Original - The Preterist Archive

214 NAOMI.
to the death of Theophilus ;
but the rest were too much in
Javan's interest, and also too much exasperated against the
Nazareues, to feel any inclination to forego tLoir cruel purpose
out of regard to Isaac.
The days passed rapidly away, and the period appointed for
the decision of the fate of Theophilus was almost expired. The
morrow would be the eventful day and the inmates of Zadok's
;
house were absorbed in anxiety and grief. Zadok had visited
his nephew constantly, and spent hours in long and patient
argument with him, but all in vain. Each evening he returned
harassed and distressed ;
and again each day he set forth with
renewed hopes of success in his work of mercy. Amaziah would
have persuaded him to forbear his visits, for he knew that his
faithful and beloved son would regret that his remaining days
should thus be interrupted, and his own pious meditations thus
broken in upon. He did not fear that Theophilus would be influenced
in the least degree by all that Zadok might urge upon
him, for he knew that his faith was strong, and was founded on
the Rock of Ages and therefore all his ;
hopes for the life of his
son had expired from the moment that he heard the conditions
which had been proposed to him. Yet he still
wept and prayed
before the Lord, with his afflicted wife and family " ;
for he said,
Who can tell whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that
my son may live " ? It was from God, and not from man, that
he ventured to look for aid ;
and it was only in accordance with
his will that he wished to obtain it. Better far, he knew it
would be, that his only son should " depart and be with the
Lord," than that by sinfully denying Him he should obtain a
prolongation of his earthly life, and lose the life eternal. Judith
had grace and strength vouchsafed to her to join in all her pious
and high-minded husband's feelings; but Claudia, the poor
heart-broken Claudia, was tossed to and fro by contending and
most afflicting emotions. Sorely was she tempted and tried,
and her faith almost gave way. Could it be true religion, she
thought, which thus brought its professors into such straits and
sorrows ? Could it be true religion that demanded the sacrifice
of one so good, so valuable as Theophilus, and led him to choose
shame and death, and to leave those whose happiness was bound
up in him to hopeless misery and desolation ?
Why should he
not speak the word, and return to bless her with his presence ?
The Father Almighty had been the author of Judaism, and why
should Theophilus die an ignominious death, rather than return
to the religion in which he had been brought up
? Weak and
inefficient as these reasonings were, they had power to agitate