Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1909-10-28

ana much goods IN the city. We may
outwardly yield to these Gcntiles and
still b. Jews at heart. OF what avail
II we dIeT-
Thus was TIE city filled with eon,en-
ton among the Jews. few choosing
TO remain loyal 10 Moses law. while
the great majority outwardiy obsyed
the mandates OF the man from Athens.
II 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 Of
the meats which had been offered to
their god. And when the feast OF Bac-
chus was kept the Jews were COM
PEELED 10 go In the procession carrying
Ivy and Eariands before the great I'M
age. Moreover there went out the
decree to the neixhborinx cities
against the Jews that they should ob-
serve the same fashions and be par
/ takers OF their sacrifices And whose
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
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 9TH
ers. 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 Eieazar. who had done much to
encourage the people TO remain loyal
to Gods law. vas 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 1,
forth.
Then did those who had charge Of
the wicked feast. and who had come
to know the old man and understand
his great influence with his people. be.
ing anxious to win him over to their
customs. that II might encourage 9th.
ers to do likewise. took him one side
and said:
What profit II you should die lie;
us tell thee how thou eanst 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.
rifiee commanded by the king. but eat
that which thou thyself hath provided
Then all will be we'll"
1t becometh not my age In any wise
to dissemble.- he declared with dig
nifty. for by 50 doing many persons
might think that Eieazar being four
score years old and ten. we're gone
10 a strange religion. and so they
through mine hypocrisy. and desire 70
live a little time. should be deceived
by me. and get a stain to mine old
age. and make Il abominable For
though for the present time should
be delivered from the punishment OF
men. yet should not escape the hand
Of the Almighty. neither alive or dead
Wherefore now. manfully changing
this life. I will show myself such an
one as mine age requireth. and leave
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 II 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 ali
HIS extremities cut OF and last OF all
he was cast upon n red-hot pan. And
when he was about to give up the
ghost. he cried:
1T Is manifest unto the Lord. thai
hath the holy knowledge. that where
as might have been delivered from
death, now endure sore pain in my
body. but in soul | am well content
to suffer these things. for fear him
Thus did Eieazar die. leaving his
death for an example of a noble eour
age, and a memorial of virtue, not
only unto young men. but unto all hi:
nation.