“Marcheshvan, VIIIth day.
“In a Cave at Horeb,
“Wilderness of Sinai.
“O my dear Cassia!
“Things have befallen me which will seem strange to thee! I have been led by the God which is above all gods, who speaketh to me from the stillness within, into a new and higher way that I knew not. Behold thou wilt have exceeding contempt for me when thou knowest that I have become a follower of the Nazarene, and am filled with great sorrow at my former persecution of his followers. I have deep repentance for my manifold unrighteous deeds, even though I thought to do service to the God of Israel. Through a leading that I would not resist I have journeyed into the wilderness, away from the habitations of men, that I might commune with a [pg 331]Greater than the God known by our nation, and receive inspiration from him. Here I am patiently adding strength to strength, that in the fulness of time I may go forth to proclaim liberty to all who are bound, whether through subjection to the flesh, or under the galling yoke of the ceremonial law. I feel a renewing in my mind, and have an unwonted joy in the freedom and purity of the New Faith. Behold it satisfieth every desire of the heart, and cometh as a healing balm to my former restless hatred and false righteousness. I delight in the true God, for he is over all men,—Abiding Love,—and no longer the jealous leader of one people.
“O Cassia, well beloved! my soul’s earnest longing is that thou also might have regard to this truth, for its value is above rubies! Wilt thou not open thy heart to its sweet spirit? My love waxeth strong towards thee, but I am constrained to make known everything concerning myself. Thou freely gavest me the love of thy heart and thy steadfast promise of faithfulness, but perchance thou wilt not regard me as the same Saulus that possessed thy warm affection. But with all humility I am persuaded that my present state is not to be compared with the former time, when I was given over to angry disputations, yea, and fiery persecutions, which are among the base things that I forever have put behind me.
“In the place of hatred for all but the straitest sect of the Chosen People, I now exercise love towards all men. Dost thou not see, O my Cassia! that we were altogether fettered in our doctrine; for a Godly religion aboundeth in peace, joy, and good-will. If thy soul yet yearneth with affection towards thy lover, I pray thee [pg 332]that it may go out even more strongly in the favor of this great and living Faith!
“Behold we were altogether mistaken about the evil intent of the followers of the Nazarene! Through false report and a perverted mind we believed these children of the Light to be idolaters and unclean. But verily, they have a ministry of goodly service and longsuffering.
“It is meet that I should write unto thee, O my little Cassia! with mine own hand, to give assurance that my soul’s affection for thee abideth single and true. I pray thee that thou consider well that the new and all-abounding joy that I have in the New Faith hath not rendered me unfaithful. But I can in no wise abate one jot or tittle of my devotion to a great future work,—to bring all men, so far as I am able, to a knowledge of the truth. This new and higher way was made manifest for all the world through the despised prophet of Nazareth, whose disciples I have so grievously smitten and afflicted aforetime.
“To thee, O Cassia! I remain with all constancy, if thy heart’s affection still aboundeth to me-ward, not the same self-willed zealot thou hast known, but the devoted Apostle of the Most High, and the earnest minister of the New Faith to all men. But with my love in no wise abated towards thee, nothing on earth, not even the utter loss of thy devotion, can in the least tempt me to turn back to my former manner of mind. If thou hast no desire to receive the new Saulus in the place of him whom thou hast known, behold I freely give thee release from all thy plighted faith, so that thou mayest be fully free.
“Perchance divers rumors have come to thine ears concerning me, but I beseech thee to give them no place. Howbeit, in this epistle I have fully opened my heart unto thee.