Million Book Collection - The Fishers of Men Ministries

NEOSTOICISM AND THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH 59nanimity. . . . Wisdom is the perfect good of thehuman mind, and philosophy is the loving and thelaying hold of wisdom. . . . It is the art of life, andits law. . . . Philosophy teaches to do, not to say,and requires every one to live according to its law,that the life may not disagree with the language. . . .It is the chiefest duty at once and sign of wisdomthat words and actions should^ agree, and the manB everywhere like himself. . . . Why does no onemfess his own vices ? Because thev still masterhim. The man awake tells his dream, and the confessionof one's vices shows one's convalescence.Awake we then, that we may have power to refuteour own errors. But philosophy will be our sole,kener; she alone will shake off our deep sleepDedicate thyself entirely to her. Thou art worthy>f her and she of thee; embrace each other. Denihyself firmly, avowedly, to every other: thou canstphilosophise by fits and starts. . . . Philosophyhas her kingdom ; she gives her own times, does,ccept yours, is not a thing of leisure moments; shelaims the whole, is mistress, is beside you, andCommands. A certain city offered Alexander half itsterritory and its property. He replied, ' When I camto Asia, it was not that I should accept what y3red, but that you should keep what I left you.' Sosays philosophy to all: 'I shall not accept your superfluoustime, but you shall have what I assign to you/Give your whole mind to her, sit by her, reverenceher. There will be a huge interval between you andother men. You will surpass all men in your life;not much will the gods surpass you. What wthe difference between vou and them ? Thelast longer. But in very truth it shows a g