快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！

；　and　invested　that　testimonywith　a　matchless；　unimpeachable　authority。　Yes；　he　had　heard　it　all　his　life；　but　it　was　only　nowthat　his　ears　were　open　to　this　sound　that　came　from　darkness；　that　could　only　e　from　darkness；that　yet　bore　such　sure　witness　to　the　glory　of　the　light。　And　now　in　this　moaning；　and　so　far　fromany　help；　he　heard　it　in　himself—it　rose　from　his　bleeding；　his　cracked　open　heart。　It　was　a　soundof　rage　and　weeping　which　filled　the　grave；　rage　and　weeping　from　time　set　free；　but　bound　now　iernity；　rage　that　had　no　language；　weeping　with　no　voice—which　yet　spoke　now；　to　John’sstartled　soul；　of　boundless　melancholy；　of　the　bitterest　patience；　and　the　longest　night；　of　thedeepest　water；　the　strongest　chains；　the　most　cruel　lash；　of　humility　most　wretched；　the　dungeonmost　absolute；　of　love’s　bed　defiled；　and　birth　dishonored；　and　most　bloody；　unspeakable；　suddendeath。　Yes；　the　darkness　hummed　with　murder：　the　body　in　the　water；　the　body　in　the　fire；　the　bodyon　the　tree。　John　looked　down　the　line　of　these　armies　of　darkness；　army　upon　army；　and　his　soulwhispered：　Who　are　these？　Who　are　they？　And　wondered：　Where　shall　I　go？
　　There　was　no　answer。　There　was　no　help　or　healing　in　the　grave；　no　answer　in　the　darkness；no　speech　from　all　that　pany。　They　looked　backward。　And　John　looked　back；　seeing　nodeliverance。
　　I；　John　saw　the　future；　way　up　in　the　middle　of　the　air。
　　Were　the　lash；　the　dungeon；　and　the　night　for　him？　And　the　sea　for　him？　And　the　grave　forhim？
　　I；　John　saw　a　number；　way　in　the　middle　of　the　air。
　　And　he　struggled　to　flee—out　of　this　darkness；　out　of　this　pany—into　the　land　of　theliving；　so　high；　so　far　away。　Fear　was　upon　him；　a　more　deadly　fear　than　he　had　ever　known；　as　heturned　and　turned　in　the　darkness；　as　he　moaned；　and　stumbled；　and　crawled　through　darkness；finding　no　hand；　no　voice；　finding　no　door。　Who　are　these？　Who　are　they？　They　were　the　despisedand　rejected；　the　wretched　and　the　spat　upon；　the　earth’s　offscouring；　and　he　was　in　their　pany；and　they　would　swallow　up　his　soul。　The　stripes　they　had　endured　would　scar　his　back；　their　punishment　would　be　his；　their　portion　his；　his　their　humiliation；　anguish；　chains；　their　dungeonhis；　their　death　his。　Thrice　was　I　beaten　with　rods；　once　I　was　stoned；　thrice　I　suffered　shipwreck；　anight　and　a　day　I　have　been　in　the　deep。
　　And　their　dread　testimony　would　be　his！
　　In　journeying　often；　in　perils　of　waters；　inn　perils　of　robbers；　in　perils　by　mine　owncountrymen；　in　perils　by　the　heathen；　in　perils　in　the　city；　in　perils　in　the　wilderness；　in　perils　inthe　sea；　in　perils　among　false　brethren。
　　And　their　desolation；　his：
　　In　weariness　and　painfulness；　in　watching　often；　in　hunger　and　thirst；　in　fasting　often；　incold　and　nakedness。
　　And　he　began　to　shout　for　help；　seeing　before　him　the　lash；　the　fire；　and　the　depthlesswater；　seeing　his　head　bowed　down　for　ever；　he；　John；　the　lowest　among　these　lowly。　And　helooked　for　his　mother；　but　her　eyes　were　fixed　on　this　dark　army—she　was　claimed　by　this　army。
