65. Seneca, the philosopher, a native of Corduba in Spain, died at Rome,
in the fifty-third year of his age. His moral writings have secured
lasting celebrity to his name. He was preceptor to Nero, who, in the
wantonness of power when emperor, sent an order to Seneca to destroy
himself. The philosopher complied by opening his veins and taking
poison. During these operations he conversed calmly with his friends,
and his blood flowing languidly he caused himself to be placed in a hot
bath, till Nero’s soldiers becoming clamorous for quicker extinction of
his life, it was necessary to carry him into a stove and suffocated him
by steam.[87] A distinguished French writer[88] quotes a passage from
Seneca remarkable for its christian spirit; but this passage is cited at
greater length by a living English author,[89] in order to show that
Seneca was acquainted with christian principles, and in reality a
christian.
We may almost be sure that it was impossible for Paul to have preached
“in his own hired house,” at Rome, without Seneca having been attracted
thither as an auditor, and entered into personal communication with the
apostle. There exists a written correspondence said to have passed
between Paul and Seneca, which, so far as regards Seneca’s epistles,
many learned men have supposed genuine.