10
For there were two women brought, who had circumcised their children; whom when they had openly led round about the city, the babes handing at their breasts, they cast them down headlong from the wall.
11
And others, that had run together into caves near by, to keep the sabbath day secretly, being discovered by Philip, were all burnt together, because they made a conscience to help themselves for the honour of the most sacred day.
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.
13
For it is a token of his great goodness, when wicked doers are not suffered any long time, but forthwith punished.
14
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,
15
Lest that, being come to the height of sin, afterwards he should take vengeance of us.
16
And therefore he never withdraweth his mercy from us: and though he punish with adversity, yet doth he never forsake his people.
17
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.
18
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.
19
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,
20
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.