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The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah Vol 1 - Predestination

The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah Vol 1 - Predestination

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Galilean road.<br />

We know much, <strong>and</strong> yet, as regards details,<br />

perhaps too little about those ' tolls, dues, <strong>and</strong><br />

customs,' which made <strong>the</strong> Roman administration<br />

such sore <strong>and</strong> vexatious exaction to all '<br />

Provincials,' <strong>and</strong> which in Judaaa loaded <strong>the</strong> very<br />

name <strong>of</strong> publican with contempt <strong>and</strong> hatred. <strong>The</strong>y<br />

who cherished <strong>the</strong> gravest religious doubts as to<br />

<strong>the</strong> lawfulness <strong>of</strong> paying any tribute to Csesar, as<br />

involving in principle recognition <strong>of</strong> a bondage to<br />

which <strong>the</strong>y would fain have closed <strong>the</strong>ir eyes, <strong>and</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> substitution <strong>of</strong> hea<strong>the</strong>n kingship for that <strong>of</strong><br />

Jehovah, must have looked on <strong>the</strong> publican as <strong>the</strong><br />

very embodiment <strong>of</strong> anti-nationalism. But perhaps<br />

men do not always act under <strong>the</strong> constant<br />

consciousness <strong>of</strong> such abstract principles. Yet <strong>the</strong><br />

endless vexatious interferences, <strong>the</strong> unjust <strong>and</strong><br />

cruel exactions, <strong>the</strong> i)etty tyranny, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

extortionate avarice, fix)m which <strong>the</strong>re was nei<strong>the</strong>r<br />

defence nor appeal, would make it always wellnigh<br />

unbearable. It is to this that <strong>the</strong> Rabbis so<br />

<strong>of</strong>ten refer. K ' publicans' were disqualified frx)m

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