4 Maccabees Chapter 14 (KJV)
undefined
More that this, they even urged them on to this mistreatment; so that they not only despised pains themselves, but they even got the better of their affections of brotherly love.
undefined
Reasoning is more royal than a king, and freer than freemen!
undefined
What a sacred and harmonious concert of the seven kindred as concerning piety!
undefined
None of the seven youths turned cowardly or shrank back from death.
undefined
But all of them, as though running the road to immortality, hastened on to death through tortures.
undefined
For just as hands and feet are moved sympathetically with the directions of the soul, so those holy youths agreed to death for religion’s sake, as through the immortal soul of religion.
undefined
O holy seven of harmonious kindred! For as the seven days of creation, about religion,
undefined
so the youths, circling around the number seven, annulled the fear of torments.
undefined
We now shudder at the recital of the affliction of those young men; but they not only saw, and not only heard the immediate execution of the threat, but undergoing it, persevered; and that through the pains of fire.
undefined
What could be more painful? For the power of fire, being sharp and quick, speedily dissolved their bodies.
undefined
Don’t think it wonderful that reasoning ruled over those men in their torments, when even a woman’s mind despised more manifold pains.
undefined
For the mother of those seven youths endured the rackings of each of her children.
undefined
Consider how comprehensive is the love of offspring, which draws every one to sympathy of affection,
undefined
where irrational animals possess a similar sympathy and love for their offspring with men.
undefined
The tame birds frequenting the roofs of our houses defend their fledglings.
undefined
Others build their nests and hatch their young on the tops of mountains, in the precipices of valleys, and the holes and tops of trees, and keep intruders away.
undefined
If not able to do this, they fly circling round them in agony of affection, calling out in their own note, and save their offspring in whatever manner they are able.
undefined
But why should we point attention to the sympathy toward children shown by irrational animals?
undefined
Even bees, at the season of honey-making, attack all who approach, and pierce with their sting, as with a sword, those who draw near their hive, and repel them even to death.
undefined
But sympathy with her children didn’t turn away the mother of the young men, who had a spirit kindred with that of Abraham.
Deepen Your Study
Use AI-powered tools to understand this passage better
Ask AI About This Chapter Search Related Verses