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
Hereat the demoniac shrieked and raved louder than before, and a deep
voice, deeper than the voice of a youth, cried out from within him, “I am
Ialdabaoth, the worm of darkness; depart from me.” The crowd shouted, and
the sorcerer, turning to us, “Sirs,” said he, “ye see how the evil spirit
is already half conquered; for he hath confessed his name and nature to be
even as I foretold.” Then turning to the boy and applying a ring to his
nostrils, he cried aloud, “Come forth, Ialdabaoth;” and with very great
quickness, so that the motion could scarce be perceived, (all the time
shouting charms and incantations with a loud voice,) he drew forth from
the nostrils of the demoniac a shape like unto a long black worm. Now
verily the crowd shrieked as if they themselves were possessed; but the
boy sat, not struggling, but still and pale, as though no life were in
him. But the exorcist, turning himself quickly round to the vessel of
water behind him, “Away,” he cried, “away, worm of darkness! Back,
Ialdabaoth, to the abyss! Back through the air: and dash down yonder
bucket as thou fliest!” At the word, the worm vanished, the bucket was
dashed down, and the boy fell, as it seemed, lifeless.
We all pressed in upon the youth, wishing to discern whether life were
still in him, or no; but the exorcist waved us back, as one having
authority; and taking the boy by the hand, he raised him up, speaking kind
words to him and to his father. Soon his life returned to the boy, and the
exorcist restored him to his father, whole and sound (albeit weak and
pale), and, as it appeared, delivered from the unclean spirit. The father,
weeping for joy, placed a heavy purse in the hand of the exorcist; who, at
first, put it from him, as though he would have none of it. But
afterwards, while he was receiving the salutations and greetings of them
that were departing, one of his slaves, being urged by the father, took
the purse and placed it in the covered basket.
As for us, it being now late, we stayed not to congratulate with the
father of Raphael; but with all speed, made our way through the press; all
the people around us praising God and marvelling at the power which the
Lord had given to Theudas the son of Eleazar. But we hasted to the house
of Manasseh to make ready for our journey; for we were to set forth early
on the morrow. But when the morrow came, behold, Baruch was sick of a
fever, and could not travel; and I tarried for him for the space of four
days. But on the fifth day after the Sabbath, Baruch being now in case to
travel, we purposed to take ship for Gamala, which lieth on the southern
coast of the lake. For our intent was there to join ourselves to James and
John, the sons of Judas, and so to continue our journey with them till we
came to Bethany in Peræa where John was baptizing.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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