Between Heathenism and Christianity - College of Stoic Philosophers

The Delay of the Deity
nature, to have a completer enjoyment of (rod than
when seeking and earnestly striving after virtue by
imitating everything that is good and noble. For
this reason also God punishes the wicked in due time
and with deliberation: not because He is Himself
afraid of making a mistake by chastising any one too
soon or because He might repent of it, but in order
to remove from us what is brutal and hasty in the in
fliction of punishment, and to teach us not to chastise
in anger nor when greatly excited and indignant,
rage o erleaps the bounds of reason as
; if, in order
to satisfy our hunger or quench our thirst we
rushed upon those who have done us an injury, but
imitating His goodness and long-suffering and taking
time as our adviser, that gives least room for repen
tance, we should proceed to inflict punishments in
accordance with justice. For, as Socrates said, it is
less mischievous to drink murky water, heedlessly,
than when one is in a perturbed state of mind and
under the influence of anger and has lost the power
of self=control before the mind has become calm
and clear, to vent one s wrath on the person of a
kinsman or friend. For vengeance does not belong
close upon the inquiry, as Thucydides says, but is
most in place when as far from it as possible. Since
anger, according to Melanthius commits terrible
deeds when it has displaced self-control ; so, like
wise, reason does what is just and fitting when it has
put aside anger and excitement. Further also, men
are made humane by the example of others when