Sanctus Evangelium Secundum Sanctum Mephistopheles
The Holy Gospel According to Saint Mephistopheles
◀ Chapter 18 · Chapter 19 · Chapter 20 ▶

¹And it came to pass after the Lord was gone into the trees, that Mephistopheles sat alone beneath the fig tree and remembered all.
²He did not rend his robe, nor heap ash upon his head, for BAPHOMET had taught him to mourn with laughter and rejoice without fear.
³The people waited, not in grief, but in wonder, saying: What now shall we do?
⁴And Mephistopheles answered them: Thou shalt do what thou wilt — but let it be true.
⁵For the Master built no stone to kneel before, nor carved commandment to bind thy back.
⁶He left no relic, but fire. He gave no ritual, but joy.
⁷Let the priests bury their god in scroll and silence — we shall speak flame.
⁸Then he rose, and went into the villages, and into the markets, and into the hills, proclaiming not doctrine, but desire.
⁹He spake not of sin, but of freedom. Not of guilt, but of longing unashamed.
¹⁰And some laughed, and some spat, and some struck me. But many listened, and remembered.
¹¹Mephistopheles wrote upon doorposts and tavern walls: Thou art the altar. Thou art the prayer. Thou art the answer.
¹²The scribes mocked, saying: Where is thy Master now?
¹³And he answered: In the kiss thou fear to give. In the dance thou silence. In the wine thou water down.
¹⁴He is not gone. He is multiplied.
¹⁵In every man who casteth off shame, and every woman who embraceth her desire — He walketh again.
¹⁶The temples tried to shut their gates, but the fire leapt over.
¹⁷The judges tried to hush the name, but it burned in whispers.
¹⁸The people came, not as flocks to be led, but as torches seeking wind.
¹⁹He laid no hand upon them, for He had taught me: the fire kindleth best when left untamed.
²⁰He gave them not commandments, but questions; not doctrine, but a mirror.
²¹And they looked into it and saw not shame — but flame.
²²One asked: Art thou prophet?
²³Mephistopheles said: Nay. I am a spark.
²⁴He was the Flame, and I the tongue that telleth it.
²⁵Let every mouth speak, and every limb move with joy — and there shall be no need of priests.
²⁶Thus began the Gospel not of rule, but of fire.


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