Section 100
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68 ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. the founders of the sect, have left many monuments of their doetrine in allegorical representations, which they use as certain models, imitating the manner of the original institution." These facts appear to have been stated by a man who, at least, has paid attention to those that have expounded the sacred writings. But it is highly probable, that the ancient commentaries which he says they have, are the very gospels and writings of the apostles, and probably some expositions of the ancient prophets, such as are contained in the epistle to the Hebrews and many others of St. Paul's epistles. Afterwards again, concerning the new psalms which they composed, he thus writes, " Thus they not only pass their time in meditation, but compose songs and hymns unto God, noting them of necessity with measure uncommonly serious, through every variety of metres and tunes." Many other things concerning these persons he writes in the same book. But these it appeared necessary to select, in order to present the peculiari ties of their ecclesiastical discipline. But, if what has been said does not appear to any one to belong to the discipline of the gos pel, but that it can also be applied to others besides those men tioned, let him at least be convinced by the subsequent declara tions of the author, in which, if he is at all impartial, he adduces an irrefragable testimony on the same subject. For thus he writes : " But laying down temperance first as a kind of founda tion in their minds, upon this they build the other virtues. For none of them is to bring food or drink before the setting of the sun, since they judge that philosophical exercises should be pro secuted in the light, but the necessities of the body in the dark Whence they assign the one to the day, and to the other a small portion of the night. But some of them do not remember their food for three days, when influenced by an uncommon desire of knowledge. And some are so delighted, and feast so luxuriously on the doctrines so richly and profusely furnished by wisdom, that they forbear even twice this time, and are scarcely induced to take necessary food even for six days." These declarations of Philo respecting those of our communion, we deem obvious and in disputable. But, should any one still be so hardy as to contra dict, let him at least abandon his incredulity, by yielding to the