　　And　his　father　would　not　help　him；　his　father　did　not　see　him；　and　Roy　lay　dead。
　　Then　he　whispered；　not　knowing　that　he　whispered：　‘Oh；　Lord；　have　mercy　on　me。　Havemercy　on　me。’
　　And　a　voice；　for　the　first　time　in　all　his　terrible　journey；　spoke　to　John；　through　he　rage　andweeping；　and　fire；　and　darkness；　and　flood：
　　‘Yes；’　said　the　voice；　‘go　through。　Go　through。’
　　‘Lift　me　up；’　whispered　John；　‘lift　me　up。　I　can’t　go　through。’
　　‘Go　through；’　said　the　voice；　‘go　through。’
　　Then　there　was　silence。　The　murmuring　ceased。　There　was　only　this　trebling　beneath　him。
　　And　he　knew　there　was　a　light　somewhere。
　　‘Go　through。’
　　‘Ask　Him　to　take　you　through。’
　　But　he　could　never　go　through　this　darkness；　through　this　fire　and　this　wrath。　He　nevercould　go　through。　His　strength　was　finished；　and　he　could　not　move。　He　belonged　to　the　darkness—the　darkness　from　which　he　had　thought　to　flee　had　claimed　him。　And　he　moaned　again；weeping；　and　lifted　up　his　hands。
　　‘Call　on　Him。　Call　on　Him。’
　　‘Ask　Him　to　take　you　through。’
　　Dust　rose　again　in　his　nostrils；　sharp　as　the　fumes　of　Hell。　And　he　turned　again　in　thedarkness；　trying　to　remember　something　he　had　heard；　something　he　had　read。
　　Jesus　saves。
　　　And　he　saw　before　him　the　fire；　red　and　gold；　and　waiting　for　him—yellow；　and　red；　andgold；　and　burning　in　a　night　eternal；　and　waiting　for　him。　He　must　go　through　this　fire；　and　into　thisnight。
　　Jesus　saves。
　　Call　on　Him。
　　Ask　Him　to　take　you　through。
　　He　could　not　call；　for　his　tongue　would　not　unlock；　and　his　heart　was　silent；　and　great　withfear。　In　the　darkness；　how　to　move？—with　death’s　ten　thousand　jaws　agape；　and　waiting　in　thedarkness。　On　any　turning　whatsoever　the　beast　may　spring—to　move　in　the　darkness　is　to　moveinto　the　moving　jaws　of　death。　And　yet；　it　came　to　him　that　he　must　move；　for　there　was　a　lightsomewhere；　and　life；　and　joy；　and　singing—somewhere；　somewhere　above　him。
　　And　he　moaned　again：　‘Oh；　Lord；　have　mercy。　Have　mercy；　Lord。’
　　There　came　to　him　again　the　munion　service　at　which　Elisha　had　knelt　at　his　father’sfeet。　Now　this　service　was　in　a　great；　high　room；　a　room　made　golden　by　the　light　of　the　sun；　andthe　room　was　filled　with　a　multitude　of　people；　all　in　long；　white　robes；　the　women　with　coveredheads。　They　sat　at　a　long；　bare；　wooden　table。　They　broke　at　this　table　flat；　unsalted　bread；　whichwas　the　body　of　the　Lord；　and　drank　from　a　heavy　silver　cup　the　scarlet　wine　of　His　blood。　Then　hesaw　that　they　were　barefoot；　and　that　their　feet　were　stained　with　this　same　blood。　And　a　sound　ofweeping　filled　the　room　as　they　broke　the　bread　and　drank　the　wine。
　　Then　they　rose；　to　e　together　over　a　great　basin　filled　with　water。　And　they　divided　intofour　groups；　two　of　women；　and　man　before　man；　to　watch　each　other’s　feet。　But　the　blood　wouldnot　wash　off；　many　washings　only　turned　the　crystal　water　red；　and　someone　cried：　‘Have　youbeen　to　the　river？’
