Book Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1907 edition. Excerpt: ... THE LIFE AND DEATH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST. THE FIRST PART. Malchus, Gamaliel, Rabbins. Malchus. O this old wretched age, the neighbouring bounds Of our last breath! and you, unhappy Fates, Long life on us have you bestowed for this, Or for these uses?--That we should behold Our temples lewdly, cursedly, defiled, Our holy things profaned, our country slaved; The relics of our fane (which none might enter) Broken before me, and the sacred gold Rent from the posts, --whate'er the greedy will Of stern Gabinius could by rapine gain, 10 Or Antony's luxurious power exhaust. All's lost: and we have been a mocking stock (Which I abhor to hear, much more to speak) To Cleopatra's gluttonous desires. And lest we should not be in every part Disgraced and vilified, we now are brought Under a cruel king--the nephew's son Of half-Arabian Antipater. Judea serves an Idumean tyrant;. While an Arabian lord o'er Sion reigns, cv 20 God's people, and Jerusalem, --a man Profane and impious. Yet in this distress, Among so many wounds of raging chance, Some sparks of ancient honour did remain, A pattern of our country's discipline, Such as it is, which by our foes themselves our foes themselves is to be reverenc'd, the furious Victor, and no small number of his purpled Court, began to dignifie the Jewish lawes. We with this hope refresht, though well neere tyr'd with misery, had hardly taken heart to readvance our heads, when out alas, a hainous matter which we never fear'd, did suddenly arise a new Baptizer, whose Parentage is holy, who was bred among strange worships, but by Nation ours, by Stock a Levite given unto God, even from his infant cradle, being son of an High-Priest, and shortly to receive that dignity himself, unlesse he chuse rather to taste false.