The Young Captives Part 13

The head goldsmith was soon in the presence of the king, and after much deliberation the exact dimensions of the great image were settled upon; and, moreover, it was agreed, that by a certain day it should be completed.

According to the direction of the king, no publicity was given to the measure. Few of the king's confidential friends were apprised of it. In the meantime, no pains were spared by the chief goldsmith to have everything in readiness by the time appointed. Hundreds of the craft were called together to speed the great undertaking; and, even before the time agreed upon, the idol was ready to be set up. Word was sent to the king, and immediately the proclamation was trumpeted far and wide, throughout the length and breadth of the vast empire:

"Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, to all his Princes, Governors, Captains, Judges, Treasurers, Counselors, Sheriffs, and all rulers of his provinces: Ye are hereby commanded to appear on the twenty-third day of the eighth month, at the third hour of the day, in the plain of Dura, within the province of Babylon, to witness the dedication of the great image which I have set up in honor of Bel, the G.o.d of the Chaldeans. Ye are, moreover, hereby commanded, at the hour appointed, to fall down and wors.h.i.+p the golden image. Disobedience will be punished with the utmost rigor. Those who shall refuse to bow and wors.h.i.+p shall in that same hour be taken and thrown into a burning fiery furnace.

"Given under my hand and seal, at the great City of Babylon, on this the fourth day of the seventh month.

"Nebuchadnezzar."

The dedication of the great image now became the chief theme of conversation. In city and village, on hill and in dell, in the palace and cottage, it was the leading subject; and throughout the empire it gave universal satisfaction. The measure for the time being had its desired effect--to establish in the minds of the Chaldeans the conviction that the king was faithful to the G.o.ds.

This proclamation was received by the three Hebrews with profound astonishment and deep regret. For many years now they had enjoyed tranquility and Wors.h.i.+ped the G.o.d of their fathers in calm simplicity; and this was the first time, since they came to Babylon, that they were required to do violence to their conscience by wors.h.i.+ping a false G.o.d.

Daniel, on business of great importance, was sent to Egypt.

The three worthies soon met for the special purpose of deciding upon a course of action to be followed in the approaching emergency. No fearful apprehensions could be read in those countenances. No fainting fear took hold of their spirits. Their eyes sparkled with holy courage, their cheeks flushed with n.o.ble emotions, their forms were unusually erect.

They were fully prepared for the worst.

The opening remarks were from Hananiah.

"Well, brothers, another cloud seems to darken our skies, and to hang threateningly over our heads; but I trust that, as servants of the Host High, we have by this time learned to gaze upon such things without terror or alarm. We are now a.s.sembled together to take a calm, sober look at the thing as it really is, and decide on our future course. We are surely much indebted to the king. For a number of years, we have been the recipients of his bounty and the objects of his kind regard, for which, undoubtedly, we all feel grateful. But the question is this: is it our duty, as the professed wors.h.i.+pers of the G.o.d of Israel, to yield obedience to the demand of an unholy and wicked law, that throws insult into the face of the G.o.d of heaven, and the Jehovah of the universe? In this case, either obedience or disobedience must be pleasing to G.o.d. Is it the will of Jehovah that we should obey this law, or disobey it? To my mind, it is clear that, in this case, nothing short of a manly disobedience can be agreeable to the will of our G.o.d. Brothers, we must have decision of character. In this matter there must be no compromise with iniquity."

And Hananiah took his seat with a smile of holy satisfaction playing on his lips, when Mishael arose, and said:

"The question rests here, brothers! Can any edict from any king, potentate, or human power, make null and void the laws of the eternal G.o.d? To this question, from us, there is but one short answer, and that is, 'Nay!' Is He not higher than the highest? Are not His commands far superior to all human edicts? The law of Jehovah is supreme, and let the higher law be obeyed, though the heavens should fall! Azariah, what sayest thou?"

"I say I shall not bow to any G.o.d but the G.o.d of Israel! In Him I trust.

If we perish by the hand of our enemies, so let it be! Better death than a base betrayal of our sacred trust. But is not that G.o.d who saved us once from death able to deliver us again? Is his arm shortened, that he cannot save? Then let them heat the fiery furnace! That G.o.d in whom we trust will yet deliver us from this calamity, and overrule this dark providence to his glory."

