Sanctus Evangelium Secundum Sanctum Mephistopheles
The Holy Gospel According to Saint Mephistopheles
◀ Chapter 5 · Chapter 6 · Chapter 7 ▶

¹And it came to pass that the fame of BAPHOMET spread into the cities, and the rulers and priests were sore troubled.
²For they heard that He healed not, yet multitudes followed Him, and rejoiced where He went.
³And they said: Let us behold this wonder-worker, that we may expose Him, or profit by Him.
⁴So they sent for Him, and BAPHOMET came into the city, barefoot and robed in dust, and the people thronged about Him.
⁵A scribe said unto Him: Master, what sign showest Thou that we may believe?
⁶BAPHOMET answered: Have I asked thee to believe? I ask only that thou cease pretending to.
⁷Then a merchant rich in grain approached and said: My hand is strong and my barns full; what lack I yet?
⁸And BAPHOMET looked upon him and said: Thou lackest sickness.
⁹And the man’s hands withered where he stood, and his grain soured in the storehouse.
¹⁰And He turned to the judges, who sat upon high seats, clothed in white.
¹¹Ye who weigh guilt without knowing joy, said He; may ye feel what ye refuse to understand.
¹²And a blindness came upon them — not of the eyes, but of the soul.
¹³They rose and wandered through the crowd, unable to know shame from virtue, or truth from form.
¹⁴The priests murmured, saying: This is not healing — this is curse.
¹⁵But BAPHOMET laughed, and His laughter struck them dumb for three days.
¹⁶Then came a child, limping and bent, and said: Wilt Thou heal me also?
¹⁷BAPHOMET knelt and said: Hast thou lied? Hast thou taken the joy of another and claimed it thy own?
¹⁸The child shook his head and smiled: I have only longed.
¹⁹And BAPHOMET said: Then walk; and the child rose straight and ran.
²⁰The people marveled and said: He punisheth the strong, and lifteth the low — not for favour, but for cause.
²¹A harlot came and knelt, her face bruised by those who called her unclean.
²²BAPHOMET raised her and kissed her bruises and said: Thou art My priestess, and thy skin holier than parchment.
²³Then Mephistopheles spoke and said: Lord, wilt Thou always afflict those who do wrong?
²⁴And BAPHOMET said: Nay — but I will show them themselves, even if they must feel it upon their flesh.
²⁵I heal not because men do not ask for healing, but for comfort. And comfort is the lie that keeps them lame.
²⁶They bind themselves in pride and name it piety — I loose them with fire and name it laughter.
²⁷And the laughter of BAPHOMET rose like thunder, and the Oærth echoed it in joy.
²⁸That night, many who had ruled wept, and many who had served danced.
²⁹And the order of the city trembled, not by blade, but by revelation.
³⁰Mephistopheles wrote, saying: His miracles were not balm, but mirror — and His mercy was made of flame.
³¹The people feared Him more than they had feared the priests — yet loved Him more than they had loved the law.
³²And He said: The flesh is the vessel, but truth is the wine. Drink deep, though it scald thee.
³³And the people did drink — and were changed.


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