Letter of Aristeas

1917 printed page 55 / §§156–161

Printed page 55 Original marginal section labels beginning on this page: §156, §157, §158, §159, §160, §161. The opening continues §155 from the preceding page. between the several members; but much more do the orderly arrangement of the senses, the operation and invisible movement of the mind, and its rapidity in suiting its action to each several occasion and its discovery of the arts bear the marks of an infinite wisdom.{1} And therefore he exhorts us to bear in mind, how that the aforesaid things are{2} both created and{2} preserved by the power of God. For he has appointed every time and place for the continual remembrance of God, the Ruler and Preserver. For instance, in the matter of meats and drinks he bids us first to offer a part as a sacrifice, and not till then to partake of food. In our clothing, too, he has given us a symbol of remembrance. Likewise also he has commanded us to set the oracles 'upon our gates and doors,'{3} that God may be had in remembrance; and he expressly orders that the 'sign' be 'bound round upon the hands,'{4} clearly indicating that every action must be righteously performed with a remembrance of our creation, and above all with a fear of God. And he bids men 'when lying down and when rising up'{5} to meditate on the things which God has created, not in speech only, but reviewing also in thought the change and the impression which passes over them when they fall asleep, and the manner of their waking, how divine, as it were, and incomprehensible is the interchange of these states.{6} "Thou hast now been shewn the exceeding wisdom of the saying{7} concerning discrimination and memory, according to our exposition of the parting of the hoof and the chewing of the cud. For the laws have not been made at random and capriciously, but with a view to TRANSLATOR’S NOTES (1917) — printed page 55 {1} Lit. "contain an infinite manner." {2} Meaning doubtful: lit. "are preserved . . . with (?) creation." {3} Deut. vi. 9. {4} Ibid. 8. {5} Ibid. 7. {6} Cf. §§ 213–216 and [numeral partly abraded] Macc. v. 11. {7} Text doubtful. TRANSCRIPTION CAUTIONS (2026, editorial) - Source abrasion in apparatus is visibly labelled in square brackets rather than filled from another edition or inferred citation.