A knock was heard. The door was opened, and the pleasant voice of the newcomer gave them to understand that he was no other than the kind-hearted Apgomer.

"I trouble you, at this time, as a bearer of dispatches from my kind master, Belteshazzar, who is now in Egypt, on government business of pressing importance. Before he left, he gave me positive orders to deliver all messages to his cousins without the least delay."

"Thou art ever welcome, dear Apgomer!" answered Hananiah. "and especially to-day, as a bearer of a dispatch from one we love so well."

"And here is another, from one that, peradventure, ye love the more. Ye perceive that the children of Judah have some confidence in their Chaldean friend."

"And great is the confidence thou deservest, as one that has proved himself a genuine friend in every trial," said Azariah.

"Let not my n.o.ble friend speak thus!" said the modest Chaldean, "for I deserve it not. I must return, and any further dispatches that may be sent to my care shall, without delay, be conveyed hither. Adieu!"

These dispatches proved to be letters. The last delivered was confidentially handed to Apgomer by Mathias, and was written by Perreeza.

The letter from Daniel was first considered. It was read aloud by Azariah.

"Ever Dear Cousins: I have this moment read the wonderful proclamation of the king, in regard to the great image of Bel, to be dedicated on the plains of Dura. By some strange providence, he saw fit to send me hither, with imperative instructions to remain until some unpleasant affairs between the two governments are amicably adjusted; and before this can be accomplished, the great idolatrous display will have pa.s.sed. Your minds, undoubtedly, have been much troubled in view of the unpleasant position in which ye are placed. So hath the mind of your beloved cousin. Already I know full well that, with holy courage, ye are ready for the trial. The flames of a fiery furnace must fail to frighten a true Israelite from the wors.h.i.+p of the G.o.d of his fathers. Past favors are not to be repaid by proving traitors to the G.o.d of Israel. We are the temporal subjects of the King of Babylon it is true, and in anything that interferes not with the command of Jehovah, we are happy to render him willing obedience: but with us obedience to the higher law is paramount to all other considerations. The words of a loving mother are yet fresh in my mind.

The morning on which we left our beloved Jerusalem, she called me to her apartment, and, among a mult.i.tude of other good things, she said, 'The same integrity to the law of thy G.o.d will certainly secure thy prosperity among strangers. Thy path may occasionally be obstructed; but trust in G.o.d, my son, and all will be well. The land whither thou goest is a land of universal idolatry, where the G.o.d of thy fathers is not known, and where his wors.h.i.+p may cause universal ridicule. Heed them not. With thy face toward Jerusalem, let thy pet.i.tions daily ascend to the G.o.d of Abraham, and he will direct thy paths. Never prove a traitor to the religion of thy fathers. My son will be obedient to the laws of his king that do not come in contact with his religion; but if ever thou art required to render obedience to any law that clashes with the law of thy G.o.d, remember, my son, that disobedience to that law must be rendered, even unto death if required. Let "Obedience to the Higher Law" be thy motto; for thy mother would sooner hear of thy death as a martyr to the religion of Judah, than of thy promotion to a throne by apostasy.'

"These burning words of your Aunt Josepha, to her son Daniel, are the words of Daniel to his cousins. Prove true to your religion! and if in this ye die, it shall be but the will of your G.o.d. But, cousins, ye shall not die! That same Jehovah who appeared in our behalf years ago, in the revelation of the king's dream, will again stretch out his arm to save.

If Jehovah interferes in your behalf, there is not fire enough in all Chaldea to injure a hair of your head. I long to be with you! Nothing would give me greater pleasure than to be immediately called back to Babylon. Then side by side would we stand erect, and scorn to bow before a golden image. But it appears to be the will of Jehovah that I should be absent. I have confidence that I shall soon embrace you in Babylon: but if in this I am mistaken, we soon shall meet in the better Jerusalem above.

"Daniel."

It was with some difficulty that Azariah commanded sufficient control over his feelings to enable him to read the letter aloud; but with a trembling accent it was done.

"Thanks be to Jehovah." cried Mishael, "for such consolation in the midst of sore affliction."

"But what says our beloved Perreeza?" said Hananiah.

