Therefore the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD: for men abhorred the offering of the LORD.
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Augustine of Hippo
AD 430
Samuel bore with the wicked sons of Eli, his debased sons whom the people would not bear and who were thereupon accused by divine truth or disciplined by divine wrath; finally he bore with the people themselves in their pride and rejection of God.… Let them read who wish, and who can, the heavenly language. They will find that all the saints have had to tolerate among their own people those who were recognized as servants and friends of God. - "Letter 43"
Lord. People, seeing that the law was not observed, refrained from presenting victims. (Menochius)
They are but too apt to follow the bad example of their teachers. (Haydock)
Hence God punishes the smallest faults of his ministers, with great severity, since they withdraw people from his service, by their scandalous behaviour, and are guilty of a more horrid sacrilege than those who laid violent hands on the Lord of majesty. (St. Bernard, ser. i.) Nothing brings a greater discredit on religion. (Calmet)
