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92 THE FORMATION OF CHRISTENDOMseated antagonism which the Stoics showed to theChristian Faith.2. It is impossible to overrate the importance ofthis doctrine in the Stoic system. Let us considersome deductions from it. First of all is the conceptionof virtue. Now it follows from the soul being aportion of the divine reason that the rational activityof the soul is virtue, which is the only good. Andthis conception of virtue rules the whole domain ofStoic morality. Seneca thus exhibits it: " Humanvirtues are included in one only rule, for right andsimple reason is one only. In the divine and celestialthere are no degrees of comparison. Mortal thingsare subject to diminution, extinction, deterioration andgrowth, exhaustion and increase. Therefore, in so uncertaina lot they suffer inequality. But there is oneonly nature of divine things. Now reason is nothingbut a part of the divine spirit plunged in a humanbody. If reason is divine, and no good without reason,all good is divine. Moreover, there is no differencebetween divine things; therefore not between goods.Tranquillity, simplicity, liberality, fortitude, equanimity,endurance, are equal to each other, for one single virtueunderlies all these, which preserves the mind uprightand unswerving." lThus the Stoic doctrine is a most absolute form ofnaturalism. And as there is a physical identity betweentlie particular and universal soul, so the virtueof the particular soul is to act according to its nature,and its nature consists in being rational. Reason thenbeing divine invests with its own divinity all the actionsof its subject. Thus reason in the Stoic system isa sort of natural anticipation of grace in the Christiani Epist. Ixvi.