Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/406

 the commandment  of  the  law  which  was  given  us  by  Moses.” Then, turning  to  the  king:  “Thou”,  said  he,  “thou  that  hast been the  author  of  all  mischief  against  the  Hebrews,  shalt  not escape the  hand  of  God.”  But  the  king,  inflamed  with  rage,  tortured him  most  cruelly  till  he  yielded  up  his  soul. Last of  all the mother  herself  was  put  to  death.

Fortitude. It is  impossible  to  extol  and  admire  sufficiently  the unshaken fortitude  of  the  seven  brothers. It was  comparatively  easy for the  aged  Eleazar  to  give  up  his  life,  for  under  no  circumstances could he  have  had  much  longer  to  live,  and  the  world  could  not  offer him anything  worth  having. But the  Machabean  brothers  were  young, they could  look  forward  to  many  years  of  life,  and  the  world  offered them many  pleasures  and  enjoyments. Nevertheless, they  freely  and valiantly gave  up  their  lives,  refusing  to  be  turned  from  their  allegiance to God,  either  by  flattering  promises  or  horrible  tortures.

The mother's  heroism  is  even  more  to  be  admired.  She  had  most to suffer,  for  in  her  heart  she  suffered  all  her  sons’  tortures. She was, in fact,  an  eightfold  martyr,  for  she  shared  in  the  sufferings  of  each of her  sons,  and  finally  offered  up  her  own  life. In truth,  the  courage of the  most  valiant  of  soldiers  cannot  be  compared  with  the  heroism of this  woman!

What gives  fortitude? What  made  this  mother  and  her  sons  so heroically  resolved  to  give  up  their  lives  for  God’s  sake? What enabled them to  endure  such  horrible  tortures?

1. Their  firm  faith  in  God  and  His  reward. They believed  and confessed that

a) God  is  the  Almighty  Lord  and  Creator  of  the  world:  “These hands  I have  from  heaven”  — “The  King  of  this  world  will  raise  us up”  — “God  made  all  these  things  out  of  nothing.”

b) That  God  is  just,  rewarding  the  good  and  punishing  the  wicked: 'We  suffer  thus  for  our  sins”  — “Thou,  O most  wicked  of  men,  shalt not  escape  the  judgment  of  Almighty  God”  — “Receive  death,  that  in that  mercy  I may  receive  thee  again.”

c) That  there  is  an  eternal  life,  a resurrection  of  the  body,  and  a meeting  again  in  another  world:  “The  King  of  this  world  will  raise us  up  in  the  resurrection  of  eternal  life”  — “These  hands  I have  from