Budge_Ethiopic_Alexander

438
THE HISTORY OF ALEXANDER THE GREAT.
fore every other thing. O Lord God Almighty, how
often dost thou perform the will of those who are
in heaven and upon earth! Thou dost hide them
under Thy shadow, and Thou dost cover them
with Thy garment. What is to be preferred before
the love of God Almighty? And what [p, 260]
is more to be desired than the setting of God
before all things.'' And what is sweeter than the
word of God Almighty? even as it is said by the
prophet, "O taste ye and know that God is good."'
And in this wise did Alexander the king rule
by the Will of God Almighty, and he removed
from himself the lust of the flesh, that is to say,
the thought of fornication, and by purity of heart
Alexander's and by cleanness of mind he overcame the lust
of the flesh. He never polluted his body with
lust unto the day of his death, being able to work
patience through the love of God Almighty, even
as it is said concerning the eunuchs who have
made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the love
of God Almighty, "They have penetrated His
"depths, and they have found that there is nothing
"to be preferred, or to be desired, or which is
"more lovely than the love of God." And a certain
writer saith, "How blessed is he who loveth Thee,
"O God, for he shall gain two kingdoms, [one] in
"heaven, and [the other] upon earth." And again
it is said, "He giveth power unto our kings, and
"He exalteth the horn of His anointed one;"' and
' ""
Psalm xxxiv. 8. i Samuel ii. 10.