Part 36 (2/2)
”In spite of the sweetness and beauty surrounding them, did not men fret at the firm hand that held them down?”
”At first, yes. But as time went on it came to be looked upon so naturally that it was hardly thought of as a thing which should not be.”
”How long did such a state of things continue?”
”It continued until our race had outgrown all such trivial things as selfish ambition and personal strife, until our characters had ripened for a higher service than the old world had ever dreamed of, and until love reigned in our hearts, supreme and unquestionable.”
”What makes the situation seem so strange to you is because it is so contrary to your experience. Let me see if I cannot make it look more reasonable to you by epitomizing our history on the subject in this way:
”Our career is made up of three eras. The first was one of brute force, when man ruled by strength of body and subdued the world to our use.
Everything weaker than himself, even woman, his natural helper, was made to feel the power of his arm. This age lasted long, but its rigor slowly pa.s.sed away, and it merged gradually into the second era, which was one of mind. Here, too, man thought to rule, claiming the leaders.h.i.+p by right of possession and natural endowment. But woman's sharpness of intellect was more than a match for him when it was given full opportunity, and she won, as we have seen, after a long struggle. The third and present era is a spiritual one. In the realm of the spirit men and women are equally endowed, and hence it is that in this age you find the two s.e.xes living in perfect equality.
”Comparing the words you have spoken with what I have read of our history, I conclude that the earth is now pa.s.sing from the first to the second era. The struggle is on. Soon your s.e.x will be considering the question of the emanc.i.p.ation of man. You have the sincere sympathy of both Thorwald and myself, and that you may emerge from your trials as happily as we have from ours is our heartfelt wish.”
Zenith closed, and the doctor was silent.
CHAPTER x.x.xV.
AN EXALTED THEME.
The doctor and I had not forgotten that Thorwald still held in store for us a talk on the most important theme of all. We wondered why he did not give it to us, as he had many opportunities in those days of quiet pleasure. He seemed to take great delight in hearing from us everything we chose to tell, asking numerous questions which showed a growing knowledge of the earth and its inhabitants.
It was the doctor who finally inquired when we were going to hear what he had promised us.
”I suppose I have been waiting,” answered Thorwald, ”for you to ask for it. I could listen to your talk a great deal longer with pleasure and profit. It is astonis.h.i.+ng how closely your history matches ours up to your times. The period you have been describing to me as that in which you live corresponds with a similar age here. It was a time of great activity and rapid change, and one whose records make a deep impression on many of our writers, judging from the attention they give to it. It was an enviable time to live in, if you compare it with the previous ages, but chiefly on account of the promise it contained of the glorious day to come.
”Doctor, are you sure you desire to hear about the growth of Christianity in this world and the blessings it has brought us?”
”Most certainly,” answered my companion. ”I want to learn all I can of your history and present condition, and, as religion seems to occupy a chief place in both, anything you may say on the subject will be listened to with delight.”
Perhaps Thorwald was a little disappointed because the doctor did not give a more personal reason; but he failed to show it if he was, and, after calling to Zenith to come and sit with us, he began:
”Fair s.h.i.+nes the sun on this fair world. So s.h.i.+nes the sun on other fair worlds. Its piercing rays dart out in all directions from the great glowing ma.s.s, and as they fly outward they lose in brilliancy and intensity every second. In eight minutes some of these rays are intercepted by the earth and find there an atmosphere well adapted to receive them. In twelve minutes some strike this world, and although they are less powerful than those that fall on the earth, the conditions here are favorable for their reception. At varying distances from the center other rays find other planets as ready to welcome them, no doubt, as ours are.
”As the sun is in the physical universe, so is the Sun of righteousness in the domain of the spirit. Infinite in power, wisdom, and love, he comes wherever there are souls to save, shedding light in every dark spot, bringing life and hope and comfort, and lifting men out of the darkness of sin up to a condition of peace and happiness. Many ages ago he came to this planet, and started into life those forces which have brought us to our present state. Then he came to the earth, and you are at this time beginning to feel more intensely the impulse of his mission.”
”Your ill.u.s.tration is a forcible one,” said the doctor, as Thorwald paused a moment, ”and weakens my former position, which would make it necessary for me to believe that all the rays of the sun, except the few that fall on Mars and the earth, are lost. It seems to me now quite reasonable that some do their beneficent work on other planets also.”
”Yes,” answered Thorwald, ”whenever they are ready to receive them. And now I hope to lead you to see that the same intelligence that made the sun and gave to its rays such power has been present as a personal force in this world, molding it to his use and raising up a people here for his service and glory.
”In the perfect plan of that omniscient being the advent of the Savior occurred at the most opportune moment. Deep in the heart of one nation, firmly grounded in their nature by ages of discipline and suffering, lay the belief in one only G.o.d. The other nations of the world, surfeited with sinful pleasure and worn out with a vain pursuit of happiness, were ready to abandon the G.o.ds of their imaginations. Some lofty souls among them, following intently every prompting of their better nature, had developed high characters, while of G.o.d's peculiar people many pure hearts waited, with joyful expectancy, the coming of the promised Savior.
”He came, the lowly, patient one, and, although the world was made by him, it knew him not. The greatest event in the history of the globe pa.s.sed almost without notice; but the seed was planted, and in G.o.d's own time the growth began, which has filled our happy world with the perfect flower of Christianity.
”The religion which Jesus taught aimed to save the race. It was universal, not only as adapted to all nations, but as fitted to regenerate and perfect the whole nature of man--body, mind, and soul. It would take me too long to tell all the changes it wrought. It found the heart hard and unfeeling, and made it tender and loving. It found men filled with every evil pa.s.sion and almost without a desire to be better, and it gave them a longing to be free from sin and pure in heart. It found the race in darkness and despair, and brought them hope and light and comfort. Above all, it attacked the demon of selfishness and gave men the promise that in time they should be entirely free from its power.
”Slowly the truths of Christianity spread. The missionary spirit was born and the gospel was carried to remote lands. It was ever G.o.d's way to work through the agency of his creatures, whether these be brute forces or intelligent beings. And so through imperfect men the perfect rule of life made feeble progress. But as it was the work of the Spirit, there was never any danger, even in the darkest ages, that the gospel would not triumph over all the sin and degradation of the world, and lift men to a higher plane.
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