he stands in need of this education. If he passes his life in courts, there are many Heathens,
and philosophers, and persons puffed up with the glory of this life. It is like a place full of
dropsical people. Such in some sort is the court. All are, as it were, puffed up, and in a state
of inflammation. And they who are not so are studying to become so. Now then reflect how
vast a benefit it is, that your son on entering there, should enter like an excellent physician,
furnished with instruments which may allay every one’s peculiar inflammation, and should
go up to every one, and converse with him, and restore the diseased body to health, applying
the remedies derived from the Scriptures, and pouring forth discourses of the true philosophy.
For with whom is the recluse to converse? with his wall and his ceiling? yea, or again with
the wilderness and the woods? or with the birds and the trees? He therefore has not so great
need of this sort of discipline. Still, however, he makes it his business to perfect this work,
not so much with a view of disciplining others as himself. There is then every need of much
discipline of this sort to those that are to mix in the present world, because such an one has
a stronger temptation to sin than the other. And if you have a mind to understand it, he will
further be a more useful person even in the world itself. For all will have a reverence for him
from these words, when they see him in the fire without being burnt, and not desirous of
power. But power he will then obtain, when he least desires it, and will be a still higher object
of respect to the king; for it is not possible that such a character should be hid. Amongst a
number of healthy persons, indeed, a healthy man will not be noticed; but when there is
one healthy man amongst a number of sick, the report will quickly spread and reach the
king’s ears, and he will make him ruler over many nations. Knowing then these things,
“bring up your children in the chastening and admonition of the Lord.”
“But suppose a man is poor.” Still he will be in no wise more insignificant than the man
who lives in kings’ courts, because he is not in kings’ courts; no, he will be held in admiration,
and will soon gain that authority which is yielded voluntarily, and not by any compulsion.
For if a set of Greeks, men worthless as they are, and dogs,450 by taking up that worthless
philosophy of theirs, (for such the Grecian philosophy is,) or rather not itself but only its
mere name, and wearing the threadbare cloak, and letting their hair grow, impress many;
how much more will he who is a true philosopher? If a false appearance, if a mere shadow
of philosophy at first sight so catches us, what if we should love the true and pure philosophy?
Will not all court it, and entrust both houses, and wives, and children, with full confidence
to such men? But there is not, no, there is not such a philosopher existing now. And therefore,
it is not possible to find an example of the sort. Amongst recluses, indeed, there are such,
but amongst people in the world no longer. And that amongst recluses there are such, it
would be possible to adduce a number of instances. However, I will mention one out of
many. Ye know, doubtless, and have heard of, and some, perhaps, have also seen, the man
450 τριωβολιμαῖοί τινες καὶ κύνες.
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Ephesians 6:1-3