Million Book Collection - The Fishers of Men Ministries

NEOSTOICISM AND THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH85world, and as to the human soul's relationship to it. 1The centre of his philosophy lies in the moral life ofman, and this also makes his greatest resemblance toEpictetus. The main points on which he dwells arethe drawing back of man into himself, devotion to thewill of God, and the unvarying duty of humanity toothers. He calls out to man, Why trouble thyselfwitli what is external ? draw back into thyself. Thoucanst find rest and well-being only within. Busythyself with thyself. Cherish the divine genius withinthee. Sever thy true self from all which hangs aboutthee. Bethink thyself that nothing outside can touchthy soul: that it is but thine own notions of thingswhich weigh on thee; that nothing hurts thee unlessthou think that it hurts thee. " Consider that all ischangeable and worthless; that only within thee anunfailing source of happiness springs; that pless reason is the only fortress in which man musttake refuge, if he would be unconquerable. His actionas a reasonable being is the only thing in which abeing possessed of reason V has to seek his happinessand his good. All the rest, which has no connectionwith man's moral constitution, is neither good norevil. He who limits himself to his inward being, andhas cut himself free from all without, has extinguishedy wish and every desire. At each moment he is;ented with the present. He suits himself withmreserved assent to the world's course, he believesihat nothing happens but the will of the Godheadthat what is ood for the whole and lies in itnature, is likewise the best for himself; that nothhappen to man which he may not make material1 This summary is drawn by Zeller, iv. 682-684, from a greatnumber of passages of M. Aurelius.