The log cabin Democrat., 1909-11-13

| expedition was ready to start.
 But the position of the king is in the midst of his army" eXpostulated his attendant.
 But today we will drive at it's head and see who is this God who would ] fight for the Jews" was the boastful reply, and giving command to his l charioteer to drive without ceasing, | he turned and beckoned his generals 1 and army to follow
 I With a rush and a roar the vast l cavalcade of chariots and horsemen 1 swept onward. But suddenly there was flash from the clear blue over 1 head and above the rattle and tumult of the onrushing army a shriek arose from the chariot of the king, and he was seen to clasp both his Sands to his body while his face grew ashen with awful and sudden pain.
 Quickly his chariot was halted, and in great confusion and wonder the rest of the army drew up. Attendants crowded around the king and sought to relieve his suffer ings. Awed and questioning looks on their faces showed that they had seen the flash, and whispering among themselves they began to say that the God of the Jews had reached forth and smitten their king
 In spite of his pain Antiochus noted the looks and angrily demanded to know what they were saying.
 Again curses upon the God of the Jews" he shrieked in response to their abashed confession. Press for ward! Why do you stop? Shall the king who can command the seas and level the mountains hesitate? Think you there is god that dare lay finger upon Antiochus, much less the God of the despised Jew? This is naught but a passing pain" and gripping the edge of the chariot rim before him and biting his lips till the blood came, in desperation he sought to withstand the pain with which he was torment ed And when the suffering would become unbearable he would break forth in awful cursings and command his charioteer to push his horses still
 
 faster.
 Such was the desperate determina- tion of the man. But the endurance oI the most strong -willed and wicked has it's limitations, and suddenly as the chariot jolted violently over an un- usually rough piece of ground, An tiochus toppled over with an unearth- ly shriek of pain.
 Instantly the chariot was halted and the army again thrown into confusion Fear filled every heart for they had seen the flash from the heavens, and the news that the king had been stricken spread like wild fire from lip to lip.
 Attendants lowered over the king and sought to relieve his pain. A lit ter was quickly improvised and he was placed thereon. Thus carried the army proceeded slowly. but as the days passed and his case grew worse, so that worms rose up out of his body and the filthiness of his smell was noisome to all who came near, he lost his proud and blasphemous spirit and thought to bargain with this God of the Jews, whom he now knew had stricken him.
 Tt is meet to be subject unto God, ' he exclaimed one day. "A man that is mortal should not proudly think of himself, as if he were God. If this God of the Jews will withdraw his hand from me, the holy city of Jeru- salem shall be set at liberty and her inhabitants will l make as equals with the citizens of Athens. And l will garnish the temple with goodly gifts, and restore all the holy vessels that have been removed. Yea, and the sacrifices shall be continued at my ex- pense, and more, I myself will be- come a Jew and go through all the world proclaiming the power of God.
 But as the days went on there came no cessation of his pain. Rather, in deed, did he grow worse. So he di- rected his secretary to write to the Jews at Jerusalem after this manner: "Antiochus, king and governor, to the good Jews, his citizens, wisheth much JOY, HedllH anu piOspeli'S' II ye and your children fare well, and your affairs be to your contentment, l give great thanks to God, having my hope in heaven
 Antiochus paused in his dictation,
 Surely" he exclaimed to his sec retary. this will please the Jews, and they will plead with their God to send relief to me. Write more." he com manded:
 As for me, I was weak, or else l would have remembered kindly your honor and good will l pray, there fore. and request you to remember the benefits that I have done unto you generally, and in special and that every man will still be faithful to me and beseech your God that he with draw the hand that has stricken me"
 Day after day as he grew no better, but rather worse, did he inquire of his attendants:
 Think you not that the God of the Jews will hear and send relief"