Book V - Snyder Bible

The Preaching of Simeon Kefa 73
most vehement orator, trained in the dialectic art, and in the
meshes of syllogisms; and what is worse than all, he is greatly
skilled in the magic art. And therefore I fear, lest...being so
strongly fortified on every side, he shall be thought to be defending
the truth, while he is alleging falsehoods, in the presence
of those who do not know him. For neither should we
ourselves have been able to escape from him, and to be converted
to Yahweh, had it not been that, while we were his assistants
and the sharers of his errors, we had ascertained that
he was a deceiv
Chapter VI: Simon Magus: His Wickedness
When Niceta had thus spoken, Aquila also, asking that he
might be permitted to speak, proceeded in manner following:
treat you, most excellent Kefa, the assurance of
my love towards you; for indeed I also am extremely anxious
on your account. And do not blame us in this, for indeed to be
concerned for any one comes of affection; whereas to be indifferent
is no less than hatred. But I call Yahweh to witness that
I feel for you, not as knowing you to be weaker in debatefor
indeed I was never present at any dispute in which thou wert
engagedbut because I well know the impieties of this man, I
think of your reputation, and at the same time the souls of the
hearers, and above all, the interests of the truth itself. For this
magician is vehement towards all things that he wishes, and
wicked above measure. For in all things we know him well,
since from boyhood we have been assistants and ministers of
his wickedness; and had not the love of Yahweh rescued us
from him, we should even now be engaged in the same evil
deeds with him. But a certain inborn love towards Yahweh
rendered his wickedness hateful to us, and the worship of
Yahweh attractive to us. Whence I think also that it was the
work of Yahweh that we, being first made his associates,
should take knowledge in what manner or by what are the
effects the prodigies which he seems to work. For who is there
that would not be astonished at the wonderful things which he
does? Who would not think that he was a god come down