第15章

Thatshecouldwritemostagreeablyiscertain。Ihaveseenlettersofherstofriendswhichprovethatclearlyenough。WhethershewouldfindproseorversethemostnaturalmodeofexpressionI

cannotsay,butIknowsheispassionatelyfondofpoetry,andI

shouldnotbesurprisedif,laidawayamongthepressedpansiesandrosesofpastsummers,therewerepoems,songs,perhaps,ofherown,whichshesingstoherselfwithherfingerstouchingthepiano;fortothatshetellshersecretsintonessweetasthering—dove"scalltohermate。

IamafraiditmaybesuggestedthatIamdrawingNumberFive"sportraittoonearlyaftersomemodelwhoisunconsciouslysittingforit;buthaven"tItoldyouthatyoumustnotlookforfleshandbloodpersonalitiesbehindorbeneathmyTeacups？Iamnotgoingtomakethesesolifelikethatyouwillbesaying,ThisisMr。orMiss,orMrs。So—and—So。Myreadersmustrememberthatthereareverymanypretty,sweet,amiablegirlsandwomensittingattheirpianos,andfindingchordstothemusicoftheirheart—strings。IfIhavepicturedNumberFiveasoneofherlambsmightdoit,IhavesucceededinwhatIwantedtoaccomplish。Whydon"tIdescribeherperson？IfIdo,somegossiporotherwillbesuretosay,"Oh,hemeansher,ofcourse,"andfindanametomatchthepronoun。

ItisstrangetoseehowweareallcomingtodependuponthefriendlyaidofNumberFiveinourvariousperplexities。TheCounselloraskedheropinioninoneofthosecaseswhereadivorcewastooprobable,butareconciliationwaspossible。Ittakesawomantosoundawoman"sheart,andshefoundtherewasstillloveenoughundertheruffledwaterstowarrantthehopeofpeaceandtranquillity。TheyoungDoctorwenttoherforcounselinthecaseofahystericgirlpossessedwiththeideathatshewasabornpoetess,andcoveringwholepagesoffoolscapwithsenselessoutbursts,whichshewroteinparoxysmsofwildexcitement,andreadwitharaptureofself—admirationwhichtherewasnothinginherversestojustifyoraccountfor。HowsweetlyNumberFivedealtwiththatpoordeludedsisterinhertalkwiththeDoctor！"Yes,"shesaidtohim,"nothingcanbefullerofvanity,self—worship,andself—deception。Butwemustbeverygentlewithher。Iknewayounggirltormentedwithaspirations,andpossessedbyabeliefthatshewasmeantforahigherplacethanthatwhichfatehadassignedher,whoneededwholesomeadvice,justasthispooryoungthingdoes。Shedidnotaskforit,anditwasnotoffered。Alas,alas！"nomancaredforhersoul,"——nomannorwomaneither。Shewasinherearlyteens,andthethoughtofherearthlyfuture,asitstretchedoutbeforeher,wasmorethanshecouldbear,andshesoughtthepresenceofherMakertoaskthemeaningofherabortiveexistence。——Wewilltalkitover。Iwillhelpyoutakecareofthischild。"

TheDoctorwasthankfultohaveherassistanceinacasewithwhichhewouldhavefounditdifficulttodealifhehadbeenleftto,hisunaidedjudgment,andbetweenthemtheyounggirlwassafelypilotedthroughtheperilousstraitsinwhichshecamenearshipwreck。

Iknowthatitiscommonlysaidofherthateverymalefriendofhersmustbecomeherloverunlessheisalreadylassoedbyanother。Ilfaitpasserparl"a。TheyoungDoctoris,Ithink,safe,forIamconvincedthatheisbewitchedwithDelilah。Sinceshehasleftus,hehasseemedratherdejected;Ifeelsurethathemissesher。Wealldo,buthemoreseriouslythantherestofus。IhavesaidthatIcannottellwhethertheCounselloristobecountedasoneofNumberFive"slambsornot,butheevidentlyadmiresher,andifheisnotfascinated,looksasifhewereverynearthatcondition。

ItwasamoredelicatematteraboutwhichtheTutortalkedwithher。

SomethingwhichshehadpleasantlysaidtohimaboutthetwoAnnexesledhimtoaskher,moreorlessseriously,itmayberemembered,aboutthefitnessofeitherofthemtobethewifeofayoungmaninhisposition。Shetalkedsosensibly,asitseemedtohim,aboutitthathecontinuedtheconversation,and,shyashewas,becamequiteeasyandconfidentialinhercompany。TheTutorisnotonlyapoet,butisagreatreaderofthepoetryofmanylanguages。ItsohappenedthatNumberFivewaspuzzled,oneday,inreadingasonnetofPetrarch,andhadrecoursetotheTutortoexplainthedifficultpassage。Shefoundhimsothoroughlyinstructed,soclear,somuchinterested,soreadytoimpartknowledge,andsohappyinhiswayofdoingit,thatsheaskedhimifhewouldnotallowhertheprivilegeofreadinganItalianauthorunderhisguidance,nowandthen。

