Mexico Missouri message., 1909-11-04

his guard standing near he command
ed that instant preparation be made
for the expedition to Jerusalem.
Il will lead and set the pace" he
commanded later in the day when the
expedition was ready to start.
"But the position of the king Is In
the midst of his army" expostulated
his attendant.
"But to-day 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
charioteer to drive without ceasing,
he turned and beckoned his generals
and army to follow
With a rush and a roar the vast
cavalcade of chariots and horsemen
swept onward. But suddenly there
was a flash from the clear blue over
head and above the rattle and tumult
of the onrushing army a shrek arose
from the chariot of the king, and he
was seen to clasp both his hands 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 a 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 determine
ton of the man. But the endurance of
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 shrek 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.
at 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 make as equals with
the citizens of Athens. And 1 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, 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, health and prosperity. II
|; We and your children fare we'll, and
: your affairs be to your contentment,
Z 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 then God to send
! relief to me- Write more" he com
a manded:
v CAS- for me, / was weak, or else
= would have remembered kindly YOU
q honor and good will. pray, there
g fore, and request you to remember
the benefits that have done unto yol
generally, and in special, and tina
Z evarv man will still be faithful to ms