(Editor's Note: We break again at this time to give our readers an excerpt, an article and a later Sermon given by FATHER DIVINE relative to the case. This is followed by FATHER's letter to MOTHER written from HIS 'summer hotel' as HE called it and the reading matter HE asked MOTHER to read to the household at the Home in Sayville.)
One of the Angels remarks: FATHER, I was just thinking, we read about that supposedly Last Breakfast that YOU had with the children on the shores of Galilee. Little did we think that we would be with YOU today enjoying all this.
FATHER: It is Wonderful! Just then MY thought ran as you started to mention the Last Breakfast, back to the Sermon before the Verdict. It is indeed Wonderful.! Did you ever read the Sermon before the Verdict . . . In l932? It is indeed Wonderful!
Question: Can we get that now, FATHER?
FATHER: Maybe it can be had. It was a little booklet. It contained the Sermon just before Judge Smith sentenced himself, thinking he was sentencing ME.
I was in Mineola jail, but on bond; I came back to the city and preached tonight, and tomorrow they passed a verdict of guilty, and then I returned back to MY 'summer hotel,' better known as jail.
Miss Drew asks: FATHER, there's a reason for that, YOUR going there?
FATHER: 'Of course. The Sermon before the Verdict is an outstanding Sermon. At that time when I came from jail, as being on bail, today, on this evening I preached at a little church on 132nd Street tonight, and tomorrow I returned on trial and was found guilty, they thought. On that evening that Sermon was preached, one gangster was converted . . . came up and fell at MY Feet. Some of them said he had a gun in his pocket then, in his shirtsleeves, etc. It is indeed Wonderful! And many others were wonderfully blessed. I think there was one healed that night of blindness; however, it was a Message long to be remembered, never to be forgotten; so when you mentioned that Last Breakfast on the shores of Galilee, it reminded ME of the Last Sermon before the Verdict, and apparently you were going to mention it, but however, each of these experiences were and are well worth considering. They are long to be remembered and never to be forgotten.'
But still the Work goes on. It is more convincing today, it is more legible from every angle expressible today than it was in those days.
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New York News
Sets Divine Case For New Hearing. Supreme Court in Kings Orders Appeal to
Be Heard in December
The Rev. Major J. (FATHER) DIVINE, who was convicted in May in Nassau County and sentenced to one year in jail and fined $500, appeared Monday before the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court in Brooklyn in connection with HIS appeal. Argument of the appeal was set down for the December term of the court.
James C. Thomas, ll, Park Place, attorney for the Sayville head, represented DIVINE at the hearing.
The religious leader who has transferred the center of HIS activities from Sayville Heaven, which was adjudged a nuisance, to l35th Street in Harlem, is free on $5,000 bail.
Justice Humphrey, sitting in the Supreme Court in Brooklyn on June 24, released DIVINE on a certificate of reasonable doubt.
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'The Truth crushed to earth shall rise again.' GOD is the TRUTH! How improbable it is for man as an individual, organization, or nation, to rise up in opposition to GOD, when GOD has declared in HIS written record, the Bible: 'The wrath of man shall praise GOD.'
MOTHER and FATHER DIVINE -
Sayville, Long Island, NY., Home of the Soul
In the year 1932, Judge Lewis J. Smith, Supreme Court Judge whose name received more recognition after his passing than during his whole life's career tried to crush, embarrass, abandon and wipe out if possible the Works of GOD HIMSELF. Little did he, or the people think that the sentence that was given to the REV. M. J. DIVINE, will just reverse itself. And instead of it resulting in the eradication of the establishment of the Kingdom of GOD on earth, it proved to be the issuing of a life sentence on the Judge himself.
In the face of all oppositions, of practically every religious and social welfare organization, plus other institutions desiring to work against this great Movement for the advancement of the Kingdom of GOD, the Truth has gone through the land like a mighty contagion, gathering to itself the children of men from the utmost parts of the earth.
In less than two years, according to man's reckoning of time, this great Movement, fostered and sponsored by GOD HIMSELF, has added more than ten million to the Movement.'
Judge Lewis J. Smith of the County Court in Nassau County, Mineola, Long Island, New York, reaped the fruit of the seed that he had sown. He made it known that his one great desire would be the giving of a 'life sentence' to FATHER DIVINE. But out of the evil of his own heart, the judgment was on his own life, for four days after the sentence the maximum sentence given to FATHER DIVINE the Judge passed off of the stage of action to try the unrealities of an unknown world. However, the work of FATHER DIVINE, the Great Benefactor and Redeemer of mankind goes triumphantly on.
