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he told him what intelligence was given of the money, and declared wherefore he came, and asked if these things were so indeed. Then the high priest told him that there was such money laid up for the relief of widows and fatherless children: and that some of it belonged to Hircanus son of Tobias, a man of great dignity, and not as that wicked Simon had misinformed: the sum whereof in all was four hundred talents of silver, and two hundred of gold: and that it was altogether impossible that such wrongs should be done unto them, that had committed it to the holiness of the place, and to the majesty and inviolable sanctity of the temple, honoured over all the world.

Ry. Open. p. cxxiii.

WEDNESDAY.

Of the 2nd Book of Maccabees.

Lesson I. Chap. iii.

NEVERTHELESS Heliodorus executed that which was decreed. Now as he was there present himself with his guard about the treasury, the LORD of spirits, and the Prince of all power caused a great apparition, so that all that presumed to come in with him were astonished at the power of GOD, and fainted, and were afraid. For there appeared unto them an horse with a terrible rider upon him, and adorned with a very fair covering, and he ran fiercely, and smote at Heliodorus with his forefeet, and it seemed that he that sat upon the horse had complete harness of gold.

Ry. The sun shone. p. cxxii.

Lesson II.

sore

MOREOVER two other young men

appeared before him, notable in strength, excellent in beauty, and comely in apparel, who stood by him on either side, and scourged him continually, and gave him many sore stripes. And Heliodorus fell suddenly unto the ground, and was compassed with great darkness: but they that were

with him took him up, and put him into a litter. Thus him, that lately came with a great train and with all his guard into the said treasury, they carried out, being unable to help himself with his weapons: and manifestly they acknowledged the power of Gop: for he by the hand of God was cast down, and lay speechless without all hope of life.

Ry. They decked. p. cxxii.

Lesson III.

SO the high priest, suspecting lest

the king should misconceive that some treachery had been done to Heliodorus by the Jews, offered a sacrifice for the health of the man. Now as the high priest was making an atonement, the same young men in the same clothing appeared and stood beside Heliodorus, saying, Give Onias the high priest great thanks, insomuch as for his sake the LORD hath granted thee life and seeing that thou hast been scourged from heaven, declare unto all men the mighty power of God. And when they had spoken these words, they appeared no more. Ry. They praised. p. cxxii.

THURSDAY.

If this week be the last in October, on the three following days are read the Lessons of the 5th Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. And if, the ensuing week being the last, those lessons cannot be read on their proper days (on account of any occurrent Festival) they are read on the next days following, according to the order of the history, and the martyrdom of the Maccabees.

Of the 2nd Book of Maccabees.

Lesson I. Chap. iv. THIS Simon now, of whom we

spake afore, having been a bewrayer of the money, and of his country, slandered Onias, as if he had terrified Heliodorus, and been the worker of these evils. Thus was he bold to call him a traitor, that had deserved well

of the city, and tendered his own nation, and was so zealous of the laws. But when their hatred went so far, that by one of Simon's faction murders were committted, Onias seeing the danger of this contention, and that Apollonius, as being the governor of Celosyria and Phenice, did rage, and increase Simon's malice, he went to the king, not to be an accuser of his countrymen, but seeking the good of all, both publick and private.

Ry. The LORD open. p. cxx.

Lesson II.

FOR he saw that it was impossible

that the state should continue quiet, and Simon leave his folly, unless the king did look thereunto. But after the death of Seleucus, when Antiochus, called Epiphanes, took the kingdom, Jason the brother of Onias laboured underhand to be high priest; promising unto the king by intercession three hundred and threescore talents of silver, and of another revenue eighty talents: beside this, he promised to assign an hundred and fifty more, if he might have licence to set him up a place for exercise, and for the training up of youth in the fashions of the heathen, and to write them of Jerusalem by the name of Antiochians.

Ry. The LORD hear. p. cxx.

Lesson III.

WHICH when the king had granted and he had gotten into his hand the rule, he forthwith brought his own nation to the Greekish fashion. And the royal privileges granted of special favour to the Jews by the means of John the father of Eupo

lemus, who went ambassador to Rome for amity and aid, he took away; and putting down the governments which were according to the law, he brought up new customs against the law.

Ry. Our enemies. p. cxxi.

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NOW when there was gone forth a

false rumour, as though Antiochus had been dead, Jason took at the least a thousand men, and suddenly made an assault upon the city; and they that were upon the walls being put back, and the city at length taken, Menelaus fled into the castle: but Jason slew his own citizens without mercy, not considering that to get the day of them of his own nation would be a most unhappy day for him; but thinking they had been his enemies, and not his countrymen, whom he conquered. Howbeit for all this he obtained not the principality, but at

the last received shame for the reward of his treason, and fled again into the country of the Ammonites.

