Part 11 (1/2)

His habit was of black velvet, slashed with satin and with b.u.t.tons of jet: a small starched cambric ruff, edged with lace, was closed at the throat with white silken cords and ta.s.sels. A rapier at his side; a diamond of the purest water on his long, thin white hand.

”It must needs be so”--such was the tenor of his meditation. ”The very image of G.o.d must be stamped on our souls like the cameo in soft wax, if we are to be His. Oh, my G.o.d, mould me with thine own impress! stamp me with thine own seal! keep my thoughts--I cannot keep them!--efface even the memories of sin. Make me a weapon for thine own armoury, whether to be used in actual service or to hang on the wall ready for use!”

He covered his face with his hand, and remained lost in thought, till some one tapped at the door. It was Fra Bernardino Ochino, the Capuchin.

I know not why Ochino should have had so white a beard; for his age, at most, was scarcely fifty: but so it was.

”Brother,” said Valdes gladly, ”you come at the right moment; for I am in a singular frame of mind.”

”Strange!” cried Ochino; ”I, too, found myself in a singular mood, and it was on that account that I sought you. There are times when I am oppressed by vain questionings; and n.o.body quiets them better than you do.”

”I wonder whether your questionings relate to the same subject as my own,” said Valdes, with his peculiarly sweet smile. ”Come! let us talk it out. It wants half-an-hour yet to the time when Donna Isabella expects me.”

”You know,” said Ochino, ”I am not book-learned--”

”My chief book is my mind,” rejoined Valdes. ”Therein I read a nature totally corrupt, and find an unutterable want of G.o.d. My other book is His word. Herein I find a solution to every question, a remedy for every want, in the blood of Christ. And that is my peace.”

”Such is the substance of all my preaching. I aim not so much at pulling down rotten opinions as sowing good seed.”

”You are right, you are right: that will carry us through. The rotten walls will fall of themselves. They already totter and crumble.”

”But oh, what a G.o.d is ours!” cried Ochino, stretching his two arms straight upward. ”His judgments are past finding out. How easy it would be to Him to make all straight!--I find myself ready to pray there may be no h.e.l.l: that it may be a depopulated country--a burnt-out volcano: that all, _all_ may be saved.”

”Surely you may do that,” said Valdes. ”The Lord's hand is not shortened, that He cannot save. He stands at the door of our hard hearts and knocks. He cries 'turn ye, turn ye, for why will ye die?' Could a _man_ say more? Excuse the bathos of the expression. It is man who says 'I will not.'”

”But what vindictive expressions--”

”Hush, hush, my brother. David's vindictive expressions were those of a Jew, not a Christian: and, after all, what a loving heart he had! If he stormed at his enemies one instant, he forgave them the next. Otherwise, he could never have been the man after G.o.d's own heart. His inner being is subjected to a test that none of us could stand--the Psalms are literally his heart-sighings--the thoughts and feelings that chased one another like cloud-shadows over waving corn. Oh! believe me, the fault is not in G.o.d, but in ourselves. Since we admit that He is not only round about us but within us, how is it that we have so little perception of Him? Because His grace does not operate in us. And why does not His grace operate in us? Because, in reality, we do not humbly, devoutly, and earnestly desire it.[13] Why do not we both desire it and seek it? Because we do not love G.o.d with the whole heart and with all the senses. Why not? Because we do not know Him. Why do not we know Him?

Because we do not even know ourselves.”

[13] Valdes. ”Chain of Virtues and Vices.” _Vide_ Wiffen's ”Alfabeto Christiano.”

”All this is true and logical enough,” said Ochino; ”and brings us back to your starting-point, that your first book was your own mind. But that book cannot be read _in the dark_. Nor without the light of the Holy Spirit.”

”Unquestionably not,” said Valdes. ”That light enables me to read my own book. It makes plain and full of interest what was arid, forbidding, and deeply disappointing. You know that the Scriptures have helped me to understand my own book. David and St. Paul are nothing to us, in comparison with G.o.d and Christ. In the Old Testament we read of a G.o.d of vengeance, and a Lord of hosts; for to the Jews he exhibited himself but through a gla.s.s darkly. But _we_ know him through Christ, and, in seeing one, we see the other. Oh, then, how is it we are insensible to such love? A man would give the whole world, if he had it, to save the life of an only son: G.o.d gave His own Son to save an ungrateful world.”

”That is a strong figure,” said Ochino, with emotion.

”And since He and His Son are one, in a mystical manner which we cannot comprehend,” pursued Valdes, ”what is His giving His Son for us, but, in other words, giving himself? His _alter ego_. 'Greater love than this hath no man, that he lay down his life for his friends.' 'For scarcely for a _righteous_ man (even) will one _die_:--but G.o.d commendeth His love towards us, in that, while we were yet _sinners_, Christ died for us.' Can you conceive a n.o.bler ant.i.thesis?”

”Ah!” said Ochino, gladly extending his arms. ”I see it! I embrace it!”

”Hold it fast, my brother. For on this rock is built the church. He was delivered (delivered up by _man_) for our sins, but was raised, by G.o.d, for our justification. Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with G.o.d through our Lord Jesus Christ. Continue to hammer upon that, as you have done, and are still doing. Did you note an honourable woman who sate immediately before you, this morning, with Vittoria Colonna?”

”Yes. She was very attentive.”

”She is Giulia, d.u.c.h.ess of Trajetto: one on whom the pure gospel light has not yet s.h.i.+ned. I believe she is much under the influence of Cardinal Ippolito: as much as the Marchioness of Pescara is under that of Cardinal Pole. Pernicious directors, both! You must do them all the good you can, while they are under your ministry. There is much that is hopeful in the little circle of distinguished women who are now drawn together here. Isabella Manricha is far advanced in the spiritual life, and will faithfully guide her younger sisters along the narrow way.

Speak the truth to them boldly: the word of G.o.d is not bound. And now the time is come for our evening reading at Donna Isabella's, and here comes Giulio Terenziano to join us.”