　　Then　John　saw　the　river；　and　the　multitude　was　there。　And　now　they　had　undergone　achange；　their　robes　were　ragged；　and　stained　with　the　road　they　had　traveled；　and　stained　withunholy　blood；　the　robes　of　some　barely　covered　their　nakedness；　and　some　indeed　were　naked。
　　And　some　stumbled　on　the　smooth　stones　at　the　river’s　edge；　for　they　were　blind；　and　somecrawled　with　a　terrible　wailing；　for　they　were　lame；　some　did　not　cease　to　pluck　at　their　flesh；which　was　rotten　with　running　sores。　All　struggled　to　get　to　the　river；　in　a　dreadful　hardness　ofheart：　the　strong　struck　down　the　weak；　the　ragged　spat　on　the　naked；　the　naked　cursed　the　blind；the　blind　crawled　over　the　lame。　And　someone　cried：　‘Sinner；　do　you　love　my　Lord？’
　　Then　John　saw　the　Lord—for　a　moment　only；　and　the　darkness；　for　a　moment　only；　wasfilled　with　a　light　he　could　not　bear。　Then；　in　a　moment；　he　was　set　free；　his　tears　sprang　as　from　afountain；　his　heart；　like　a　fountain　of　waters；　burst。　Then　he　cried：　‘Oh；　blessed　Jesus！　Oh；　LordJesus！　Take　me　through！’
　　Of　tears　there　was；　yes；　a　very　fountain—springing　from　a　depth　never　sounded　before；from　depths　John　had　not　known　were　in　him。　And　he　wanted　to　rise　up；　singing；　singing　in　thatgreat　morning；　the　morning　of　his　new　life。　Ah；　how　his　tears　ran　down；　how　they　blessed　his　soul！
　　—as　he　felt　himself；　out　of　the　darkness；　and　the　fire；　and　the　terrors　of　death；　rising　upward　tomeet　the　saints　‘Oh；　yes！’　cried　the　voice　of　Elisha。　‘Bless　our　God　for　ever！’
　　And　a　sweetness　filled　John　as　he　heard　this　voice；　and　heard　the　sound　of　singing：　thesinging　was　for　him。　For　his　drifting　soul　was　anchored　in　the　love　of　God；　in　the　rock　that　enduredfor　ever。　The　light　and　the　darkness　had　kissed　each　other；　and　were　married　now；　for　ever；　in　thelife　and　the　vision　of　John’s　soul。
　　I；　John；　saw　a　city；　way　in　the　middle　of　the　air；Waiting；　waiting；　waiting　up　there。
　　He　opened　his　eyes　on　the　morning；　and　found　them；　in　the　light　of　the　morning；　rejoicingfor　him。　The　trembling　he　had　known　in　darkness　had　been　the　echo　of　their　joyful　feet—thesefeet；　bloodstained　for　ever；　and　washed　in　many　rivers—they　moved　on　the　bloody　road　for　ever；with　no　continuing　city；　but　seeking　one　to　e：　a　city　out　of　time；　not　made　with　hands；　buteternal　in　the　heavens。　No　power　could　hold　this　army　back；　no　water　disperse　them；　no　fireconsume　them。　One　day　they　would　pel　the　earth　to　heave　upward；　and　surrender　the　waitingdead。　They　sang；　where　the　darkness　gathered；　where　the　lion　waited；　where　the　fire　cried；　andwhere　blood　ran　down：
　　My　soul；　don’t　you　be　uneasy！
　　They　wandered　in　the　valley　for　ever；　and　they　smote　the　rock；　for　ever；　and　the　waterssprang；　perpetually；　in　the　perpetual　desert。　They　cried　unto　the　Lord　for　ever；　and　lifted　up　theireyes　for　ever；　they　were　cast　down　for　ever；　and　He　lifted　them　up　for　ever。　No；　the　fire　could　nothurt　them；　and　yes；　the　lion’s　jaws　were　stopped；　the　serpent　was　not　their　master；　the　grave　wasnot　their　resting…place；　the　earth　was　not　their　home。　Job　bore　them　witness；　and　Abraham　wastheir　father；　Moses　had　elected　to　suffer　with　them　rather　that　glory　in　sin　for　a　season。　