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JAINISM, CHRISTIANITY & SCIENCE
"power of seeing' is called Israel, (Philo, ... interprets Israel 'seeing God ') having much experience, and being fit for exercise ... Wherefore also, when Sarob was jealous at Hagar being preferred to her, Abraham, as choosing only what was profitable in secular philosopby, said, 'Behold, thy maid is in thine bands : deal with her as it pleases thee.' (Gen. xvi. 6), manifestly meaning, 'I embrace secular culture as youthful, and a handmaid; but thy knowledge I honour and reverence as true wife.' And Sarah afflicted her; which 18 equivalent to corrected and admonished her."-(Clement) A.N.C.L. vol. iv. p. 369.
“And Scripture will afford a testimony to what has been said in what follows. Sarab was at one time barren, being Abraham's Wifè. Sarah having no child, assigned her maid, by name Hagar, the Egyptian, to Abraham, in order to get children. Wisdom, there. fore, who dwells with the man of faith (and Abraham was reckoned faithful and righteous), was still barren and without child in that generation, not having brought forth to Abraham aught allied to virtue. And she, as was proper, thought that he, being now in the time of progress, should have intercourse with secular culture first (by Egyptian the world is designated figuratively); and afterwards should approach to her according to divine providence, and beget Isaac."-(Clement) A.N.C.L. vol. iv. p. 368.
“The word Isaac I also connect with child. Isaac means laughter. He was seen sporting with his wife and helpmeet Rebecca by the prying king (
Gen. xxvi. 8). The king, whose name was Abi. melech, appears to me to represent a supramundane wisdom contemplating the mystery of sport. They interpret Rebecca to mean endurance. Owise sport, laughter also assisted by endurance, and the king as spectator. The spirit of those that are children in Christ, whose lives are ordered in endurance, rejoice. And this is divine sport. Such a sport, of his own, Jove sports,' Boys Heraclitus. For what other employment is seemly for a wise and perfect man, than to sport and be glad in the endurance of what is good, and, in the administration of what is good, bolding festival with God? That which 18 signified by the prophet may be interpreted differently, namely, of our rejoicing for salvation, as Isaac. He also, delivered
from death, laughed, sporting and rejoicing with his spouse, who was the type of the Helper of our salvation, the church, to whom
