114 FESUS PERSECUTED.

 

_ History tells us that when he was about to die he
sent for all the nobles of the land, and gave secret orders
that they should be slain when he died. He was afraid
the people would not’ mourn much for him, and _ being
determined there should be mourning in the land, at his
death, he had these men slain. .

Wicked men, however, could not harm Jesus, for God
had sent him’ into the world for a great purpose. He
took care that no harm came to him until his work was
done.

The bitter spirit of persecution manifested by Herod
did not stop with him. After Jesus was grown to man-
hood, although he never wronged any one, neither was
guile found in his mouth, yet some hated him, and sought
his life. Whydid they? Simply because Jesus was holy,
and they were full of sin. Herod sought to slay him, not
because he had done anything wrong, but because he
feared some day he would be a greater king than he was.

You see Herod was jealous, and vainly thought he
could destroy Jesus. But nobody can ever stop God's
plans, even though he be a king.

We persecute Jesus now when we persecute his fol-
lowers. He has said, “ Inasmuch as ye have done it unto
one of the least of these, my brethren, ye have done it
unto me.” We should never laugh or make sport of
those wno are trying to serve Jesus, for this was Herod’s
spirit.