Chapter CXXXIII.—The hard-heartedness of the Jews, for whom the Christians
pray.
“Now, although these and all other such unexpected and marvellous works were wrought
amongst and seen by you at different times, yet you are convicted by the prophets of having
gone to such a length as offering your own children to demons; and besides all this, of having
dared to do such things against Christ; and you still dare to do them: for all which may it
be granted to you to obtain mercy and salvation from God and His Christ. For God, knowing
before that you would do such things, pronounced this curse upon you by the prophet
Isaiah: ‘Woe unto their soul! they have devised evil counsel against themselves, saying, Let
us bind the righteous man, for he is distasteful to us. Therefore they shall eat the fruit of
their own doings. Woe to the wicked! evil, according to the works of his hands, shall befall
him. O my people, your exactors glean you, and those who extort from you shall rule over
you. O my people, they who call you blessed cause you to err, and disorder the way of your
paths. But now the Lord shall assist His people to judgment, and He shall enter into judgment
with the elders of the people and the princes thereof. But why have you burnt up my vineyard?
and why is the spoil of the poor found in your houses? Why do you wrong my people, and
put to shame the countenance of the humble?’702 Again, in other words, the same prophet
spake to the same effect: ‘Woe unto them that draw their iniquity as with a long cord, and
their transgressions as with the harness of an heifer’s yoke: who say, Let His speed come
near, and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel come, that we may know it. Woe unto
them that call evil good, and good evil! that put light for darkness, and darkness for light!
that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe unto them that are wise in their own
eyes, and prudent in their own sight! Woe unto those that are mighty among you, who drink
wine, who are men of strength, who mingle strong drink! who justify the wicked for a reward,
and take away justice from the righteous! Therefore, as the stubble shall be burnt by the coal
of fire, and utterly consumed by the burning flame, their root shall be as wool, and their
flower shall go up like dust. For they would not have the law of the Lord of Sabaoth, but
despised703 the word of the Lord, the Holy One of Israel. And the Lord of Sabaoth was very
angry, and laid His hands upon them, and smote them; and He was provoked against the
mountains, and their carcases were in the midst like dung on the road. And for all this they
have not repented,704 but their hand is still high.’705 For verily your hand is high to commit
evil, because ye slew the Christ, and do not repent of it; but so far from that, ye hate and
murder us who have believed through Him in the God and Father of all, as often as ye can;
702 Isa. iii. 9–15.
703 Literally, “provoked.”
704 Literally, “turned away.”
705 Isa. v. 18–25.
Chapter CXXXIII.—The hard-heartedness of the Jews, for whom the Christians pray.
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Chapter CXXXIII.—The hard-heartedness of the Jews, for whom the Christians…