2Maccabees:2

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* It is also found in the records , that Jeremy the prophet commanded them that were carried away to take of the fire , as it hath been signified : * And how that the prophet , having given them the law , charged them not to forget the commandments of the Lord , and that they should not err in their minds , when they see images of silver and gold , with their ornaments . * And with other such speeches exhorted he them , that the law should not depart from their hearts . * It was also contained in the same writing , that the prophet , being warned of God , commanded the tabernacle and the ark to go with him , as he went forth into the mountain , where Moses climbed up , and saw the heritage of God . * And when Jeremy came thither , he found an hollow cave , wherein he laid the tabernacle , and the ark , and the altar of incense , and so stopped the door . * And some of those that followed him came to mark the way , but they could not find it . * Which when Jeremy perceived , he blamed them , saying , As for that place , it shall be unknown until the time that God gather his people again together , and receive them unto mercy . * Then shall the Lord shew them these things , and the glory of the Lord shall appear , and the cloud also , as it was shewed under Moses , and as when Solomon desired that the place might be honourably sanctified . * It was also declared , that he being wise offered the sacrifice of dedication , and of the finishing of the temple . * And as when Moses prayed unto the Lord , the fire came down from heaven , and consumed the sacrifices : even so prayed Solomon also , and the fire came down from heaven , and consumed the burnt offerings . * And Moses said , Because the sin offering was not to be eaten , it was consumed . * So Solomon kept those eight days . * The same things also were reported in the writings and commentaries of Neemias ; and how he founding a library gathered together the acts of the kings , and the prophets , and of David , and the epistles of the kings concerning the holy gifts . * In like manner also Judas gathered together all those things that were lost by reason of the war we had , and they remain with us , * Wherefore if ye have need thereof , send some to fetch them unto you . * Whereas we then are about to celebrate the purification , we have written unto you , and ye shall do well , if ye keep the same days . * We hope also , that the God , that delivered all his people , and gave them all an heritage , and the kingdom , and the priesthood , and the sanctuary , * As he promised in the law , will shortly have mercy upon us , and gather us together out of every land under heaven into the holy place : for he hath delivered us out of great troubles , and hath purified the place . * Now as concerning Judas Maccabeus , and his brethren , and the purification of the great temple , and the dedication of the altar , * And the wars against Antiochus Epiphanes , and Eupator his son , * And the manifest signs that came from heaven unto those that behaved themselves manfully to their honour for Judaism : so that , being but a few , they overcame the whole country , and chased barbarous multitudes , * And recovered again the temple renowned all the world over , and freed the city , and upheld the laws which were going down , the Lord being gracious unto them with all favour : * All these things , I say , being declared by Jason of Cyrene in five books , we will assay to abridge in one volume . * For considering the infinite number , and the difficulty which they find that desire to look into the narrations of the story , for the variety of the matter , * We have been careful , that they that will read may have delight , and that they that are desirous to commit to memory might have ease , and that all into whose hands it comes might have profit . * Therefore to us , that have taken upon us this painful labour of abridging , it was not easy , but a matter of sweat and watching ; * Even as it is no ease unto him that prepareth a banquet , and seeketh the benefit of others : yet for the pleasuring of many we will undertake gladly this great pains ; * Leaving to the author the exact handling of every particular , and labouring to follow the rules of an abridgement . * For as the master builder of a new house must care for the whole building ; but he that undertaketh to set it out , and paint it , must seek out fit things for the adorning thereof : even so I think it is with us . * To stand upon every point , and go over things at large , and to be curious in particulars , belongeth to the first author of the story : * But to use brevity , and avoid much labouring of the work , is to be granted to him that will make an abridgment . * Here then will we begin the story : only adding thus much to that which hath been said , that it is a foolish thing to make a long prologue , and to be short in the story itself .

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