greeting. KNOW that my letter, wherein I acquainted you, PAUL to SENECA Greeting. that I had read to the emperor LTHOUGH I know the your Epistles,does not so much emperor is both an ad- affect you as the nature of the mirer and favourer of our (re-things (contained in them,) Jigion,) yet give me leave to 2 Which do so powerfully advise you against your suffer- divert men's minds from their ing any injury (by shewing fa- former manners and practices, vour to us.) that I have always been sur2 I think indeed you ven-prised, and have been fully tured upon a very dangerous convinced of it by many arattempt, when you would de-guments heretofore. olare (to the emperor) that 3 Let us therefore begin awhich is so very contrary to fresh; and if any thing herehis religion, and way of wor-tofore has been imprudently ship; seeing he is a worship-acted, do you forgive. per of the heathen gods. 4 I have sent you a book 3 I know not what you de copia verborum. Farewell, particularly had in view,when dearest Paul. you told him this; but I suppose you did it out of a too great respect for me. CHAP. X. 4 But I desire that for the future you would not do so; fore yours, I do a thing both for you had need be careful, disagreeable to myself, and Test by shewing your affection contrary to our religion; PAUL AND SENECA. 2 For I ought, as I have of- are in the same that I am. ten declared, to become all Farewell, dearest Paul. Datthings to all men, and to have ed the xth of the calends of that regard to your quality, April, in the Consulship of which the Roman law has Aprianus and Capito. honored all senators with; namely, to put my name last CHAP. XII. SENECA to PAUL Greeting. LL happiness to you, my dearest Paul. Do you suppose I am extremely concerned and grieved, that your innocence should bring you into sufferings? in the (inscription of the) ANNEUS CHAP. XI. 2 And that all the people should suppose you (Christians) so criminal, and imagine ANNEUS SENECA to PAUL all the misfortunes that hap A Greeting. pen to the city, to be caused LL happiness to you, my by you? 3 But let us bear the charge 2 If a person so great, and with a patient temper, appealevery way agreeable as you ing (for our innocence) to the are, become not only a com-court (above,) which is the mon, but most intimate riend only one our hard fortune will to me, how happy will be the allow us to address to, till at case of Seneca ! length our misfortunes shall 3 You therefore, who are end in unalterable happiness. so eminent, and so far ex- 4 Former ages have proalted above all, even the great-duced (tyrants) Alexander the est, do not think yourself unfit son of Philip, and Dionysius; to be first named in the in- ours also has produced Caius scription of an Epistle; Cæsar; whose inclinations 4 Lest I should suspect you were their only laws. intend not so much to try me, 5 As to the frequent burns as to banter me; for you knowings of the city of Rome, the yourself to be a Roman citi-cause is manifest; and if a person in my mean circum5 And I could wish to be in stances might be allowed to that circumstance or station speak, and one might declare which you are, and that you these dark things without dan zen. |