“Blessed be the day which opened to me the spirit of the New Faith. Behold the religion of the Temple, with its smoking sacrifices and priestly ordinances, now seemeth like a hollow form. Its life is withered. I pray thee, why were the ceremonial observances handed down to us?”
“In the days of the ignorance and childhood of the Chosen People, they could not interpret the mind of Jehovah save through signs and symbols. Their understanding was not open to the life of the Spirit, so they must needs receive it veiled and softened by types. With a childlike trust they could get glimpses of God and his teaching through the ordained forms. The full light of Truth would have blinded their eyes, and been counted as foolishness. But now, learning of the head and a puffed-up knowledge hath hidden the simple faith of the [pg 193]patriarchs and prophets, and the symbols have become all in all, and therefore are vain and empty. A proud scholastic philosophy hath made the hearts of the people cold and barren.”
“I live now and henceforth in the New Faith,” said Amabel earnestly. “Pray, is the Nazarene of whom thou hast spoken its founder?”
“Nay, all truth is eternal! He was not its founder, but its expresser and embodiment. Only as the spirit is manifested through the flesh doth it come to the understanding of those whose concern is only with things that are seen. The Son, or likeness of God, dwelleth in all men, but he is almost unknown and unmanifest. Jesus, knowing his internal oneness with the Father, embodied the Christ-mind or life in its fulness, and performed the outward works after its kind. But, O Amabel! hast thou well considered that thou dost separate thyself from the faith of thy father and all thy house?”
“Yea, I am fully persuaded concerning the same. I will sacrifice all things that may hinder my devotion to the New Faith, and my efforts for its spread. I will be a witness for its truth, and will show forth its power.”
Serenus drew nearer, and taking her hand in his, gave a gentle glance into the fair face at his side.
“O Amabel! Behold the wall which separated us hath crumbled. We knew not how it were possible, but it hath come to pass. Once more I tell thee that thou art dearer to me than my life. Dost thy heart respond? and wilt thou be mine?”
“O Serenus! I am persuaded of thy pure love, and am thine own. Life with thee will be an abounding spring [pg 194]of gladness. I will share thy lot, even though persecution surround me. Behold my spirit knoweth no more a shadow.”
“The ever-abiding Father’s love encloseth and sanctifieth the human affection of our hearts. Amabel! I will be faithful to thee even unto death!”
“And I to thee! In the love of God and thy love I forsake all else!”