Harriet Martineau

“ The lepers gazed also one on another. Then was there great joy; for all were clean!
Philip was still, as before; but Jotham walked to and fro in the dwelling, exulting in the vigour of his limbs, and in the freedom with which he breathed.
One who had been maimed surveyed himself, and beheld that he was whole. Another, whose reason had become weak through misery, wondered in silence at the height and depth of his own thoughts. The disciple stood in the midst, and, as he looked around, he wept.
At length Philip spake and said, “Behold! our youth is renewed like the eagle’s. ”

“ Jesus mourneth not for himself, and I mourn not for him, but for his followers, and yet more for such as despise and reject him.”
“Thy words are lofty, Paltiel,” said Ozias; “is thy courage also high? Couldst thou also die for the people?”
“Jehovah hath no such honour for one like me,” replied Paltiel, as he gazed towards the pinnacles of the temple. “There he abideth; let his voice he heard calling me from his holy place, and I will answer. On such as I, his spirit is not poured forth, else would I uplift my voice as the holy men of old, and none should make me afraid. ”

“ Philip told how blessing abounded also unto himself, and would have led him where the pilgrims ate their noontide meal in the shade; but Jotham replied,
“Not so, my brother! for I mingle not with men, save to tend the sick. Go thou, and when thou thinkest on me, let it be with peace. Unto thee Zion shall be glorious, for thou rejoicest with thy people. Unto thee the sacrifice shall be joyful, for the wife of thy bosom sacrificeth with thee. Unto thy soul the music of the Levites shall be sweet, for the echoes of the temple shall send back familiar voices upon thine ear. ”

“ To these lepers, life seemed no longer to be desired, for weariness of body and sorrow of heart were their portion.
Two among them, Jotham who once dwelt in Mamre, and Philip of Jericho, lay on the ground within the hut, and spake mournfully one to the other, while the wintry blast chilled their aching limbs, and groans from without mingled with the sighing of the winds.
“Blaspheme not, my brother!” said Philip. “We have received good at the hand of the Lord, and shall we not also receive evil?”
“Am I thy brother?” cried Jotham. “I am brother to no man. ”

“ Philip's frame was also shaken as he watered the ground with tears. Jotham had grieved his spirit; yet he reproached him not.
"If our limbs were strong to toil," said Jotham, after a while, "if our own hands could till the ground and gather food till we die, we might endure with a greater patience. Then no man should approach, and none should scorn or fear us. The eagle and the pelican alone should look upon us while we live, and none but the raven and the jackal should know where our bones are stretched on the earth. But our strength departeth in the day of youth. ”

“ When the Christians heard these things, they prayed that the days of trouble should be shortened; but while they sorrowed for their nation, they gave thanks that the law of salvation had been promised to all people. The glory of the Hebrews was passing away, as a wandering fire that vanishes in darkness; but the bright and morning star had risen which should set no more.—Though the Jews should pass under the yoke and be chained to the car of their conqueror, the new and better law of Jehovah should be established, so that every man should be a priest, and every day a sabbath. ”

“ In the night-watches will we ponder his words: in the temple we will look on those whom he hath healed and taught: and beneath the palms will we sit and gaze upon his sepulchre.”
“In the temple will I appear no more, lest I hear him in whom I have gloried scoffed at, and his cross derided. Here will I sit in darkness, till death shall hide me. Yet here my sorrow is greater than I can bear.”
So spake Mary, the mother of Jesus, as she lay on a couch in an inner apartment, where none came unto her but John, who was as her son. ”

“ Hath it not been heard how some who had sworn to abide with the Prophet for ever, were afar off when he needed help; how others, who had resolved to die with him, fled when danger appeared? The love which should have prevailed over the desires and fears of the spirit hath waxed cold among us. Not such was the love of Jesus. Even now, if he were here, he would look tenderly on us all; for he knoweth the heart of man, and hath compassion. ”

“ Often had he gazed on the snowy peak of Hermon, and on the sea of Galilee; and often had his eye rested on the town of Nazareth, as it sloped from the ridge of a hill into a deep vale, while he little knew that it would be hereafter sanctified as the abode of the Hope of Israel. Now, as the eyes of the travellers turned towards the mountain, they saw that its wonted stillness and solitude were disturbed. ”

