Seneca's Morals (Volume 1); By Way of Abstract. to Which Is Added, a Discourse, Under the Title of an After-Thought - Softcover

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This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1803. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... Ingratitude the worst of all crimes. all the banished men home again. "God forbid," says he, "for I had rather my country should blush for my banishment, than mourn for my return." How much more honourable is it to owe chearfully, than to pay dishonestly? It is the wish of an enemy to take a town, that he may preserve it, and to be victorious, that he may forgive, but, the mercy comes after the cruelty; beside, that it is an injury both to God and man, for the man must be first afflicted by heaven, to be relieved by me. So that we impose the cruelty upon God, and take the compassion to ourselves; and, at the best, it is but a curse, that makes way for a blessing; the bare wish is an injury, and, if it does not take effect, it is because heaven has not heard our prayers. Or, if they should succeed, the fear itself is a torment; and it is much more desirable to have a firm, and unshaken security. It is friendly to wish it in your power to oblige me, if ever I chance to need it; but it is unkind to wish me miserable, that I may need it. How much more pious is it, and humane, to wish that I may never want the occasion of obliging, nor the means of doing it, nor ever have reason to repent of what I have done. OF INGRATITUDE. Ingratitude is, of all crimes, that which we are to account the most venial in others, and VOL. I. H the most unpardonable in ourselves. It is impious in the highest degree, for it makes us fight against our children and our altars. There are, there ever were, and there ever will be, criminals, of all sorts, as murderers, tyrants, thieves, adulterers, traitors, robbers, and sacrilegious persons, but there is hardly any notorious crime without a mixture of ingratitude. 1$ disunites mankind, and breaks the very pillars of society. And yet, SO far i...

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