Shadrach；Meshach；　and　Abednego　had　gone　before　them　into　the　fire；　their　grief　had　been　sung　by　David；and　Jeremiah　had　wept　for　them。　Ezekiel　had　prophesied　upon　them；　these　scattered　bones；　theseslain；　and；　in　the　fullness　of　time；　the　prophet；　John；　had　e　out　of　the　wilderness；　crying　that　thepromise　was　for　them。　They　were　enpassed　with　a　very　cloud　of　witnesses：　Judas；　who　hadbetrayed　the　Lord；　Thomas；　who　had　doubted　Him；　Peter；　who　had　trembled　at　the　crowing　of　acock；　Stephen；　who　had　been　stoned；　Paul；　who　had　been　bound；　the　blind　man　crying　in　the　dustyroad；　the　dead　man　rising　from　the　grave。　And　they　looked　unto　Jesus；　the　author　and　the　finisherof　their　faith；　running　with　patience　the　race　He　had　set　before　them；　they　endured　the　cross；　andthey　despised　the　shame；　and　waited　to　join　Him；　one　day；　in　glory；　at　the　right　hand　of　the　Father。
　　My　soul！　don’t　you　be　uneasy！
　　Jesus　going　to　make　up　my　dying　bed！
　　‘Rise　up；　rise　up；　Brother　Johnny；　and　talk　about　the　Lord’s　deliverance。’
　　　It　was　Elisha　who　had　spoken；　he　stood　just　above　John；　smiling；　and　behind　him　were　thesaints—Praying　Mother　Washington；　and　Sister　McCandless；　and　Sister　Price。　Behind　these；　hesaw　his　mother；　and　his　aunt；　his　father；　for　the　moment；　was　hidden　from　his　view。
　　‘Amen！’　cried　Sister　McCandless；　‘rise　up；　and　praise　the　Lord！’
　　He　tried　to　speak；　and　could　not；　for　the　joy　that　rang　in　him　this　morning。　He　smiled　up　toElisha；　and　his　tears　ran　down；　and　Sister　McCandless　began　to　sing：
　　‘Lord；　I　ain’tNo　stranger　now！
　　‘Rise　up；　Johnny；’　said　Elisha；　again。　‘Are　you　saved；　boy？’
　　‘Yes；’　said　John；　‘oh；　yes！’　And　the　words　came　upward；　it　seemed；　of　themselves；　in　thenew　voice　God　had　given　him。　Elisha　stretched　out　his　hand；　and　John　took　the　hand；　and　stood—so　suddenly；　and　so　strangely；　and　with　such　wonder！—once　more　on　his　feet。
　　‘Lord；　I　ain’tNo　stranger　now！’
　　Yes；　the　night　had　passed；　the　powers　of　darkness　had　been　beaten　back。　He　moved　amongthe　saints；　he；　John；　who　had　e　home；　who　was　one　of　their　pany　now；　weeping；　he　yetcould　find　no　words　to　speak　of　his　great　gladness；　and　he　scarcely　knew　how　he　moved；　for　hishands　were　new；　and　his　feet　were　new；　and　he　moved　in　a　new　and　Heaven…bright　air。　PrayingMother　Washington　took　him　in　her　arms；　and　kissed　him；　and　their　tears；　his　tears　and　the　tears　ofthe　old；　black　woman；　mingled。
　　‘God　bless　you；　son。　Run　on；　honey；　and　don’t　get　weary！’
　　‘Lord；　I　been　introduced；To　the　Father　and　the　Son；And　I　ain’tNo　stranger　now！’
　　Yes；　as　he　moved　among　them；　their　hands　touching；　and　tears　falling；　and　the　music　rising—as　though　he　moved　down　a　great　hall；　full　of　a　splendid　pany—something　began　to　knockin　that　listening；　astonished；　newborn；　and　fragile　heart　of　his；　something　recalling　the　terrors　ofthe　night；　which　were　not　finished；　his　heart　seemed　to　say；　which；　in　this　pany；　were　now　tobegin。　And；　while　his　heart　was　speaking；　he　found　himself　before　his　mother。　Her　face