Page:Selections. Translated by H. St. J. Thackeray (1919).djvu/180

 to one's parents or of impiety against God is followed by instant death.

For those, on the other hand, who live in accordance with our laws the prize is not silver or gold, no crown of wild olive or of parsley with any such public proclamation (as attends those awards). No; each individual, relying on the witness of his own conscience and the lawgiver's prophecy, which is confirmed by the sure testimony of God, is firmly persuaded that to those who observe the laws and, if they must needs die for them, willingly meet death, God has granted a renewed existence and in the revolution (of the ages) the gift of a better life. I should have hesitated to write thus, had not the facts made all men aware that many of our countrymen have on many occasions ere now preferred to brave all manner of suffering rather than to utter a single word against the Law. —c. Ap. II. 30 (215-219).  (63) The Jewish Scriptures and their Preservation

The Writers and Custodians of the Records

That our forefathers took no less, not to say even greater, care than the nations I have mentioned in the keeping of their records—a task which they assigned to their chief priests and prophets—and that down to our own times these records have been, and if I may venture to say so, will continue to be, preserved with scrupulous accuracy, I will endeavour briefly to demonstrate.should, perhaps, be read in the light of the kindred passage, B.J. III. 374 (§ (43), p. 124 above), [Greek: ek peritropês aiônôn]. Or translate simply "in exchange," "in turn."]