The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-01-17
S E N ECA

Sc IN
Thou art not far from the kingdom
Of God."-Mark xii. "a.
| Among tue seekers utter God" with
| out the aid OF revelation has been
cassed Seneca. the Stole philosopher
and heather moralist, tile tutor OF Nero
aud brother OF Gallo. deputy OF Archia,
| who cared for none of those things"
Born about four years before the be-
| ginning OF the Christian era at Corduba,
In Span. and carried to Rome. child
OF tender years, he was student at
school when Peter and John were fisher
lads on the shores OF the Sea of Cali
| lee.
| While he was irnblblng the doctrines
OF the Stole philosophy at Rome, Paul
was sitting at the feet OF Gamallel, at
i Jerusalem, and long before he arrived
: the end OF philosophy. the fulflment Of
prophecy. the hope Of mankind and the
Saviour of the world. had suffered
death upon the Roman cross.
| Among the ancient systems OF pliilos-
ophy. Stoicism held conspicuous place.
! Founded by Ieno IN the fourth century
before Christ, 1t numbered among It's
1 adherents some OF the noblest minds
| of antiquity. The Stoics are proven
bially known for the sternness and
Iausterity of their doctrines; they taught
lextravagant asce ticism. blind fatalism.
and glori1ed suicide. Stoicisna locked
upon human existence as an unmiti-
gated evil and an unsolved enigma to
be laid aside as soon as possible
Their doctrines were pushed to extrava-
i gance by the cynics. from whom Juve-
Inal said scornfully they only differed
by tunic.'' It was dimmed and dark
lened to the hearts core OF its votaries
by deep perplexity and incurable sad
ness. 1t looked upon the life Of the
men around 1t with detestation and
fumes of pride. It made Its appeal 10
the noble-hearted few. despjsing and
Idespairing Of the vulgar herd OF man.
kind In all ranks as incapable of philo-
sophical training or moral elevation.
Far indeed as a whited sepulchre. 1t
was as devoid OF warmth as a moon
beam on an arctic night; yet 1t had
Its uses in that effete age. and many
lof its votaries were mon OF upright
: life. 1t furnished the "Babbler' on
Mars Hill an argument for one OF the
sublimest sermons ever preached by
mortal man.
; That Seneca, with all his faults, was
an earnest seeker of the truth seems
beyond all question that he sought and
!, believed he had found In the teachings
OF zeno, Aristotle and Plato solution
of the problems OF human existence. Is
I also true. OF him Quintillian says:
"Hts style abounds In delightful faults.
j but the strain OF his sentiments is ever
high and true. II the fair fame of the
man Is sullied. the aspirations for q
!, higher life cannot be denied to the
philosopher: II the tinkling cymbal OF
a stilted Stolcisn sometimes sounds
through the nobier music 1t still leaves
the truer melody vibrating on the ear
Seneca Is generally q pantheist; God,
! he says. Is nature, Is fate. is the uni
! verse. He cannot change the substance
OF the universe, File Is himself under
I the power OF destiny. which is inrnu-
table and Interchangeable. 1t ts.not God
who rolls the thunder; It Is fate. He
|; does not rejoice in Ills works. but is
Identical with them The wise man Is
the equal of God. not his adorer, SER
! van: or suppllant. but his associate.
J, his relation, He differs from God In
time alone. Hence all prayer Is need
less. and external worship unnecessary
and puerlle. 1t Is foolish to beg for
that which you can mpart to yourself.
Make yourself happy" He taught the
4 His morality was that OF eXpediency
and the education he gave Nero was
that OF compromise. The one end and
aim Of his life and philosophy was
ease.
He became a Stole from very early
]. Years. and some OF his views crystal
Z llized into aphorisms are striking
JIEeath to the Stole Is an eternal sleep
He says: THE dead suffer no evil; all
those stories which make us dread the
neither world are mere fables: he who
dies need fear no darkness. no prison
house, no blazing stream of fire. no
River OF Lethe. no Judgment seat, be.
fore which he must appear. All that
lis Il phantasy of tho poets who have
terrified us without a cause. Death Is
a relief from and an end OF all pain:
!, beyond 1t our sufferings cannot go,
It restores US to that peaceful rest
! IN which we lay before we We're born.
+ Not TO be barn. then.aIs the happlest
I, lot OF all and the nearest thing to this
I Is that we should soon finish our strife
and ha restored to our Corner rest.''
Again he says: 1.-THE highest good Is
q life contormed to nature; virtue Is
sufficient tor happiness; the wise man
Is without passion: though not with.
j Tor Godl"
! seneca's mother Helvla, seems to
! have been noble Roman matron, t
!, whom he thus writes: Gems ant
! pearls have little charm for you: yol
!. never stained your cheeks with wal
!, nut Juice OF rouge; YOU never do,
y lighted In dresses indelicately low
z your single ornament was loyelines
4 which no age could destroy. Ietur.
Il to your philosophical studies, for Which
Y YOU are so we'll suited They VII
+ Ijgradually sustain and comfort you Ii
!; tho hour OF grief" Vain hope. pos
h s!bly If Gallo had permitted TIL
|, Apostle Pau 10 open his mouth vine,
!. !. before his Judgment seat In tn,
= Corinthlan capitol. a,N he reasoned q