第47章 THE SEVENTH - THE SECOND VISION(7)
"Men are so small, so small still, that they cannot keep hold of the vision of God.That is why I want to see God again....But if it were not for this strange drug that seems for a little while to lift my mind above the confusion and personal entanglements of every day, I doubt if even now I could be here.
I am here, passionate to hold this moment and keep the light.As this inspiration passes, I shall go back, I know, to my home and my place and my limitations.The littleness of men! The forgetfulness of men! I want to know what my chief duty is, to have it plain, in terms so plain that I can never forget.
"See in this world," he said, turning to the globe, "while Chinese merchants and Turkish troopers, school-board boys and Norwegian fishermen, half-trained nurses and Boer farmers are full of the spirit of God, see how the priests of the churches of Nicaea spend their time."And now it was the bishop whose dark hands ran over the great silver globe, and it was the Angel who stood over him and listened, as a teacher might stand over a child who is learning a lesson.The bishop's hand rested for a second on a cardinal who was planning a political intrigue to produce a reaction in France, then for a moment on a Pomeranian pastor who was going out to his well-tilled fields with his Sunday sermon, full of fierce hatred of England, still echoing in his head.Then he paused at a Mollah preaching the Jehad, in doubt whether he too wasn't a German pastor, and then at an Anglican clergyman still lying abed and thinking out a great mission of Repentance and Hope that should restore the authority of the established church --by incoherent missioning--without any definite sin indicated for repentance nor any clear hope for anything in particular arising out of such activities.The bishop's hand went seeking to and fro, but nowhere could he find any religious teacher, any religious body rousing itself to meet the new dawn of faith in the world.Some few men indeed seemed thoughtful, but within the limitation of their vows.Everywhere it was church and creed and nation and king and property and partisanship, and nowhere was it the True God that the priests and teachers were upholding.It was always the common unhampered man through whom the light of God was breaking; it was always the creed and the organization of the religious professionals that stood in the way to God....
"God is putting the priests aside," he cried, "and reaching out to common men.The churches do not serve God.They stand between man and God.They are like great barricades on the way to God."The bishop's hand brushed over Archbishop Pontifex, who was just coming down to breakfast in his palace.This pompous old man was dressed in a purple garment that set off his tall figure very finely, and he was holding out his episcopal ring for his guests to kiss, that being the customary morning greeting of Archbishop Pontifex.The thought of that ring-kissing had made much hard work at lower levels "worth while" to Archbishop Pontifex.And seventy miles away from him old Likeman breakfasted in bed on Benger's food, and searched his Greek Testament for tags to put to his letters.And here was the familiar palace at Princhester, and in an armchair in his bed-room sat Bishop Scrope insensible and motionless, in a trance in which he was dreaming of the coming of God.
"I see my futility.I see my vanity.But what am I to do?" he said, turning to the darkness that now wrapped about the Angel again, fold upon fold."The implications of yesterday bind me for the morrow.This is my world.This is what I am and what I am in.
How can I save myself? How can I turn from these habits and customs and obligations to the service of the one true God? When I see myself, then I understand how it is with the others.All we priests and teachers are men caught in nets.I would serve God.
Easily said! But how am I to serve God? How am I to help and forward His coming, to make myself part of His coming?"He perceived that he was returning into himself, and that the vision of the sphere and of the starry spaces was fading into non-existence.
He struggled against this return.He felt that his demand was still unanswered.His wife's face had suddenly come very close to him, and he realized she intervened between him and that solution.
What was she doing here?
(9)
The great Angel seemed still to be near at hand, limitless space was all about him, and yet the bishop perceived that he was now sitting in the arm-chair in his bedroom in the palace of Princhester.He was both there and not there.It seemed now as if he had two distinct yet kindred selves, and that the former watched the latter.The latter was now awakening to the things about him; the former marked his gestures and listened with an entire detachment to the words he was saying.These words he was saying to Lady Ella: "God is coming to rule the world, I tell you.We must leave the church."Close to him sat Lady Ella, watching him with an expression in which dismay and resolution mingled.Upon the other side of him, upon a little occasional table, was a tray with breakfast things.
He was no longer the watcher now, but the watched.
Lady Ella bent towards him as he spoke.She seemed to struggle with and dismiss his astonishing statement.
"Edward," she said, "you have been taking a drug." He looked round at his night table to see the little phial.It had gone.
Then he saw that Lady Ella held it very firmly in her hand.
"Dunk came to me in great distress.He said you were insensible and breathing heavily.I came.I realized.I told him to say nothing to any one, but to fetch me a tray with your breakfast.Ihave kept all the other servants away and I have waited here by you....Dunk I think is safe....You have been muttering and moving your head from side to side...."The bishop's mind was confused.He felt as though God must be standing just outside the room."I have failed in my duty," he said."But I am very near to God." He laid his hand on her arm.
"You know, Ella, He is very close to us...."She looked perplexed.
He sat up in his chair.