Henry Wood

“ If my prophecy prove vain, and we sink in the depths of the sea, behold that spirit which is within us, and which we are, hath continuance.”
“It seemeth to be a great mystery!”
“Behold thou hast a body, but art not body! Thou art spirit even now. If thy seen form dissolve, thou wilt still live, even though in the invisible! Thou wilt see, but not with these eyes; thou wilt hear and feel, but not with these members; yea, thou wilt think and know and love!”
“I have heard of shades beyond the Styx, but counted them to be only shadows. Dost thou affirm that they are verily ourselves?” ”

“ The harmony and sublimity of the scene were borne in upon his soul, and gave him a sense of profound serenity. The air was soft and balmy, and the full-orbed moon was lifting herself above the horizon in queenly majesty, lighting up the expanse of waters with a sheen of wavy silver.
The arrival of Saulus, and yet more that of Serenus and Amabel, brought before the mind of Marcius a flood of former associations and emotions interwoven with his life upon the banks of the Cydnus. His inner experiences of the earlier time passed before him in a procession like the unrolling of a scenic panorama. ”

“ The God of Israel bless thee! In sore affliction,
Gamaliel.” The breast of Serenus was rent with conflicting emotions as he laid down the letter. Mingled with his sorrow at the sad tidings about Amabel, there was even a note of gladness. “She loves me!” was the thought that echoed and re-echoed through his heart. “If her seen form is to vanish, she is not the visible, but the invisible, and love is eternal. The grave can rear no wall nor make no gulf between us. Behold we dwell here for a season in tents, and then quietly fold them and move forward. Poor Amabel! ”

“ Perchance some of them might never again view each other’s faces in the flesh. Saulus, in the charge of Julius, the centurion, was to depart for Rome on his way to trial, accompanied by his friends, Luke and Aristarchus. Serenus and Amabel at the same time were to take ship for their home in Alexandria.
As they sat looking out upon the picturesque cliffs and islets near and distant, which were softened by the purple of closing day, there was an interval of deep silence, broken only by the rhythmical plash of the waves below. All thoughts were centred upon the coming separation. ”

“ All things grow only from cultivation and desire.”
Leander paced the room with intense agitation, as if impelled by some evil spirit, but at length, by great effort, stopped before Marcius, and kneeled with bowed head.
“Bless thee once more for thy hearty forgiveness! My distress is a little lessened because I behold something of the light of the future which thou hast pointed out! Oh, how I bless thee for thy words—love—love—LOVE! Only love can give me peace! I will grasp it, cling to it, and think of nothing else! I will love both gods and men—everything!” ”

“ The worship of Jupiter, Hercules, and all the gods of Rome and Tarsus hath not given me full satisfaction, and their former purity hath become degenerated. But I would have none of the Hebrew austerity and stiff ceremonialism. I have beheld their gall-and-wormwood faces in Tarsus, and their sackcloth and ashes, self-conceit and ugly circumcision, disgust me. But thou art no Hebrew! If thou wert born to them, thou art not of them, for thou beholdest good in all men.”
“I perceive that of a verity thou dost desire the truth,” replied Serenus. ”

“ Behold the very breath of God is within you! His strength is freely and lovingly thine own.”
“How sayest thou so, Serenus? Behold it hath been told me that I must die. The physicians have so declared, and my parents mourn me as though already departed. Thinkest thou that there is life beyond the grave, and is it that of which thou speakest? And does love continue there?”
“O Amabel! there is no grave, save for worn-out dust. Thy fair form is yet youthful, and thou mayst command it as thou wilt, and enjoy its sweet ministry.” ”

“ It grieveth me, O my young disciple! to know that thou hast become faithless to the religion of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Thou art altogether mistaken in the anointed one of Israel. When Messias cometh he will be King, Priest, and Prophet. First of all, he will deliver his people from their enemies, and set up a throne, and then reign righteously. The Gentiles will have no part in this dominion. They serve false gods; and the Most High will destroy them, root and branch. Then shall the seed of Abraham inherit the earth! Thou art pure in spirit, but no longer a son of Israel. ”

