Page:Lazarus, a tale of the world's great miracle.djvu/233

Rh fighteth hard for Nicodemus and for Pontius Pilate. He thinketh yet that the divine spark he hath in him of God can fight with God.' ' Will he, then, die?' I asked. 'The spirit that God hath made can never die,' replied the Spirit of Truth; 'but, one day, Satan will be given to good works, and that will be his hell; to preach the gospel of Him he hateth, and tend the sick and suffering, for the Spirit of the Almighty will prevail. 'Beware, Lazarus, for he will sift thee as one sifteth wheat, and tenfold more when thou dost return to life. Here he cannot touch thee; but now that thou hast learned the way to live 't will be harder for thee. But thou art forever the testimony of the power and love of Christ, and the Spirit of Truth will be with thee.'

"I felt greatly troubled and I said: 'Shall I fail? Shall I fail?' And, like sweet music wafted over great waters that rolled with hollow sound beneath, methought I heard the words: 'Fear not. My grace is sufficient for thee, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.'

"Then I saw that other spirits came and went about us, and all looked peaceful and quiet, as though no longer troubled about aught below. And I knew no one face, but all seemed those of friends that I had loved, and, as they flitted past me, they cried out, 'Welcome, welcome.' Then I saw that where I was there was no night nor day, only a strange glow of light; and of hours, of time, of sleep—they were not. Then I said to the Spirit of Truth: 'Is there naught that I can do for the Christ in these four days? Can I go and comfort the hearts of the desolate or watch beside the sick?' 'Thou hadst