[305] 17, the original has it; but this is evidently an error.--TRANS.
Here now follow instances of exemplary adventurers of former times--pious persons that were persecuted, greatly hated, and put to death; mark, how, by whom, and also why these things always happened; namely, in order that we need not think it strange, when we become partakers of the same sufferings and death.
In the first place, pious, good Abel was slain by Cain, out of hatred on account of his piety. Lot was greatly vexed by the wanton Sodomites, because of his virtue and righteousness. David was persecuted by Saul, Shimei, and by Absalom his son, for his glory and own kingdom. The man of God from Judah was threatened by Jeroboam, because of his prophesying against Jeroboam’s gods and his altar. 1 Kings 13. The holy and mighty prophet of God, Elijah, and many others who were put to death in his time; he had to flee from the place, and was greatly persecuted by Jezebel, on account of his prophetic miracles which he wrought through God. 1 Kings 19. Micaiah was imprisoned by the king, who fed him with the water and bread of affliction, because he opposed the four hundred false prophets of Jezebel with the Spirit and holy word of God. 1 Kings 22:27. Urijah, a prophet, and also a fugitive, was brought back, and slain with the sword by King Jehoiakim, on account of his message from God, the prophecy against Jerusalem and the land of Judah. Jer. 26:20–23. Jeremiah, a prophet of God, was cast by the princes into the miry pit to die, because he would not cease to preach and prophesy in the name of the Lord. Jer. 38:6. Zechariah, a priest’s son, and prophet of the Lord, was stoned at the commandment of the king, because he had prophesied nothing but calamity for them, because they had forsaken that which was good, and transgressed the word of God. 2 Chron. 24:21. Mark, for what reason each one of these was put to death.
The three young men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, were by King Nebuchadnezzar cast into a furnace heated seven times more than it was wont to be heated--in which God nevertheless preserved them on account of their trust in him--and this because they would not honor neither worship the King’s self-made image, idol and buffoonery. Daniel 3:19. Daniel, a most worthy and holy prophet of God, was by the worshipers of the dragon, out of hatred and envy, cast into the den of lions, against the will and power of the king; God, however, preserved and delivered him. This was done, because he, fearing no man, nor the king’s plain and strict commandment, openly worshiped, honored and confessed his God alone, with the windows open toward Jerusalem. _Hist. of the Destr. of the Drag._ Dan. 6:10. Mark, are not the pious subtilly sought? Yes, sought and found. O Lord, all the steadfast pious in Israel were scattered, and most atrociously slain by Antiochus. Why? Mark, because they circumcised their children, according to God’s commandment, would eat no swine’s flesh, according to the prohibition of the law, and refused to follow the heathen customs, since they were unclean and contrary to the law. 1 Macc. 1. Again, on another occasion, all the Jews were everywhere caught like wild beasts, bound, chased, dragged off, conveyed away in ships, and doomed to a general massacre, from which latter, however, they were miraculously delivered by the hand of God. They were thus tormented by King Ptolemy, because they would not be compelled by him to depart from the law of God, sacrifice to idols, and adopt heathen customs. 3 Macc. No fair reason, friends; and so it is still. Again, in the second book of the Maccabees the same thing is enacted. A cruel decree of said King Ptolemy, which whoever should not obey, was to be put to death instantly. 2 Macc. 6:9.