Чума
Part IV
Bythatheimpliedthattherewerenohalf-measures,thattherewaseitherHeavenorHell,andthatonecouldonlybesavedordamnedaccordingtothechoicesonehadmade.IfPanelouxwastobebelieved,thiswasaheresyofakindthatcouldonlyariseinthesoulofafreethinker.BecausetherewasaPurgatory.ButitwasalsosurelytruethatthereweretimeswhenoneshouldnothopetoomuchforthisPurgatory,thereweretimeswhenonecouldnotspeakofvenialsin.Allsinwasmortalandallformsofindifferencecriminal.Itwaseverythingornothing.
Panelouxstopped,lettingRieuxhearmoreclearlyfrombeneaththedoorsthehowlsofthewindwhichseemedtobeincreasingoutside.Atthesamemoment,thepriestsaidthatthevirtueofthetotalacceptanceaboutwhichhewasspeakingcouldnotbeunderstoodintherestrictedsenseusuallygiventoit,thatitwasnotamatterofplainresignationorevenofmuchharderhumility.Itwasaquestionofhumiliation,butoneinwhichthehumiliatedpersonconsented.Certainlythesufferingofachildwashumiliatingforthespiritandthebody,butthisiswhyonehadtobecomepartofit.Andthisiswhy—Panelouxassuredhislistenersthatwhathewasabouttosaywasnoteasytosay—youhadtowantitbecauseGodwantedit.OnlyinthiswaywouldtheChristiansparenothingand,withallotheroutletsclosedoff,gototheheartoftheessentialchoice.Hewouldchoosetobelieveeverythingsoasnottobereducedtodenyingeverything.
