Between Heathenism and Christianity - College of Stoic Philosophers
Between Heathenism and Christianity - College of Stoic Philosophers
Between Heathenism and Christianity - College of Stoic Philosophers
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The Delay <strong>of</strong> the Deity<br />
in law, if he did not know the intentions <strong>of</strong> the law<br />
maker, <strong>and</strong> did not underst<strong>and</strong> the reason for every<br />
single part<br />
<strong>of</strong> the decrees that have been issued.<br />
What wonder is it then, if, when it is so hard to see<br />
through human purposes, that it is not easy to say<br />
with respect to the gods for what reason they punish<br />
some transgressors later, others sooner.<br />
5. These things are no excuse for shunning an in<br />
vestigation, but a plea for indulgence, so that the<br />
discussion, looking as it were, toward a harbor <strong>and</strong><br />
port <strong>of</strong> refuge, may move forward with the greater<br />
confidence, in the midst <strong>of</strong> perplexities. Then con<br />
sider first this fact, that according to Plato, God<br />
having placed Himself in the midst <strong>of</strong> all that is enchantingly<br />
fair, as a sort <strong>of</strong> model, gives to human<br />
worth, which is in some measure an image <strong>of</strong> Him<br />
self, an exemplar which all are to follow so far as<br />
they are able. For the universe, being in its natural<br />
state devoid <strong>of</strong> order, began to change <strong>and</strong> to be<br />
transformed into a cosmos when it participated in,<br />
<strong>and</strong> became assimilated to, the divine idea <strong>and</strong> virtue.<br />
This same man also says that nature kindles in<br />
us the germ <strong>of</strong> vision so that by beholding the<br />
heavenly bodies borne along in their coursee, <strong>and</strong> by<br />
admiration <strong>of</strong> the same, the soul becomes habitu<br />
ated to take pleasure in <strong>and</strong> to love what is orderly<br />
<strong>and</strong> systematically arranged, but that it hates all dis<br />
orderly <strong>and</strong> uncontrolled passion, <strong>and</strong> shuns the<br />
purposeless <strong>and</strong> hit=or=miss<br />
vice <strong>and</strong> discord.<br />
as being the origin <strong>of</strong> all<br />
It is impossible for man, by his very<br />
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