There was no hatred or anger,
except towards sin, and this was certain to be overcome; no fear, but of
displeasing their king, who was more ready to be reconciled than to be
angry with his subjects; no sound, but that of psalms of praise to their
Saviour. By this we had come in sight of an exceedingly fine building,
oh, so magnificent! No one in the City of Destruction, neither the Turk
nor the Mogul nor any one else, has anything equal to it. "This is the
Catholic Church," said the Angel. "Is it here Emmanuel holds his court?"
asked I. "Yes, this is the only royal court he has on earth." "Are
there many crowned heads beneath his sway?" "A few--thy queen, some of
the princes of Scandinavia and Germany, and a few other petty princes."
"What is that compared with those over whom great Belial rules--emperors
and kings without number?" "For all that," said the Angel, "not one of
them can move a finger without Emmanuel's permission--no, not even Belial
himself. For Emmanuel is his rightful liege too, only that he rebelled,
and was in consequence bound in chains to all eternity; although he is
still allowed for a short period to visit the City of Destruction where
he entices all he can into like rebellion, and to bear a share of his
punishment; and though he well knows that by so doing he increases his
own penalty, {34a} yet malice and envy urge him on whenever he has a
pretext, and so much does he love evil that he seeks to destroy this city
and this edifice, although he knows of yore that its Saviour is
invincible.
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