“ Groups of people were hastening in all directions over the plain towards Tabor; and on the mountain itself, moving figures could already be discerned. The three companions looked at each other, while joy flashed from their eyes, and they immediately quickened their pace, regardless of the increasing heat. As soon as they arrived within hearing of some who were hastening in the same direction with themselves, they rejoiced at the sound of eager voices exclaiming, “The Teacher,” “The Prophet,” “Jesus, the son of David.” From that moment Sadoc heard and saw nothing of what passed around him. ”

“ When they behold our vessels empty, they sigh; when the food they bring is not consumed, they rejoice that we are dead.”
“Nay, my brother!” said Philip, “afflict not thus thyself and me. Well I know that we shall rejoice no more in the seeing of the eye, and the hearing of the ear; yet I have hope; for I verily believe that there is a paradise beyond the sepulchre where we shall be gathered under the tree of life with Abraham our father, and with our brethren of Israel.”
“Let thy faith sustain thee even now then, while the tempest beateth on our dwellings,” said Jotham. ”

“ He is mightier than other prophets, and all hearts may be subdued before him.”
“Nay, my friend,” replied Paltiel, “the hearts of our people are as a stony soil; the words of wisdom are to them as a stream which floweth on and passeth away, and leaveth them as barren as before. Our rulers have ever been the destroyers of the prophets, and Zion is their sepulchre. When they have lifted up their voices, the people have mocked; when they have wrought wonders, the spirit which is upon them hath been despised; when they have hungered, no man hath ministered unto them ”

“ One replied in the name of both,
“The faith of the Nazarenes have we embraced.”
“And stand ye here as priests of Jehovah, ye who are traitors to the faith?”
“From our birth were we sanctified to the priesthood, and we serve not Jehovah the less willingly because we have received his greatest Prophet.”
“Ye shall carry forth your heresy into the wilderness, even as the scape-goat beareth thither the sins of the people.”
“Christ worshiped in the temple; why should not we, his followers, serve? While we stand alive before the altar, we will offer sacrifice, knowing who hath appointed us.” ”

“ Then the disciples knew why the kindred were assembled, and why the wife of Philip came not out to meet him, and they told him these things with joy.
When his new-born child was placed in his bosom, and music resounded through the dwelling, and a song of rejoicing was uplifted in the court, Philip was humbled in spirit, marvelling that such an one as himself should be crowned with loving kindness and tender mercies.
Life was now fair in his eyes to whom, of late, its promise seemed blighted for ever. His sojourn in the desert had been but for half the year that was gone ”

“ Paltiel stooped down, hiding bis face in his mantle, while all were silent.
“Then he feareth not to die,” said Ozias, at length.
“His love for his nation overcometh his fear,” replied Sadoc.
“Who would fear to die in the cause of Jehovah?” exclaimed Paltiel, proudly raising himself, and looking round on his companions. “Life is sweet, and it is a pleasant thing for the eyes to behold the sun; but the favour of God is sweeter than life, and to gaze on his glory is better than to stand in the sunshine of noon. ”

“ While he yet spake, clouds of sand were raised around the huts of the lepers. Thunders burst over head, and hail rattled as if the armies of heaven made war against the wretched few who abode in the desert. Philip and Jotham kept silence, for one was in terror and the other prayed. At length one who was also a leper entered with haste, and said that a wayfarer who had been warned from their abode, yet persisted to approach.
“He is a stranger in the land,” said Philip, as he rose to go forth. “He knoweth not wherefore we dwell apart, and seeketh shelter from the storm. ”

“ When she put forth her strength, they burst asunder. She leaped down to the balcony, and ran within the porch. She first drew aside the wicket that she might see without being seen by the multitude who passed: but when she beheld Paltiel in the midst, bound with his own girdle, and hurried on by the violence of those who held him, she rushed from the gate, and stretched forth her arms to him, while her cry of anguish was as that of the young antelope when the hind is slain by the hunters. ”

