Page:Aelfric's Lives of Saints Vol 1.djvu/355

 from all  the  persecutions  of  this  billowy  world.

Likewise the  three  youths  in  the  Chaldean  land,

Shadrach, Meshach,  and  Abednego,  who  for  the  true  faith

were bound  in  the  burning  oven,

and condemned  to  death,  but  God  quickly  showed  forth  in  them

what faith  they  had,  when  the  flame  could  not

burn even  their  hair  in  that  pyre;

but they  all  went  out,  uninjured,  to  the  king.

Likewise again  Daniel,  the  noble  prophet,

for his  simplicity  and  constant  faith,

was twice  thrown  by  the  furious  Chaldeans

into the  lions'  pit,  but  they  lived  in  hunger

seven nights  meatless,  and  might  not  hurt  him.

Many other  patriarchs  and  holy  prophets

were glorious  men,  and  performed  miracles

under the  Old  Law,  and  they  all  set  forth

by words,  or  by  works,  that  the  glorious  Saviour

would redeem  us  from  hell-torment  by  Himself.

Again, books  tell  us  how  the  sinful  have  perished,

and [how]  the  wicked  are  lost  eternally  for  their  evilness,

because God  is  so  righteous  that  righteous  men

shall not  be  bereaved  of  the  reward  of  their  righteousness.

Nor again,  may  the  wicked,  who  anger  Him  by  their  evilness,

ever in  any  wise  escape  from  the  eternal  torments.

Afterward, at  the  Saviour's  advent,  was  the  holy  John

sent before  Him  as  a  heavenly  herald,

that he  by  his  words  might  make  straight  Christ's  ways,

and convert  the  people  to  right  works.

Prophecy, and  the  Old  Law,  continued  until  that  time,