13 bringing forth the entire number of her sons to an immortal life, she rather besought and exhorted them to a death in the cause of religion. 14 man. O mother, soldier of God for religion! thou, a female, an aged woman, through perseverance hast vanquished a tyrant; and hast been proved both in deeds and words more powerful than a For when thou wast seized, together with thy children, thou stoodest looking upon Eleazar under torture, and saidst to thy sons in the 15 Hebrew tongue; "O my sons, the contest is a "noble one; to which, seeing that you are called, "for a testimony to your nation, exert yourselves "in it with alacrity in defence of your country's 16" law. For indeed it would be shameful, that "this old man should bravely endure pains for 66 18" religion's sake, but that you, who are younger, 17" should be dismayed at the torments. Remember "that through God you received admission into "the world, and have enjoyed existence. And on "this account you owe the endurance of every suffering for God's sake. For whom also our "father Abraham was ready to sacrifice his son "Isaac, who was to be the father of our nation f: "and Isaac shrank not on seeing the paternal “hand, armed with a knife, descending upon him. 19" And Daniel the Just was cast to the lions: and Ananias, and Azarias, and Misael, were thrown violently into the fiery furnace, and endured it 66 66 e Gr. kai els àbavariav avaἀθανασίαν τίκτουσα [var. lect. ἀνακτίζουσα] τὸν τῶν υἱῶν ἀριθμόν. f Gr. Tòv ¿Ovоnáтopа, a word scarcely to be found except in this book, though a very legi timate compound. g 8 Gr. απεσφενδονίσθησαν, were cast as stones out of a sling. The same figure of speech is found in Scripture, where Abigail says to David, "for God's sake. Do you therefore, having the 20 "same faith towards God, make no complaint. "For it is unreasonable that they who are in"structed in religion should not bear up against "troubles." With these arguments the mother of the seven 21 encouraging each one of her sons, persuaded them to die rather than transgress the command of God: especially as they knew this, that those who 22 die in God's cause really live to God1, as Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the patriarchs. CHAPTER XVII. The praises of the mother continued. b MOREOVER, some of the guards related, that 1 when she herself was about to be seized and put to death, in order that nobody might toucha her person, she threw herself upon the pile. O mo- 2 ther, who with thy seven sons hast overthrown the tyrant's violence, and defeated his wicked devices; and hast demonstrated the nobleness of "the souls of thine enemies "the Lord thy God shall sling out, as out of the mid"dle of a sling." 1 Samuel xxv. 29. h According to the words of our Saviour, « Now that "the dead are raised, even "Moses shewed at the bush, "when he calleth the Lord "the God of Abraham, and "the God of Isaac, and the "God of Jacob. For He is "not a God of the dead, but "of the living; for all live "to Him." Luke xx. 37. a So in the Hecuba of Eu ripides, when Polyxena, the b The author of the pre- 3 Faith! For thou, as a house firmly supported on the pillar of thy children, didst bear without bend4 ing the shock of the tyrant's tortures. Be of good cheer, therefore, O holy-minded mother, having a firm hoped in God of a reward for thy endurance. 5 Not so majestic stands the moon in heaven, surrounded by the stars; as thou, having robed in the light of religion thy seven sons, equal to stars, art become honourable in God's sight, and 6 with them art fixed in heaven. For the generation of thy family was truly from the son of Abraham. 7 Now if it were in my power to pourtray, as in a picture, thy religious story, would not men shudder at beholding the mother of seven children undergoing in the cause of religion various tor8 tures even unto death? And indeed it would be right moreover to inscribe upon the tomb itself these words, which are set down for a memorial 9 to those of our nation: "Here are entombed an "aged priest, and an aged woman, and seven sons, through the violence of a tyrant, who wished to 10" destroy the civil polity of the Hebrews. Who "also have avenged their nation, looking unto "God, and enduring the torments unto death." 66 For in truth the struggle which was made by 11 them was divine. For at that time Virtue di- 12 rected the games, adjudging the victory by endurance, in immortality, in eternal life. And the 13 first combatantk was Eleazar: and the mother of the seven children was in the struggle: and the brothers were combatants. Their antagonist was, 14 the tyrant; and the spectators were, the world and the human race. And religion was declared 15 conqueror, and she crowned her own champions. Who did not admire the champions of divine 16 legislation? Who were not astonished at them? The tyrant himself1, at all events, and all his council, most exceedingly wondered at their patient endurance. Through which also they now 17 are standing beside the throne of God, and are leading a life of blessedness. For Moses truly 18 has said, "and all his saints are in thy hand." They, therefore, having been sanctified through 19 God, have been honoured not only with this honour, but also with the additional praise that through their exertions the enemy did not overcome our nation: and that the tyrant was pu- 20 nished, and the country was cleansed from sin; they having become as it were a devoted offering" for the sin of the nation. And through the blood 21 of those pious men, and their propitiatory death, i Gr. Ἠθλοθέτει γὰρ τότε ἀρετὴ δι ̓ ὑπομονῆς δοκιμάζουσα τὸ νίκος ἐν ἀφθαρσίᾳ ἐν ζωῇ πολυχρονίῳ. The entire imagery is taken from the public games of Greece. k So Gregory Nazianzen expresses himself on the sub ject: προηγωνίσατο πατὴρ, ἐπαγωνιοῦνται παῖδες. Orat. XXII. 1 See above, ch. i. 11. m At Deuter. xxxiii. 3. n Gr. ἀντίψυχον. Compare ch. i. 11, and vi. 24; with the note there. Divine Providence effectually saved Israel, which before was overwhelmed with evils. 22 For the tyrant Antiochus, beholding the bravery of their virtue, and their patience under torments, proclaimed their constancy by a herald, for 23 an example to his own soldiers. And he kept them in his service as noble and brave men, both for pitched battle and for siege of cities: and by their aid he routed and vanquished all his enemies. CHAPTER XVIII. The victorious result of their constancy. The mother's speech to her children. 1 O YE Israelites, descendants of the seed of Abraham, obey this law, and in every way ob2 serve religion. Knowing that religious Principle is lord over the passions: and not only over troubles from within, but likewise over those which are from without. 3 By which means those youths, exposing their lives to sufferings for religion, not only were admired by men, but also were deemed worthy of a 4 divine inheritance. And through them the nation obtained peace; and having reestablished in the country the wholesome observance of the laws, it 5 effectually dislodged its enemies. And the tyrant Antiochus was both punished on earth, and now 6 after his death is still enduring punishment. For, when he could by no means prevail so far as to compel the inhabitants of Jerusalem to adopt Gentile customs, and to live in a manner strange to 7 the usages of their country: he forthwith de a Gr. ἀλλοφυλῆσαι. b Compare book II. ch. i. 44. T |