CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY GIFT FROM
Alfred C. Barnes
The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text.
http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924029308503
THE
FOURTH BOOK
OF MACCABEES:
CONTAINING
REFLECTIONS ON RELIGIOUS PRINCIPLE: LIKEWISE, AN ACCOUNT OF HELIODORUS’ ATTEMPT TO PLUNDER THE TEMPLE: AND THE HISTORY OF ELEAZAR AND THE SEVEN BRETHREN PERSECUTED EVEN TO DEATH FOR THEIR ADHERENCE TO RELIGION.
CHAPTER VII
B.C. 167
Reflections on the sufferings and constancy of Eleazar.
For the principle of our father Eleazar, as an excellent pilot, steering the ship of piety through the stormy sea of passions; —though ill-used by the tyrant’s threats, and overwhelmed by the tempestuous waves of tortures; —by no means turned aside the rudder of piety, until it sailed in safely to the harbour of immortal victory. No city ever so held out, when besieged by numerous and varied engines of war, as did that holy man, while his sacred life was assailed with scourging’s and he conquered his besiegers, through the principle of piety which shielded him. For father Eleazar, stretching out his firm determination as a rocky promontory a, broke to pieces around it the raging billows of the passions.
O Priest worthy of the priesthood! thou didst not pollute thy holy teeth, nor defile with polluted meat thy stomachb which admitted only that which was holy and clean. O thou harmonizer c with the law, and disciple d of a divine philosophy! Such ought those to be, who put in practicee the law at the cost of their own life, and
with generous exertions defend it by sufferings even unto death. You, O father, by your endurance have gloriously established f our adherence to the law; and by your correct behaviour have magnified our sanctity; and by your deeds have added credit to our profession of divine philosophy.
O aged man, of more strength than the tortures! O old man of more energy than the fire! Eleazar, thou greatest monarch of the passions!
For, as our father Aaron, armed with a censer, running through the midst of the congregation g, vanquished the angel who was consuming them with fire: so Eleazar, a descendant of Aaron, though he was being devoured by fire, yet swerved not aside from his principle. And, what is most to be admired, being an old man, the energies of his body being now weakened, and his flesh now hanging loosely about him, and his nerves also spent with exertion, he became young again in spirit through principle; and by the principle h which animated Isaac, he defeated the many headed torture. O happy old age! Venerable grey hairs, and life obedient to the law! which the sure seal of death has consummated! Wherefore, if an old man through religion has despised torments even unto death, beyond all dispute religious Principle is governor of the passions.
But perhaps some persons may say, that all men do not subdue their passions i; because all indeed do not possess this prudent principle. But as many as pay regard to piety with all their heart, these alone can overcome the affections of the flesh. Who believe that to God they do not die for, even as our forefathers Abraham k, Isaac, and Jacob, they live to God. It does not therefore contradict our assertion, if that some men through weakness of principle appear to be governed by their passions. For whom, that piously follows the whole rule of philosophy, and trusts in God, and knows that it is a blessed thing to endure every pain for virtue’s sake, would not overcome his passions, in the cause of religion? For the wise and temperate man alone is the brave controller of the passions.
Exo 3:6 Then He said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Then Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.
Mat 22:32 ‘I AM THE GOD OF ABRAHAM, AND THE GOD OF ISAAC, AND THE GOD OF JACOB’? He is not the God of the dead, but of the living.”
Mar 12:26 But concerning the raising of the dead, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the burning bush, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘I AM THE GOD OF ABRAHAM, AND THE GOD OF ISAAC, AND THE GOD OF JACOB’?
Mar 12:27 He is not the God of the dead, but of the living; you are greatly mistaken and you are deceiving yourselves!”
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