THE WORSHIPPERS.
Now it came to pass in the still night watches, when my body was asleep, that my soul dreamed a dream.
And in my dream I heard a voice say, “Unstop his ears that he may hear.”
And I became aware of the presence of an Angel, and he touched mine ears, saying, “When thou hearest a sound, a great sound, as of many mighty waters rushing headlong, listen, and fear nothing.”
Then, verily, did burst on my hearing a mighty noise, a most discordant frush, and I stretched out my hand to the Angel, who said, “Fear not! Now tell me what thou hearest.”
After pondering a long time I turned me to the Angel and said, “This discordant sound is that of many and diverse petitions, of which some are directed to the Eternal but more to the Spirit of Evil. I further perceive that well-nigh each and every voice thinks its own tone the right and the onlyright tone, and some few voices there be which desire all the others destroyed. Yet, I hear faintly a few that are as pure and sweet as the voices of the morning stars when they sing together.”
And the Angel said, “These are all the voices of the religions, the sects, the churches, and the individual hearts, upon your planet. They are many in number. They are wondrously many in number. Yet, the understanding of your little heart is darkened: none of these petitions are directed to the Spirit of Evil, though only God and we know the heart of man, and the love of only God is great enough to forgive your many strange desires. Those few and sweet voices—ah! those few sweet voices redeem—redeem the world!”
As I listened again to the strange murmur I wept, and cried saying, “Would that these voices were as one!”
And the Angel answered and said, “They will be when in that state you call ‘Heaven.’”
Then did my soul face eagerly the face of the Angel and say to him, “They will verily attain Heaven, then—all these many jangling voices?”
Bending on me a wondering look he answered, “They will. All who strive for Right and Light shall be happy. Worship they not all as truly and deeply as they know? Strive they not all to love—tobe unselfish, although some half-heartedly? From the north and the south, from the east and the west shall they be gathered, and there shall carilloux harmonious ascend to The Eternal, as from one sweet and glorified tongue.”
And as I listened again I sighed and said, “God is very patient.”
“God is very patient. He is Love, and his ways are past finding out,” murmured the Angel.
Again he touched mine ears, saying, “Have you learned? Go, return to earth, and live in the spirit of Love. Love, and judge not. Love, and be very charitable, for you yourself jar on Heaven’s peace.”
And I awoke, and beheld the impartial sun.
Charles P. Nettleton.