he satirizes the suggestions of luxury, which, when prompting to indulgence, derives motives from the shortness of human life, exhorting its votaries to seize the present hour for enjoyment*.

Sat. v. 1. 151-153, compared with Prov. i. 24.

CHAP. LIII.

Lucius Annæus Seneca.

SENECA, who was the son of Marcus Annæus Seneca, a native of Corduba, in Spain, of the equestrian order, and of whom some writings remain*, was appointed by Agrippina to be tutor of Nero, whose passions he for some time restrained, till becoming obnoxious to the tyrant, he fell a sacrifice to resentment or avarice, being compelled to inflict death upon himself.

Dion Cassius has given too much countenance to the charges which have been brought against Seneca. It may be collected from Tacitus and Juvenal, that the imputations thrown on his character, resulted, in great measure, from the calumnies of his enemies, encouraged by the rapacity of the

Fabricius Biblioth. lib. ii. c. 9.

emperor, who coveted the possession of his accumulated wealth and splendid gardens *. It was difficult, in the court of Nero, to escape slanderous reflections.

many

The writings of Seneca, contain some of the best instructions of heathen morality, when it had been compelled to recede from of its errors, and had conformed itself in some degree to the new principles introduced by the true religion: and their author illustrated, by the fortitude with which he endured reverse of fortune and exile, as well as by his death, which took place A. D. 65, the efficacy of those moral principles which he professed.

There can be little doubt, however, that this eminent moralist was acquainted with some of the communications of the Gospel, and that he conversed with some of the first preachers, who zealously propagated its doctrines. It is, in fact, extremely probable, and supported by some accounts, that he had intercourse with St. Paul, late in life, when the Apostle came to Rome and con

Sat. x. Tacit. Annal. lib. xiv. § 52, 53. p. 186. Ed. Brotier, t. 2.

verted some of the household of Nero The eight epistles to St. Paul, which exist under the name of Seneca, and the six epistles represented to have been written by St. Paul to Seneca, seem to have been fabricated on traditionary accounts to this effect. They were composed at an early period, since they are quoted by St. Augustin and Jerome, and they were published at Naples and Venice in the 15th century, as well as by Erasmus at Basle, in 1515, by whom they are considered as unworthy of the name which they bear. Some writers have maintained that Seneca was himself a proselyte to Christianity; but there does not appear to be any sufficient ground for this opinion. Many of Seneca's works have been transmitted to us, which treat particularly on those moral and religious subjects, which were discussed with so much interest, and under such enlarged views, after the promulgation of the Gospel, of which the doctrines were rapidly diffused. His three

* Philipp. iv. 22, and page 368 (vol. i.) of this work. + Fr. Modius. Lect. Novantiqu. Epist. 21. Fabric. lib. ii. c. 9.

books on Anger, which he styles "Brevem "Insaniam," and which he considers as the mark of a little mind, present us with a philosophical exposition of the nature, affects, and remedies of this passion.

His consolations, addressed to Helvia his mother, during his exile in Corsica, demonstrate the right affections and fortitude of his mind; and those offered to Polybius, on the death of his brother, though degraded by flattery to Claudius, whom he styles "pub"licum omnium solatium," suggest such reflections drawn from the events of life, as were adapted to his time.

Those to Marcia, concerning the loss of her son, exhibit, in different instances, the removal of good men from evils to come ‡, concurring to excite the religious conviction, which the the admonition of Isaiah had enforced, in inspired instruction §.

Seneca

perse

seems, in this book, to allude to the cutions of the Christians, who were crucified

* De Ira. lib. i. cap. 1. Edit. Amstel. 1672. Var. Elz. † Cap. 33. vol. i. p. 228.

1 Cap. 20. p. 285-287. § Isaiah lvii. 1.