In this particular lecture, FATHER DIVINE made reference to the incident of the Decision handed down by the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, after reading the last issue of HIS Message in The New York News. Preceding HIS Message that follows, HE sang a little song:
'I AM going to walk in this way,
I AM going to walk in this way,
I AM going to walk in this way,
And then you all will know.
You do not know and you cannot tell,
The mystery of this Truth,
Until it is revealed to you,
And then you all will know.'
Sayville, Long Island, NY.,
Home of the Soul
Viewing the Stone marker in the garden.
FATHER Speaks as follows:
PEACE EVERYONE: (PEACE FATHER!' returned a happy gathering.)
'Now you are happy and I AM glad. The wonderful Message you all have heard, and apparently you heard it word for word, or word by word, whichever it is wonderful to see just what the Spirit will do through them and those who are supposed to be in opposition to you. They establish MY going, through and by trying to prohibit it. They have caused ME to go forth into all of the lands the places I had not visibly gone. The Spirit of MY Presence and the Presence of MY Spirit is expressing and manifesting in practically all of the countries, and in and among all of the people.
'It is indeed Wonderful. It is a great mystery apparently, and yet it is not a mystery, for there is nothing hidden from the great Universal Mind Substance.
' While listening to the reading a little while ago, I brought to consideration the great mystery of these acts and these conditions of the people, and how they unconsciously will allow themselves to be brought under condemnation if they are not watchful. As I aforesaid, the investigation of the committee of the Newark, Essex County, New Jersey, was but the findings and the proceedings and records of the Mineola Court in opposition to the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, and if it could have been a conviction through such investigation, this committee and the Common Pleas Court in New Jersey, would have had revoked the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York with their own citizens, and brought themselves under condemnation, whereby their decision would have been revoking this decision of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York.
'Do you not see a great work that is going on, stirring them up among themselves, causing them to rise consciously or unconsciously against themselves, and if the State of New York would have allowed some state or country to go into her state and condemn or revoke the Decision of the Supreme Court of New York, it would be lowering the standard of New York by allowing the Common Pleas Court of Jersey to revoke and hand up a Decision in opposition to the Supreme Court of New York and condemn it. It is indeed Wonderful.! but they were not watchful on that point of view, and they did allow the investigators to go to the State of New York to get the records and hold them against ME in Jersey, to try to bring about a conviction in that same proceedings and reproduction of the proceedings in Mineola, see! which had been condemned as being erroneous and prejudicial by the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York State.
'Do you not see the great mystery of how they work even in opposition to themselves unconsciously? I do not feel that the authorities of Jersey would have consciously tried to condemn the State of New York. Consciously they thought they were only trying to condemn ME if they could but whatsoever the Supreme Court of the State of New York had said, the Decision that they had handed down, if there would have been any other conviction or condemnation that would have brought a conviction it would have been taking the Decision of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York and putting it apparently beneath the Common Pleas Court of Jersey . . .
'Do you not see the great mystery? Therefore, the inhabitants of New York State and especially the officials should rejoice and be exceeding glad, because I have the victory in MY Own Consciousness, for I would not allow them to bring a conviction or condemnation in reality in opposition to what the Decision of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court had handed down in New York. It is indeed Wonderful!'
'Take these thoughts to consideration; you as individuals and as individuals collectively, yea, even universally, will come to this recognition, yea, even to this realization: GOD in reality is a wonderful Counselor. Consciously or unconsciously expressly, GOD is a wonderful Counselor, having fought through forty-two different generations B.J., better known as B.C., always carrying within HIMSELF the victory! It is indeed Wonderful! It is a blessing to the State of New York that I would not allow them to bring a conviction through and by the Common Pleas Court in Jersey. That would have lowered the standard of the State of New York and placed it beneath the standard of the State of Jersey, and would have really embarrassed the political powers of New York and the legal proceedings that would have had a greater existence and expression here in the future than what it had been.
'So it is a wonderful thought to think and to see how GOD works in a mysterious way. Insignificant as I may appear to be, Condescendingly I came, 'apparently ascending'; coming to the lives of the children of men and expressing and manifesting MYSELF in the midst of them and shirring up the nation from the beginning to the ending. It is indeed Wonderful! Therefore, it is well worth considering what these Decisions were.
