Page:Philochristus, Abbott, 1878.djvu/124

116 CHAPTER IX.

How Quartus interpreted the New Law.

Jesus had ended all these words, he came down from the mountain, and we followed, reasoning much among ourselves. Baruch spake first, complaining that the new Law was full of hard sayings. "For," said he, "when the Prophet proclaimed a blessing on the poor and hungry, that was easy to understand, and I rejoiced thereat: but afterwards, when he bade us bless them that cursed us, and do good to those that injured us, yea, and turn the left cheek to him that had smitten us on the right, and give our coat to him that had taken away our cloak, then indeed his doctrine seemed too wonderful for the mind of man to fathom." Then a certain Essene (who at that time followed with us) made answer and said, "This world is but as a vestibule before the world to come: therefore the Prophet's intent is to instruct us how to prepare ourselves at the vestibule so that we may find grace to come into the King's presence: and his words enjoin on us to abstain from all earthly cares and pleasures, and to withdraw ourselves from the cities of men." But to this Simon Peter made answer that Jesus had taught us to live in the sight of all men, like a city on an hill or like a candle on a candlestick: moreover, he had promised that we should inherit the earth.

But here Eliezer, the son of Arak, could no longer constrain himself. "I marvel," he said, "that we listen so