“ What thinkest thou of the prophet of Nazareth who was crucified?”
The wise and venerable Gamaliel was astounded at the gravity and earnestness of his favorite assistant in making an inquiry which seemed of such trivial importance. He toyed with the long fringe of his robe for a moment, and cast an inquiring glance into the face of Serenus as if to divine his meaning. It hardly occurred to him that his most eminent follower, aforetime promoted to be his assistant, could have any sympathy, or even remote interest, in the feeble faction of the Galilean; but the question demanded an answer. ”

“ Hath any man yet filled to the full the divine measure of which thou hast spoken?”
“Yea, there hath been a Man of Nazareth, of Judea, born a Hebrew, who recognized the perfect human divinity. He is the Ideal, not only for his own nation, but for all the world, whether Greek, Roman, Jew, barbarian, or Scythian! He knew the inmost oneness of God and man, because he knew himself as he was.” ”

“ The echoes of thought go out, and are interpreted by those whose inner hearing is attuned. Not only the music of a fountain, but even the hoarse roar of a tempest, is heard within, and can be stilled only from the centre! There is a disquieted soul that earnestly craves thine aid. Even a word from thee would help to relieve its distresses.”
“Again thou speakest beyond my comprehension. What dost thou desire me to do?”
“Go with me to a place not very far distant where all mystery shall be made plain to thee!”
“Thou hast much assurance to ask me to go with thee, a stranger, to a place unknown! ”

“ ONCE MORE UPON THE CYDNUS
“Rivers are highways that move on, and bear us whither we wish to go.”
A few days after the evening excursion of Marcius to the Temple, a little party emerged from the house of Benoni into the spacious grounds which overlooked the Cydnus. It was soon after mid-day. Though the sun shone brightly, a refreshing breeze down the valley from the Taurus mountains made the afternoon balmy and delightful. The cool waters of the river hurried quietly past, while the sunshine caused the ripple which danced upon its surface to gleam like molten gold. ”

“ It must become multiplied, until Amabel is in all people, Jew and Gentile, Greek and barbarian. If her form be no more beheld, she shall be an universal interpreter. She is everywhere, even though unseen. Pierce through the rough outer coverings of all souls, and the divine germ of Love is there, only waiting for the light and moisture of consciousness so that it may swell and spring forth. Amabel is in the whispering of the breeze, the glow of the sunlight, the shimmer of the wave, the sighing of the forest, and the patter of the rain-drop. ”

“ Can it be that human jealousy invades the realm of the Unseen?
Could he not, peradventure, again invoke the fair Alethea, and while beseeching her own forgiveness for the past, implore her blessing for the future?
The threatened storm gathered and burst with great force upon the city. Rain, and at intervals hail, beat upon the walls and roofs of houses, and cooled the hot flagstones in the streets. Forked lightning rent the clouds, and thunder caused the very foundations of the city to tremble.
Since Marcius espoused the New Faith he had discontinued visits to the Temple of Apollo. ”

“ The inner or spiritual self is the veritable man, and he waiteth for the comprehension of the divine sonship.”
“I perceive that the sensuous or flesh-man is not truly man at all,” said Marcius. “How all the so-called philosophies of the world have erred! Doth it not seem marvellous that I, a Roman, have so soon become convinced of the truth and beauty of the New Faith? At times I feel doubtful of my identity, and wonder if I am myself!”
“Thou wert not changed by the logic and reasoning of the intellect,” said Serenus, “for a religious belief from without is slow and uncertain in its operation. ”

“ Serenus turned lovingly toward Saulus, and taking him by the hand, replied,—
“I beseech thee, my brother, have in mind the abundant power which thou hast, and not the thing which perchance thou lackest. It is well that we have differing talents and gifts. Thou canst not perform my work, nor I thine, but there is a harvest ripening for each of us. In the earthly vineyard of God the shoulders of every laborer are justly fitted to the burden which is appointed for him to bear. But of a verity there are no burdens, for they are changed to privileges.” ”