'When the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York handed down the Decision that the rulings and proceedings of the Courts of Nassau and Suffolk Counties against the Defendant were erroneous, prejudicial and overruling through comments and rulings that were beyond the limits of right thinking and judgment after the similitude of the legal proceedings in our courts, it was plain to see that this Jersey investigation, consciously or unconsciously, was trying to override the Decision that was handed down by the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York. They should have seen that, but they did not, or maybe had not, and therefore, they did allow the Jersey investigation to go to the State of New York to seek to find and to search the records and witnesses that were for the State, against the State to take their false witnesses and their false accusations to bring about a condemnation to the Decision of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court. It is indeed Wonderful.
'Now had they not gone back to try to get the records and the witnesses that were for the State, that was proven by the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court to have been malicious and prejudicial, it would not have been an actual condemnation to the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York; but if they could have handed down a Decision, they would have brought an actual conviction. It would have been a conviction for the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, for I AM in accord with the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York. It is indeed Wonderful! I AM in accord with the Supreme and not with the lower Courts.
'Now the County Court tried to condemn ME, don't you see, and humanly speaking, they brought about a conviction through the prejudicial proceedings and through and by their false witnesses, don't you see! They brought about a conviction, even though it was recommended Mercy. Through the prejudice of the judge, he gave the maximum penalty the maximum sentence with the penalty therefore, it goes to show you, it was prejudice from the beginning! Therefore, the County or Counties were limited and therefore, if they could have brought about a conviction under such proceedings, by taking the witnesses and the proceedings, by taking the witnesses and the proceedings and the records of the County Court, they would have been bringing the County Court of New York Suffolk County and Nassau County to revoke the Decision of the whole State of New York, the Supreme Court representative; the whole State of New York. And I AM functioning in the Supremacy of things, and therefore, the Supreme Court recognized ME, and endorsed MY activities partially in a way of expression, where it reversed the Decision and proved that it was prejudicial.
'Take these thoughts to consideration, and as you see ME working in the midst of the people, I AM working from start to finish and from finish back to the start, for I will turn over and turn up everything that is not according to the foundation and I will root up as it was said:
'Everything that is not planted by my heavenly Father, shall be rooted up.'
It is indeed Wonderful!. It matters not what may appear to be, rejoice in those things, for I have caused them to be, even if they appear to be in opposition to ME.'
'These thoughts are well worth considering, and as you consider them and come to this recognition, you will not have an occasion to falter nor fear, for within you, CHRIST, in the name of faith is the victory. But this lesson will not be forgotten, and I allowed these things to be, for the very purpose of spreading MY Name throughout the whole earth, in the perfect, harmonious expression and a positive expression. In their versions, they would refuse to carry it, they would refuse to publish it. It must be advertised through and by the prejudicial newspapers in and through and by a negative thought and negative action, in the way of slander or scandal. That is the way they will carry MY Message the same as the beautiful trees in the forest; here and there and everywhere, practically, they had been carried. The seeds of those trees have been carried there some by birds and some by insects and other ways and means by which to convey them, and to scatter them here and there to sow the beautiful seeds of our vegetation that are the handiwork of nature.
'GOD works in a mysterious way.'
When they are trying to spread something in opposition, they are carrying the message over in another land at times and into another degree of expression as a blessing for those who are here, and a blessing for the individuals to whom they are carrying the message. It is indeed Wonderful! If it had to be something pleasant to oppose it, naturally they would not be interested to carry it, you see! They like something cross-grain something in opposition. They are desirous of antagonism. They desire to be antagonistic and therefore, they even seek opposition of things, and hence, they do express and convey the Message of Truth through and by being in opposition to it, even as they are to you. I think I had better stop.
'I need not speak in words, but the Spirit of MY Mind and the Mind of My Spirit are speaking. They are speaking when I AM apparently silent. I may cease to speak in words, but still I will be speaking in the hearts and minds of men. If it were only to see and unfold this gathering here tonight, it would be a Sermon that transcends the average sermon of our present day, just merely to see those of you, these few here tonight, as it is with one accord. I AM preaching the teaching in deeds and in actions, expressly and manifestly putting MY Spirit in you, causing you to walk in MY Statues If for any cause you have not come to this place in consciousness where you are in perfect harmony internally, and desire to be one in heart and in mind, it is because you have deviated in some way. There is something that caused each and all of you to express harmony to some extent, and caused you to walk in MY Statutes in the way of expression in a different way from what you have been doing or would be doing. It is indeed Wonderful!
' Tonight, if it were not that you had come in contact with ME or heard of ME, there is a different or it would have been a different expression according to what you have been telling. Your past experiences were different expressions from what they are tonight, were they not? (Loud assent from the congregation.) Then I say, if it would be but to copy this expression manifested here, prohibiting you and changing you from doing what you have been doing before you saw or knew ME, it would be worth any sermon, humanely speaking, by any person or persons. It is indeed Wonderful!
