the brunts and afflictions of Providence? Was Nero's cruelty unknown to us? What could we expect better at his hands, that killed his brother and murdered his mother, but that he would put also his tutor and governor to death?" Then turning to his wife Pompeia Paulina, a Roman lady, young and noble, besought her for the love she bore him and his philosophy, to suffer patiently his affliction: "For," saith he, "my hour is come wherein I must show, not only by discourse but by death, the fruit I have reaped by my meditations; I embrace it without grief, wherefore do not dishonour it with thy tears. Assuage thy sorrow, and comfort thyself in the knowledge thou hast had of me, and of my actions; and lead the rest of thy life with that honest industry thou hast addicted thyself unto." And dedicating his life to God, he expired. XXVIII. Epictetus, contemporary with Seneca, and an excellent man, thought no man worthy of the profession of philosophy, that was not purified from the errors of his nature. His morals were very excellent, which he comprised under these two words, _sustaining_, and _abstaining_; or _bearing_, and _forbearing_; to avoid evil, and patiently to suffer afflictions, which do certainly comprise the christian doctrine and life, and is the perfection of the best philosophy that was at any time taught by Egyptians, Greeks, or Romans, when it signified virtue, self-denial, and a life of religious solitude and contemplation. How little the Christians of the times are true philosophers, and how much more these philosophers were Christians, than they, let the righteous principle in every conscience judge. But is it not then intolerable, that they should be esteemed Christians, who are yet to learn to be good Heathens? That prate of grace and nature, and know neither? Who will presume to determine what is become of Heathens, and know not where they are themselves, nor mind what may become of them? That can run readily over a tedious list of famous personages, and calumniate such as will not, with them, celebrate their memories with extravagant and superfluous praises, whilst they make it laudable to act the contrary: and none so ready a way to become vile, as not to be vicious? A strange paradox, but too true; so blind, so stupified, so besotted, are the foolish sensualists of the world, under their great pretences to religion, faith, and worship. Ah! did they but know the peace, the joy, the unspeakable ravishments of soul, that inseparably attend the innocent, harmless, still, and retired life of Jesus? Did they but weigh within themselves, the authors of their vain delights and pastimes, the nature and disposition they are so grateful to, the dangerous consequence of exercising the mind and its affections below, and arresting and taking them up from their due attendance and obedience to the most holy voice crying in their consciences, "Repent, return, all is vanity, and vexation of spirit:" were but