Book V - Snyder Bible

The Preaching of Simeon Kefa 279
more, and they cannot do without this variety of occupations.
Therefore inequality is necessary in this world. For there cannot
be a king, unless he has subjects over whom he may rule
and reign; nor can there be a master, unless he has one over
whom he may bear sway; and in like manner of the rest.
Chapter VI: Arrangements of the World for the Exercise of Virtue.
to the contest of his own accord, while labor is shunned, that
is, to the practice of those professions which we have mentioned,
by means of which either the justice or the mercy of
every one can be shown, made for men a body susceptible to
hunger, and thirst, and cold, in order that men, being compelled
for the sake of supporting their bodies, might come
down to all the professions which we have mentioned, by the
necessity of livelihood. For we are taught to cultivate every
one of these arts for the sake of food, drink, and clothing. And
in this the pur
will supply the demands of hunger and cold by means of
thefts, and murders, and perjuries, and other crimes of that
sort; or whether, keeping justice and mercy and continence,
he will fulfill the service of imminent necessity by the practice
of a profession and the labor of his hands. For if he supply his
bodily wants with justice, and obedience, and mercy, he comes
forth as a victor in the contest set before him, and is chosen as
a friend of the Son of Yahweh. But if he serve carnal lusts, by
frauds, iniquities, and crimes, he becomes a friend of the
prince of this world, and of all demons; by whom he is also
taught this: to ascribe to the courses of the stars the errors of
his own evil doings, although he choose them on purpose and
willingly. For arts are learned and practiced, as we have said,
under the compulsion of the desire of food and drink; which
desire, when the knowledge of the truth comes to any one, becomes
weaker, and frugality takes its place. For what expense
have those who use water and bread, and only expect it from
Yahweh?