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For we have not followed the sins of our fathers, who forsook their God, and worshipped strange gods.
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For which crime they were given up to their enemies, to the sword, and to pillage, and to confusion: but we know no other God but him.
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Let us humbly wait for his consolation, and the Lord our God will require our blood of the afflictions of our enemies, and he will humble all the nations that shall rise up against us, and bring them to disgrace.
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And now, brethren, as you are the ancients among the people of God, and their very soul resteth upon you: comfort their hearts by your speech, that they may be mindful how our fathers were tempted that they might be proved, whether they worshipped their God truly.
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They must remember how our father Abraham was tempted, and being proved by many tribulations, was made the friend of God.
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go Isaac, so Jacob, so Moses, and all that have pleased God, passed through many tribulations, remaining faithful.
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But they that did not receive the trials with the fear of the Lord, but uttered their impatience and the reproach of their murmuring against the Lord,
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Were destroyed by the destroyer, and perished by serpents.
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As for us therefore let us not revenge ourselves for these things which we suffer
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But esteeming these very punishments to be less than our sins deserve, let us believe that these scourges of the Lord, with which like servants we are chastised, have happened for our amendment, and not for our destruction.
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And Ozias and the ancients said to her: All things which thou hast spoken are true, and there is nothing to be reprehended in thy words.