| |
 YRENIUS INSPECTED the ship closely and estimated how many people would probably find room therein.
|
|
| 2 |
And he found that if necessary it could comfortably accommodate a thousand people.
|
|
| 3 |
While he was making this estimate, Cyrenius also convinced himself of the extraordinary sturdiness and symmetry of this ship -
|
|
| 4 |
for it did not appear as if it were an old and patched-up one, but the entire ship seemed as if it had been poured in one mold.
|
|
| 5 |
No seam could be discovered, nor were any yearly rings, knots nor other grains or wood pores to be seen.
|
|
| 6 |
When Cyrenius had convinced himself of all this, he returned with his aides to the company on the shore. Arrived there, he went directly over to Joseph and asserted,
|
|
| 7 |
'My truly exalted friend, you are the most fortunate of men on the earth! I do not wonder about the miracle at all any more, for I know only too well by now that all things are possible with God.
|
|
| 8 |
I know that this is no built and repaired ship, but one created wholly anew - but I am not surprised thereat,
|
|
| 9 |
for it would undoubtedly be just as easy for the Lord to create a whole world as such a ship. The earth, after all, is also a ship which carries a great many people on the ocean of infinity.
|
|
| 10 |
But that you have now put me greatly in your debt, see, that makes me wonder how I shall ever be able to repay you.
|
|
| 11 |
'You see, this ship which. recently was worth hardly a pound of silver, since it resembled a wreck more than a ship, is now worth over ten thousand pounds of gold!
|
|
| 12 |
For it can now be used for a journey beyond the pillars of Hercules (Gibraltar) to Britain, as well as for the circumnavigation of the African continent all the way to India.
|
|
| 13 |
Truly, such monumental handiwork cannot, by the standard of its usefulness in the world, be paid for with enough gold!
|
|
| 14 |
See, my most eminent friend, that is what now makes me wonder if I really will ever be able to repay you this debt.
|
|
| 15 |
If you were to honor the gold, as truly as your and now also my God lives you shall have ten thousand pounds in seven days.
|
|
| 16 |
But I know that gold is an abomination in your eyes, and it now saddens me that I must continue to owe something to you, my greatest friend!'
|
|
| 17 |
At this Joseph seized Cyrenius by the hand, pressed it to his bosom and tried to speak, and the tears came to his eyes as he beheld this noble Roman.
|
|
| 18 |
And in his stead the Baby sat up, smiled at Cyrenius and stated: 'My dear Cyrenius Quirinus, I tell you truly: If you had adopted only one poor soul in My name, you would already have done more than the value of ten thousand such ships could equal!
|
|
| 19 |
But you have now provided for several hundred in a short time, and I would have to give you ever so many such ships for it to recompense you on earth for that.
|
|
| 20 |
'Behold, with Me one human being is worth more than a whole world full of such ships! So do not be concerned because of your imagined debt.
|
|
| 21 |
What you do for the poor, that you also do for Me. And for that I shall not reward you here on earth, but when you die I shall promptly awaken your soul and make you equal with these My servants here who repaired the ship.'
|
|
| 22 |
Here Cyrenius wept and avowed that from now on he would devote his whole life to the welfare of the poor and afflicted among mankind.
|
|
| 23 |
And the Baby lifted up His hand and said, 'Amen' and thereupon blessed Cyrenius and the ship.
|
|
Backward