“ In one of these lay Sadoc, the son of Imri. He had toiled at the oar with his companions during part of the night. About the fourth watch he became weary, and giving his place to another, he retired to the stern, to watch in stillness the event of the storm. He was chilled by the spray which dashed over him, and his soul was awed by the roaring of the winds and waters. He looked towards the east; the dawn was there, but it brightened not; and the dim grey light only shewed the white surges as they broke against the sides of the vessel. ”

“ She started when the little one escaped from her grasp; and she gazed on his face with tenderness and, as it seemed, with awe.
“Hast thou no other hour for sport with the little one?” said Sadoc gravely. “I fear lest thou shouldst not have gathered up all the words of the Prophet which I have repeated to thee; for thine eyes have been fixed on the face of the child, and thy hand hath controlled his sports from the first moment of our greeting.” ”

“ Strengthen them, Sadoc, for the tribulation to come.”
“Even as thou hast strengthened me, my friend Paltiel. But how appeareth death unto thee? Speak, that I may meditate hereafter on thy words.”
“Even as when we have spoken together in the night seasons; even as when we saw the Lord Jesus in the cloud and desired earnestly to depart also. Men of old had faith; but we have knowledge, and there is no place for fear. ”

“ Sadoc doubted no longer, but turned his face homeward, He looked sorrowful, but the old man rejoiced. “Tarry not for me,” he cried, “My strength is not as thine. Hasten, and I will follow; but say not that I sought thee.”
It was mid-day when Sadoc reached his father’s house after a toilsome journey of many hours. He entered while the household were reposing from the heat, in the inner apartments. Michal alone was not on her couch. She reclined beside the fountain in the court. The coolness of the water was more refreshing, and its rippling in the marble basin more soothing to her than sleep. ”

“ If they send us away as now, all is well: if they inflict punishment on us, all is well also, if our hearts condemn us not.”
“Behold!” cried Sadoc, “the Teacher entereth the temple. Let us go and warn him that spies are around him, and that many seek to ensnare him in his words.”
“He knoweth what is in men’s hearts before their tongues declare it,” answered Paltiel. “He discerneth spirits by his wisdom, and he hath power to save himself from the hands of violent men. ”

“ Moriah shall be a ploughed field, and wild grapes shall be gathered where our golden vine hung forth its clusters. The tabernacle of God is now with every nation. Worship no more towards Jerusalem; for in the heart of every man is henceforth the Holy of Holies. ”

“ An aged woman abode there with her son, whose occupation prevented his mingling in the world, though he was careful to exercise hospitality, and was ever ready to open his gate to the weary traveller. He walked on the roof of his house at sun-set, and looked abroad on the deep valley where the shadows of evening had already fallen, when he perceived Sadoc and his companions, at a little distance, travelling slowly as if they were wearied and in need of some place of rest. He descended and went forth to invite them to pass the night in his dwelling. ”

“ On the shoulder of Paltiel leaned Sadoc, his friend. Sadoc had come up to the feast with a longing desire to see again the hope of Israel. From the gates of Capernaum to the foot of Sion, he had looked around for the form which was sacred in his eyes; but he beheld it not during his journey. He had sought Jesus in the temple, in the city, and among the tabernacles, and sought in vain, till, as he bowed beneath the blessing of the High Priest, the voice he loved had touched his soul. Now, as the eye of the Prophet rested on him, he steadily met that gaze ”

“ If a man is holy, he is despised; if he offereth life, he findeth death; if he seeketh to bless the people, he is stoned by their hands. Thus it hath been, and thus it shall be, with this nation.”
"Nay, Paltiel,” said his friend, “now thou speakest too much evil of thy people. ”

“ I have often marvelled that my heart burned within me while we discoursed of the hope of our nation, And when I have beheld how the eyes of his mother were fixed on him with deep and tender love, I have thought that she was blessed among women. ”

“ When Mary saw that it was Jesus, she believed that her sleep had been the sleep of death, and that the Holy One was about to lead her to the throne of Jehovah. Her burden of grief was cast away, and she felt as a spirit, while she looked for light which a spirit alone can behold, and hearkened for that voice which none but a spirit can hear and live.
Pilate, the Roman governor, held his tribunal in the court of his palace on the first day of the week, after Jesus had been crucified. ”