The Childhood of Jesus
The Gospel of James
Biographical Gospel of the Lord
- Chapter 67 -
The Heathen Priests Demand A Sacrifice
A LESS VIOLENT HOUR went by, and no one was any longer too much concerned with the raging and blustering storm outside.
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After an hour had passed, couriers came to Cyrenius in Joseph's house and reported, saying,
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'High and mighty ruler! Unheard of things are taking place:
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Fire breaks forth from the earth in several localities;
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flying pillars of fire are driven back and forth by the hurricane and are destroying everything they come in contact with.
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Nothing is solid and strong enough to withstand their terrible power.
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The priests have said: The gods in their entirety have been provoked to anger and want to destroy us all! -
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And it is truly so, for one can plainly hear the barking of Cerberus, and the furies are dancing about everywhere! Vulcan has directed his funnels to the upper earth,
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while his Cyclops are wantonly destroying the houses and mountains.
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And Neptune has united all his powers into one!
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Like unto mountains he lifts the sea and wants to drown us all.
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If great human sacrifices are not suddenly offered the extremely angered gods, we will all be destroyed!
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The priests have determined upon a thousand youths and a thousand maidens for a sacrifice, and we are therefore dispatched to you in all haste that we should receive from you: the Fiat - the order: let it be done!'
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Cyrenius was terribly startled at this news and just did not know what to do.
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He hesitated to directly oppose the call from the priests for reasons of statecraft,
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but to consent to the sacrifice was still more impossible to his heart than to contradict the priests.
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He therefore turned to the Baby, who had just awakened, and asked His advice in this terrible matter. 18: And the Baby said, 'Be calm, for in one minute the storm will subside - and those who wanted to slaughter human beings are no more! Therefore be calm, My Cyrenius!'