"God forbid! Our holy religion teaches us 'Know therefore this day, and
reflect in thy heart that the Lord he is God, in the heavens above and
on the earth beneath there is none else.' Never will we exchange our God
for any other, neither will He exchange us for any other nation, for as
it is written, 'Thou hast this day acknowledged the Lord,' so is it also
written, 'And the Lord hath acknowledged thee this day, that thou art
unto him a peculiar people!'"
Still the tyrant spoke smoothly, and with kind words.
"Thou art young," he said; "thou hast seen but little of the pleasures
and joys of life, not as much as has fallen to the portion of thy
brethren. Do as I wish thee and thy future shall be bright and happy."
"The Lord will reign forever and ever," said the lad; "thy nation and
thy kingdom will be destroyed; thou art here to-day, to-morrow in the
grave; to-day elevated, to-morrow lowly; but the most Holy One endures
forever."
"See," continued the other, "thy brothers lie slain before thee; their
fate will be thine if thou refusest to do as I desire. See, I will cast
my ring to the ground, stoop thou and pick it up; that I will consider
allegiance to my gods."
"Thinkest thou that I fear thy threats?" returned the unterrified lad;
"why should I fear a human being more than the great God, the King of
kings?"
"Where and what is thy God?" asked the oppressor. "Is there a God in the
world?"
"Can there be a world without a Creator?" replied the youth. "Of thy
gods 'tis said, 'mouths they have, but speak not.' Of our God the
Psalmist says, 'By the word of the Lord were the heavens made.' Thy gods
have 'eyes but see not,' but 'the eyes of the Lord run to and fro in the
whole earth!' Thy gods have 'ears but hear not,' but of our God 'tis
written, 'The Lord hearkened and heard.' Of thy gods 'tis said, 'a nose
they have but smell not,' while our God 'smelled the sweet savor.'
'Hands have thy gods but they touch not,' while our God says, 'My hand
hath also founded the earth.' Of thy gods 'tis written, 'feet they have
but walk not,' while Zachariah tells us of our God, 'His feet will stand
that day upon the mount of Olives.'"