Ch. 13
How everything may be performed to the divine acceptance.
When a person inquired how any one might
eat to the divine acceptance, If he eats with
justice, said Epictetus, and with gratitude, and fairly,
and temperately, and decently, must he not also eat to
the divine acceptance? And if you call for hot water,
and your servant does not hear you, or, if he does,
brings it only warm, or perhaps is not to be found at
home, then to abstain from anger or petulance, is not
this to the divine acceptance?
" But how is it possible to bear such things? "
O slavish man ! will you not bear with your own
brother, who has God for his Father, as being a son
from the same stock, and of the same high descent?
But if you chance to be placed in some superior station, will you presently set yourself up for a tyrant?
Will you not remember what you are, and over whom
you bear rule, -that they are by nature your relations, your brothers; that they are the offspring of
God?
"But I have them by right of purchase, and not
they me."
Do you see what it is you regard? Your regards
look downward towards the earth, and what is lower
than earth, and towards the unjust laws of men long
dead; but up towards the divine laws you never turn
your eyes.