IMPORTANT MESSAGES
Time is a sort of river of passing events, and strong is its
current; no sooner is a thing brought to sight than it is swept
by and another takes its place, and this too will be swept
away.—MARCUS AURELIUS.
Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a
pestle, yet will not his foolishness depart from him.—PROVERBS.
[CASSIA TO BENONI OF TARSUS.]
“JERUSALEM, _Sivan VI_.
“Know, O father of my friend, that I have to acquaint thee with a terrible
event. Last night, as Saulus and some fellow‐disciples of Gamaliel were
walking in one of the by‐ways of the Holy City, he was badly wounded by a
stone which was cast by some unknown hand. It struck him in the forehead,
and, O father of an illustrious son, he yet lingereth between life and
death. His companions could not well convince themselves whether an enemy
or a robber committed the shameful deed. Among the disciples of the
Rabban, there is one, Victor Serenus, a wicked apostate, and we wot not
but he may be the malefactor. O venerated Benoni! I have pity in my heart
for thee and thy renowned son. For many hours after he was borne back to
our inn he lay as one dead; but, the God of Israel be praised, his life is
still within him, and now he hath opened his eyes. We shall tenderly
minister to thy noble scion, who is held in such favor, and a physician
hath faithfully bound up his wounds with a healing balm.
“Thou art blessed among men to have a son who possesseth such goodness and
power. The Rabban esteemeth him as the most wise among all his disciples.
Of all who are soon to finish their course, I have much assurance that he
would have won the final prize.
“Most noble Tarsian! I see the sadness and tears that will come to the
goodly mother and fair sister of Saulus, whom he hath made known to me.
“Peace be with thee and thine!
“My father tells me that the message‐bearer who goes to Cæsarea will take
this to be put on a ship for Tarsus, and may it surely reach thy hand.
CASSIA,
_Daughter of Almon, of the Sheepmarket inn_.”
Seven days afterwards.
[CASSIA TO BENONI OF TARSUS.]
“_Sivan XIII._
“O my respected Benoni! I send a greeting with hopeful tidings. The ears
of him thou lovest hear our voices, and his tongue speaketh words of
rejoicing. The favor of the God of our fathers, with our loving
ministration, will restore him and make us glad.
“I have contentment in thinking of the joy that will come to thee and
thine when this letter reacheth thy hand. Saulus now has converse with us;
and, O most worthy friend, we have long known him to be a young man of
fair presence. My father made known his hurt to the Rabban, and he hath
visited him. He sat by his bed, and took him by the hand, and bestowed his
blessing.
“We have had long talks of thee and all thy house, and of the childhood of
Saulus on the banks of the Cydnus. Blessed be the day when he came to
dwell with us.
“A young man named Barnabas, who is a friend and yoke‐fellow of Saulus,
hath rendered much goodly service.
“It will rejoice thy heart, noble Hebrew, to know in what high honor and
esteem thy son is held in the Holy City. His hurt hath brought forth much
testimony in his favor, as one called of God to do a great work for the
Chosen People. Their enemies are his enemies, and he hath much reputation
as the defender of all our sacred doctrines and traditions. All the
members of the society of the _Urim_, which is a secret band of the most
faithful among the disciples of Gamaliel, laud him as a valiant leader.
“I am persuaded that Saulus is to be raised up to deliver our people from
apostates within and foes without. The Roman despiseth our nation; but the
time cometh, and may be at hand, when the God of our fathers will bring
his proud rule to naught. The idolatry of the Roman and the Greek will
also pass away, while the light and strength of Israel will increase under
the everlasting covenant of Jehovah.
“As to Victor Serenus, the betrayer, we have no further tidings concerning
him.
“Thy son sends salutations to thee, his mother, and the fair Rebecca, and
hopes, God willing, soon to come and see thee, face to face.
“All the house of Almon join in greetings.
“Peace abide with thee and thine.”
CASSIA.”
[BENONI TO CASSIA.]
“_Sivan XVI._
“O my young friend!