TheTutorfoundNumberFiveanaptscholar,andsomethingmorethanthat;forwhile,asalinguist,hewas,ofcourse,hermaster,herintelligentcommentsbroughtoutthebeautiesofanauthorinawaytomakethetextseemlikeadifferentversion。Theydidnotalwaysconfinethemselvestothebooktheywerereading。NumberFiveshowedsomecuriosityabouttheTutor"srelationswiththetwoAnnexes。Shesuggestedwhetheritwouldnotbewelltoaskoneorbothofthemintotakepartintheirreadings。TheTutorblushedandhesitated。

"Perhapsyouwouldliketoaskoneofthem,"saidNumberFive。

"Whichoneshallitbe？""Itmakesnodifferencetomewhich,"heanswered,"butIdonotseethatweneedeither。"NumberFivedidnotpressthematterfurther。SotheyoungTutorandNumberFivereadtogetherprettyregularly,andcametodependupontheirmeetingoverabookasoneoftheirstatedseasonsofenjoyment。HeissomanyyearsyoungerthansheisthatIdonotsupposehewillhavetopassparla,asmostofhermalefriendshavedone。ItellhersometimesthatsheremindsmeofmyAlmaMater,alwaysyoung,alwaysfreshinherattractions,withherscholarsallroundher,manyofthemgraduates,ortograduatesoonerorlater。

WhatdoImeanbygraduates？Why,thattheyhavemadelovetoher,andwouldbeentitledtoherdiploma,ifshegaveaparchmenttoeachoneofthemwhohadhadthecouragetofacetheinevitable。AbouttheCounsellorIam,asIhavesaid,indoubt。Whowrotethat"ILikeYouandILoveYou,"whichwefoundinthesugar—bowltheotherday？Wasitagraduatewhohadfeltthe"icydagger,"oronlyacandidateforgraduationwhowasafraidofit？SocompletelydoesshesubjugatethosewhocomeunderherinfluencethatIbelieveshelooksuponitasamatterofcoursethatthefatefulquestionwillcertainlycome,oftenafterabriefacquaintance。Sheconfessedasmuchtome,whoaminherconfidence,andnotacandidateforgraduationfromheracademy。Hergraduates——herlambsIcalledthem——arecommonlyfaithfultoher,andthoughnowandthenonemayhavegoneoffandsulkedinsolitude,mostofthemfeelkindlytoher,andtothosewhohavesharedthecommonfateofhersuitors。Idoreallybelievethatsomeofthemwouldbegladtoseehercapturedbyanyone,ifsuchtherecanbe,whoisworthyofher。Sheisthebestoffriends,theysay,butcansheloveanybody,assomanyotherwomendo,orseemto？Whyshouldn"tourMusician,whoisevidentlyfondofhercompany,andsingsandplaysduetswithher,stealherheartasPiozzistolethatoftheprettyandbrightMrs。Thrale,assomanymusic—teachershaverunawaywiththeirpupils"hearts？AtpresentsheseemstobegettingalongveryplacidlyandcontentedlywithheryoungfriendtheTutor。Thereissomethingquitecharmingintheirrelationswitheachother。Heknowsmanythingsshedoesnot,forheisreckonedoneofthemostlearnedinhisliteraryspecialtyofalltheyoungmenofhistime;anditcanbeaquestionofonlyafewyearswhensomefirst—classprofessorshipwillbeofferedhim。She,ontheotherhand,hassomuchmoreexperience,somuchmorepracticalwisdom,thanhehasthatheconsultsheronmanyevery—dayquestions,ashedid,ormadebelievedo,aboutthatofmakinglovetooneofthetwoAnnexes。Ihadthought,whenwefirstsatroundthetea—table,thatshewasgoodforthebitofromanceIwanted;butsinceshehasundertakentobeakindofhalf—maternalfriendtotheyoungTutor,IamafraidIshallhavetogiveherupastheheroineofaromanticepisode。Itwouldbeapityiftherewerenothingtocommendthesepaperstothosewhotakeupthisperiodicalbutessays,moreorlesssignificant,onsubjectsmoreorlessinterestingtothejadedandimpatientreadersofthenumberlessstoriesandentertainingarticleswhichcrowdthemagazinesofthisprolificperiod。Awholeyearofatea—tableaslargeasourswithoutasinglelovepassageinitwouldbediscreditabletothecompany。Wemustfindone,ormakeone,beforethetea—thingsaretakenawayandthetableisnolongerspread。

TheDictatorturnspreacher。

Wehavesomanylightandplayfultalksovertheteacupsthatsomereadersmaybesurprisedtofindustakingupthemostseriousandsolemnsubjectwhichcanoccupyahumanintelligence。ThesuddenappearanceamongourNewEnglandProtestantsofthedoctrineofpurgatoryasapossibility,orevenprobability,hasstartledthedescendantsofthePuritans。Ithasnaturallyledtoareconsiderationofthedoctrineofeternalpunishment。ItisonthatsubjectthatNumberFiveandIhavetalkedtogether。Ilovetolistentoher,forshetalksfromthepromptingsofatruewoman"sheart。Ilovetotalktoher,forIlearnmyownthoughtsbetterinthatwaythaninanyother"L"appetitvientenmangeant,"theFrenchsayinghasit。"L"espritvientencausant;"thatis,ifonecanfindtherightpersonstotalkwith。

