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| [1]It is founde also in the writinges of Ieremi the prophete, that he commaunded them whiche were caried away, to take fyre, as it is sayde afore. |
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| [2]He commaunded them also that they should not forget the lawe & commaundementes of the Lorde, and that they shoulde not erre in their mindes, when they see images of siluer and gold, with their ornamentes. |
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| [3]These and such other thinges commaunded he them, and exhorted them that they shoulde not let the law of God go out of their heartes. |
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| [4]It is written also, how the prophete at the commaundement of God charged them to take the tabernacle & the arke with them: and he went foorth vnto the mountayne where Moyses clymed vp, and sawe the heritage of God. |
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| [5]And when Ieremi came there, he found an open caue, wherin he layed the tabernacle, the arke, and the aulter of incense, and so stopped the doore. |
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| [6]There came certayne men together also, folowing him to marke the place, but they coulde not finde it. |
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| [7]Whiche when Ieremie perceaued, he reproued them, saying: As for that place it shalbe vnknowen, vntill the time that God gather his people together againe, and receaue them vnto mercie. |
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| [8]Then shall God shewe them these thinges, and the maiestie of the Lorde shal appeare & the cloude also, like as it was shewed vnto Moyses: and like as when Solomon desired that the place might be honorablie sanctified, and it was shewed hym. |
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| [9]For he beyng a wyse man, handled honorably and wysely, offering vnto God in the halowing of the temple when it was finished. |
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| [10]And like as when Moyses prayed vnto the Lorde, the fire came downe from heauen, and consumed the burnt offering: Euen so prayed Solomon also, and the fire came downe from heauen, and consumed the burnt offering. |
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| [11]And Moyses sayde: Because the sinne offering was not eaten, therefore it is consumed. |
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| [12]In like maner Solomon kept the dedication [or halowing] eyght dayes. |
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| [13]In the annotations and writinges of Ieremi were these thinges put also: and howe he made a librarie, and howe he gathered out of all countreys the bookes of the kinges, & of the prophetes, and of Dauid, and the epistles of the kinges concerning the holy giftes. |
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| [14]Euen so Iudas also, loke what he learned by experience of warre, and such thinges as hath happened vnto vs, he gathered them altogether, and so we haue them by vs. |
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| [15]If ye now desire to haue the same, send some body to fetch them vnto you. |
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| [16]Where as we then are about to celebrate the purification, we haue written vnto you: therefore ye shall do well, if ye kepe the same dayes. |
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| [17]We hope also, that the God which deliuered his people, and gaue them al the heritage, kingdome, priesthood, and sanctuarie, |
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| [18]That he promised them in the law, shal shortly haue mercie vpon vs, and gather vs together from vnder the heauen into his holie place: for he hath saued vs from great peryls, and hath clensed the place. |
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| [19]As concerning Iudas Machabeus and his brethren, the purification of the great temple, the dedication of the aulter: |
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| [20]Yea and of the warres that concerne noble Antiochus & Eupator his sonne: |
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| [21]And the miracles shewed from heauen by the valiaunt actes of those which defended the Iewes religion, so that a fewe ran through the whole countrey, and draue away the barbarous armies: |
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| [22]Repaired againe the temple that was spoken of throughout all the world, deliuered the citie, doyng their best that the law of the Lord which was put downe, might with all tranquilitie be restored againe vnto the Lord, that was so mercifull vnto them. |
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| [23]As touching Iason also of Cyren, we haue vndertaken compendiously to bring into one booke the thinges that were comprehended of him in fyue. |
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| [24]For we, considering the multitude of the bookes, and howe hard it shoulde be for them that woulde meddle with stories and actes, and that because of so diuers matters: |
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| [25]Haue vndertaken so to comprehend the stories, that such as are disposed to reade, might haue pleasure and pastime therin: and that they which are diligent in such thinges, might the better thinke vpon them: yea and that whosoeuer reade them, might haue profite therby. |
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| [26]Neuerthelesse, we our selues that haue medled with this matter for the shortening of it, haue taken no small labour, but great diligence, watchinges, and trauayle. |
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| [27]Like as they that make a feast, would fayne do other men pleasure: euen so we also for many mens sakes, are very well content to take the labour, |
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| [28]Where as we may shortly comprehend the thinges that other men haue truely written. |
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| [29]For he that buyldeth an house anewe, must prouide for many thinges to the whole buylding: but he that paynteth it afterward, seketh but only that is comely, meete and conuenient to garnishe it withall. |
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| [30]Euen so do we also in like maner: And why? He that beginneth fyrst to wryte a storie, must with his vnderstanding gather the matter together, set his wordes in order, and diligently seke out euery part. |
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| [31]But he that afterwarde will shorten it, vseth fewe wordes, and toucheth not the matter at the largest: Let this be sufficient for a prologue. |
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| [32]Now will we begin to shew the matter: for it is but a foolishe thing to make a long prologue, and to be short in the storie it selfe. |
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