Like Hong-siu-tsuen, he began as a
religious
reformer, and ended as a rebel king. It was his mission, he
declared, to
purge the true Faith of its worldliness and corruptions, to lead
the followers of the prophet into the paths of chastity,
simplicity, and holiness; with the puritanical zeal of a Calvin,
be denounced junketings and merrymakings, songs and dances, lewd
living and all the delights of the flesh. He fell into trances,
he saw visions, he saw the prophet and Jesus, and the Angel
Izrail accompanying him and watching over him forever. He
prophesied and performed miracles, and his fame spread through
the land.
There is an ancient tradition in the Mohammedan world, telling of
a mysterious being, the last in succession of the twelve holy
Imams, who, untouched by death and withdrawn into the recesses of
a mountain, was destined, at the appointted hour, to come forth
again among men. His title was the Mahdi, the guide; some
believed that he would be the forerunner of the Messiah; others
believed that he would be Christ himself. Already various Mahdis
had made their appearance; several had been highly successful,
and
two, in medieval times, had founded dynasties in Egypt. But who
could
tell whether ail these were not impostors? Might not the twelfth
Imam be still waiting, in mystical concealment, ready to emerge,
at any moment, at the bidding of God? There were signs by which
the true Mahdi might be recognised-- unmistakable signs, if one
could but read them aright.
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