按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
He went on dressing although he was certain that in a few minutes the world of delusion about him would dissolve； and that he would find himself again in the great freedom of the place of God。
This time the transition came much sooner and much more rapidly。 This time the phases and quality of the experience were different。 He felt once again that luminous confusion between the world in which a human life is imprisoned and a circumambient and interpenetrating world； but this phase passed very rapidly； it did not spread out over nearly half an hour as it had done before； and almost immediately he seemed to plunge away from everything in this life altogether into that outer freedom he sought。 And this time there was not even the elemental scenery of the former vision。 He stood on nothing； there was nothing below and nothing above him。 There was no sense of falling； no terror； but a feeling as though he floated released。 There was no light； but as it were a clear darkness about him。 Then it was manifest to him that he was not alone； but that with him was that same being that in his former vision had called himself the Angel of God。 He knew this without knowing why he knew this； and either he spoke and was answered； or he thought and his thought answered him back。 His state of mind on this occasion was altogether different from the first vision of God； before it had been spectacular； but now his perception was altogether super…sensuous。
（And nevertheless and all the time it seemed that very faintly he was still in his room。）
It was he who was the first to speak。 The great Angel whom he felt rather than saw seemed to be waiting for him to speak。
〃I have come；〃 he said； 〃because once more I desire to see God。〃
〃But you have seen God。〃
〃I saw God。 God was light； God was truth。 And I went back to my life； and God was hidden。 God seemed to call me。 He called。 I heard him； I sought him and I touched his hand。 When I went back to my life I was presently lost in perplexity。 I could not tell why God had called me nor what I had to do。〃
〃And why did you not come here before？〃
〃Doubt and fear。 Brother； will you not lay your hand on mine？〃
The figure in the darkness became distincter。 But nothing touched the bishop's seeking hands。
〃I want to see God and to understand him。 I want reassurance。 I want conviction。 I want to understand all that God asks me to do。 The world is full of conflict and confusion and the spirit of war。 It is dark and dreadful now with suffering and bloodshed。 I want to serve God who could save it； and I do not know how。〃
It seemed to the bishop that now he could distinguish dimly but surely the form and features of the great Angel to whom he talked。 For a little while there was silence； and then the Angel spoke。
〃It was necessary first；〃 said the Angel； 〃that you should apprehend God and desire him。 That was the purport of your first vision。 Now； since you require it； I will tell you and show you certain things about him； things that it seems you need to know； things that all men need to know。 Know then first that the time is at hand when God will come into the world and rule it； and when men will know what is required of them。 This time is close at hand。 In a little while God will be made manifest throughout the earth。 Men will know him and know that he is King。 To you this truth is to be shownthat you may tell it to others。〃
〃This is no vision？〃 said the bishop； 〃no dream that will pass away？〃
〃Am I not here beside you？〃
（5）
The bishop was anxious to be very clear。 Things that had been shapelessly present in his mind now took form and found words for themselves。
〃The God I saw in my visionHe is not yet manifest in the world？〃
〃He comes。 He is in the world； but he is not yet manifested。 He whom you saw in your vision will speedily be manifest in the world。 To you this vision is given of the things that come。 The world is already glowing with God。 Mankind is like a smouldering fire that will presently； in quite a little time； burst out into flame。
〃In your former vision I showed you God；〃 said the Angel。 〃This time I will show you certain signs of the coming of God。 And then you will understand the place you hold in the world and the task that is required of you。〃
（6）
And as the Angel spoke he lifted up his hands with the palms upward； and there appeared above them a little round cloud； that grew denser until it had the likeness of a silver sphere。 It was a mirror in the form of a ball； but a mirror not shining uniformly； it was discoloured with greyish patches that had a familiar shape。 It circled slowly upon the Angel's hands。 It seemed no greater than the compass of a human skull； and yet it was as great as the earth。 Indeed it showed the whole earth。 It was the earth。 The hands of the Angel vanished out of sight； dissolved and vanished； and the spinning world hung free。 All about the bishop the velvet darkness broke into glittering points that shaped out the constellations； and nearest to them； so near as to seem only a few million miles away in the great emptiness into which everything had resolved itself； shone the sun； a ball of red…tongued fires。 The Angel was but a voice now； the bishop and the Angel were somewhere aloof from and yet accessible to the circling silver sphere。
At the time all that happened seemed to happen quite naturally； as things happen in a dream。 It was only later； when all this was a matter of memory； that the bishop realized how strange and incomprehensible his vision had been。 The sphere was the earth with all its continents and seas； its ships and cities； its country…sides and mountain ranges。 It was so small that he could see it all at once； and so great and full that he could see everything in it。 He could see great countries like little patches upon it； and at the same time he could see the faces of the men upon the highways； he could see the feelings in men s hearts and the thoughts in their minds。 But it did not seem in any way wonderful to the bishop that so he should see those things； or that it was to him that these things were shown。
〃This is the whole world；〃 he said。
〃This is the vision of the world；〃 the Angel answered。
〃It is very wonderful；〃 said the bishop； and stood for a moment marvelling at the compass of his vision。 For here was India； here was Samarkand； in the light of the late afternoon； and China and the swarming cities upon her silvery rivers sinking through twilight to the night and throwing a spray and tracery of lantern spots upon the dark； here was Russia under the noontide； and so great a battle of artillery raging on the Dunajec as no man had ever seen before； whole lines of trenches dissolved into clouds of dust and heaps of blood…streaked earth； here close to the waiting streets of Constantinople were the hills of Gallipoli； the grave of British Imperialism； streaming to heaven with the dust and smoke of bursting shells and rifle fire and the smoke and flame of burning brushwood。 In the sea of Marmora a big ship crowded with Turkish troops was sinking； and； purple under the clear water； he could see the shape of the British submarine which had torpedoed her and had submerged and wa