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 have
constant communication with the city. We have heard that new efforts
were making to persecute us more severely, and that Marcellus, a captain
in the Pretorians, had been appointed to search us out. We see you here
among us, our chief enemy. Have we not cause to fear? Why should you
track us here?"
"You have no cause to fear me," cried Marcellus, "even if I were your
worst enemy. Am I not in your power? If you chose to detain me could I
escape? If you killed me could I resist? I am helpless among you. My
situation here, alone among you, is proof that there is no danger from me."
"True," said Honorius, assuming his calm demeanor, "you are right; you
could never return without our assistance."
"Hear me, then and I will explain all to you. I am a Roman soldier. I
was born in Spain, and was brought up in virtue and morality. I was
taught to fear the gods and do my duty.
"I have been in many lands, and have confined myself chiefly to my
profession. Yet I have never neglected religion. In my chamber I have
studied all the writings of the philosophers of Greece and Rome. The
result is that I have learned from them to despise our gods and
goddesses, who are no better, and even worse than myself.
"From Plato and Cicero I learn that there is one Supreme Deity whom it
is my duty to obey. But how can I know him, and how shall I obey him? I
learn, 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 secure
happiness in that spiritual life? They describe the glories of that
immortal life in eloquent language, but they give no directions for
common 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 and
ceremonies in which they do not believe. The old religion is dead, and
men care for it no more.
"In different lands I have heard much of Christians. Shut up in the
camp, I have not had much opportunity to see them. Indeed, I never cared
to know them until lately. I have heard all the usual reports about
their immorality, their secret vice, their treasonable doctrines. I
believed all this until lately.
"A few days ago I was in the Coliseum. There, first, I learned something
about the Christians. I saw the gladiator Macer, a man to whom fear was
utterly unknown, lay down his life calmly rather than do what he
believed 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 the
wild 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 his
listeners glistened with eagerness and joy. When he mentioned Macer they
looked 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 murmured
the 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 meet
death without terror, and so can every soldier when he comes in the
battle-field. It, is our profession. But these people rejoiced in death.
Here were not soldiers, but children, who carried the same wonderful
feeling 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 this
sublime courage and hope to arise within you? What is it that supports
you here? Who is he to whom you were just now praying?
"I have a commission to lead soldiers against you and destroy you. But I
wish to learn more of you first. And I swear by the Supreme that my
present visit shall bring no harm to you. Tell me, then, the Christian's
secret."
"Your words," said Honorius, "are true and sincere. Now I know that you
are no spy or enemy, but an inquiring soul sent here by the Spirit to
learn that which you have long been seeking. Rejoice, for he that cometh
unto Christ shall be in no wise cast out.
"You see before you men and women who have left friends, and home, and
honor, and wealth, to live here in want, and fear, and sorrow, and they
count all this as nothing for Christ, yes, they count even their own
lives nothing. They give up all for Him who loved them.
"You are right, Marcellus, in thinking that there is some great power
which can do all this: It is not fanaticism, nor delusion, nor
excitement. 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 the
world can give. It gives us happiness in life even in this place of
gloom, and in death it makes us victorious.
"You wish to know the Supreme Being. Our religion is his revelation, and
through this he makes himself known. Infinite in greatness and power, he
also is infinite in love and mercy. This religion draws us so closely to
him that he is our best friend, our guide, our comfort, our hope, our
all, our Creator, our Redeemer, and our final Saviour.
"You wish to know of the immortal life. Our religion tells of this. It
shows us that by loving and serving God on earth we shall dwell with him
in infinite blessedness in heaven. It shows us how to live so as to
please 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 in
the 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 Supreme
Being of whom I have heard. You are the possessor of that which I long
to know. The end and aim of my life lies here. The whole night is before
us. Do not put me off, but at once tell me all. Has God, indeed, made
known all this, and have I been ignorant of it?"
Tears of joy glistened in the eyes of the Christians. Honorius murmured
a few words of silent thankfulness and prayer. After which he drew forth
a manuscript, which he handled with tender care.
"Here," said he, "beloved youth, is the word of life which came from
God, which brings such peace and joy to man. In this we can find all
that the soul desires. In these divine words we learn that which we can
find no where else; and though the mind may brood over it for a
lifetime, 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 of
the long succession of prophets which had heralded his coming, of the
chosen people of God who had kept alive the knowledge of the truth for
so many ages, and of the marvelous works which they had witnessed.
He spoke of his birth, his childhood, his first appearance, his
miracles, his teachings. All this he read, with a few comments of his
own, 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 to
burst upon his mind. The holiness of God, which turned with abhorrence
from human sin; his justice, which demanded punishment; his patience,
which endured so much; his mercy, which contrived a way to save his
creatures from the ruin which they drew on themselves; his amazing love,
which brought him down to sacrifice himself for their salvation, all
were clear. When Honorius reached the end of the mournful story of
Calvary, and came to the cry, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken
me!" he was roused by a sob from Marcellus. Looking up through the tears
which dimmed his own eyes, he saw the form of the strong man bowed, and
his 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, for
their companions had long since departed. The light from a lamp in a
niche behind Honorius but dimly illumined the scene. Thus they remained
in 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 the
Holy One. Read on, more of that word of life, for my own life hangs upon
it."
Then Honorius read the story of the burial, the resurrection, the
appearance again to the disciples, and the ascension. Nor did he end
with this. He sought to give peace to the soul of his friend. He read to
him all the words of Jesus which invite the sinner, and assure to him a
gracious reception and complete forgiveness.
"It is the word of God," cried Marcellus, "it is a voice from heaven. My
heart responds to everything that I have heard, and I know that it must
be eternal truth.
"But how can I be a sharer in these blessings? I am a sinner; I seem now
to have my eyes cleared of mist. I know myself at last. Before I thought
I was a just and a righteous man. But beside the Holy One of whom I have
heard 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 shall
receive."
"O, then, if I may dare to approach, if it be permitted for me to utter
a 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 as
though his own soul was being lifted up to the courts of heaven, to the
presence of the Saviour, by the power of that, fervent and agonizing
prayer. The words seemed to find an echo in his own soul. In his deep
abasement he rested his wants upon his companion so that he might
present 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 her
presence. At, last, when Honorius ended, his feelings burst forth. It
was the prayer of the publican: "God be merciful unto me a sinner!"
Hours passed on. But who can fittingly describe the progress of a soul
on its way to its God? Enough, that when morning dawned on the earth
above, a better day had dawned over the soul of Marcellus in the vaults
below. His longings were completely satisfied; the load was all removed;
the Christians; secret was his; and with rapture unfelt before, he could
now 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."