Seekers After GodCosimo, Inc., 2005 M12 1 - 360 pages The absolute silence of Seneca respecting the woman who had caused him the bitterest anguish and humiliation of his life is, as we have remarked already, a strange and significant phenomenon. It is clearly not due to accident, for the vices which he is incessantly describing and denouncing would have found in this miserable woman their most flagrant illustration...-from "Seneca's Recall from Exile"In this uncommon book, first published in 1890, one of the most prolific British writers on theology of the late 19th century offers a full account of the lives and thinking of "three great heathen philosophers" Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius, whom Farrar deems "the most clear-sighted moralists among ancient philosophers [and] with the single exception of Socrates, the best and holiest characters presented to us in the records of antiquity"; and Seneca, "because in him we can best study the inevitable signs which mark, even in the works of men of genius, a degraded people and a decaying literature." Imperious and forthright, this self-assure work is an intriguing read for those interested in philosophy, ancient history, and Christian metaphysics.British theologian FREDERIC WILLIAM FARRAR (1831-1903) was chaplain to Queen Victoria from 1871 to 1876. Among his many works are The Life and Works of St Paul (1879) and The Early Days of Christianity (1882). |
Contents
| 7 | |
| 23 | |
| 36 | |
| 54 | |
CHAPTER V | 65 |
CHAPTER VI | 74 |
ENECA IN EXILE | 87 |
CHAPTER VIII | 100 |
CHAPTER XIV | 167 |
CHAPTER XV | 174 |
THE LIFE OF EPICTETUS AND HOW HE REGARDED | 186 |
CHAPTER II | 203 |
CHAPTER III | 211 |
LIFE AND VIEW OF EPICTETUS continued | 221 |
CHAPTER V | 238 |
MARCUS AURELIUS | 257 |
CHAPTER IX | 106 |
CHAPTER XI | 121 |
CHAPTER XII | 142 |
CHAPTER XIII | 152 |
CHAPTER II | 271 |
CHAPTER III | 284 |
看着 | 303 |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
admirable Agrippina ancient anecdote Annæus Antoninus Pius Arrian asked banished beautiful better blessings brother Burrus Cæsar Caius Caligula character Christian Claudius Commodus contempt Corsica crime cruelty Cynic death degraded despised Dio Cassius disgrace divine doctrines Domitian duty elder Seneca eloquence eminent Emperor Epictetus evil exile expressed eyes fact father favour freedman friends Gallio Germanicus gods Hadrian hand happy heart heathen heaven honour human imperial Jews less lived luxury Marcus Aurelius means Messalina mind miserable moral mother multitude nature Nero Nero's ness never noble noblest once Pagan palace passage Paul persecuted philosopher poet poverty praise principles prison pupil Quadi regarded reign Roman Rome says seems Senate Seneca slaves Socrates soul spirit Stoic Stoicism Tacitus Tertullian thee things thou thought thyself Tiberius Tigellinus tion truth utterances vice virtue wealth wise wish words wretched writings youth
Popular passages
Page 214 - He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord: but he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.
Page 39 - There is the moral of all human tales ; 'Tis but the same rehearsal of the past, First Freedom, and then Glory — when that fails Wealth, vice, corruption — barbarism at last. And History, with all her volumes vast, Hath but one page...
Page 46 - The various modes of worship which prevailed in the Roman world, were all considered by the people as equally true, by the philosophers as equally false, and by the magistrate as equally useful...
Page 245 - The oppressor's wrong, the proud man's contumely, The pangs of despised love, the law's delay, The insolence of office, and the spurns That patient merit of the unworthy takes, When he himself might his quietus make With a bare bodkin?
Page 308 - Dost thou exist then to take thy pleasure, and not at all for action or exertion. Dost thou not see the little plants, the little birds, the ants, the spiders, the bees working together to put in order their several parts of the universe? And art thou unwilling to do the work of a human being, and dost thou not make haste to do that which is according to thy nature ? But it is necessary to take rest also.
Page 244 - But he that holds himself in reverence and due esteem, both for the dignity of God's image upon him, and for the price of his redemption, which he thinks is visibly marked upon his forehead, accounts himself both a fit person to do the noblest and godliest deeds...
Page 96 - Is hung on high, to poison half mankind. All fame is foreign, but of true desert ; Plays round the head, but comes not to the heart : One self-approving hour whole years outweighs Of stupid starers, and of loud huzzas ; And more true joy Marcellus exiled feels, Than Caesar with a senate at his heels. In parts superior what advantage lies ? Tell (for you can) what is it to be wise ? 'Tis but to know how little can be known ; To see all others...
Page 196 - For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant.