Wisdom From Seneca

Seneca the Younger, Ep. Mor. LXXXVIII:

I am ready for favourable events in every case, but I am prepared for evil.

Matthew Henry, Directions for Daily Communion With God in The Miscellaneous Works of the Rev. Matthew Henry, Vol. 1, p. 447:

Are we in suspense between hope and fear? sometimes one prevails, and sometimes the other? Let us wait on God, and the God to whom belong the issues of life and death, good and evil, from whom our judgments, and every man's, proceed, and compose ourselves into a quiet expectation of the event, whatever it may be, with a resolution to accomodate ourselves to it; hope for the best, and get ready for the worst, and then take what God sends.

Seneca the Younger, Ep. Mor. X:

Be careful ever to maintain this greatness of soul: and though you have reason to thank the gods for the success of your former vows, cease not to pray; and ask particularly for wisdom, a sound mind, and health of body. Why should you not often pray for these blessings? Fear not to importune a gracious God, when you ask not for any foreign good, or what belongs to another person.

But, according to custom, I shall subjoin to this epistle a small present: it is from Athenodorus; and I think it is a just and excellent observation: ... Know, says he, that you have discharged every irregular passion, when you are arrived to such goodness, as to ask of God nothing, but what you care not if all the world should hear. But, alas! how great is the folly and hypocrisy of the present age! men are continually whispering and muttering to God some villainous prayer; was any one to listen, they are immediately silent; and thus what they are unwilling men should hear; they presume to offer up to God. Consider then, whether you may not take this maxim for a wholesome rule of life: so live among men, as if the eye of God was upon you; and so address yourself to God, as if men heard your prayer.

Herman Witsius, The Lord's Prayer, pp. 39-40:

Seneca's observations on this subject are excellent. "Know then that you are free from unlawful passions when you have made this attainment, to ask nothing from God but what you can ask openly. For what madness is there in men? The basest wishes are whispered to the gods; if any person listen, they are silent, but dare to relate to God what they are unwilling should be known to man." And again, LIVE WITH MEN AS IF GOD SAW YOU, AND SPEAK TO GOD AS IF MEN HEARD YOU. A golden saying, and one which deserves to be kept constantly before our minds.