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THE KING'S MIRROR 



had done evil both to God's people and against His will 

 but they offered no atonement^ on the contrary, they 

 proposed to take up arms in their defense, wherefore 

 they were overcome by a merciless revenge. But those 

 whom I pointed out to you in the later accounts, 

 Aaron, Ur, David, and the others who were mentioned 

 in those examples, did not conceal their wickedness, 

 but confessed their misdeeds as they were; hoping for 

 pardon, they begged mercy and clemency, and offered 

 to atone, as He should determine, Who, they knew, had 

 the decision in His power. And they promised that 

 nevermore would they fall into such guilt, if they might 

 become fully reconciled. 



THE SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED 



Son. I now wish to ask you why such a great dis- 

 tinction was made in the cases of Peter and Judas, 

 though their offences appear similar. Judas returned 

 the money that he had received and repented his evil 

 deed; he confessed that he had sold his innocent Lord, 

 and threw away the silver, saying that he would not 

 keep what had come to him so wrongfully. Now he was 

 destroyed, though he repented; while Peter was forgiven 

 at once, because he repented. 



Father. Judas fell in the beginning into sin through 

 avarice and love of wealth and took a bribe to betray 

 his Lord. His repentance was such that he could not 

 hope for pardon, and he asked for no mercy but pun- 

 ished himself with a sudden death. But Peter wept 



