The Childhood of Jesus
The Gospel of James
Biographical Gospel of the Lord
- Chapter 256 -
Joseph Reproves The Eminent Citizens
THIS ACT OF DIVINE LOVE caused the thieves to fall on their faces and cry out:
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'Such kindness, such generosity is never a trait of men; only the gods who never die can still reward their enemies!
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We deserved only punishment here for our great sin against you high gods,
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but instead of punishing us as we deserved, you reward and bless us for our evil deeds!
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Does that not make you gods? Yes, you are without doubt the highest lords of the heavens - for your deeds, the like of which we have never seen, bear witness to that!
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Therefore honor, praise and glory to you by all people on earth!
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And the power of all the princes of the earth shall bow eternally before your great splendor!'
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Hereupon the thieves arose and went away filled with gratitude and esteem
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and made this known in the whole city; and all the inhabitants quaked at such nearness of the gods and went furtively about and did not dare to work from sheer awe.
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Soon thereafter the eminent citizens of Ostracine came to Joseph and asked him whether the story was really true which the mob was now shouting about in the half-burned city.
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And Joseph answered, 'As concerns the good deed toward them, their shouting is correct;
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for thus my wife did in fact act against them.
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But that they hold us to be gods is a bad testimony for you who are great and wealthy.
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For thereby the poor mob characterizes your extreme hardheartedness, since it sees nothing akin to godliness about you!
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Do as my wife did, and as my whole house does, and the mob will soon cease to hold the inhabitants of my house for gods!'
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When the high and mighty of the city heard this to them very applicable talk of Joseph, they were greatly embarrassed and went their way.
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And they were convinced that Joseph was merely an above all wise and good man, but for all that no god.
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From then on Joseph's house was left in peace.
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And his family lived there another half year without being molested and was respected and esteemed by everyone.
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During this time the little Child worked no more wonders and everyone lived there quite naturally. And Jonathan was more with Joseph than at home; for here was for him a most blessed existence.