Page:Philochristus, Abbott, 1878.djvu/80

72 business of state, and from all traffic, and that thou give thyself entirely to the contemplation of the divine essence."

Then said I, "Methinks, many of our Scribes in Galilee would not please thee; for they seek after righteousness by other ways, observing the smallest matters of the Law, and afflicting the flesh." "Tell such an one from me," said Philo, "when thou shalt see him perchance abstaining from food or drink at the times of eating, or disdaining the bath and the use of oil, or tormenting himself with a hard couch or with night-watchings, deceiving himself with this show of abstinence, that he is not in the true way to continence, and that all his labor is in vain."

"But what," asked I, "is this highest revelation of the essence of the Supreme (blessed is He) to which the soul shall at last attain?" Philo paused a moment and then answered, "Thou shalt attain to the knowledge of God, as mere being or existence." But I, not understanding him aright, said, "Thou sayest 'existence:' dost thou mean 'holy existence'?" But Philo answered with a smile, "How can we call Him holy who is holier than all holiness? But by 'mere existence,' I mean that which is known as existence and in no other way." Then I said, "May we not therefore call Him good? or loving?" "Call Him so," replied Philo, "if thou dost not believe that He is better than all goodness, more loving than all love."

Hereat my heart sank within me; for such a God as this "mere existence" seemed to me not a being able to love me nor to be loved by me, no more than if it had been a triangle or a circle. But presently I called to mind that Moses had named God the Father of the spirits of all flesh: and the prophets also had named God Father. Therefore said I to Philo, "And the name Father also?