e other passage, which occurs in the philosophical book "On the
Migration of Abraham,"[167] he sets forth the reason of the authority
of the law with more argument, and controverts those who would
allegorize away the ordinances.

"To whom, then, God has granted both to be and to seem good,
he is truly happy and truly renowned. And we must have a
great care for reputation, as a matter of great importance
and of much value, for our social and bodily life. [By
reputation Philo means reputation of being loyal Jews. He is
addressing here an esoteric circle who, if they were lax,
would bring philosophy into disrepute.] And almost all can
secure it, who are well content not to disturb established
customs, but diligently preserve the constitution of their
nation. But there are some who, looking upon the written
laws as symbols of intellectual things, lay great stress on
these, but neglect the former. Such men I would blame for
their shallowness of mind [Greek: euchereia]. For they
ought to give good heed to both--to the accurate
investigation of the unseen meaning, but also to the
blameless observance of the visible letter. But now, as if
they were living by themselves in a desert, and were souls
without bodies, and knew nothing of city or village or house
or intercourse with men, they despise all that seems
valuable to the many, and search for bare and naked truth as
it is in itself. Such people the sacred Scripture teaches to
give good heed to a good reputation, and to abolish none of
those customs which greater and more inspired men than we
instituted in the past. For, because the seventh day teaches
us symbolically concerning the power of the uncreated God,
and the inactivity of the creature, we must not therefore
abolish its ordinances, so as to light a fire, or till the
ground, or bear a burden, or prosecute a lawsuit, or demand
the restoration of a deposit, or exact the repayment of a
loan, or do any other thing, which on week-days is allowed.
Because the festivals are symbols of spiritual joy and of
our gratitude to God, we must not therefore give up the
fixed assemblies at the proper seasons of the year. Nor,
because circumcision symbolizes the excision of all lusts
and passions, and the destruction of the impious opinion
according to whic