Page ture with the Worship of the Stars .. 169 VI.-Reply to those who suppose that no Reasons can be assigned for the Precepts VII. As all the Natural Works of God have their respective. Causes and Reasons, so also have the Precepts of the Law.—The VIII. The Prohibition of external Unclean- LIFE ΟΥ MAIMONIDES. RA ABBI MOSES BEN MAIMON or MAIMONIDES, called also RAMBAM from the initials of his name, and MOSES the Egyptian from his long residence in Egypt, was born at Cordova in Spain, in the year 1131, or according to some 1133, of the Christian era. His father, who was descended from an illustrious line of ancestors, sustained the office of judge among his own nation; and by his knowledge of jurisprudence, and the ability and integrity with which he executed the difficult and important duties of the magistracy, secured the respect of Christians as well as Jews. The education of young Maimonides appears to have been conducted,at first, under the immediate superintendence of his father; but a series of domestic quarrels having subsequently obliged him to quit the paternal roof, he placed himself under the care of the most learned Jewish teachers, and studied, with sedulous attention, the Mosaic Law, and its various Talmudical and Rabbinical commentaries. After devoting some years to the pursuit of Hebrew learning, he attached himself to the great Arabian philosopher and physician Averroes, as one of his pupils and disciples. With these advantages, and possessing a mind vigorous, penetrating, and acute, he not only made uncommon pro B |