“Thy letter which beareth grievous tidings hath just come to my hand from
a Phœnician ship which hath arrived from Cæsarea.
“We before have had good report from Saulus, and our hearts are bruised by
this evil which hath befallen him.
“O daughter of Israel! We are comforted that he is so tenderly ministered
unto, and we beseech the God of our fathers that his life may be spared.
His mother and Rebecca are sorely distressed and bowed down, for their
love for him is exceeding great.
“Saulus! my son! my son! How do the uncircumcised and heathen triumph! Our
people are afflicted, and our groaning ascendeth to the ears of Jehovah!
“O friend of my son! My soul is cast down within me! How long, O Lord,
shall the wicked prevail? Shall he blaspheme thy name forever? The evil
doers boast themselves, and the righteous are ill requited!
“But, O my Cassia! I will cease lamentation. Peradventure the chosen of
the Lord will live, and his horn be exalted, and his desire exercised upon
his enemies.
“‘Let them be confounded and perish that contemn the counsel of the Most
High!’
“‘With his mighty arm will he yet set up the godly, and establish him
forever!’
“‘Sing unto the Lord, and declare his glory among the nations!’
“Daughter of Almon!
“Our hearts are stirred toward thee, and the Lord will abundantly reward
the house of Almon for their loving favor to the son of Benoni.
“Our salutation to the wise and good Rabban.
“I pray thee for tidings of Saulus by the next ship from Cæsarea, and may
we hear good concerning him.
“Peace be with thee!
BENONI OF TARSUS.”
(No. 2.)
[BENONI TO CASSIA.]
“_Sivan XXIV._
“O daughter of Almon!
“The Lord be praised for the glad tidings which the second letter from thy
hand witnesseth for us. Our hearts have been heavy, and we have had
wearisome nights appointed unto us, but now we shall walk in the light.
The Most High hath delivered us from great tribulation, and made known his
loving kindness: ‘For his mercy endureth forever.’
“O maid of Jerusalem!
“We are of good cheer concerning thy testimony of the fervent spirit of
Saulus in the Holy City. We rejoice that he hath been instructed after the
strict manner of the law of our fathers, and that he is zealous, and
speaketh boldly in the synagogue.
“Peradventure before many days Saulus may write a letter with his own
hand.
“Salutations be unto Gamaliel, the household of Almon, Barnabas, and all
who have ministered unto Saulus.
“May thy joy be fulfilled!
BENONI.”
About two months later.
[SAULUS TO BENONI.]
_“Ab. XX._
“O my beloved!
“Peace be unto you!
“Salute one another with a kiss of love!
“My little Cassia hath sent letters to you concerning my welfare, and now,
behold, I am strengthened to write an epistle with mine own hand. The
messengers have brought letters from thee, O my father, which testified
that the affection of all my kinsfolk abounded toward me, which giveth me
much joy.
“Ye know well concerning my present tribulation, which hath been grievous;
but the house of Almon hath given me much excellent ministration, whereby
I now am refreshed in spirit, and mostly healed of my hurt.
“I wot not if thou hast had report from the Rabban concerning the things
which have befallen me. I was exceeding zealous in speech for the faith of
our fathers, and was apprehended of the Romans, and taken to the Tower of
Antonia. But, through the intercession of Gamaliel, I was released without
condemnation.
“I take occasion to write unto thee some report out of the abundance of my
experiences, and also of my instruction in the Gemara, Mishna, and other
sacred writings. Gamaliel hath made known unto me that he judgeth with
great favor the good understanding of the doctrines of the Talmud which
hath come to the son of Benoni.
“Touching the observance of the law in all things, it will rejoice thy
heart to receive testimony that I hold myself blameless. By the favor of
the God of Israel, I keep all the fasts of the week, and do not forget the
three prayers of the day or the visits to the Holy Temple. Neither am I
unmindful, O kinsfolk, of all careful ablutions, that I may be free from
ceremonial uncleanness. As a Pharisee of the Pharisees, I strive to keep
the whole law, and not offend in one point. In good conscience I have
respect unto all the commands of the law of Moses, and scrupulously
observe all the decisions, Sabbatic rules, and prescriptions. To the
Rabbinical principles of exegesis, and the whole code of legislation
recorded in the Pentateuch, I have given much heed, and trust that I am
not found wanting.
