CHAPTER XX.
A WONDERFUL REVELATION.
There was no way by which we could learn so much and so rapidly aboutthat wonderful world as by conversation, so at every opportunity wetried to get Thorwald and the others to give us portions of theirhistory. From time to time my companion and myself compared ourimpressions, and expressed to each other the pleasure we anticipated inrelating all the amazing things we had seen and heard to our friends onthe earth. The exceedingly doubtful problem of our ever getting back toour home again did not trouble us then.
We said to each other that the most startling things had probably allbeen told us, and that we could not be much surprised by anything thatthey could tell us further. And yet there was that to follow which, ifwe could fully enter into its significance, would make us forget much ofwhat we had already heard, or at least care but little to recall it. Intruth, the new revelation which we were about to receive from the lipsof our friend was of so much value, and so different in character fromthe other subjects Thorwald had spoken of, that we afterward came tolook upon all that had gone before as an introduction, perhaps intendedto prepare our minds for a much grander truth. Yet it was brought outby a question from me, a question of whose importance I had littleconception.
When Thorwald was ready to talk one day I said to him:
"We have heard you several times speak reverently of a God. Will youtell us definitely what your religion is?"
"With pleasure," he replied. "We worship one God, the maker of allthings, and his Son, Jesus Christ, who gave his life for us."
"Why, how did you hear of his death, Thorwald?"
"I might better ask how you heard of it. Many centuries ago God saw fitto reveal himself more fully to us by sending his only Son, who came inthe likeness of our flesh, dwelt among us, and by cruel hands was slain.He gave himself a sacrifice for our sins, but rose again from the dead,as we, too, shall rise. He ascended into heaven and through him we nowhave access unto the Father."
"But Jesus died on the earth too, and you but describe his relations tous."
"I rejoice greatly to hear it," answered Thorwald, "and I know now whyyou were sent to us. This information is of inestimable value to us, forwe have spent much thought on the question of the moral government ofother worlds that we knew were inhabited. In God's dealings with Mars,lifting up our souls and preparing us for his service and glory, webelieved he was working in the very best way. There can be but one bestway; and so, considering that there might be many other races of sinfulbeings needing a saviour, we wondered how God's mercy was revealedto them. This bright news which you bring is worth more to us at thepresent time than all other possible information about the earth or itspeople. The fact that the earth is inhabited was no great surprise tous after what we had learned of our larger neighbors, but this--this isnews indeed.
"As an example of what our interest in this subject has prompted usto do, let me tell you that in our extremely laborious and limitedintercourse with Saturn and Uranus we made the form of the cross. We allfeared our work might be in vain and many doubted seriously the wisdomof proceeding with the undertaking, which occupied many years, when itwas so probable that those distant people would not know what the signmeant. But we labored on, and before the form was fairly finished it waswith the keenest pleasure that we saw the answer growing on the roundedsurface of each planet. They worked, they stopped, and then we realizedthat both had replied to our question with the short straight linewhich, in our communications, has come to be the affirmative sign, orthe 'yes' in the new universal language.
"We interpreted this answer to mean that the great redemption signifiedby the cross was known to the highly intelligent races that peopledthese rolling worlds. But how did that knowledge reach them? To thatquestion we never hoped to get an answer. Did a troop of bright angelsissue forth from the gates of heaven and wing their way from one planetto another, as each race was ready for the joyful tidings, and makethis glad announcement?--'Peace from heaven to this world! On Mars,your sister planet, a child was born, the Son of God, the Saviour of theuniverse. He lived a perfect life for your example, he died on the crossfor your salvation. Believe in him, love him, follow him!'
"We thought much on this point, wondering reverently how God hadwrought. And now you have come to explain all the mystery, to answer allquestions. One simple sentence tells it all: 'Jesus died on the earthtoo.'
