VII. Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, a good man, (the Christians of his time felt it,) commended his son for weeping at his tutor's death, answering those that would have rendered it unsuitable to his condition, "Let him alone," says he, "it is fit he should show himself a man, before he be a prince." He did nothing in the government without consulting his friends, and would say, "It is more just that one should follow the advice of many, than many the mind of one." He was more philosopher than emperor: for his dominions were greater within than without. And having commanded his own passions by a circumspect conformity to virtuous principles, he was fit to rule those of other men. Take some of his excellent sayings, as followeth: "Of my grandfather Verus I have learned to be gentle and meek, and to refrain from all anger and passion. From the fame and memory of him that begot me, shamefacedness, and manlike behaviour. I observed his meekness, his constancy without wavering, in those things, which, after a due examination and deliberation, he had determined. How free from all vanity he carried himself in matters of honour and dignity! His laboriousness and assiduity: his readiness to hear any man that had ought to say, tending to any common good. His moderate condescending to other men's occasions as an ordinary man.--Of my mother, to be religious and bountiful, and to forbear not only to do, but to intend any evil. To content myself with a spare diet, and to fly all such excess as is incident to great wealth.--Of my grandfather, both to frequent public schools and auditories, and to get me good and able teachers at home; and that I ought not to think much, if upon such occasions I were at excessive charge. I gave over the study of rhetoric and poetry, and of elegant, neat language. I did not use to walk about the house in my senator's robe, nor to do any such things. I learned to write letters without any affectation and curiosity; and to be easy, and ready to be reconciled, and well pleased again with them that had offended me, as soon as any of them would be content to seek unto me again. To observe carefully the several dispositions of my friends, and not to be offended with idiots, nor unreasonably to set upon those, that are carried away with the vulgar opinions, with the theorems and tenets of philosophers. To love truth and justice, and to be kind and loving to all them of my house and family, I learned from my brother Severus: and it was he that put me in the first conceit and desire of an equal commonwealth, administered by justice and equality; and of a kingdom, wherein should be regarded nothing more than the good and welfare, or liberty of the subjects. As for God, and such suggestions, helps, and inspirations, as might be expected, nothing did hinder, but that I might have begun long before to live according to nature: or that even now, that I was not yet partaker, and in present possession of that life, I myself (in that I did not observe those inward motions and suggestions; yea, and almost plain and apparent instructions and admonitions of God) was the only cause of it.--I that understand the nature of that which is good, that it is to be desired; and of that which is bad, that it is odious and shameful: who know moreover, that this transgressor, whoever he be, is my kinsman, not by the same blood and seed, but by participation of the same reason, and of the same divine participle, or principle: how can I either be hurt by any of these, since it is not in their power to make me incur anything that is reproachful, or be angry or ill affected towards him, who by nature is so near unto me? For we are all born to be fellow-workers, as the feet, the hands, and the eyelids; as the rows of upper and under teeth: for such therefore to be in opposition, is against nature."--He saith, "It is high time for thee to understand true nature, both of the world, whereof thou art a part, and of that Lord and Governor of the world, from whom, as a channel from the spring, thou thyself didst flow. And that there is but a certain limit of time appointed unto thee, which if thou shalt not make use of, to calm and allay the many distempers of thy soul, it will pass away, and thou with it, and never after return.--Do, soul, do abuse and contemn thyself yet awhile, and the time for thee to repent thyself will be at an end. Every man's happiness depends upon himself; but, behold! thy life is almost at an end, whilst not regarding thyself as thou oughtest, thou dost make thy happiness to consist in the souls and conceits of other men.