“There hath appeared among the disciples of Gamaliel some who make a small
matter of our holy rites in synagogues and in the Temple, and, though Jews
after the flesh, they lightly observe our traditions. They set forth
somewhat of the Greek and Alexandrian philosophies, affirming that God is
the God of the Gentiles, the same as of the Hebrews. They vainly boast
that his presence ministers to their life and health, and that his mercy
is over all men, while they profanely say that the Circumcision is of no
avail. So idolatrous are they that they profess to find their God
everywhere. They would fain blaspheme the Holy of Holies by proclaiming
that he is as much in the groves and fields as in the Temple. These are
sons of Jews of the Dispersion, who have been seduced by some of the
heresies of the heathen with whom they have had concourse. They vaunt
themselves of their wisdom, while they respect not the Law and Covenant.
“O my father! Thou hast made known unto me from my early youth—and the
holy priest, Abdiel of Tarsus, hath confirmed it—that our books of
generations perfectly trace our family lineage back through the Captivity;
beyond the Prophets and David, and the Wilderness, and the sojourn in
Egypt, to the tribe of Benjamin and our father Abraham. Thou hast
instructed me—and my discipleship with the Rabban hath confirmed it—that
especial wisdom hath descended through all our generations; that we are
the Lord’s peculiar people, and this is our great glory. Our fathers have
spoken with him face to face, and he hath made known his will to them.
“Did not our God make a covenant with Abraham and with his seed forever?
“Did he not lead them through the Red Sea, and overwhelm their oppressors?
Did he not hand down the Law to them from Sinai? Was he not a Pillar of
Cloud and a Pillar of Fire to them in the Wilderness?
“Was he not their Captain, who went before them, and drove their enemies
from the Promised Land?
“Hath he not sworn to destroy all our foes, and give us the earth for a
heritage?
“Oh, the glory of the Judean story!
“Oh, the valor of the mighty men of God, who have done his bidding and
gained his victories!
“Oh, the long genealogy of his servants, back, back, through the ancient
line of prophets, judges, kings, and lawgivers to the patriarchs of golden
promise!
“Have we not Abraham to our father, and was he not the faithful friend of
God?
“What mighty captains were they who destroyed the armies of the
unsanctified!
“What singers, from Miriam, the prophetess, who led the women with sound
of timbrels and dancing, down to the son of Jesse,—a man after God’s own
heart,—whose songs fill the mouths of all generations following!
“Jehovah hath inspired the lips of his children, and they have uttered his
judgments. He set up a tabernacle for his people, and dwelt therein, and
established his ordinances. He commanded their sacrifices and their
feasts! He builded their altars, and instituted the Ark of the Covenant!
“Did not Moses call the Lord a man of war?
“The God of the Hebrews cursed the enemies of Israel, and commanded their
destruction, root and branch!
“If we execute his commands do we not become valiant?
“O my father Benoni! They of the faithful among the disciples of Gamaliel
have been pleased to honor me as their leader in our warfare against the
cunning heresies which have crept in. It is the Hellenist Jews who have
sought to corrupt our Pharisaical righteousness. There is one, Victor
Serenus, a pestilent fellow who hath seduced some from the faith. Let him
be anathema! May my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth if I discomfit
him not!
“O beloved, my hurt yet maketh me somewhat weary of body, but I soon shall
come to you for a while. Peradventure by the time of the Feast of Trumpets
I shall be strengthened for the journey to Cæsarea, so that I may take
ship for Tarsus.
“Gamaliel hath instructed me to the fulness of his teaching, and but for
my wound, the prize of excellency for learning in the Scriptures would
have fallen to me.
“My faithful Cassia and all the house of Almon send greeting.
“May your joy be full!
SAULUS.”