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12
Now I beseech those that read this book, that they be not discouraged for these calamities,
but that they judge those punishments not to be for destruction, but for a chastening of our nation.
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For it is a token of his great goodness, when wicked doers are not suffered any long time, but
forthwith punished.
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For not as with other nations, whom the Lord patiently forbeareth to punish, till they be come
to the fulness of their sins, so dealeth he with us,
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Lest that, being come to the height of sin, afterwards he should take vengeance of us.
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And therefore he never withdraweth his mercy from us: and though he punish with adversity,
yet doth he never forsake his people.
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But let this that we at spoken be for a warning unto us. And now will we come to the declaring
of the matter in a few words.
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Eleazar, one of the principal scribes, an aged man, and of a well favoured countenance, was
constrained to open his mouth, and to eat swine's flesh.
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But he, choosing rather to die gloriously, than to live stained with such an abomination, spit
it forth, and came of his own accord to the torment,
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As it behoved them to come, that are resolute to stand out against such things, as are not lawful
for love of life to be tasted.
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But they that had the charge of that wicked feast, for the old acquaintance they had with the
man, taking him aside, besought him to bring flesh of his own provision, such as was lawful for
him to use, and make as if he did eat of the flesh taken from the sacrifice commanded by the king;
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That in so doing he might be delivered from death, and for the old friendship with them find
favour.
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But he began to consider discreetly, and as became his age, and the excellency of his ancient
years, and the honour of his gray head, whereon was come, and his most honest education from a
child, or rather the holy law made and given by God: therefore he answered accordingly, and willed
them straightways to send him to the grave.
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For it becometh not our age, said he, in any wise to dissemble, whereby many young persons
might think that Eleazar, being fourscore years old and ten, were now gone to a strange religion;
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And so they through mine hypocrisy, and desire to live a little time and a moment longer,
should be deceived by me, and I get a stain to mine old age, and make it abominable.
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For though for the present time I should be delivered from the punishment of men: yet should
I not escape the hand of the Almighty, neither alive, nor dead.
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Wherefore now, manfully changing this life, I will shew myself such an one as mine age
requireth,
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And leave a notable example to such as be young to die willingly and courageously for the
honourable and holy laws. And when he had said these words, immediately he went to the torment:
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They that led him changing the good will they bare him a little before into hatred, because
the foresaid speeches proceeded, as they thought, from a desperate mind.
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