Ry. The heathen. p. cxxi.

Lesson III.

IN the end therefore he had an un

happy return, being accused before Aretas the king of the Arabians, fleeing from city to city, pursued of all men, hated as a forsaker of the laws, and being had in abomination as an open enemy of his country and countrymen, he was cast out into

Egypt. Thus he that had driven | conform themselves to the manners of many out of their country perished in the Gentiles should be put to death. a strange land, retiring to the Lace- Then might a man have seen the demonians, and thinking there to find present misery. succour by reason of his kindred: and he that had cast out many unburied had none to mourn for him, nor any solemn funerals at all, nor sepulchre

with his fathers.

Ry. Thine, O LORD. p. cxxii.

SATURDAY.

Of the 2nd Book of Maccabees.

Lesson I. Chap. vi.

NOT long after this the king sent an old man of Athens to compel the Jews to depart from the laws of their fathers, and not to live after the laws of GOD and to pollute also the temple in Jerusalem, and to call it the temple of Jupiter Olympius; and that in Garizim, of Jupiter the Defender of strangers, as they did desire that dwelt in the place. The coming in of this mischief was sore and grievous to the people: for the temple was filled with riot and revelling by the Gentiles, who dallied with harlots, and had to do with women within the circuit of the holy places, and besides that brought in things that were not lawful.

Ry. The sun shone. p. cxxii.

Lesson II.

Ry. They decked. p. cxxii.
Lesson III.

FOR there were two women brought,

who had circumcised their children; whom when they had openly led round about the city, the babes hanging at their breasts, they cast them down headlong from the wall. And others, that had run together into

caves near by, to keep the sabbath day secretly, being discovered to Philip, were all burnt together, because they made a conscience to help themselves for the honour of the most sacred day. Now I beseech those that read this book, that they be not discouraged for these calamities, but that they judge those punishments not to be for destruction, but for a chastening of

our nation.

Ry. They praised. p. cxxii.

FIFTH SUNDAY IN OCTOBER.

FIRST NOCTURN.

Of the 2nd Book of Maccabees.
Lesson I. Chap. vi.

ELEAZAR, one of the principal

scribes, an aged man, and of a well favoured countenance, was con

THE altar also was filled with pro-strained to open his mouth, and to

fane things, which the law forbiddeth. Neither was it lawful for a man to keep sabbath days or ancient feasts, or to profess himself at all to be a Jew. And in the day of the king's birth every month they were brought by bitter constraint to eat of the sacrifices: and when the feast of Bacchus was kept, the Jews were compelled to go in procession to Bacchus, carrying ivy. Moreover there went out a decree to the neighbour cities of the heathen, by the suggestion of Ptolemee, against the Jews, that they should observe the same fashions, and be partakers of their sacrifices: and whoso would not

eat swine's flesh. But he, choosing rather to die gloriously, than to live stained with such an abomination, spit it forth, and came of his own accord to the torment, as it behoved them to come, that are resolute to stand out against such things, as are not lawful for love of life to be tasted. But they that had the charge of that wicked feast, for the old acquaintance they had with the man, taking him aside, besought him to bring flesh of his own provision, such as was lawful for him to use, and make as if he did eat of the flesh taken from the sacrifice commanded by the king: that in so doing he might be delivered from

death, and for the old friendship with | forthwith being heated, he commanded them find favour.

Ry. The LORD open. p. cxx.

Lesson II.

BUT he began to consider discreetly,

and as became his age, and the excellency of his ancient years, and the honour of his grey head, whereunto he was come, and his most honest education from a child, or rather the holy law made and given by GoD: therefore he answered accordingly, and willed them straightways to send him to the grave. For it becometh not our age, said he, in any wise to dissemble, whereby many young persons might think that Eleazar, being fourscore years old and ten, were now gone to a strange religion; and so they through mine hypocrisy, and desire to live a little time and a moment longer, should be deceived by me, and I get a stain to mine old age, and make it abominable. For though for the present time I should be delivered from the punishment of men: yet should I not escape the hand of the Almighty neither alive, nor dead. Wherefore now, manfully changing this life, I will shew myself such an one as mine age requireth, and leave a notable example to such as be young to die willingly and courageously for the honourable and holy laws. And when he had said these words, immediately he went to the torment.

Ry. The LORD hear. p. cxx.

Lesson III. Chap. vii.

