l our actions and studies, and all
our words, [in Moses's settlement,] have a reference to piety towards
God; for he hath left none of these in suspense, or undetermined.
For there are two ways of coming at any sort of learning and a moral
conduct of life; the one is by instruction in words, the other by
practical exercises. Now other lawgivers have separated these two ways
in their opinions, and choosing one of those ways of instruction, or
that which best pleased every one of them, neglected the other. Thus did
the Lacedemonians and the Cretians teach by practical exercises, but not
by words; while the Athenians, and almost all the other Grecians, made
laws about what was to be done, or left undone, but had no regard to the
exercising them thereto in practice.

18. But for our legislator, he very carefully joined these two methods
of instruction together; for he neither left these practical exercises
to go on without verbal instruction, nor did he permit the hearing of
the law to proceed without the exercises for practice; but beginning
immediately from the earliest infancy, and the appointment of every
one's diet, he left nothing of the very smallest consequence to be done
at the pleasure and disposal of the person himself. Accordingly, he made
a fixed rule of law what sorts of food they should abstain from, and
what sorts they should make use of; as also, what communion they
should have with others what great diligence they should use in their
occupations, and what times of rest should be interposed, that, by
living under that law as under a father and a master, we might be guilty
of no sin, neither voluntary nor out of ignorance; for he did not suffer
the guilt of ignorance to go on without punishment, but demonstrated
the law to be the best and the most necessary instruction of all others,
permitting the people to leave off their other employments, and to
assemble together for the hearing of the law, and learning it exactly,
and this not once or twice, or oftener, but every week; which thing all
the other legislators seem to have neglected.

19. And indeed the greatest part of mankind are so far from living
according to their own laws, that they hardly know them; but when they
have sinned, they learn from others that they have transgressed the law.
Those also who are in the highest and principal posts of the government,
confess they are not acquainted with those laws, and are obliged to take
such persons for thei