Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1909-11-04

But to-day we will drive at its head
and see who is this God who would
fight for the Jews" was the boastful
reply. and giving command to his
charioteer TO drive without ceasing
he turned and beckoned his generals
and army to follow
With a IRISH and a roar the vast
cavalcade a. charIots and horsemen
swept onward. But suddenly there
was fash from the clear blue over
head and above the rattle and tumult
I % the onrushing army a shrek arose
Y from the chariot OF the king. and he
was seen 70 clasp both his hands &c
his body while his face grew ashen
with awful and sudden pain.
I Quickly his chariot was halted. and
I IN great confusion and wonder the
I 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 fash. and whispering among
themselves they began to say that the
I God OF the Jews had reached forth
and smitten their king.
In spite Of hts pain Antiochus noted
the looks and angrily demanded t6
know what they we're saying.
Again curses upon the God Of the
Jews he shrieked in response &c
their abashed confession. Press for
I sNurIf H.. a
king who can command the seas and
level the mountains hesitate7 Think
you there is a god that dare lay finger
Z upon Antiochus. much less the God OF
the despised Jew This il naught but
a passing pain" and gripping the edge
I Of the chariot rim before him and
/ biting his lips TIL the blood came. In
! desperation he sought to withstand
the pain with which he was torment
ed. And when the suffering would
become unhearable he would break
forth in awful cursings and command
his charioteer to push his horses still
I faster
Such was the desperate determine.
/ ton OF the man. But the endurance Of
the most strong willed and wicked has
its limitations. and suddenly as the
chariot iolted violently over an un.
usually rough piece Of ground. An.
tiochus toppled over with an unearth.
ly shrek OF pain.
Instantly the chariot was halted and
the army again thrown into confusion
Fear filled every heart, for they had
seen the fash 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 III.
ter was quickly improvtsed and ha
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.
1t is meet to be subject unto God"
he exclaimed one day. "A man that
Is mortal should not proudly think OF
himself. as II he were God. II this
God OF the Jews viii withdraw his
hand from me. the holy city Of Jeru-
salem shall be set at liberty and her
inhabitants will make as equals with
the citizens Of Athens. And will
garnish the temple with goodIy gifts.
and restore all the holy vessels that
have been removed. Yea. and the
sacrifices shall be continued at my ex.
pense. and more. ! myself will be-
come a Jew and go through all the
world proclaiming the power OF God. e"
But as the days went on there came
no cessation Of his pain. Rather. in
deed. did he grow worse So he d.
rected his secretary to write to the
Jews at Jerusalem after this manner:
"Antioehus. king and governor. to
the good Jews. his citizens. wisheth
much joy. health and prosperity. II
we and your children fare we'll. and
your affairs be to your contentment, I
give great thanks to God. having my
hope in heaven"
Antiochus paused In his dictation.
Surely he exclaimed to his sec
rotary. 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 I
would have remembered kindly your
honor and good will l pray, there
| fore. and request you to remember
the benefits that 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"
! And when relief came not, the old
blasphemous bitterness returned to his
heart, for he had not repented of his
wickedness. but rather sought relief
from the suffering which racked his
| body.
Thus the murderer and blasphemer
having suffered most grievously died
miserable death in a strange land
And Philip. who was brought up with
him, carried away his body and
buried it.
l EOlkS Uhn Sff dOuv IT,