Чума
Part II
OnemustnotbeinagreaterhurrythanGod,andeverythingthataimstospeeduptheimmutableorderofthings,whichHehasestablishedonceandforall,leadstoheresy.Butatleastthisexamplecarriesalesson.Toourmorefar-sightedmindsitmerelyenhancestheexquisiteglimmerofeternitythatshinesinthedepthofallsuffering.Thisisthelightthatilluminesthedimpathwhichleadstodeliverance.Itmanifeststhedivinewillwhichunfailinglytransformsevilintogood.Today,throughthepathsofdeath,anguishandsighs,itstillguidesustowardsthesilenceofGodandtheprincipleofalllife.This,mybrethren,istheimmenseconsolationthatIwishedtobringyou,sothatwhatyoutakeawayfromhereshouldnotonlybethelanguageofchastisement,butalsotheWordthatbringspeace."
OnecouldfeelthatPanelouxhadfinished.Outsidetherainhadceased.Asky,inwhichwatermingledwithsunshine,wascastingafresherlightacrossthesquare.Soundsofvoicesandtheglidingofcarsrosefromthestreet—thelanguageofatownasitwakes.Themembersofthecongregationgatheredtheirthingsinamutedjumbleofsounds.Yetthepriestwasspeakingagain.Hesaidthat,aftershowingthedivineoriginoftheplagueandpunitivenatureofthescourge,hewasfinishedwiththatandwouldnotresortforhisconclusiontoaneloquencethatwouldbemisplaced,giventhetragiccharacterofthesubject.Hethoughtthateverythingmustbecleartothemall.
