Andon’s philosophy had been most confused; he had barely escaped becoming a fire worshiper because of the great comfort derived from his accidental discovery of fire. Reason, however, directed him from his own discovery to the sun as a superior and more awe-inspiring source of heat and light, but it was too remote, and so he failed to become a sun worshiper.
Close in meaning, found by a language model. A match does not mean the teachings are the same.
He being at length burned down to the bones, and about to expire, raised his eyes Godward, and said, “You know, O God, that when I might have been saved, I am slain for the sake of the law by tortures of fire. Be merciful to your people, and be satisfied with the punishment of me on their account. Let my blood be a purification for them, and take my life in exchange for theirs.” Thus speaking, the holy man departed, noble in his torments, and even to the agonies of death resisted in his reasoning for the sake of the law. Confessedly, therefore, religious reasoning is master of the emotions. For had the emotions been superior to reasoning, I would have given them the witness of this mastery. But now, since reasoning conquered the emotions, we befittingly award it the authority of first place. It is only fair that we should allow that the power belongs to reasoning, since it masters external miseries. It would be ridiculous if it weren’t so. I prove that reasoning has not only mastered pains, but that it is also superior to the pleasures, and withstands them.
But they thought that either fire, or wind, or swift air, or circling stars, or raging water, or luminaries of heaven were gods that rule the world.
For sun, moon, and stars, being bright and sent to do their jobs, are obedient. Likewise also the lightning when it flashes is beautiful to see. In the same way, the wind also blows in every country. And when God commands the clouds to go over the whole world, they do as they are told. And the fire sent from above to consume mountains and woods does as it is commanded; but these are to be compared to them neither in show nor power. Therefore a man shouldn’t think or say that they are gods, seeing they aren’t able to judge causes or to do good to men. Knowing therefore that they are no gods, don’t fear them. For they can neither curse nor bless kings. They can’t show signs in the heavens among the nations, or shine as the sun, or give light as the moon. The beasts are better than they; for they can get under a covert, and help themselves. In no way then is it manifest to us that they are gods. Therefore don’t fear them. For as a scarecrow in a garden of cucumbers that keeps nothing, so are their gods of wood overlaid with gold and silver. Likewise also their gods of wood overlaid with gold and with silver are like a white thorn in an orchard that every bird sits upon. They are also like a dead body that is thrown out into the dark. You will know them to be no gods by the bright purple that rots upon them. They themselves will be consumed afterwards, and will be a reproach in the country. Better therefore is the just man who has no idols; for he will be far from reproach.