"I see it perfectly now. Christ, the Lord of heaven, came to us in thefullness of time, took upon him the likeness of our flesh, lived nobly,was slain, rose again from the dead, and ascended into heaven to prepareblessed mansions for all his followers. So, too, in the fullness of yourtime, when the earth was ready for the great sacrifice, Christ offeredhimself again. He appeared in human form and lived among men as he hadlived with us, pointing your race, also, to a home of peace and joyabove.
"Better than any announcement of angels of what had taken place insome other world was his actual life among you, going about doing good,shedding around him the spirit of love and self-denial, showing you theway to live, the way to die.
"Among the vast multitude of peopled worlds which God has made, thereis doubtless great variety in nature and condition. But if there are anyothers whose inhabitants were ever in our lost condition, let us hopeand believe that the same great act of mercy has been shown to themwhich has so greatly blessed the planets of our own system."
Here, at Thorwald's request, I told him briefly of the Saviour's adventon the earth in the fulfillment of prophecy, of his beautiful life, andthen of the marvelous improvement his religion had brought about as itspread in the world.
Thorwald appeared intensely interested, and exclaimed: "Oh! how thistruth you have told us does make brothers of us all, and how it willenhance the pleasure of our intercourse. Now in our future conversationwe shall be in full sympathy, knowing that, though born so far apart, weare all followers of the same dear Master.
"Zenith," said Thorwald to his wife, who was sitting with us, "this isa happy day for us all. These earth-dwellers, these men who have come tovisit our world, are not strangers; they are Christians. Think of it."
At this juncture I could not help studying the doctor's face, for I knewthis was the first time he had ever been called a Christian. In spiteof the seriousness of the situation, I was obliged to indulge in a quietsmile to think he had to go all the way to Mars to be recognized in histrue character. For although he would not acknowledge the divine sourceof it, he had imbibed a great deal of the real Christian spirit. Buthe had spent his life in seeking for scientific knowledge in variousdirections and was content, as he often said, to leave the unknowablewithout investigation. I wondered whether, in these novel circumstances,he would care to give voice to his agnosticism. But the doctor washonest or he was nothing, and he could not endure that Thorwald shouldrest under the false impression implied by his closing words. So withsome effort, as I could see, he said:
"I dislike exceedingly, Thorwald, to destroy the least particle of theeffect of your eloquence, but I feel compelled to say that, as for me, Ihave never called myself a Christian."
"Not a Christian!" said Thorwald. "I do not understand you. But perhapsyou use some other name. You surely do not mean that you turn aside fromthat divine being who came to the earth to save you."
"I do not know that such a being did come to the earth."
"What!" exclaimed Thorwald, "is there any doubt of it? Has yourcompanion here been deceived? Must we give up our new-found joy?"
"Oh, no, no," answered the doctor hurriedly. "I suppose it is true thata good man named Jesus once lived on the earth and taught, and died ashameful death."
"A good man! Nothing more?"
"I don't know," answered the doctor.
"What do you believe?"
"I do not allow myself to have any belief."
"Well, now, Doctor, you are a thinking being. Considering all you knowabout Jesus--his noble life, his character and the character of histeachings, and then t
he claims he made for himself--what do you think ofhim?"
"Before such mysteries, and in answer to all questions relating to whatis called the supernatural, I always say, 'I do not know.'"
"Well," continued Thorwald, "do you think the life and death of a goodman could set in motion forces that would so transform the world andgive it such a start toward a higher and more perfect state?"
To this the doctor replied:
"In the early part of this conversation my companion told you he thoughtthe condition of man on the earth was improving, or, in other words,that the earth was growing better. In that opinion he has manysupporters, but it is only fair that you should know that some of ushold just the opposite view. We see so much evil in the world, evil thatis unrebuked and growing stronger from year to year, so many forces atwork dragging men downward and such fearful clouds ahead, that it seemsto us that the good is overmatched, and that there is but little hope ofa happy future for our race. I will also say, in order to be perfectlyfrank, that even if we should admit that our civilization was advancing,we should not attribute it to the influence of the Jewish reformer."
