Page:Traditions of Palestine (microform) (IA traditionsofpale00martrich).pdf/128

 “Thinkest thou that our faith shall be known so far?” inquired one by Paltiel’s side; but ere he could reply, the sons of Hanoch entered, and told what had been done in the temple. When they who listened knew how many of the servants of the sanctuary were Christians, they rejoiced. It seemed to them that the sacrifices became more holy when offered by hands that had broken bread in remembrance of Christ; and that the smoke of the censer must ascend more acceptably when the name of the Holy One was breathed over it. Some trusted that, for the sake of these believers, the temple might be spared, even as the city of the plain would have been saved if but ten righteous men had been found within it. Yet was there care among some of the more thoughtful of the assembly, who feared what their rulers might do to exclude from the temple courts such as had avowed themselves Nazarenes, and to afflict such as had converted them to the faith of Christ. Martha looked on her brother Lazarus and sighed; for she remembered how the chief priests had sought his life together with the Prophet’s; but her sister reproved her fears, saying that