Philochristus: Memoirs of a Disciple of the LordAbbott, Edwin Abbott
Religion
Philochristus: Memoirs of a Disciple of the Lord
Abbott, Edwin Abbott
Christian fiction; Jesus Christ -- Fiction
When Judas heard mention of the going of Jesus into Jerusalem, he held his
peace, thinking (as I perceived from his words afterwards) that this was
perchance a sign that Jesus was minded to become a leader indeed. But
another, taking up the word spoken by Simon Peter touching the fire from
the presence of Jesus, said, “And perchance this fire is even what our
Master signifieth, when he saith that the adversaries shall be cast into
the fire.” But another said, “Nay, but it is written, the punishment of
malefactors shall be fire and worms. Also it is written in the prophet
Isaiah that, when all things are made anew, in that day the righteous
shall go up to Jerusalem to worship the Lord, ‘and they shall go forth and
look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me; for
their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched.’ Therefore
it is most certain that, when Jerusalem shall be purified, the adversaries
shall be cast forth into the valley of Hinnom, even to the fire and worms;
and they shall be an abhorring to all flesh.”
To this the most part agreed. Only Nathanael seemed doubtful; but he said
nothing in the hearing of the rest. But when I questioned him concerning
the meaning of the words of Jesus, he answered that he knew not for
certain what they meant; only he felt assured that Jesus had in his mind
not a visible but some kind of invisible fire, which preyeth upon
wickedness, even as the fire whereon we look preyeth upon fuel. This
seemed to me at that time a hard saying, but now I consent unto it. And to
the same effect spake Quartus afterwards, saying, “To Jesus the invisible
things were visible, even as those things which are seen with the eyes;
yea, they were more visible. Therefore when he looked upon the hearts of
men and discerned in them jealousy or malignity or hypocrisy, behold, such
men seemed to him as men that are suffering from a sore disease, which
disease must be burned away with the fires of God. For as the all‐
encompassing sunlight bringeth life to them which are whole, but fiery
heats to them in whose veins the fever rageth, even so the fire of God
(which compasseth all invisible things, so that naught can escape from the
flame thereof) purifieth that which will be purified, but consumeth that
which is corrupt, according as it is written, ‘The jealousy of the Lord
burneth like fire for ever.’”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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