2 Machabees — Chapter 2

S. Ambrose writeth at large of this miracle. Neither the tabernacle nor the ark were carried away by Nabuchodonosor.

This seemeth to be the same Iudas Essenus who with others write this epistle. ch. v. 10.

This seemeth to be the same Iudas Essenus who with others wrote this epistle.

that were made from heauen tothem, thar did manfully tor the Iewes , fo that being few they reuenged the whole countrie, and put to flight the barbarous mul- titude +23. and repayred the moft famous temple in al the world , and deliuered the citie , and the lawes that were abolifhed , were reftored, our Lord with al clemencie being made propicious vnto them, 24. Alfo the things which by lafon the Cyrenean are comprifed in fiue Books ,we haue attempted to abridge in one volume, 25. For confides ring the multitude of Books, & the difficultie to them ,that wil attempt the natrations of hiftories ,becaufe ef the multitude of matters ; 26, wehaue been careful for them that are willing to reade , thatthere might be deleG@ation of the minde : and for the fiudious, that they May = more e} This feemeth to be the fame ludas Eifenus whowitho- thers writre ‘this epiftle. ch, I. v.10, d) After the au- étour had wric- iren thisAppen- ‘dix to the for- ‘mer Book, he -refolued alfo ito adde ana- ‘bridgement of ithe whole hi- {terre , wher- lunto he ma- ‘keththis Pre- face, fignify~ iing the matter ‘wheref he twail write, y, '20, in what ‘manner, +. 24, land why,y, z5. auouching his diligence, v. 26, With breuitte. v, 29. ¢)God affifting the writers of diuine hifto- rtes , doth not alwayes deli- uer them from labour in fcek- ing toknow the fame of fuch as knew particular things. So Ss. Luke writte the Gofpel hauing diligently attained $0 al things. Lue. 4, v. 3, 906 SECOND BOOK more eafily committe itto memorie:and chat profite might enfue to ai that read it, 27. And to our owne felues indeed, which haue taken vpon vsthis worke,tomake an abridgement , we haue takenin hand no eafie labour, yearather a bufines ful of warching and fwerte. 28. As they that prepare a'feaft , & feeke tocondefcend to other mens wil : for ma- nie mens fakes we doe willingly fufteyne the labour. 29. The * veritie certes concerning euery patticular leauing tothe auctours,& our felues according tothe forme that is giuen, {tudying to be briefe. 30, For as the builder of anew houfe muft have eare of the whole building : but he chat hath the care to paint muft {eeke outthe things that are apt for gar- nilhing : fo muft it be efteemed alfo in vs.31. For to gather together the vnderitanding, to order the fpeach,and curioully to difcufle euerie par- ticular part, agreeth tothe auctour of an hiftorie : 32. but to purfew the breuitie of fpcach,and to auoyde the exact declarations of things, is to 1 be granted to-him that abridgeth. 33. From hencethen wil we begine the narration : of the pretace let it be fufficient to haue fayd thus much, for it is a foolifh thing betore the hiftorie fo Aow ouer, and in the hifto- rie to be fhort.* The: firft part. ‘The perfecu- - CHAP, Ill. tion of the Church by An- -” ; . biachus. When lerufalem was in peace, and good order, by the care of Onias high Prief, «)Threethings andKing Seleucus fanoured pious warks,4, Simona wicked :burchwarien, dimake a com. eof ie: {non wealtt vo! betrayeth the treafure of the Sancinarie : 7. Wherupon Heliodorss fent by eingood. the King , and after curteous entertarnment , declaring that be mujt-carie al ate, the money to the King, is refified by Onias with ethers, deuoutly commending :.Goed agree., the canfe to God.23,He neuertheles attempting the facriledge, is terrified bya ment ofprin- — vifion, fore beaten, tadsin defperate miferie, 31-By Onias facrifice and pray- inongit chem. @% & reftored sobealsh : 31. aud returning bome confeffetb the power of Lelues ,& with} God. ithe commo- naltie, [APPROVED]