but he would take nothing as meed
for his wonderful power, or his mighty preaching;
and said to the king; 'We have forsaken our possessions
and have abandoned our own, why should we take those of another man?'
This was thus accomplished, and thereafter the true faith
ever continued in that nation,
to the praise of the Saviour who liveth ever in eternity. Amen.
XXV.
AUGUST I. THE MACCABEES.
§ I. I Macc. i. 1-64; 2 Macc. vi. 18-vii. 42.
After that Alexander the terrible king
divided his kingdom amongst his several favorites
on his decease, and they took to the kingdom,
each in his portion, then grew up many evils
wide-spread on the earth, because of these kings' battles.
One of these kings there was of them all the wickedest,
irreverent and proud, named Antiochus,
who fought in Egypt and put to flight the king;
and marched afterwards to Jerusalem with a great army,
and despoiled God's temple of gold and silver,
and took many gold-hoards away with him,
and the holy treasure-vessels, and the great altar,
and slew many of the people in the town,
and spake haughtily, trusting in his might.
Again after some time, the king sent,
by a written message, that all men should bow down
to his heathendom and to his ordinances;
