aklatanextended
Selections from the Book of Namwaran 1
Namwaran, high priest among the Mahardika believers, teaches Ruman the atonement of Christ born in a far country, and the two examine whether belief alone saves—concluding faith without obedience is a lie, for no unclean thing enters God's kingdom. He becomes a warrior of renown, courts and marries Jydana after she converts, insisting no wife be taken save given of God and bound in a sacred place. Seeing believers dwindle and their records destroyed, he is commanded of God to gather the writings of the Mahardika and the Record of the Ancients into a hidden cave, that they come forth to the descendants of Suran in the last days. He dies before compiling the book, having wrought much righteousness.
1
Namwaran was a righteous man who hearkened unto the Lord. And behold he had lived all his days in the City by the River. For this city was a place devoted unto God. And he learned the ways of God when he was young. Yea, he learned the words of the prophets even Suran, and Ahkman, and even the words of Christ, and Datara. And he knew of the history of the Mahardika and how they had fallen from favor with God. And how they had divided themselves into tribes each according to his own language. And He also learned of the Kings who had risen among the people and the rich people who did have dominion over the peoples of these lands. And behold Namwaran did serve the people of the city and did his part to keep righteousness upon the land. Now Namwaran was called of God to preach the gospel to the unbelieving people. And in the twenty-first year of His life he took himself up and began to teach the people. And Yea, he did teach a great many people about the ways of God, and about his commandments. But behold the people did reject him for they were hardened in their hearts. And they did reject the ways of Christ. Now many people did become angered with the believers. For the believers did constantly send people to preach the gospel And the unbelievers did grow tired of the intrusions of the believers into their lives. And they would that the believers should let them alone. Wherefore many non believers did speak harshly unto the believers. And many did say, I was born unto the religion of my parents and I shall die in the religion of my parents. And Yea, their hearts were hardened. And it was because of this unwillingness to learn more of the ways of God that God cursed them with poverty, and with plagues, and with contentions. And Yea the land was cursed with a great heat even so much that all the land was bathed in bright sunlight during the day. And because of this great heat the skin of the people was darkened. And God revealed unto the people through the prophets and teachers that until the day shall come that the people return unto God the cursing should remain. And after hearing this many people did curse God. And because of their wickedness God did increase the curse upon the land insomuch that there should be only two seasons, the season of the great heat And the season of great rain. And it shall remain so until the return of the Lord during the time when the seasons shall be confused, and the world shall be in turmoil.
