Bad Advertisement?
Are you a Christian?
Online Store:Visit Our Store
| Chapter XXXI
PREVIOUS SECTION - NEXT SECTION - HELP 
Chapter
XXXI.
Now, in the next place, if any one has the
capacity, let him understand that in what assumes the form of history,
and which contains some things that are literally true, while yet it
conveys a deeper meaning, those who preserved their original language
continued, by reason of their not having migrated from the east, in
possession of the east, and of their eastern language. And let
him notice, that these alone became the portion of the Lord, and His
people who were called Jacob, and Israel the cord of His inheritance;
and these alone were governed by a ruler who did not receive those who
were placed under him for the purpose of punishment, as was the case
with the others. Let him also, who has the capacity to perceive
as far as mortals may, observe that in the body politic4187
of those who were assigned to the Lord as
His pre-eminent portion, sins were committed, first of all, such
as might be forgiven,
and of such a nature as not to make the sinner worthy of entire
desertion while subsequently they became more numerous though still of
a nature to be pardoned. And while remarking that this state of
matters continued for a considerable time, and that a remedy was always
applied, and that after certain intervals these persons returned to
their duty, let him notice that they were given over, in proportion to
their transgressions, to those to whom had been assigned the other
quarters of the earth; and that, after being at first slightly
punished, and having made atonement,4188
they returned,
as if they had undergone discipline,4189
| 4189 ὡσπερεὶ
παιδευθέντας. | to their
proper habitations. Let him notice also that afterwards they were
delivered over to rulers of a severer character—to Assyrians and
Babylonians, as the Scriptures would call them. In the next
place, notwithstanding that means of healing were being applied, let
him observe that they were still multiplying their transgressions, and
that they were on that account dispersed into other regions by the
rulers of the nations that oppressed them. And their own ruler
intentionally overlooked their oppression at the hands of the rulers of
the other nations, in order that he also with good reason, as avenging
himself, having obtained power to tear away from the other nations as
many as he can, may do so, and enact for them laws, and point out a
manner of life agreeably to which they ought to live, that so he may
conduct them to the end to which those of the former people were
conducted who did not commit sin.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
|