No one felt willing to read aloud their sister's letter, so it was read by each in silence. It ran thus:

"Dear Brothers: With emotions indescribable, Perreeza endeavors to write these few lines, that may impart some consolation to her dear brothers while strong waves of affliction pa.s.s over their souls. Being much confined of late to my dwelling, it was but yesterday that I derived any knowledge of that awful proclamation of the king in regard to his great image. Uncle Esrom is at present traveling in a far country on important business, and I am deprived of his counsel and ye are deprived of his aid in this crisis. Ob, my brothers! the companions and guardians of my juvenile hours, into whose care and warm affections I was committed by the parting words of a dying mother! How ardently does your sister love you! how deep for you is the affection of Perreeza's heart! What can I say that will cause one sweet ingredient to drop into your bitter cup?

Nothing better do I know, than the favorite sentence of our beloved Jeremiah. If the good prophet were here would he not say, 'Jehovah is the strength of all his saints; trust in him and be at peace!' Oh, how sweetly flowed the gentle words of the man of G.o.d! Brothers! dear as ye seem to my throbbing heart, terrible as the fiery furnace may rage, Perreeza has no desire that your safety should be purchased at a dishonorable price. Nay, brothers! if for a moment I should indulge in such an unholy desire, that moment I should forfeit all right to call you brothers. I shall not even advise you to stand firm in the fiery trial.

Ah! too well do I know that your n.o.ble souls already scorn the command of an apostate king, who once acknowledged the supremacy of the G.o.d of Israel.

"My precious Jupheena came to see me this morning, and she is very confident that the G.o.d in whom we trust will bring you through this trial triumphantly. Dear brothers, accept this hasty dispatch as an offering of pure affection. Farewell, until our next meeting."

"Perreeza."

With full hearts, the brothers bowed before the Lord and rolled their burdens upon the Almighty. The entire consecration was now made, and they were ready for the trial. The struggle was over and their minds became as calm and tranquil as a summer evening.

CHAPTER XVIII.

IN AN extravagantly furnished apartment of a fine-looking mansion in the heart of the city, sits a family group, consisting of a father, mother, two sons, and one daughter. They are far from exhibiting in their countenances that contentment of mind which is a "continual feast," and yet something has transpired that gives them, for the time being, an unusual degree of pleasurable emotion.

The father leaves his seat, and with folded arms he begins to pace slowly backward and forward the length of the apartment with an air of pompous dignity, while ever and anon a smile of extreme selfishness plays on his lips. He has received intelligence which he considers by no means displeasing.

The mother, to whom nature has been rather n.i.g.g.ardly in the endowment of outward charms, is loaded with a superabundance of golden ornaments, in the vain attempt to supply the lack of the natural with the artificial.

In her eye you look in vain for intelligence, or in her countenance for benevolence; but she smiles! yea, indeed, with something the mother is evidently pleased.

The two sons, in making a declaration of their brotherhood to a stranger, would stand in no danger of being suspected on that point as deceivers.

The resemblance is quite striking.

The daughter is beautiful--in her own estimation. To this she clings as an essential part of her creed--that she const.i.tutes a very important share of the beauty of Babylonia, but in getting it implanted into the creed of others, she proves unsuccessful--her converts being wholly confined to her father's household. She also, with the rest, on this night manifests an unusual degree of hilarity.

"Ah! they are ensnared at last!" said Scribbo, with an air of triumph.

"They must either deny their religion or face the furnace. This is right, and happy am I that the king has at last seen fit to enact a law that will bear with stringency on those pretending foreigners who fill the most important stations in the government."

"But, brother," said the sister, eagerly, "which thinkest thou they will choose--the wors.h.i.+p of our G.o.ds or the fiery furnace?"

"I am in hopes they are fanatical enough to choose the latter," answered the brother; "for in case they should choose the former, they would be as much in our way as ever. But then it would be some consolation to know that they had been compelled to wors.h.i.+p and bow before the G.o.ds of the Chaldeans."

"There is one thing to be deeply regretted," said s.h.a.goth. "I am informed that Belteshazzar, the great Rab Mag, is now in Egypt, and is not expected to return for some weeks. He also ought to bear them company and share the same fate. But if only we can put these three out of our way we shall have abundant reason to adore the G.o.ds."

"But, my sons," said the mother, "will not these Hebrews elude notice among so many? The G.o.ds know how I fear lest after all they may escape."

"Fear not that, mother," answered Scribbo. "s.h.a.goth and myself will so arrange matters as to be near them; and if they bow not with us we will on the spot report them to the king."