Page:Readings in European History Vol 1.djvu/50

 CHAPTER II WESTERN EUROPE BEFORE THE BARBARIAN INVASIONS I. SOME RESEMBLANCES BETWEEN THOUGHTFUL PAGANISM AND CHRISTIANITY The philosopher and statesman, Seneca (d. A.D. 65), who lived in the time of Nero, in his little book on Benefits speaks thus of the bounty of God : l. Seneca on Doth not God bestow all benefits upon us ? From whence God's gifts tnen hast thou all those things whereof thou art possessed ? which thou givest? which thou deniest ? which thou keep- est ? which thou takest unjustly ? From whence come the infiniteness of things that delight the eye, affect the ear, and please the understanding? . . . From whence have we so many trees, bearing sundry sorts of savory fruit, so many wholesome herbs, for the maintenance of our health, such variety of meats, strong for all seasons through the whole year, so that an idle sluggard may pick up without effort sufficient sustenance upon the earth to feed and nourish him ? . . . If a man should give thee money, and fill thy coffer (for that seemeth a great thing in thy sight) thou wouldst term it a benefit. And thinkest thou it no favor, that God hath hidden so many metals in the earth, spread so many rivers on the sands, which floating, discover ingots of massy gold, silver, brass, and iron, which he hath hidden everywhere ; that he hath given thee means and knowledge to find it out, by setting marks of his covert riches on the upper face of the earth ? If a man should give thee a house enriched with marble pillars, if the cover thereof were re- splendent, and painted with gold and goodly colors, thou 14