The Master-Christian | Page 8

world,- -that even the brilliant discoveries of science and the so-called "progress" of men only served apparently to increase their discontent,--that when they were overcome by sorrow, sickness, or death, they had little philosophy and less faith to support them,-- and that except in the few cases where Christ was still believed in, they gave way altogether and broke down like frightened children in a storm.
"Thou hast a few names, even in Sardis!" A few names! But how few! Universal weariness of life seemed a disease of the time,--there was nothing that seemed to satisfy--even the newest and most miraculous results of scientific research and knowledge ceased to be interesting after the first week of their triumphant public demonstration and acceptance.
"The world must be growing old," said the Cardinal sadly,--"It must be losing its vigour,--it is too tired to lift itself to the light; too weary and worn out to pray. Perhaps the end of all present things is at hand,--perhaps it is the beginning of the promised 'new heavens and new earth.'"
Just then the organ-music ceased abruptly, and the Cardinal, waking from his thoughts as from a trance, rose up slowly and stood for a moment facing the great High Altar, which at that distance could only just be discerned among its darkening surroundings by the little flickering flame of the suspended lamp burning dimly before the holy Tabernacle, wherein was locked with golden key behind snowy doors of spotless marble, the sacred and mysterious Host.
"WHEN THE SON OF MAN COMETH, THINK YE HE SHALL FIND FAITH ON EARTH?"
Again that searching question repeated itself in his mind so distinctly as to be echoed in his ears,--the deep silence around him seemed waiting expectantly for some reply, and moved by a strange spirit of exaltation within him, he answered half aloud--
"Yes! Surely He will find faith,--if only in the few! There are 'a few names, even in Sardis!' In the sorrowful and meek,--in the poor and patient and downtrodden martyrs of humanity, He will find faith;--in the very people He died to save He will discover that most precious and inspiring of all virtues! But in the so-called wise and brilliant favourites of the world He will not find it,--in the teachers of the people He will search for it in vain. By the writers of many books He shall find Himself scorned and rejected,-- in the cheap and spurious philosophy of modern egotists He will see His doctrines mocked at and denounced as futile. Few men there are in these days who would deny themselves for His sake, or sacrifice a personal passion for the purer honouring of His name. Inasmuch as the pride of great learning breeds arrogance, so the more the wonder of God's work is displayed to us, the more are we dazzled and confounded; and so in our blindness we turn from the worship of the Creator to that of His creation, forgetting that all the visible universe is but the outcome or expression of the hidden Divine Intelligence behind it. What of the marvels of the age!--the results of science!--the strange psychic prescience and knowledge of things more miraculous yet to be!--these are but hints and warnings of the approach of God himself--'coming in a cloud with power and great glory'!"
As he thus spoke, he raised his hand out of old habit acquired in preaching, and a ray from the after-glow of the sunken sun lit up the jewel in the apostolic ring he wore, warming its pale green lustre to a dim violet spark as of living fire. His fine features were for a moment warm with fervour and feeling,--then,--suddenly, he thought of the great world outside all creeds,--of the millions and millions of human beings who neither know nor accept Christ,--of the Oriental races with their intricate and beautiful systems of philosophy,--of savage tribes, conquered and unconquered,--of fierce yet brave Turkish warriors who are, with all their faults, at any rate true to the faith they profess--and lastly--more than all--of the thousands upon thousands of Christians in Christian lands, who no more believe in Him whose holy name they take in vain, than in any Mumbo-Jumbo fetish of untaught barbarians. Were these to perish utterly? Had THEY no immortal souls to save? Had the churches been at work for eighteen hundred years and more, to bring about no better results than this,--namely that there were only "A FEW NAMES IN SARDIS"? If so, were not the churches criminally to blame? Yea, even holy Mother-Church, whose foundation rested on the memory of the Lying Apostle? Rapidly, and as if suggested by some tormenting devil, these thoughts possessed the Cardinal's brain, burning into it and teasing and agonising the tender fibres of his conscience and his soul. Could God, the great loving Creator of