CHAP. VII.
Annæus Seneca to Paul Greeting.
I 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 beginning 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 Castor and Pollux, and received a revelation from the gods. Farewell.
CHAP. VIII.
Paul to Seneca Greeting.
ALTHOUGH I know the emperor is both an admirer and favourer of our religion, yet give me leave to advise you against your suffering any injury (by showing favour to us).
2 I think indeed you ventured upon a very dangerous attempt, when you would declare (to the emperor) that which is so very contrary to his religion, and way of worship; seeing he is a worshipper 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 showing your affection for me, you should offend your master:
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 worthy of her character, she will not be angry; but if she act as a woman, she will be affronted. Farewell.
CHAP. IX.
Annæus Seneca to Paul Greeting.
KNOW that my letter, wherein 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.
CHAP. X.
Paul to Seneca Greeting.
AS often as I write to you, and place my name before yours, I do a thing both disagreeable to myself, and contrary to our religion:
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 Roman 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
