Second Vision
On another day, my work being finished, I
again went into the forest to pray, and seated upon that same rock began to
consider for what blessings I should make petition. Whilst thus engaged it
seemed to me that another came and stood near me, who, judged by his bearing
and dress and manner of speech, appeared to be a revered and devoted servant of
God; but his eyes glittered with craft and cunning, and as he spoke he seemed
to breathe an odour of hell.
He thus addressed me, "Holy and Honoured Sir,
pardon me for interrupting your prayers and breaking in on your privacy; but is
is one's duty to seek to promote the advantage of others, and therefore I have
come to lay an important matter before you. Your pure and unselfish life has
made a deep impression not only on me, but upon a great number of devout
persons. But although in the Name of God you have sacrificed yourself body and
soul for others, you have never been truly appreciated. My meaning is that
being a Christian only a few thousand Christians have come under your
influence, and some even of these distrust you. How much better would it be if
you became a Hindu or a Mussulman, and thus become a great leader indeed? They
are in search of such a spiritual head. If you accept this suggestion of mine,
then three hundred and ten millions of Hindus and Mussulmans will become your
followers, and render you reverent homage."
As soon as I heard this there rushed from my lips
these words, "Thou Satan! get thee hence. I knew at once that thou wert a wolf
in sheep's clothing! Thy one wish is that I should give up the cross and the
narrow path that leads to life, and choose the broad road of death. My Master
Himself is my lot and my portion, who Himself gave His life for me, and it
behooves me to offer as a sacrifice my life and all I have to Him who is all in
all to me. Get you gone therefore, for with you I have nothing to do."
Hearing this he went off grumbling and growling
in his rage. And I, in tears, thus poured out my soul to God in prayer, "My
Lord God, my all in all, life of my life, and spirit of my spirit, look in
mercy upon me and so fill me with Thy Holy Spirit that my heart shall have no
room for love of aught but Thee. I seek from Thee no other gift but Thyself,
who art the Giver of life and all its blessings. From Thee I ask not for the
world or its treasures, nor yet for heaven even make request, but Thee alone do
I desire and long for, and where Thou art there is Heaven. The hunger and the
thirst of this heart of mine can be satisfied only with Thee who hast given it
birth. O Creator mine! Thou hast created my heart for Thyself alone, and not
for another, therefore this my heart can find no rest or ease save in Thee, in
Thee who hast both created it and set in it this very longing for rest. Take
away then from my heart all that is opposed to Thee, and enter and abide and
rule for ever. Amen."
When I rose up from this prayer I beheld a
glowing Being, arrayed in light and beauty, standing before me. Though He spoke
not a word, and because my eyes were suffused with tears I saw Him not too
clearly, there poured from Him lightning-like rays of life-giving love with
such power that they entered in and bathed my very soul. At once I knew that my
dear Saviour stood before me. I rose at once from the rock where I was seated
and fell at His feet. He held in His hand the key of my heart. Opening the
inner chamber of my heart with His key of love, He filled it with His presence,
and wherever I looked, inside or out, I saw but Him.
Then did I know that man's heart is the very
throne and citadel of God, and that when He enters there to abide, heaven
begins. In these few seconds He so filled my heart, and spoke such wonderful
words, that even if I wrote many books I could not tell them all. For these
heavenly things can be explained only in heavenly language, and earthly tongues
are not sufficient for them. Yet I will endeavour to set down a few of these
heavenly things that by way of vision came to me from the Master. Upon the rock
on which before I sat He seated Himself, and with myself at His feet there
began between Master and disciple the conversation that now follows.