“ He turned towards Leander.
“Life is a hollow mockery. When shall my eyes open to the true Olympus, where real gods make their abode? I feel a strange unrest, and confess myself weary of the Tarsian deities.”
“Ah, my high and mighty Marcius! Thou art downcast to-night. Get rid of thyself,—that is, drive away thy thoughts.”
“My thoughts are too deep to be rooted out. They hold me in thraldom! Genius decays! Vice vanquishes virtue! How will it all end? What has the unseen future in store for us?”
“Leave the future! The gods serve us to-day as we serve them. ”

“ At length Marcius turned toward Saulus,—
“Would that it were some other Cæsar than Nero before whose tribunal thou wert to appear! But we will hope all things, and believe in all good. Thou art wise and fearless, and the favor of God will abide with thee!”
“Whatever may come to pass, I am persuaded that all things whatsoever will work together for good!” replied Saulus. “We are ministers of the New Faith, and look to that, and not to ourselves.”
“Yea, brother Saulus, the paths of duty and privilege are one and the same,” said Serenus. ”

“ Hast thou forgotten that the Gentiles and they that worship other gods are the enemies of the Most High?”
The calm dignity of Serenus was unmoved, and his face almost shone with an inner light which seemed to fill him.
“The God of all the earth hath no enemies, whether Jew or Gentile. He cannot know enmity; for it is not, save in the hearts of such as separate themselves from him. They dwell in the darkness which they only have made by their own vain and base imaginings.” ”

“ Righteousness is a standing menace and rebuke to guilt. Nothing can be more hateful.
Stephanos lifted his eyes from the malignant faces, rendered demoniacal by surging passion, and looked up as if in a trance. The Sanhedrin, with all its bitterness, faded from his sight, and became to him as though it were not. An ecstasy was upon him, and he saw a beatific vision. While the human wild beasts around him growled and thirsted for his blood, his eyes were fastened upon a realm of eternal peace, harmony, and glory. ”

“ All is life, and life is LOVE. In the world of sense love is personal and narrow. In the higher spheres it reduces all things to itself, and becomes impersonal and all-inclusive. To penetrate the secrets of the Universal Mind and discover the invisible revolving wheels of Nature, one must ascend an unseen mount—ALONE. Only through such solitude can the soul uncover itself and come into full contact with the Eternal, and at length gain a complete mastery over the base idolatry of the common life.”
“I fain would know more particularly concerning thine own chosen field of research?” ”

“ If I have learned rightly, he even vaunted himself as the Lord’s anointed, the fulfiller of prophecy, and the deliverer of Israel! What empty boasting! He, a Galilean of no reputation, whose followers were only ignorant fishermen and publicans! he to deliver Israel from her oppressors! he to build up the waste places of Jerusalem, and establish her dominion forever! Seest thou not, O Serenus! that this is altogether vanity? If he were to have been the Restorer of our people, thinkest thou that he would have suffered himself to be persecuted, condemned, and crucified? I say unto thee nay! ”

“ I delight in the true God, for he is over all men,—Abiding Love,—and no longer the jealous leader of one people.
“O Cassia, well beloved! my soul’s earnest longing is that thou also might have regard to this truth, for its value is above rubies! Wilt thou not open thy heart to its sweet spirit? My love waxeth strong towards thee, but I am constrained to make known everything concerning myself. Thou freely gavest me the love of thy heart and thy steadfast promise of faithfulness, but perchance thou wilt not regard me as the same Saulus that possessed thy warm affection. ”

“ How much the great Tragedy that was here consummated signifies to the world! How the outgoing circles of spiritual life and love ever pulsate from this centre! No nation is too remote to be washed and beat upon by its outgoing waves, for a divine discontent never permits of stagnation!
Golgotha, or the hill of Calvary, was a peculiarly sacred place to the disciples, and they often resorted to its summit for converse and meditation.
As Saulus lingered, busy with the thoughts of the past and questions of the future, a man, apparently having the same purpose, came near. Lo, it was Barnabas! ”