Part 65 (2/2)

Pausing at the threshold of a palatial dwelling, he knocks and waits. The door is shut. He hears the [5]

sounds of festivity and mirth; youth, manhood, and age gayly tread the gorgeously tapestried parlors, dancing- halls, and banquet-rooms. But a little while, and the music is dull, the wine is unsipped, the footfalls abate, the laughter ceases. Then from the window of this dwel- [10]

ling a face looks out, anxiously surveying him who waiteth at the door.

Within this mortal mansion are adulterers, fornicators, idolaters; drunkenness, witchcraft, variance, envy, emu- lation, hatred, wrath, murder. Appet.i.tes and pa.s.sions [15]

have so dimmed their sight that he alone who looks from that dwelling, through the clearer pane of his own heart tired of sin, can see the Stranger.

Startled beyond measure at beholding him, this mortal inmate withdraws; but growing more and more troubled, [20]

he seeks to leave the odious company and the cruel walls, and to find the Stranger. Stealing cautiously away from his comrades, he departs; then turns back,-he is afraid to go on and to meet the Stranger. So he returns to the house, only to find the lights all wasted and the music [25]

fled. Finding no happiness within, he rushes again into the lonely streets, seeking peace but finding none.

Naked, hungry, athirst, this time he struggles on, and at length reaches the pleasant path of the valley at the foot of the mountain, whence he may hopefully look for [30]

the reappearance of the Stranger, and receive his heavenly guidance.

[Page 325.]

The Stranger enters a ma.s.sive carved stone mansion, [1]

and saith unto the dwellers therein, ”Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” But they understand not his saying.

These are believers of different sects, and of no sect; [5]

some, so-called Christian Scientists in sheep's clothing; and all ”drunken without wine.” They have small con- ceptions of spiritual riches, few cravings for the immortal, but are puffed up with the applause of the world: they have plenty of pelf, and fear not to fall upon the Stranger, [10]

seize his pearls, throw them away, and afterwards try to kill him.

Somewhat disheartened, he patiently seeks another dwelling,-only to find its inmates asleep at noontide!

Robust forms, with manly brow nodding on cus.h.i.+oned [15]

chairs, their feet resting on footstools, or, flat on their backs, lie stretched on the floor, dreaming away the hours. Balancing on one foot, with eyes half open, the porter starts up in blank amazement and looks at the Stranger, calls out, rubs his eyes,-amazed beyond [20]

measure that anybody is animated with a purpose, and seen working for it!

They in this house are those that ”provoke Him in the wilderness, and grieve Him in the desert.” Away from this charnel-house of the so-called living, the Stranger [25]

turns quickly, and wipes off the dust from his feet as a testimony against sensualism in its myriad forms. As he departs, he sees robbers finding ready ingress to that dwelling of sleepers in the midst of murderous hordes, without watchers and the doors unbarred! [30]

Next he enters a place of wors.h.i.+p, and saith unto them, ”Go ye into all the world; preach the gospel, heal the

[Page 326.]

sick, cast out devils, raise the dead; for the Scripture [1]

saith the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made you free from the law of sin and death.” And _they_ _cast him out_.

Once more he seeks the dwelling-place of mortals and [5]

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