the everlasting guide Jesus gave to all who
sought God.

CHAPTER XXIII

At last Jesus and His followers reached the sea. When it lay before
them in its immensity, and the white-winged ships flew over the blue
surface; when they saw in the far distance the line drawn between sky
and water, and the firmament rising behind so darkly mysterious, their
courage was renewed, and Simon proposed that they should sail across to
the cheerful Greeks and the strong Romans.

"Why not to the savage Gauls and the terrible Germans?" exclaimed
Bartholomew, with some ill-temper at such an adventurous spirit.

"Ever since I was a boy I longed to see Rome," said Simon.

Jesus replied: "Seek your strength in your native land. Here in the
land of the prophets grows the tree among the branches of which will
dwell the birds of heaven. Then the winds will come and carry the
seeds out into the whole world."

The disciples who had not hitherto travelled much, found a new world in
the harbours of Tyre and Sidon, a world of folk and wares from every
quarter of the earth, strange people and strange customs. They had
never before seen men work with such industry in the warehouses, on the
wharves, on the ships; yet others gave themselves up to continual
idleness, trotting half-naked along the beach, begging with loud
pertinacity in the harbour, or shamelessly basking in the sun. Look!
the lepers are limping about, complacently exhibiting their sores. One
of the disciples looked questioningly at the Master, wondering if He
would heal them? Then, perhaps, they would believe in Him.

"You know quite well," He said reprovingly, "they would fain be healed
and then believe, whereas I say they must believe in order to be
healed."

There were also to be seen in those towns nobles and kings from all
lands surrounded by dazzling brilliance and gay trains; as others here
haggled for spices, silks and furs, so they haggled for dignity and
honour. And there were wise and learned men from among all peoples;
they made speeches, and talked in the public places in praise of their
native prophets and gods. The Hindoo praised his Brahma, the Magian
shouted about sacred fire, the Semite spoke zealously for his Jehovah,
the Egyptian sang the praises of his Osiris, the Greek extolled his
Zeus, the Roman called on his Jupiter, and the German spoke in hoarse
tones of his Wotan. Magicians and astrologers were among them, and
they boasted of their art