'Just think of it! Suppose your thoughts would run back to the old mind, the old person that was expressing and living in that temple before you put off the old man with all of his deeds, and how you would have been tonight had you not seen ME. Then I say, the very expression that I AM putting forth into action, causing you to walk to this extent or to this degree in MY Statues, is a Sermon that transcends all human imagination, yea, even all of your preconceived ideas and opinions. It is indeed Wonderful!'
' For this cause we are rejoicing and we are exceedingly glad; such a beautiful expression of MY Mind put forth into action here, if it were only for the sake of sitting together and expressing manifestly harmony, unity and fellowship. If it were only to express modesty, poise and calmness and yet happiness, for these expressions are essential for the people. If it were only to prohibit you as individuals from drinking, gambling, committing other vices and crimes, smoking and doing other things that were not practical or profitable, whichever if it were only for these expressions that you would have been doing, that would cause you, as they did cause you, many trials and tribulations, many diseases and afflictions and aches and pains, it is indeed Wonderful! Just think of it! Just you who are here this evening, it is well worth considering what you did do in those bodies, and what you would have been doing if you would have been living. But truly might have one said, 'There is a great change since I have been born.' There is a change made since I have been born.
'This great change has taken place, the same as the churning of cream. It is indeed Wonderful!'
'When the frog was kicking for life and swimming,
He kept kicking and swimming for life and swim
Until his weary eyes grew dim.
His muscles ached, his breath grew short
And gasped to speak, one wearily spoke:T
Said, 'Dear old boy, it's pretty touch
To die so young, but I've had enough
Of kicks, no more will I try it.'
'Tut, tut., my lad,' the other cried,
'A frog is not dead unless he dies'
he braver frog endured it still,
He kept kicking with a right good will
Until so great, it was joy to utter,
He found he would churn a lump of butter.'
'It appears as if the braver frog has been kicking in our experience, for we are bringing forth something that is causing things to be easy. The story goes:
'He found he would churn a lump of butter
And climbing on that chunk of butter
And climbing on that church of grease,
He floated around with the greatest of ease.'
It was great joy to him to find that he had churned a lump of butter. If you keep on kicking, you will find that these hard times will turn to ease, and you, as well as others, will get on 'Easy Street,' It is indeed wonderful!
'I need not say more in words, but speaking continually in deeds and in actions, I AM putting MY Spirit in them daily, and pouring out a continuous increasing and overflowing stream of Spirit and Love to them, causing them to walk in MY Statues. For this cause, we can rejoice and we can be exceedingly glad to see the unfoldment of these things taking place in your very midst. It is indeed Wonderful!
'As I was saying today in this dining room when it was filled to capacity and overflowing, it was a wonderful expression and a privilege and a pleasure to convey this Message to the children of this people those who had not heard this Message personally, especially from ME, and those who would have been looked upon as the outcast, those who would have been looked upon with a scornful eye ordinarily, because they were classed as the unemployed, but the Spirit of MY Presence and the Presence of MY Spirit loves them all. And I venture to say, they received a Message today by the Spirit of MY Presence that they have never heard in all of their existence, testifying and sitting here enjoying the abundance of the fullness of all good things by the Spirit of the Consciousness of the Presence of GOD. These blessings we give to one and to all. I thank you.
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Riverhead, L.I.N.Y.
Suffolk County
June 20, l932
Mrs. M. J. Divine
72 Macon Street
Sayville, N.Y.
Dear Mother:
I write as I wish to say, whilst sitting thinking and reading of the different experiences of the work and what I have gone through in other bodies and in other names, and yet GOD has always been the same here and now wheresoever you be remember, I Am here and I Am there and I Am everywhere and nothing can hinder or stop ME; therefore, ever remember I Am with you and all who are wholeheartedly with ME.
Now then, read the 22nd Chapter. St. Luke, and 54th to 7lst verses, and St. Mark l4, 53rd to 72nd verses. Also see St. Mark l6, 9 to l4th verses, and remember these things and sayings are true, for the Spirit is just as operative today as it was then. Also for your consideration and for your consolation read the 42nd and 43rd Chapters of Isaiah, and also read the book called Wonderful! (It is Wonderful) read 23rd page to 33rd page; then also read MY Message in the Metaphysical News.
In all of them, since March l6, l932 until now read them for yours and for others consideration in the Home; then you all will know I will be Home at My own appointed time and I will come in, in a rightful, righteous and a legitimate Way.
