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
Then I began to question Nathanael why Jesus had not healed this
Barachiah: Nathanael answered and said, “Because he hath not faith.
Moreover, as thou knowest, Jesus doth not adventure to heal all
afflictions and all diseases. And even if the affliction be such as can be
healed, yet he healeth not, except there be first faith.” Then I said,
“But how doth he discern such as have faith from such as have not faith?”
But Nathanael answered, “I know not; and indeed it is a marvel to me to
see how he healeth the sick. But he speaketh of these mighty works as
being prepared for him beforehand in heaven. And indeed it seemeth to me
that whensoever Jesus doeth a mighty work on earth, he seeth it also done,
in that instant, in heaven. For he looketh upon the body of the sick man
with his eyes; but with his spirit methinks he looketh on the spirit of
the man in heaven; and there he seeth a Hand, even the Hand of the
Everlasting Arm; and whatsoever the Hand worketh in heaven, even that doth
Jesus work on earth; and if he seeth the Hand unloosing the chain from the
spirit of the man in heaven, then Jesus unlooseth the chain on earth. But
if he seeth that the Hand in heaven moveth not, then his hand also is
stayed on earth.”
But I said, “When Jesus hath healed the sick, he biddeth them go in peace,
as Barachiah but now cried after us. Now if there be no peace in the man’s
heart, how can he go in peace? Doth Jesus therefore make peace in the
man’s heart? Or is it that he merely seeth peace in the man’s heart, and
speaketh aloud that which he seeth?” “Both,” replied Nathanael; “at least,
so it seemeth to me. For I judge that Jesus not only discerneth peace, but
also maketh peace. Likewise also he seemeth to me to make faith. I know
not how it is, but of late a certain Mattathias described to me the manner
in which Jesus had dealt with him. Now this Mattathias was afflicted with
a disease in his feet, insomuch that he had not walked for these three
years: and he was carried by his friends into the presence of Jesus.
‘And,’ said he, ‘before I saw Jesus, I had scarce any hope that he might
be able to help me; but when I looked upon Jesus, and saw what a strength
shone in his countenance, then I began to have faith, but not much; for
still I feared more than I hoped. Yet as Jesus healed first one and then
another (for there were many waiting to be healed before me) my faith grew
stronger and stronger. But when Jesus was come to the bed whereon I lay,
he fixed his eyes steadfastly upon me, so that the brightness thereof
passed like purifying fire into my soul; and he looked up unto heaven and
then down upon me, and it was as if he had been wrestling with the evil
spirit of faithlessness in my heart and had quite driven it out. For now,
behold, of a sudden, my doubts and fears and troubles were all clean gone,
and my heart was as light as air, and a certain irresistible faith
possessed me; insomuch that, though I lay still on my bed, I knew that I
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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