CHAPTER V.
THE CHRISTIAN'S SECRET.
"The mystery of godliness, God manifest in the flesh."
The young soldier stood astonished at the effect which his name produced.
"Why do you all tremble so?" said he. "Is it on my account?"
"Alas!" said Honorius, "though we are banished to this place we haveconstant communication with the city. We have heard that new effortswere making to persecute us more severely, and that Marcellus, a captainin the Pretorians, had been appointed to search us out. We see you hereamong us, our chief enemy. Have we not cause to fear? Why should youtrack us here?"
"You have no cause to fear me," cried Marcellus, "even if I were yourworst enemy. Am I not in your power? If you chose to detain me could Iescape? If you killed me could I resist? I am helpless among you. Mysituation here, alone among you, is proof that there is no danger from me."
"True," said Honorius, assuming his calm demeanor, "you are right; youcould never return without our assistance."
"Hear me, then and I will explain all to you. I am a Roman soldier. Iwas born in Spain, and was brought up in virtue and morality. I wastaught to fear the gods and do my duty.
"I have been in many lands, and have confined myself chiefly to myprofession. Yet I have never neglected religion. In my chamber I havestudied all the writings of the philosophers of Greece and Rome. Theresult is that I have learned from them to despise our gods andgoddesses, who are no better, and even worse than myself.
"From Plato and Cicero I learn that there is one Supreme Deity whom itis my duty to obey. But how can I know him, and how shall I obey him? Ilearn, too, that I am immortal, and shall become a spirit when I die.How shall I be then? Shall I be happy or miserable? How shall I securehappiness in that spiritual life? They describe the glories of thatimmortal life in eloquent language, but they give no directions forcommon men like me. To learn more of this is the desire of my soul.
"The priests can tell me nothing. They are wedded to old forms andceremonies in which they do not believe. The old religion is dead, andmen care for it no more.
"In different lands I have heard much of Christians. Shut up in thecamp, I have not had much opportunity to see them. Indeed, I never caredto know them until lately. I have heard all the usual reports abouttheir immorality, their secret vice, their treasonable doctrines. Ibelieved all this until lately.
"A few days ago I was in the Coliseum. There, first, I learned somethingabout the Christians. I saw the gladiator Macer, a man to whom fear wasutterly unknown, lay down his life calmly rather than do what hebelieved to be wrong. I saw an old man meet death with a peaceful smile;and above all, I saw a band of young girls give themselves up to thewild beasts with a song of triumph on their lip:
"'Unto Him that loved us, That washed us from our sins.'"
As Marcellus spoke a wonderful effect was produced. The eyes of hislisteners glistened with eagerness and joy. When he mentioned Macer theylooked at each other with meaning glances; when he spoke of the old man,Honorius bowed his head; and when he spoke of the children and murmuredthe words of their song, they turned away their faces and wept.
"For the first time in my life I saw death conquered. I myself can meetdeath without terror, and so can every soldier when he comes in thebattle-field. It, is our profession. But these people rejoiced in death.Here were not soldiers, but children, who carried the same wonderfulfeeling in their hearts.
"Since then I have thought of nothing else. Who is he that loved you?Who is he that washes you from your sins? Who is he that causes thissublime courage and hope to arise within you? What is it that supportsyou here? Who is he to whom you were just now praying?
"I have a commission to lead soldiers against you and destroy you. But Iwish to learn more of you first. And I swear by the Supreme that mypresent visit shall bring no harm to you. Tell me, then, the Christian'ssecret."
"Your words," said Honorius, "are true and sincere. Now I know that youare no spy or enemy, but an inquiring soul sent here by the Spirit tolearn that which you have long been seeking. Rejoice, for he that comethunto Christ shall be in no wise cast out.
"You see before you men and women who have left friends, and home, andhonor, and wealth, to live here in want, and fear, and sorrow, and theycount all this as nothing for Christ, yes, they count even their ownlives nothing. They give up all for Him who loved them.
"You are right, Marcellus, in thinking that there is some great powerwhich can do all this: It is not fanaticism, nor delusion, norexcitement. It is the knowledge of the truth and love for the great God.
"What you have sought for all your life is our dearest possession.Treasured up in our hearts, it is worth far more to us than all that theworld can give. It gives us happiness in life even in this place ofgloom, and in death it makes us victorious.
"You wish to know the Supreme Being. Our religion is his revelation, andthrough this he makes himself known. Infinite in greatness and power, healso is infinite in love and mercy. This religion draws us so closely tohim that he is our best friend, our guide, our comfort, our hope, ourall, our Creator, our Redeemer, and our final Saviour.
