Book V - Snyder Bible

206
of their sin. Wherefore, in short, the Master Himself, when He
was being led to the stake by those who knew Him not, prayed
to the Father for His murderers, and said, `Father, forgive their
sin, for they know not what they do! The talmidim also, in imitation
of the Master, even when they were suffering, in like
manner prayed for their murderers. But if we are taught to
pray even for our murderers and persecutors, how ought we
not to bear the persecutions of parents and relations, and to
pray for their conversion?
Chapter VI: Yahweh to Be Loved More than Parents
ason
we have for loving our parents. For this cause, it is said,
we love them, because they seem to be the authors of our life.
But our parents are not authors of our life, but means of it. For
they do not bestow life, but afford the means of our entering
into this life; while the one and sole author of life is Yahweh. If,
therefore we would love the Author of our life, let us know
that it is He that is to be loved. But then it is said, We cannot
know Him; but them we know, and hold in affection. Be it so:
you cannot know what Elohim is, but you can very easily know
what Elohim is not. For how can any man fail to know that
wood, or stone, or brass, or other such matter, is not Elohim?
But if you will not give your mind to consider the things which
you might easily apprehend, it is certain that you are hindered
in the knowledge of Elohim, not by impossibility, but by indolence;
for if you had wished it, even from these useless images
you might have been set on the way of understanding.
Chapter VII: The Earth Made for Men.
tools; but iron is wrought by fire, which fire is extinguished by
water. But water is moved by spirit; and spirit has its beginning
from Yahweh. For thus saith the prophet Moshe: In the
beginning Elohim made the heavens and the earth. But the
earth was invisible, and unarranged; and darkness was over
the deep: and the Ruach of Yahweh was upon the waters,