The Brinkley argus., 1909-11-05

much to him to die. But how IS it with us who have wives and children and much goods fin the city. We may outwardly yield to these Gentiles ana still be Jews at heart Of what avail if we die?"
 Thus was the city filled with conten- ton among the Jews, a few choosing to remain loyal to Moses law, whlie the great majority outwardly obeyed the mandates of the man from Athens.
 It was during these days that the king of Greece celebrated the anniver- sary of his birth, and the Greeks In Jerusalem, anxious to do honor to their king and to their great god, made great sacrifices and held feasts and commanded that the Jews of the city enter into the festivities, and eat or the meats which had been offered to their god And when the feast of Bac- chus was kept the Jews were com pelled to go in the procession carrying ivy and garlands before the great i'm age. Moreover there went out the decree to the neighboring cities against the Jews that they should ob- serve the same fashions and be par takers of their sacrifices. And whoso would not conform themselves to the manners of the Gentiles should be put to death
 And that terror might seize upon the hearts of the people who dared to l disobey, two women who had circum- cised their babes after the law and command of Moses, were taken and having been openly led about the city with their babes in their arms, they were taken to the highest point on the wall and cast upon the jagged rocks in the abyss below. And oth- CTS, that had run together in the caves nearby to keep the Sabbath day secretly. being discovered, were all burned together, because they feared to dishonor God and violate his holy day.
 And Eleazar who had done much to encourage the people to remain loyal to Gods law, was not to escape, for he was seized and made to open his mouth into which swine flesh was thrust with the command to eat for his good health But he, choosing rather to die gloriously than to live, stained with such abomination, spit it forth.
 Then did those who had charge o' the wicked feast, and who had coms to know the old man and understand his great influence with his people, be ing anxious to win him over to their customs, that it might encourage oth- CTS to do likewise, took him one side and said:
 What profit if you should die. Let us tell thee how thou canst save thy self and still remain true to thy law. Bring thy own flesh such as is lawful for thee to use. and make as though thou didst eat of the meat of the sac rifice commanded by the king, but eat that which thou myself hath provided Then all will be we'll"
 "It becometh not my age in any wise to dissemble," he declared with dig nifty, flor by so doing many persons might think that Eleazar being four score years old and ten, were gone
 
 through mine hypocrisy, and desire to live a little time, should be deceived by me, and get stain to mine old age. and make it abominable. For though for the present time I should be delivered from the punishment of men; yet should not escape the hand of the Almighty, neither alive or dead. ! ffyI1U ho nciy 10 1 this life. l will show myself such an one as mine age requireth, and leave 1 a notable example to such as be young, to die willingly and courage ously for the honorable and holy laws"
 And having thus spoken to those who would have saved him if he would have but dissembled, they were greatly inhamed against him and dragged him of to the torment which was made as awful as possible, his tongue being first cut out and then all his extremities cut off and last of all he was cast upon a red-hot pan. And when he was about to give up the ghost, he cried
 Tt is manifest unto the Lord. that hath the holy knowledge, that where as l might have been delivered from death, I now endure sore pain in my body, but in soul I am well content to suffer these things, for fear him. "
 Thus did Eleazar die, leaving his death for an example of noble cour- age, and memorial of virtue, not only unto young men, but unto all his nation.