Million Book Collection - The Fishers of Men Ministries

190 THE FORMATION OF CHRISTENDOMIf a child then feels no fear in approaching tguards, is it because he has no perception of thesthings ? Suppose then a man to perceive these guardand their swords, but to approach the tyrant for tlvery purpose of seeking death, will he fear the guardsHe seeks the very thing for which they are terriblSuppose, then, one caring neither whether he lives ordies approach him, may he not do so fearlesslyJust as this man is minded in regard to his body, letanother be minded in regard to possessing property,or children, and wife, and in a word through somemadness or want of sense be so disposed as to carenothing for having or not having these things. Oragain, as children play with oyster-shells, caringthing about the shells but much about the glet this supposed man care nothing about the sub-t-matter, but everything about the game and hisconduct therein, what tyrant, what guards or theirswords will cause him fear ? Well then, can a manbe so disposed towards these things by madness, andtin' Galileaiis, because it is their wont, and can no oneforce of reason and proof learn that God has madeall things in the world, and the whole world itselfeffecting its purpose and being its end in itself,nd its parts for the use of the whole ?"Epictetusthen was well aware that the Galileans, " because itwas their wont," had resolution to confront death andsuffer the loss of all things. He knew that there wassomething O in their life which enabled them to reachthe utmost height of heroism which he imagines forhis ideal teacher. He portrays that teacher in colourswhich irresistibly remind one of St. Peter and St.Paul, and all that race of Apostolic missionaries ofwhich they were the leaders. His own heathenism