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
“For this cause,” said Nathanael, “Jesus often biddeth such as he healeth
in Galilee to keep silence, although he suffered the Gadarene in these
distant parts to make it known. For he deemeth it his especial work not so
much to drive out diseases and evil spirits from the body, as rather to
heal the soul, ministering bread to the hungry and wine to them that are
athirst, loosing the tongue of the dumb, and causing the deaf to hear,
opening the eyes of the blind, and making the lame to leap as a hart in
the paths of salvation.”
We made no long stay on the eastern side of the lake; but when we came
again to Capernaum we found the hearts of the people turned from us. For
not only did the chief ruler and the elders of the synagogue watch us, as
before, if perchance they could take us at an advantage; but the zeal of
the townsmen also seemed to have waxed cold. Scarcely had our boat touched
the strand at Capernaum when my uncle Manasseh met me. He took me aside
and spake with me very earnestly, saying that he had rebuked his son
Baruch for his slackness at business, because poverty was coming upon them
as an armed man, by reason of his constant attending on Jesus; and he
added, “It is true also of thee as of Baruch, ‘He becometh poor that
dealeth with a slack hand; but the hand of the diligent maketh rich. He
that gathereth in summer is a wise son; but he that sleepeth in harvest is
a son that causeth shame.’” “And what said Baruch?” I asked. “He hath
consented to my words,” said Manasseh, “and hath promised that he will no
longer accompany this Jesus of Nazareth in his wanderings: and do thou the
like.” But this I would not do; so we parted in anger.
Not a few left Jesus at this time, mostly they of the wealthier sort, as
were Baruch and Manasseh; some going back to their vineyards, others to
their olive‐presses, others to the dye‐works and glass‐furnaces, whereof
there were many in Galilee. But the poorer sort joined themselves to Jesus
as much as before, being drawn unto him by the fame of his mighty works.
Howbeit they also began to wax impatient that Jesus should give the sign
for war. Nor did they give now much heed to the words of Jesus; but they
paid regard to him as to some great exorcist and sorcerer, who useth his
art for good ends. Therefore the heart of our Master was sad at this time;
and he was grieved that the simple folk knew him not: and their words of
praise were an abomination to him.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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