But there are some who, looking upon the written
laws as symbols of intellectual things, lay great stress on
these, but neglect the former. Such men I would blame for
their shallowness of mind [Greek: euchereia]. For they
ought to give good heed to both--to the accurate
investigation of the unseen meaning, but also to the
blameless observance of the visible letter. But now, as if
they were living by themselves in a desert, and were souls
without bodies, and knew nothing of city or village or house
or intercourse with men, they despise all that seems
valuable to the many, and search for bare and naked truth as
it is in itself. Such people the sacred Scripture teaches to
give good heed to a good reputation, and to abolish none of
those customs which greater and more inspired men than we
instituted in the past. For, because the seventh day teaches
us symbolically concerning the power of the uncreated God,
and the inactivity of the creature, we must not therefore
abolish its ordinances, so as to light a fire, or till the
ground, or bear a burden, or prosecute a lawsuit, or demand
the restoration of a deposit, or exact the repayment of a
loan, or do any other thing, which on week-days is allowed.
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