Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1909-09-09

had been crushed.
When Antiochus had come into
power the persecution OF the loyal
Jews became more severe. and the
city OF Jerusalem, and of the land o.
Judah was filled with the cries of
those who refused 70 yield Thus
IL came TO pass more aud more that
the iniduities and the sbominations
Of the heather prevailed.
Mattathias had Just returned TO
Modin from Jerusalem after serving
In hts course and was In deep heavi.
ness because Of what he saw. As his
family gathered about him he gave
way to his grief. exelalmins
Woe Is me, wherefore was I born
to see this misery and shame OF my
people, asd - the holy ciyr Her
temple has become as man with
out glory. Her glorious vessels have
been carried away into captivity. her
infants are slain In the streets. and
her young men with the sword OF the
enemy"
But father spoke up Judas. who
had arisen and was striding up and
down the small room In great agita-
tion. why should we permit such
thingss"
How can II be helped when We are
in the hands of SO powerful a one az
Antiochus" replied the father. with
an air Of utter discourasement. Hath
he not settled a great army In Judah
and have the people which he has
brought in filled Jerusalem. so that
whatever way you turn you are face
To face with n blasphemous and ar
regent Gentle, What nation 10 not
in our midst to strip Judah OF her
glory and lead the Jews astray. The
free woman OF the Jews has become
the slave Of our conquerors And the
Gentiles do daily profane the temple
with their presence Yea, to what end,
therefore. shall We live any longery"
From that day forth Mattathias and
his sons put on sackcloth and mournsd
very sore.
Not long after this. certain officers
Of the Jews came to Modin. the place
where Mattathias and his sons dwelt.
for the purpose OF establishing the
worship OF the heather gods which
the king had caused to be set up
Aud all the people round about the
city were gathered together. and Mat.
tathias and hts sous went out to see
how matters stood. And when the
people saw Mattathiss IN their midst
they withstood the demands of the on
GERS OF the king and would not wor.
ship before tho heather altar when
commanded.
Now when the officers perceived the
way matters stood and knew that
the influence OF Mattathias vas great.
I they took him and hts sons one side
I into the tent Of the chief officer and
spoke many soft and pleasant words.
saying:
Thou art 4 ruler and an honorable
and great man Ia this city. and
/ strengthened with sous and brethren.
Now, therefore. come thou arst. and
/ hll the kings commandment. ike az
all the heathen have done. yea. and
the men of Juda also and such As
remain at Jerusalem: SO shalt thou
and thy house be in the number OF
the kings friends. and thou and thy
children shall be honored with silver
and gold and many rewards"
Mattathias' face was a study when
the servant Of the king was speaking.
and his sons who surrounded him
were uncertain whether the indigna.
tion which he felt within would burst
forth and lead him to do violence 10
L he Ia
fort he controlled himself. and his
voice shook the air as he shouted:
Though all the nations that are
under the kings dominion obey him.
and fall away every man from the re-
ligion Of their fathers. and give con
sent to his commandments; yet will
| and my sons and my brethren walk
IN the covenant Of our fathers. God
forbid that we should forsake the
laws and ordinances. We will not
hearken to the kings words: to 20
from our religion. either on the right
hand or on the left"
Now when he had left speaking
these words. there came one of the
Jews in the sight of all to sacrifice
on the altar which was at Modin. ae.
cording to the kings commandment.
Which thing when Mattathias saw. he
was infiamed with zeal and he trem-
bled violently. so great was his an.
ger Then rushing forward he drew
his sword and slew the man upon the
altar. Which when he had done he
turned himself about and was about
to speak. when his eyes fe-. upon the
kings commissioner who had caused
the people to depart from the true
worship. and leaping from the altar.
he thrust his sword into hts vitals.
and as he lay writhing in death az.
onies upon the ground. he and his
sons tore down the altar
Such a bold deed soon aroused the
city. and while the soldiers were
gathering Mattathias and his sons fed
through the city crying:
-Whosoever is jealous Of the law,
and maintaineth the covenant let him
follow me-"
So be and his sons fed to the noun
tains leaving all which they possessed
behind them in the city