The Tupelo journal., 1909-09-17

the captain of the forces, and he ac-
cordingly waited two days until the
Sabbath day had come.
"All that has gone before will be
forgiven, if you will but come forth,
do according to the commandment OF
the king, and We shall live" was the
word which the messengers brought
from the captain.
"We will not come FORTH" was the
word which the people returned,
neither will we do. the kings com
mandment, to profane the Sabbath
day"
So the army of the king fell upon
them in battle ON the Sabbath and
slew them with their wives and chill
dren and their cattle, even to the
number of a thousand people.
Now word of this thing was soon
brought to Mattathias and his sons
and he was sore grieyed, and mourned
many days.
IF we all do as our brethren have
done, and fight not for u lives on
the Sabbath day, then will the heath
en- quickly root us off the earth"
| spoke up one OF the boys, Judas by
name, as they sat talking owe the
| sad condition of affairs one day.
YEA, but we also ought to be zeal,
Gus for the law, had we not" argued
another. This is where our strength
must lie with our faithful brethren.
We must be loyal to the law OF
Moses"
True" replied the father search
ing each face before him as he sought
to find a solution for the problem
But there is a zeal on the Sabbath
day which is honorable and doth mag
Nifty the name of the Lord. If there
is any virtue, or any glory in lying
down and being slaughtered like a
lot of helpless cattle, just because it
is the Sabbath, l fail to see or under
stand where it can be-"
AS a result of this conference the
following decree was signed by Malta
thias and his sons and sent to the
faithful wherever they could be
found:
"Whosoever shall come to make
battle with us on the Sabbath day
we will fight against him; neither Will
we die all, as our brethren tina were
murdered. in the secret places"
This message bore fruit in an un'
expected direction, for a few days la
ter there came marching into the
camp of the Maccabees a company OF
Assideans, who were mighty men OF
Israel.
And when Mattathias and his sons
heard the awful stories of the 1niqu1ty
of the land and of the prosecutions
of those who would not forsake the
law of God and worship before the
heather affairs, their spirit was stirred
within them.
See" exclaimed Mattathias, Goo
has placed an army in our hands ano
among them the powerful ASSldeans
Let us prepare at once to go against
our enemies"
This proposal met instant approval
and not many days after what hao
been rather a motley crowd was
very presentable army.
Mattathias realized that the cam
paign must be planned carefully ano
all the advantage which strategy and
quick attack could give must be used
Yea. it is Gods battle" he ex
claimed one day to some who were
fearful. HE will strengthen oul
hands and make our eyes keen and
cur feet swift, so hat we may be
able to overcome the forces OF the
king"
So the warfare ragged, starting from
the country adjacent to where Malta
thias and his sons had first AIKEN ref
uge. Gradually, as victory after VIC
tory gave them added strength, they
extended their operations until at last
they had recovered the land out Of
the hand of the Gentiles and had driv'
en- hack the forces of the king so that
he no longer had rule over judah.
Now it came to pass after all this
hard and long fought wars We're owe
/ that Mattathias, burdened with age
and broken down by his severe ex
~periences. realized that his end was
approaching. and calling his sons te
him, he said:
Now hath pride and rebuke gotten
strength, and the time of destruction
and the wrath of indignation. Now
therefore. my sons, be We Jealous fol
the law. and give your lives for the
covenant of your fathers. Call to re
membrane what acts our fathers die
in their time; so shall ye receive
great honor and an everlasting name
Wherefore, my sons, be We valiant
and show yourselves men IN behall
of the law; for by it shall We Obtain
glory. And behold, l know thai YOU
brother Simon is a man OF counsel
give ear unto him always; he shall DC
a father unto you. But as for Judas
M~accabeus, he hath been mighty ano
strong. even from his youth up; lei
him be your captain, and fight the
battle of the people. Take also unto
you all those that observe the law
and avenge We the wrong of your
people" So Mattathias blessed his
sons, and died and Judas became &C
copied as the leader.
Wondrous Love.
David's piteous wall over the deatf
OF his t%raitorous son, Absalom, touche:
all hearts "Would God | had died fol