Page:Philochristus, Abbott, 1878.djvu/90

82 of Soko used to say, 'Be not as slaves that minister to their lord with intent to receive recompense; but be ye as slaves that minister to their lord without thought of recompense; and let the fear of Heaven be upon you.'"

Then I replied, "True, oh my Master; but ought not the love of Heaven as well as the fear of Heaven to be upon us? For is it not said, 'Learn for love, and honor will come in the end'?" "Thou speakest well," said Jonathan, "and it is written also as the chief of all the commandments, 'Thou shalt love the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve.'" Then I said, "But what if a man feel no love of God in his heart? For I have met lately certain of the Gentiles, yea, and some also of our own nation, which have no love of God; whereof some even constantly say that there is no God. Yea, and even in mine own heart arise strange questionings as to whence I came into this world, and whither I am going, and before whom I am to give account and reckoning."

Then Abuyah brake forth again: "Joseph, son of Simeon, busy not thyself with questions that are too high for thee: for it is said, 'Whosoever shall consider four things, what is above, below, before, behind, it were better for him that he had not come into the world.'" "Yea, but," said I, smiling, "it is said by the Wise, 'Consider three things, and thou wilt not come into transgression, Know whence thou camest, and whither thou art going, and before whom thou art to give account and reckoning.'" Hereat Abuyah arose hastily from his seat in sore displeasure, and he said, "Child, thou hast denied thyself by going to a city of the Gentiles which is not a place of the Law; for it is said, 'Two that sit together without words of the Law are a session of scorners;' and again, 'Betake thyself to a place of the Law, and say not that it shall