The Man Who Looked Back on His Way to Hell

The guardian angels who used to walk unseen before and behind him have now become visible like policemen. They drag him along, prodding him with goads, and crying, " Begone, O Dog, to thy kennel!" He looks back to toward the Holy Presence: His tears fall like autumn rain. A mere hope -- what has he but that? Then from God in the Realm of Light comes the command -- "Say ye to him: 'O ne'er do well, destitute of merit "Thou hast seen the black scroll of thy misdeeds. What dost thou expect? Why art thou tarrying in vain?" He answers: "Lord thou knowest I am a hundred, hundred times worse than Thou hast declared. "But beyond my exertion and action, beyond good and evil and faith and infidelity, beyond living righteously or behaving disobediently -- I had a great hope of thy lovingkindness. "I turn again to that pure grace, I am not regarding my own works. Thou gavest me my being as a robe of honor: I have always relied on that munificence." When he confesses his sins, God saith to the angels, "Bring him back, for he never lost hope of Me. "Like one who recks of naught, I will deliver him and cancel all this trespasses. "I will kindle such a fire of grace that the least spark thereof concumes all sin and necessity and free will. I will set fire to the tenement of Man and make its thorns a bower of roses."