"You wish to know of the immortal life. Our religion tells of this. Itshows us that by loving and serving God on earth we shall dwell with himin infinite blessedness in heaven. It shows us how to live so as toplease him here, and it makes us know how we shall praise him hereafter.By this we learn that death is no longer a curse, but rather a blessing,since it becomes but the sure passage way unto happiness unspeakable inthe presence of Him who loved us."
"O then," cried Marcellus, "if this be so, make known to me this truth.For this I have looked for years; for this I have prayed to that SupremeBeing of whom I have heard. You are the possessor of that which I longto know. The end and aim of my life lies here. The whole night is beforeus. Do not put me off, but at once tell me all. Has God, indeed, madeknown all this, and have I been ignorant of it?"
Tears of joy glistened in the eyes of the Christians. Honorius murmureda few words of silent thankfulness and prayer. After which he drew fortha manuscript, which he handled with tender care.
"Here," said he, "beloved youth, is the word of life which came fromGod, which brings such peace and joy to man. In this we can find allthat the soul desires. In these divine words we learn that which we canfind no where else; and though the mind may brood over it for alifetime, yet the extent of its glorious truths can never be reached."
Then Honorius opened the book and began to tell of Jesus. He told him ofthe long succession of prophets which had heralded his coming, of thechosen people of God who had kept alive the knowledge of the truth forso many ages, and of the marvelous works which they had witnessed.
He spoke of his birth, his childhood, his first appearance, hismiracles, his teachings. All this he read, with a few comments of hisown, from the sacred manuscript.
Then he related the treatment which he received, the scorn, contempt,and persecution which hurried him on to his betrayal.
Finally, he read the story of his death on Calvary.
Upon Marcellus the effect of all this was wonderful. Light seemed toburst upon his mind. The holiness of God, which turned with abhorrencefrom human sin; his justice, which demanded punishment; his patience,which endured so much; his mercy, which contrived a way to save hiscreatures from the ruin which they drew on themselves; his amazing love,which brought him down to sacrifice himself for their salvation, allwere clear. When Honorius reached the end of the mournful story ofCalvary, and came to the cry, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsakenme!" he was roused by a sob from Marcellus. Looking up through the tearswhich dimmed his own eyes, he saw the form of the strong man bowed, andhis frame quivering with emotion. "No more, no more now," he murmured,"Let me think of Him:
"'Him who loved us, Who washed us from our sins, In his own blood.'"
And Marcellus buried his face in his hands.
Honorius raised his eyes to heaven and prayed. The two
were alone, fortheir companions had long since departed. The light from a lamp in aniche behind Honorius but dimly illumined the scene. Thus they remainedin silence for a long time.
At last Marcellus raised his head.
"I feel," said he, "that I too had a part in causing the death of theHoly One. Read on, more of that word of life, for my own life hangs uponit."
Then Honorius read the story of the burial, the resurrection, theappearance again to the disciples, and the ascension. Nor did he endwith this. He sought to give peace to the soul of his friend. He read tohim all the words of Jesus which invite the sinner, and assure to him agracious reception and complete forgiveness.
"It is the word of God," cried Marcellus, "it is a voice from heaven. Myheart responds to everything that I have heard, and I know that it mustbe eternal truth.
"But how can I be a sharer in these blessings? I am a sinner; I seem nowto have my eyes cleared of mist. I know myself at last. Before I thoughtI was a just and a righteous man. But beside the Holy One of whom I haveheard I sink down into the dust, I see that I am a sinner before him."
"He has atoned for all."
"But how can I be benefited?"
"He will pardon everything even to the uttermost."
"How can he pardon me?"
"Lift up your soul to him and pray for pardon. If you ask you shallreceive."
"O, then, if I may dare to approach, if it be permitted for me to uttera word to him, teach me the words, tell me the way."
In the dimness of the gloomy vault, in solitude and solemn silence,Honorius knelt down, and Marcellus bowed himself by his side.
The venerable Christian lifted up his soul in prayer. Marcellus felt asthough his own soul was being lifted up to the courts of heaven, to thepresence of the Saviour, by the power of that, fervent and agonizingprayer. The words seemed to find an echo in his own soul. In his deepabasement he rested his wants upon his companion so that he mightpresent them in a more acceptable manner.
But finally his own desires grew stronger. Hope came to him, timidly,tremblingly, yet still it was hope, and his soul grew stronger at herpresence. At, last, when Honorius ended, his feelings burst forth. Itwas the prayer of the publican: "God be merciful unto me a sinner!"
Hours passed on. But who can fittingly describe the progress of a soulon its way to its God? Enough, that when morning dawned on the earthabove, a better day had dawned over the soul of Marcellus in the vaultsbelow. His longings were completely satisfied; the load was all removed;the Christians; secret was his; and with rapture unfelt before, he couldnow sing the song of the Christian:
"Unto Him that loved us, To Him that washed us from our sins In his own blood, To Him be glory and dominion For ever and ever."