3
not what they do." But while they were thus casting stones at him, one of the Priests, of the sons of Rechab, the son of Rechabeim, who have the witness of Jeremy the prophet, cried out, saying; "Cease ye; what are ye doing? Behold this Just Man prayeth for you." And one of them, of the company of Fullers, took the board with which he was wont to press the clothes, and struck therewith the head of the Just One; and thus James bore witness to the truth, even to martyrdom. And they buried him in that place; and his monument doth still remain, hard by the Temple. This man became a true witness and martyr, both to Jews and Gentiles, that Jesus is the Christ.
And straightway Vespasian besieged the city of the Jews, and carried them away captive[1].
Hence we learn that even the holiest life will not shield good men from the envy and malice of those who hate their Lord and Saviour; so that we must depend upon God alone, not upon an arm of flesh. The world admires true Christians for a while, and makes much of them; and then on a sudden turns round, and persecutes them. But they will calmly go through evil report and good report, for the name and cause of Christ; and be surprised neither when flattered nor evil intreated by sinners. They will make use of the good opinion the world has of them, while it lasts; but will fear to shrink ever so little from a bold Christian profession, in order to preserve it to them.
These Tracts may be had at Turrill's, No. 250, Regent Street, London.
KING, PRINTER, ST. CLEMENT'S, OXFORD.
- ↑ Eusebius, it may be added, proceeds to declare, that among all intelligent Jews, an opinion prevailed, that the murder of James was the cause of the siege of Jerusalem, which so soon followed. "Josephus," says he, "scrupled not to assert directly in his History; 'These things happened to the Jews, in signal vengeance of the death of James the Just, brother to Jesus who was said to be the Christ. For notwithstanding his extraordinary character for justice, he was barbarously murdered by the Jews.'"
