Fragments 1–23
p. 749 EFrom the same book, or else from the last book of the Questions arising in Exodus. As pillars support whole houses, so also the power of God supports the whole world, and the best and most God-loving section of the human race.
p. 750 CFrom the same book, or else from the last book of the Questions arising in Exodus. If any one is either in any house, or village, or city, or nation, who is a lover of wisdom, it is absolutely inevitable that that house or city should be the better for his existence in it, for a virtuous man is a common good to all men, bestowing on them advantages proceeding from himself as from a prepared store.
p. 751 BFrom the same book, or else from the last book of the Questions arising in Exodus. The influx of evils agitates and disturbs the soul, enveloping it in a giddiness which darkens its perceptions, and compels it to suffer that power of sight which by nature was preeminent, but which by habit has become blinded, to be obscured.
p. 751 BFrom the same book, or else from the last book of the Questions arising in Exodus. There is nothing so opposite to and inconsistent with the most holy powers of God as injustice.
p. 751 CFrom the same book, or else from the last book of the Questions arising in Exodus. Never to err in any point whatever is the greatest blessing; but when one has erred, to repent is next akin to it, as a younger good, if one may say so, by the side of an elder, for there are some persons who exult in the offences which they have committed as if they had done good actions, though they are in reality afflicted with a disease difficult to be cured, or I should rather say incurable.
p. 752 AFrom the last book of Questions arising in Exodus. He contains all things, while yet he is himself contained by nothing; for as place is that which contains bodies, and that to which they flee for refuge, so also the divine reason contains the universe and is that which has completed it.
p. 754 CFrom the second book of the Questions in Exodus. By some lawgivers the practice of giving hearsay evidence has been forbidden, on the ground that the truth is established by the eyesight, but falsehood by hearing.
p. 754 EFrom the second book of the Questions in Exodus. For thus the lover of wisdom never unites with any rash person, even though he may be closely united to him by blood; nor does he ever consent to dwell with a wicked man, being separated from the multitude by his reasoning powers, on account of which he is said not to be a fellow voyager, or a fellow citizen, or a companion of such men.
p. 754 EFrom the second book of the Questions in Exodus. The wise man is a sojourner and a settler, having come as an emigrant from a life of confusion and disorder to one suitable to peaceful and happy men.
p. 772 BFrom the second book of the Questions in Exodus. But the essence of the angels is spiritual, but they are very often made to resemble the appearance of men, being transformed on any emergencies which arise.
p. 772 BFrom the second book of the Questions in Exodus. All the powers of God are winged, being always eager and striving for the higher path which leads to the Father.
p. 774 BFrom the first book of the Questions in Exodus. All those who have stumbled, being unable to proceed with upright feet, go on slowly, being fatigued a long time before they come to their journey's end; so also the soul is hindered from proceeding successfully on the path which leads to piety if it has previously fallen in with any of the byroads of wickedness, for they are great hindrances to it, and the causes of its stumbling, by means of which the mind becoming lame, proceeds too slowly on the road, according to nature; and this road, according to nature, is that which ends at the Father of the universe.
p. 777 BFrom Philo, from the Questions arising in Exodus. It is said by men who have applied themselves to the study of natural philosophy, that the female is nothing else but an imperfect male.
p. 782 AFrom Philo, from the Questions arising in Exodus. It is not lawful to divulge the sacred mysteries to the uninitiated until they are purified by a perfect purification; for the man who is not initiated, or who is of moderate capacity, being unable either to hear or to see that nature which is incorporeal and appreciable only by the intellect, being deceived by the visible sight, will blame what ought not to be blamed. Now, to divulge sacred mysteries to uninitiated people, is the act of a person who violates the laws of the privileges belonging to the priesthood.
p. 782 BFrom Philo, from the Questions arising in Exodus. It is absurd that there should be a law in cities that it is not lawful to divulge sacred mysteries to the uninitiated, but that one may speak of the true rites and ceremonies which lead to piety and holiness to ears full of folly. All men must not partake of all things, nor of all discourses, above all, of such as are sacred; for those that desire to be admitted to a participation in such things, ought to have many qualifications beforehand. In the first place, what is the greatest and most important, they ought to have deep feelings of piety towards the only true and living God, and correct notions of holiness, avoiding all inextricable errors which perplex so many about images and statues, and in fact about any erections whatever, and about unlawful ceremonies, or illicit mysteries.
p. 782 DThe words of Philo, out of the Questions arising in Exodus. The man who lives in wickedness, bears about destruction within him, since he has living with him that which is both treacherous, designing, and hostile to him. For the conscience of the wicked man is alone a sufficient punishment to him, inflicting cowardice on his soul from its own inmost feelings, as it feared blows.
p. 782 DThe words of Philo, out of the Questions arising in Exodus. The life of the wicked man is subject to pain and sorrow, and full of fear; and in everything which it does according to the outward senses, it is mingled with fear and grief.
p. 784 CThe words of Philo, from the Questions arising in Exodus. The reasoning of some persons is very rapidly satiated, who, though they have been borne upwards on wings for a little while, yet do presently return back again; not so much flying upwards, says Philo, as being dragged down again to the lowest depths of hell. But happy are they who do not draw back.
p. 784 CThe words of Philo, from the Questions arising in Exodus. Before now, some persons who have tasted happiness, being very speedily satiated, after they have given hopes of their being in health, have fallen back into the same disease as before.
p. 784 DThe words of Philo, from the Questions arising in Exodus. To commit perjury is impious and mischievous.
p. 788 IThe words of Philo, out of the first book of the Questions arising in Exodus. We ought to look upon those men as our friends who are inclined to assist us, and to requite our kindnesses with kindness, even if they are destitute of power; for friendship is a thing which is seen more in moments of necessity, than in a steady conjunction or union of dispositions. So that in the case of each person who unites with another in an association of friendship, one may apply the expression of Pythagoras to him, and say, "A friend is a second I."
p. 789 AThe words of Philo, out of the first book of the Questions arising in Exodus. When the fruits of these crops which are raised from seed are in a state of perfection, they receive the beginnings of the generation of trees in order that the mercies of God may last for ever, and then that one continually succeeding the other, and connecting ends with beginnings and beginnings with ends, they may be in reality never ending.
p. 789 AThe words of Philo, out of the first book of the Questions arising in Exodus. The mercies of God give us not only what is necessary, but also all such things as conduce to a more excessive and liberal enjoyment of life.