Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1909-09-29

surname WIS Apphus. or these Judas
was the most dsvout and the most
able on the neld Of battle a. was clear
v proved after his fathers death.
and the burden Of the movement for
the deliverancs Of his people rested
upon him. The wisdom Of his IA
theirs choice In naming him as his
successor was thus made manifest =.
But to return to Mattathias. AZ we
said he stood firm against the en-
croachments OF the heather customs
and refused in any way to make al
hances with the heather. and his In
huence was 80 great that he kept
many faithful to the true God. This
proved source Of great annoyance
to their Gentle rulers, and they
determined to either win Mattathias
over or break his power and
refused to yield to the foreign rulers
had been crushed.
When Antiochus bad come inSo
power the persecution Of the loyal
Jews became more severe, and the
city of Jerusalem and Of the land Of
Judah was filled with the cries OF
those who refused to yield. Thus
1t came to pass more and more that
the iniquities and the denominations
OF the heather prevailed.
Mattathias had just returned to
Modin from Jerusalem after serving
In his course and was in deep heavi.
ness because OF what he saw. AS his
family gathered about him he gave
IN hio Ortiz lot
Woe ia me! wherefore was born
to see this misery and shame of my
people, and OF the holy city? Her
temple has become as q man with,
out glory. Her glorious vessels have
been carried away into captivity. her
infants are slain In the streets. and
her young men with the sword OF the
enemy"
But, father" spoke UP Judas. who
had arisen and was sti1ding up and
down the small room In great ag!ta.
ton, why should we permit such
things"
How can 1t be helped when we are
In the hands Of 30 powerful one as
Antiochus?" replied the father, with
an air of utter Encouragement. Hath
he not settled a great army in Judah
and have the people which he has
brought in filled Jerusalem. so that
whatever way you turn you are face
to face with blasphemous and ar
regent Gentle? What nation is not
In our midst to strip Judah of her
glory and lead the Jews astray? The
Tree woman Of the Jews has become
the slave of our conQuerors. And the
Gentiles do daily profane the temple
with their presence. Yea, to what end.
therefore, shall we live any longer ?"
From that day forth Mattathias and
his sons put on sackcloth and mourned
very sore.
Not long after this, certain officers
OF the Jews came to Modin, the place
where Mattathias and his sons dwelt
for the purpose Of establishing the
worship Of the heather gods which
the king had caused to be set up
And all the people round about the
city were gathered together, and Mat
tathias and his sons went out to see
how matters stood. And when the
people saw Mattathias in their midst
they withstood the demands of the Off
GERS or the king and would not wor.
snip before the heather altar when
commanded.
NOW when the officers perceived the
way matters stood and knew that
the influence OF Mattathias was great
they took him and his sons one side
into the tent OF the chief officer and
spoke many soft and pleasant words.
saying:
Thou art ruler and an honorable
and great man In this city. and
strengthened with sons and brethren
Now, therefore, come thou first. and
Ill the kings commandment. like as
all the heather have done, yea. and
the men or Juda also and such as
remain at Jerusalem: so shalt thou
and thy house be in the number of
the kings friends, and thou and thy
children shall be honored with silver
and gold and many rewards"
Mattathias' face was a study when
the servant Of the king was speaking
and his sons who surrounded him
were uncertain whether the indigna.
ton which he felt within would burst
forth and lead him to do violence to
the man or not. With a mighty eff
Tort he controlled himself, and his
voice shook the air as he shouted:
Though all the nations that are
under the kings dominion obey him.
and fail away every man from the re-
lision of their fathers, and give con
sent to his commandments; yet will,
l and my sons and my brethren walk
In the covenant of our fathers. God
forbid that we should forsake the
laws and ordinances. We will no,
hearken to the kings words: to 90