Chapter XIV
Paul to SENECA Greeting.
YOUR serious consideration is
requited with those discoveries,
which the Divine Being has
granted but to few;
2 I am thereby assured that
I sow the most strong seed in a
fertile soil, not anything material,
which is subject to corruption, but
the durable word of God, which
shall increase and bring forth fruit
to eternity.
3 That which by your wisdom you
have attained to, shall abide
without decay for ever.
4 Believe that you ought to
avoid the superstitions of Jews
and Gentiles.
5 The things which you have in
some measure arrived to, prudently
make known to the emperor, his
family, and to faithful friends;
6 And though your sentiments
will seem disagreeable, and not
be comprehended by them, seeing
most of them will not regard your
discourses, yet the Word of God
once infused into them, will at
length make them become new men,
aspiring towards God.
7 Farewell Seneca, who art
most dear to us. Dated on the
calends of August, in the
Consulship of Leo and Savinus.
REFERENCES TO THE EPISTLES OF ST. PAUL THE APOSTLE
TO SENECA, WITH SENECA’S TO PAUL.
[Several very learned writers have entertained a favourable opinion of these Epistles. They are undoubtedly of high antiquity. Salmeron cites them to prove that Seneca was one of Caesar’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.]