Part 6 (2/2)
”Indeed, senor! Can that be true? For I have heard that our Lord Christ”--(at the mention of the name Carlos crossed himself, a ceremony which the muleteer was so engrossed by his argument as to forget)--”that our Lord Christ came into the world to make men know the Father; and that, to all that believe on him, he truly reveals him.”
”Where did you get this strange learning?”
”It is simple learning; and yet very blessed, senor,” returned Juliano, evading the question. ”For those who know G.o.d are happy. Whatever sorrows they have without, within they have joy and peace.”
”You are advising me to seek peace in religion?”
It was singular certainly that a muleteer should advise _him_; but then this was a very uncommon muleteer. ”And so I ought,” he added, ”since I am destined for the Church.”
”No, senor; not to seek peace in religion, but to seek peace from G.o.d, and in Christ who reveals him.”
”It is only the words that differ, the things are the same.”
”Again I say, with all submission to your Excellency, not so. It is Christ Jesus himself--Christ Jesus, G.o.d and man--who alone can give the peace and happiness for which the heart aches. Are we oppressed with sin? He says, 'Thy sins are forgiven thee!' Are we hungry? He is bread. Thirsty? He is living water. Weary? He says, 'Come unto me, all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest!'”
”Man! who or what are you? You are quoting the Holy Scriptures to me.
Do you then read Latin?”
”No, senor,” said the muleteer humbly, casting his eyes down to the ground.
”_No?_”
”No, senor; in very truth. But--”
”Well? Go on!”
Juliano looked up again, a steady light in his eyes. ”Will you promise, on the faith of a gentleman, not to betray me?” he asked.
”Most a.s.suredly I will not betray you.”
”I trust you, senor. I do not believe it would be possible for _you_ to betray one who trusted you.”
Carlos winced, and rather shrank from the muleteer's look of hearty, honest confidence.
”Though I cannot guess your reason for such precautions,” he said, ”I am willing, if you wish it, to swear secrecy upon the holy crucifix.”
”It needs not, senor; your word of honour is as much as your oath.
Though I am putting my life in your hands when I tell you that I have dared to read the words of my Lord Christ in my own tongue.”
”Are you then a heretic?” Carlos exclaimed, recoiling involuntarily, as one who suddenly sees the plague spot on the forehead of a friend whose hand he has been grasping.
”That depends upon your notion of a heretic, senor. Many a better man than I has been branded with the name. Even the great preacher Don Fray Constantino, whom all the fine lords and ladies in Seville flock to hear, has often been called heretic by his enemies.”
”I have resided in Seville, and attended Fray Constantino's theological lectures,” said Carlos.
”Then your wors.h.i.+p knows there is not a better Christian in all the Spains. And yet men say that he narrowly escaped a prosecution for heresy. But enough of what men say. Let us hear what G.o.d says for once. His words cannot lead us astray.”
”No; not the Holy Scriptures, properly expounded by learned and orthodox doctors. But heretics put their own construction upon the sacred text, which, moreover, they corrupt and interpolate.”
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