In Both WorldsHolcombe, William H. (William Henry)
Religion
In Both Worlds
Holcombe, William H. (William Henry)
Lazarus, of Bethany, Saint -- Fiction
So I went on, reiterating all the grand points of doctrine which
distinguished the teachings of the angels I had conversed with, from the
teachings of Paul. He became more and more restive under my impetuous
torrent of argument, and at last rose to depart. He excused himself on the
plea of urgent business and short time. He said he would call again if
possible, and would interest the Church in Antioch to labor for my
release.
He left me with a pleasant smile. He passed into a gallery where he met
the governor of the prison. They were conversing as they walked slowly
along beneath a window at which I had stopped. I heard Paul say,
“He is evidently insane.”
“I wish the world was full of such madmen,” was the bluff answer of the
governor.
And that was the result of my interview with the great thinker, the
leading spirit of the Christian world!
Insane!
This visit of Paul was of immense service to me. It helped me to subdue
one of the strongest points of my selfhood. I still cherished the dream
that my spiritual knowledge had been entrusted to me for the special
benefit of the Christian Church. My only reason for wishing to get out of
prison, was that I might communicate the Doctrine of Christ, as it appears
to the angels, to my fellow-men.
After mature reflection upon my conversation with Paul and its results, I
came to the conclusion that I had labored under a great mistake and had
cherished an impossible hope. There are certain successive steps in the
grand evolution of the general human mind, which make one revelation of
truth necessary and proper at one time and another at another. The world
and the Church were not ready for the knowledges which had been given to
me. The transition from Jewish darkness to angelic light was too great,
too sudden. A long period of twilight must intervene—a period of literal
interpretations, of janglings and wranglings and schisms. In the fullness
of time, perhaps, and after another judgment in the world of spirits,
another church may be instituted capable of receiving without adulteration
the sublime verities of the spiritual world.
So I abandoned my mission. God knew better than I did, and I was
satisfied.
It is strange what a new, sweet, beautiful life sprung up in my soul after
I discovered that I had no mission in this world to fulfill, but to spread
cement between stones, to plant flowers, to read the Psalms and to nurse
my sick fellow-prisoners. I was a new creature.
I then entered upon what I have designated as the third state or era of my
spiritual life. And this state was so marvelous, so exceptional to all the
experiences of my fellow-men, that I shall not dwell long upon it. It may
be a thousand or two thousand years before Providence repeats the
phenomenon and produces another case like mine; and although in the
far-off perfection of the world they will be common enough, the story of
it will for centuries fall upon the ears of men as an idle dream.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account