Page:Selections. Translated by H. St. J. Thackeray (1919).djvu/165

 effrontery to dispute any proposition which they have introduced. While maintaining that all events are the work of Fate, they do not deprive man of free-will in his actions,[1] since (as they hold) it has pleased God that the decision should rest both with Fate's council-chamber and with the human will whether a man takes the side of virtue or of vice. They believe that souls have immortal power, and that beneath the earth punishments and awards await those who, during life, have made a practice of vice or virtue: to the former is assigned everlasting imprisonment, the latter are granted facilities to live again. By these doctrines they have gained a very great influence over the masses, and all religious ceremonies in the matter of prayers and the offering of sacrifices are performed according to their directions. Such high testimony do the cities bear to their character, regarding them, both in their manner of life and in their utterances, as patterns of perfection.

The Sadducees

The Sadducees hold that the soul perishes with the body. They make no pretence of observing any rules whatever except the laws; indeed, they count it meritorious to dispute with the doctors of their school. Their tenets have but few adherents; but these are persons of the highest reputation. They have hardly any effect on practical life; for whenever any of their number accept office, they, reluctantly indeed, but of necessity, become converts to the Pharisaic creed, because otherwise they would not be tolerated by the masses.for [Greek: krisin]), "that there should be a blend between"]