17 Let us contemplate, beloved, the resurrection that is continually made before our eyes.
18 Day and night manifest a resurrection to us. The night lies down, and the day arises: again the day departs and the night comes on.
19 Let us behold the fruits of the earth. Every one sees how the seed is sown. The sower goes forth, and casts it upon the earth; and the seed which when it was sown fell upon the earth dry and naked, in time dissolves.
20 And from the dissolution, the great power of the providence of the Lord rises it again; and of one seed many arise, and bring forth fruit.
CHAPTER XII.
The Resurrection further proved.
LET us consider that wonderful type of the resurrection which is seen in the Eastern countries: that is to say, in Arabia.
2 There is a certain bird called a Phoenix; of this there is never but one at a time: and that lives five hundred years. And when the time of its dissolution draws near, that it must die, it makes itself a nest of frankincense, and myrrh, and other spices into which when its time is fulfilled it enters and dies.
3 But its flesh putrifying, breeds a certain worm, which being nourished with the juice of the dead bird brings forth feathers; and when it is grown to a perfect state, it takes up the nest in which the bones of its parent lie, and carries it from Arabia into Egypt, to a city called Heliopolis:
4 And flying in open day in the sight of all men, lays it upon the altar of the sun, and so returns from whence it came.