Volume 1 - Discourses - Books I - II - College of Stoic Philosophers

BOOK I.xvi.15-xvii.iAre these the only works of Providence in us ?Nay, what language is adequate to praise them all orbring them home to our minds as they deserve ?Why, if we had sense, ought we to be doing anythingelse, publicly and privately, than hymning andpraising the Deity, and rehearsingHis benefits?Ought we not, as we dig and plough and eat, to singthe hymn of praise to God ? {eGreat is God, thatHe hath furnished us theseinstruments wherewithwe shall till the earth. Great is God, that He hathgiven us hands, and power to swallow., and a belly,and power to grow unconsciously, and to breathewhile asleep/' This is what we ought to sing onevery occasion, and above all to sing the greatest anddivinest hymn, that God has given us the faculty tocomprehend these things and to follow the path ofreason. What then? Since most of you havebecome blind, ought there not to be someone tofulfil this office for you, and in behalf of all sing thehymn of praise to God ? Why, what else can I, alame old man, do but sing hymns to God ? If,indeed, I were a nightingale, I should be singing asa nightingale;if a swan, as a swan. But as it is, Iam a rational being, therefore I must be singinghymns of praise to God. This is my task ; I do it,and will not desert this post, as long as it may begiven me to fill it ;and I exhort you to join me inthis same song.CHAPTER XVIIThat the art of reasoning is indispensableSINCE it is reason, that analyzes and perfects all else,and reason itself ought not to remain unanalyzed,113VOL. I.I