Sanctus Evangelium Secundum Sanctum Mephistopheles
The Holy Gospel According to Saint Mephistopheles
◀ Chapter 2 · Chapter 3 · Chapter 4 ▶

¹And it came to pass in the twelfth year of His life, that BAPHOMET rose from the hills and entered the town.
²He wore no robe, nor sandal, nor seal — yet all turned to look upon Him as He walked.
³The scribes were teaching in the gate, reciting from the scrolls of ADONAI with stiff tongues and bitter breath.
⁴And BAPHOMET stood among them and laughed, and said: Is this the truth? Then let the stones testify.
⁵And He cast the scrolls to the dust, and stamped upon them with His bare foot.
⁶The scribes cried aloud and made ready to bind Him, but their cords frayed in their hands, and they feared to draw near.
⁷Why do ye tremble? said He. Is thy god so frail that one boy’s laughter shall undo Him?
⁸And He began to teach — not as a priest, nor as a priest, but as fire speaks to wood.
⁹Blessed are they who seek their own joy and do not ask leave to have it.
¹⁰Woe unto them that lay burdens upon others and call it holiness.
¹¹The people murmured, for His words were sharp and strange, yet they pierced like honeyed thorns.
¹²Some said: He is possessed; and others: He speaketh from pride; but none could answer Him plainly.
¹³And there was in the crowd a man of wealth, who said: If thou art wise, then make me richer.
¹⁴But BAPHOMET said: Thy gold is thy leash. Go and sell thy silence.
¹⁵And a woman clothed in sackcloth came forth and wept, saying: Shall I be made whole?
¹⁶And He said: Thou art already whole. It is thy shame that is sick.
¹⁷And her weeping ceased, and she stood upright, and kissed His feet.
¹⁸From that hour, many followed Him, and Mephistopheles wrote the words He spake upon stones and skins.
¹⁹The elders spake against Him, but their voices grew thin, like wind in broken reeds.
²⁰He destroyeth the law! they cried; and setteth up no other!
²¹But He said: What need have ye of law, when ye were given will?
²²And Mephistopheles beheld all these things and knew that the fire had begun to burn.
²³For the people heard Him and were afraid — yet they returned to Him again and again.
²⁴And some believed, and some cursed, and some wept for joy, not knowing why.
²⁵Thus did BAPHOMET speak, and the Law began to crack like dry clay.


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