But I want you all to know I am not worrying at all about coming only as the LORD wills, I mean the Spirit; not man's will, but the Will of GOD. But one thing I say you can see the condition of the weather and you can see just a foretaste of what will be this summer if I stay here Personally, there shall be no Summer. I say Woe unto all those that wanted ME out of Sayville. Seashores shall be closed and they shall see and know, as much as they have tried to take My Home and freedom, and they have done it unto CHRIST, and unto themselves, and they must reap what they sow. See St. Matthew. Also you will find it is written, you had just as well to have a millstone hanged about your neck and be cast in the Sea as to offend the least one of these My little ones. Note carefully Matt. l5th Chapter, verses l to 2l verses, but notice the 27th verse of the same Chapter, then you can see Evangelically it is true, great woe unto all that have planned against ME.
But I say as I said, all can be even as I Am, for this leaves ME Well, Health, Joyful, Peaceful, Lively, Loving, Successful, Prosperous and Happy in Spirit, Body and Mind. But they must live Evangelical and be true in all things.
Respectfully and Sincere, I remain
REV. M. J. DIVINE
P. S. Now then I know you understand what I mean about other bodies and other names, the same as you know the same Spirit, Same Mind, the Same One has been coming all the time in different bodies.
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Then took they him, and led him, and brought him into the high priest's house. And Peter followed afar off.
And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them.
But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him.
And he denied him, saying Woman, I know him not. And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not.
And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilean.
And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew.
And the LORD turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the LORD, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.
And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.
And the men that held Jesus mocked him, and smoke him.
And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face, and asked him saying, Prophesy, who is it that smote thee?
And many other things blasphemously spake they against him..
And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people and the chief priests and the scribes came together, and led him to their council, saying,
Art thou the CHRIST? Tell us. And he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe:
And if I also ask you, ye will not answer me, nor let Me go.
Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of GOD.
Then said they all, Art thou then the Son of GOD? And he said unto them, Ye, say that I am.
And they said, What need we any further witness? For we ourselves have heard of his own mouth.
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'The people in the world they don't know the LORD,
The people in the world they don't know the LORD
The people in the world they don't know the LORD,
For HE will not do what they said do.
The people want the LORD to be a money beggar,
The people want the LORD to be a money beggar,
The people want the LORD to be a money beggar,
For the love of money is the root of evil,
For the love of Money is the root of evil,
For the love of money is the root of evil,
And HE will not do what they said do.'
'I AM the One, I AM the One,
I came treading the winepress all alone;
I AM the One, I AM the One,
I came treading the winepress all alone.
All were wrong, do you not see?
I came treading the winepress all alone,
I AM the One, I AM the One,
I came treading the winepress all alone.
Do not doubt, and do not fear,
I came treading the winepress all alone,
For I came to dry up all your tears,
I came treading the winepress all alone.
I said, All the way from Bozrah I came,
I came treading the winepress all alone,
I AM the One, I AM the One,
I came treading the winepress all alone.'
'All Hail My Loving FATHER,
All Hail, my loving FATHER,
All Hail, my Loving FATHER,
All Hail, All Hail, All Hail.,
I know You're GOD ALMIGHTY
I know You're GOD ALMIGHTY
I know You're GOD ALMIGHTY
All Hail, All Hail, All Hail!'
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And they led Jesus away to the high priest: and with him were assembled all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes.
And Peter followed him afar off, even into the palace of the high priest: and he sat with the servants, and warmed himself at the fire.
And the chief priests and all the council sought for witness against Jesus to put him to death: and found none. For many bare false witness against him, but their witness agreed not together.
And there arose certain, and bare false witness against him, saying, We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands. But neither so did their witness agree together.
And the high priest stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus, saying, Answer est thou nothing? What is it which these witness against thee
But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?
And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.
Then the high priest rent his clothes, and saith, What need we any further witnesses? Ye have heard the blasphemy: what think ye? And they all condemned him to be guilty of death.
And some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to buffet him, and to say unto him, Prophesy: and the servants did strike him with the palms of their hands.
And as Peter was beneath in the palace, there cometh one of the maids of the high priest:
And when she saw Peter warming him- self, she looked upon him, and said, And thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth.
But he denied, saying, I know not, neither understand I what thou sayest. And he went out into the porch; and the cock crew.
And a maid saw him again, and began to say to them that stood by, This is one of them.
And he denied it again. And a little after, they that stood by said again to Peter, Surely thou art one of them, for though art a Galilean, and thy speech agreeth thereto.
But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak.
And the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept.
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Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven d-v-ls.
And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept.
And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not.
After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked and went into the country.
And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them.
Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.
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