attr. Paul and Seneca, translated by Jeremiah Jones

“ Dated the fifth of the calends of July, in the fourth Consulship of Nero, and Messala.
CHAP. XI.
Annæus Seneca to Paul Greeting.
ALL happiness to you, my dearest Paul.
2 If a person so great, and every way agreeable as you are, become not only a common, but a most intimate friend to me, how happy will be the case of Seneca!
3 You therefore, who are so eminent, and so far exalted above all, even the greatest, do not think yourself unfit to be first named in the inscription of an Epistle ”

“ KNOW that my letter, wherein I acquainted you, that I had read to the Emperor your Epistles, does not so much affect you as the nature of the things (contained in them.)
2 Which do so powerfully divert men's minds from their former manners and practices, that I have always been surprised, and have been fully convinced of it by many arguments heretofore.
3 Let us therefore begin afresh; and if any thing heretofore has been imprudently acted, do you forgive.
4 I have sent you a book de copia verborum. Farewell, dearest Paul.
CHAP. X.
Paul to Seneca Greeting. ”

“ Several very learned writers have entertained a favourable opinion of these Epistles. They are undoubtedly of high antiquity. Salmeron cites them to prove that Seneca was one of Cæsar's household, referred to by Paul, Philip iv. 22, as saluting the brethren at Philippi. In Jerome's enumeration of illustrious men, he places Seneca, on account of these Epistles, amongst the ecclesiastical and holy writers of the Christian Church. ”