IT came to pass also, that seven

brethren with their mother were taken, and compelled by the king against the law to taste swine's flesh, and were tormented with scourges and whips. But one of them that spake first said thus, What wouldest thou ask or learn of us? we are ready to die, rather than to transgress the laws of our fathers. Then the king, being in a rage, commanded pans and caldrons to be made hot: which

to cut out the tongue of him that spake first, and to cut off the utmost part of his body, the rest of his brethren and his mother looking on. Now when he was thus maimed in all

his members, he commanded him being yet alive to be brought to the fire, and to be fried in the pan and as the vapour of the pan was for a good space dispersed, they exhorted one another with the mother to die manfully Ry. Our enemies. p. cxxi.

SECOND NOCTURN.

A Sermon of S. Gregory Nazianzen. Lesson IV.

20th Oration on the Maccabees. LEAZAR was the first-fruits of those who suffered before CHRIST in this world, as Stephen after CHRIST. He, a priest and an old man, hoary in his head, and hoary in his prudence, was aforetime wont to sacrifice and to pray for the people; but now he offered himself up, a wholly perfect oblation to GoD, in atonement for all the people, the fortunate beginning of the conflict, to which he encouraged them alike by speech and silence. And he also offered his seven sons, the fruits of his training, as a sacrifice, living, holy, and acceptable to GOD, more splendid, and more pure, than any legal oblation. For we may most rightly and fitly refer to the father the good deeds of the sons.

Ry. Fear ye not. p. cxxi.
Lesson V.

THERE also those noble and high

spirited boys, gallant offspring of a noble mother, those glorious champions of truth, too lofty for the days of Antiochus, true disciples of the Mosaic Law, most observant of the rites of their fathers, their number being that which was held in veneration by the Hebrews, and sacred on account of the mystery of the sabbath rest, breathing one desire, looking to one goal, acknowledging as the one

way to life, the endurance of death for the cause of GOD: brothers no less in soul than in body, emulous only in their common death; and, O wonderful history! eager for torments as for treasures, facing perils for their mistress, the Law: perils, which they not only did not dread, when close at hand, but sought when left out, and fearing nothing but this, lest the tyrant should cease his tortures, lest any among them should be deprived of his crown, and brothers should be unwillingly separated the one from the other: lest, snatched from the tortures of their conflict, they should conquer in an unhappy victory.

Ry. The heathen. p. cxxi.

Lesson VI.

THERE was their brave and noble mother, loving her children, and at the same time loving God, whose maternal feelings were lacerated beyond the ordinary course of nature. For she pitied not her sons, who were in torments, but was harassed by fear, lest they should shrink from them, and instead of regretting those who had departed out of this life, she was instant in prayer that the rest should be joined to them: for she was more anxious for her living sons, than for the dead. For these were as yet in a doubtful conflict; the close of life had come safely to the others, and had already joined them to GOD, but for these she was anxious as to what way GOD should receive them. O manly spirit in a woman's body! O marvellous growth of a lofty spirit!

Ry. Thine, O LORD. p. cxxii.
Ry. vii. The sun. p. cxxii.
Ry. viii. Two Seraphim. p. xxviii.
MONDAY.

Of the 2nd Book of Maccabees.

Lesson I. Chap. vii. So when the first was dead after this manner, they brought the second to make him a mocking stock: and when they had pulled off the skin of his head with the hair, they

asked him, Wilt thou eat, before thou be punished throughout every member of thy body? But he answered in his own language, and said, No. Wherefore he also received the next torment in order, as the former did. And when he was at the last gasp, he said, Thou like a fury takest us out of this present life, but the King of the world shall raise us up, who have died for his laws, unto everlasting life. After him was the third made a mocking stock: and when he was required, he put out his tongue, and that right soon, holding forth his hands manfully, and said courageously, These I had from heaven; and for his laws I despise them; and from him I hope to receive them again. Insomuch that the king, and they that were with him, marvelled at the young man's courage, for for that he nothing regarded the pains. Ry. Judas said. p. cxxii.

Lesson II.

NOW when this man was dead also,

they tormented and mangled the fourth in like manner. So when he was ready to die he said thus, It is good, being put to death by men, to look for hope from GOD to be raised up again by him: as for thee, thou shalt have no resurrection to life. Afterward they brought the fifth also, and mangled him. Then looked he unto the king, and said, Thou hast power over men, thou art corruptible, thou doest what thou wilt; yet think not that our nation is forsaken of God; but abide a while, and behold his great power, how he will torment thee and thy seed. After him also they brought the sixth, who being ready to die said, Be not deceived without cause: for we suffer these things for ourselves, having sinned against our GOD: therefore marvellous But think things are done unto us. not thou, that takest in hand to strive against GoD, that thou shalt escape unpunished.

Ry. They decked. p. cxxii.

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