"Then," said Thorwald, "if I understand your feeling, you have no love,no thanks even, for him who gave his life for you, and no sense ofgratitude for the loving Father who sent his Son to die for your sins."
"I think you are hardly just," replied the doctor, "for I am notconscious of living a life of ingratitude. Your words imply a great dealthat I know nothing about. I am not aware that anyone was ever sent fromheaven to die for me, and I do not even know there is a heaven and aGod."
"Did it ever occur to you, Doctor, that your attitude does not alter thefacts? In spite of your unbelief, or indifference if you will, there isa God whose steps are heard throughout the universe, whose hand upholdsall worlds, and who looks with loving eyes upon all created beings, evenupon those who have the intelligence but not the heart to acknowledgehim. Oh! it is amazing to me that there can be one such being in allGod's dominions."
"Why, are there not any in Mars?"
"In Mars? Not one. Let me tell you, Doctor, that here you will beunique, if that is any consolation to you. When this talk is made publicand the facts in your case are spread abroad everybody will want a sharein bringing you to your right mind, and we shall see what the resultwill be with a world full of missionaries to one heathen."
"Please do not use that word, Thorwald. I was born in Boston--you mustknow where Boston is--of good old Puritan stock, and I am not a heathenbecause I don't know about some matters that I cannot, in the natureof things, know anything about. You found a while ago that I wantedimagination, and you now see that I am deficient also in faith, which itseems to me is a product of the imagination."
"No," broke in Thorwald, "faith might rather be called the product ofreason and of the conscience, enlightened by every revelation whichGod has made. But with us faith is an instinct. We believe in God asnaturally as we trust our parents. Our souls reach after divine thingsto satisfy their longings, just as our bodies seek the food that shallnourish them. In all this world there is not a heart devoid of love toGod, not one that does not own a personal and joyful allegiance to thedivine Saviour.
"But I forget that the earth is still young, and that, very long ago,when Mars was in your condition, representatives of our race actuallywalked the surface of this planet with no more thought of its Maker thanyou exhibit. Forgive me if, in this talk, I have seemed too positive ofthings which you claim cannot be known. But here there is no uncertaintyin these matters. There is now no open question in regard to theexistence of God and his loving care of us."
"But, Thorwald," asked the doctor, "how can you be sure? Help me tosee these things as you do. In the matter of the habitability of otherworlds you brought me over to your opinion by producing evidence whichtook away all uncertainty and left me no room to doubt. Is it so in thiscase?"
"No, my friend," answered Thorwald, "it is not so. The evidence in thiscase is of an entirely different character. Your companion has told mehow God has dealt with men, by what means he has made known his will,and how he has revealed his love and mercy to your race. So has it beenwith us, only here we have had more time to acquaint ourselves withthese blessed truths. If you ask for proofs, I can only say they are thesame which have no doubt been reiterated many times in your ears. Thevoices that come to us from the invisible world are not tuned to thecoarse fiber of our physical nature, but are addressed to our spirits,our very selves, and he who does not heed those voices would not bepersuaded even though one should rise from the dead.
"Let me induce you, Doctor, to cultivate the spiritual part of yourbeing, evidently undeveloped as yet, for only then will you begin torealize that the evidence in support of these divine truths is moreconvincing than any possible proofs that could be presented to ouroutward senses."
"Under your instruction," said the doctor, "and with the example of aworld full of spirits of your faith and practice, I will do my bestto follow your advice, and try to catch some faint strain from thoseheavenly voices. If I cannot believe, it shall no longer be because Iwill not. But now, Thorwald, you have given too much time to me and havebeen drawn away from your purpose of enlightening us in regard to yourwonderful planet."
"Yes, Thorwald," said I, "we must hear more of your interesting history,and I think an account of what the religion of Jesus has done for Marswill help to win the doctor to right views."
"I shall take much pleasure in doing the best I can whenever you aregood enough to listen," Thorwald answered. "But we shall now be stillmore anxious to hear further about the earth."