people but the Jews have avoided all discourses about God
that any way contradict one another, which yet are frequent
among other nations; and this is true not only among
ordinary persons, according as every one is affected, but some
of the philosophers have been insolent enough to indulge
such contradictions, while some of them have undertaken to
use such words as entirely take away the nature of God, as
others of them have taken away his providence over mankind.
Nor can any one perceive amongst us any difference in the
conduct of our lives, but all our works are common to us all.
We have one sort of discourse concerning God, which is
conformable to our law, and affirms that he sees all things; as
also we have but one way of speaking concerning the conduct
of our lives, that all other things ought to have piety for
their
end; and this any body may hear from our women, and
servants themselves.

21. And, indeed, hence hath arisen that accusation which
some make against us, that we have not produced men that
have been the inventors of new operations, or of new ways of
speaking; for others think it a fine thing to persevere in
nothing that has been delivered down from their forefathers,
and these testify it to be an instance of the sharpest wisdom
when these men venture to transgress those traditions;
whereas we, on the contrary, suppose it to be our only
wisdom and virtue to admit no actions nor supposals that are
contrary to our original laws; which procedure of ours is a
just and sure sign that our law is admirably constituted; for
such laws as are not thus well made are convicted upon trial