ThesubjectwhichhasspeciallyinterestedNumberFiveandmyself,oflate,wassuggestedtomeinthefollowingway。

SometwoyearsagoIreceivedaletterfromaclergymanwhobearsbyinheritanceoneofthemostdistinguishednameswhichhasdonehonortotheAmerican"Orthodox"pulpit。Thisletterrequestedofme"acontributiontoaproposedworkwhichwastopresentintheirownlanguagetheviewsof"manymenofmanyminds"onthesubjectoffuturepunishment。Itwasinmymindtoletthepublichearnotonlyfromprofessionaltheologians,butfromotherprofessions,asfromjuristsontheallegedbutdisputedvalueofthehangman"swhipoverhangingthewitness—box,andfromphysiciansontheworkingofbeliefsaboutthefuturelifeinthemindsofthedangerouslysick。

AndIcouldnothelpthinkingwhatagoodthingitwouldbetodrawoutthepresentwriteruponhisfavoriteborderlandbetweenthespiritualandthematerial。"Thecommunicationcametome,asthewriterremindsmeinarecentletter,ata"painfullyinopportunetime,"andthoughitwascourteouslyanswered,wasnotmadethesubjectofaspecialreply。

Thisrequestconfersuponmeacertainrighttoexpressmyopiniononthisweightysubjectwithoutfearandwithoutreproachevenfromthosewhomightbereadytotakeoffenceatoneofthelaityformeddlingwithpulpitquestions。Itshowsalsothatthisisnotadeadissueinourcommunity,assomeoftheyoungergenerationseemtothink。Therearesome,theremaybemany,whowouldliketohearwhatimpressionsonehasreceivedonthesubjectreferredto,afteralonglifeinwhichhehasheardandreadagreatdealaboutthematter。Thereisacertaingravityinthepositionofonewhois,intheorderofnatureveryneartheundiscoveredcountry。Amanwhohaspassedhiseighthdecadefeelsasifbewerealreadyintheantechamberoftheapartmentswhichhemaybecalledtooccupyinthehouseofmanymansions。Hisconvictionsregardingthefutureofourracearelikelytobeserious,andhisexpressionsnotlightlyuttered。Thequestionmycorrespondentsuggestsisatremendousone。

Nootherinterestcomparesforonemomentwiththatbelongingtoit。

Itisnotonlyourselvesthatitconcerns,butallwhomweloveoreverhaveloved,allourhumanbrotherhood,aswellasourwholeideaoftheBeingwhomadeusandtherelationinwhichHestandstohiscreatures。Inattemptingtoanswermycorrespondent"squestion,I

shallnodoubtrepeatmanythingsIhavesaidbeforeindifferentforms,ondifferentoccasions。Thisisnomorethaneveryclergymandoeshabitually,anditwouldbehardifIcouldnothavethesamelicensewhichtheprofessionalpreacherenjoyssofully。

NumberFiveandIhaveoccasionallytalkedonreligiousquestions,anddiscoveredmanypointsofagreementinourviews。Bothofusgrewupundertheold"Orthodox"orCalvinisticsystemofbelief。

Bothofusaccepteditinourearlyyearsasapartofoureducation。

Ourexperienceisacommonone。WilliamCullenBryantsaysofhimself,"TheCalvinisticsystemofdivinityIadoptedofcourse,asIheardnothingelsetaughtfromthepulpit,andsupposedittobetheacceptedbeliefofthereligiousworld。"Butitwasnotthe"fivepoints"whichremainedintheyoungpoet"smemoryandshapedhishigherlife。ItwastheinfluenceofhismotherthatleftitspermanentimpressionafterthequestionsandanswersoftheAssembly"sCatechismhadfadedout,orremainedinmemoryonlyasfossilsurvivorsofanextinctorfast—disappearingtheologicalformation。Theimportantpointforhim,asforsomanyotherchildrenofPuritandescent,wasnothisfather"screed,buthismother"scharacter,precepts,andexample。"Shewasaperson,"hesays,"ofexcellentpracticalsense,ofaquickandsensitivemoraljudgment,andhadnopatiencewithanyformofdeceitorduplicity。

Herpromptcondemnationofinjustice,eveninthoseinstancesinwhichitistoleratedbytheworld,madeastrongimpressionuponmeinearlylife;andif,inthediscussionofpublicquestions,Ihaveinmyriperageendeavoredtokeepinviewthegreatruleofrightwithoutmuchregardtopersons,ithasbeenowinginagreatdegreetotheforceofherexample,whichtaughtmenevertocountenanceawrongbecauseothersdid。"

Ihavequotedthispassagebecauseitwasanexperiencenotwhollyunlikemyown,andincertainrespectslikethatofNumberFive。Togrowupinanarrowcreedandtogrowoutofitisatremendoustrialofone"snature。Thereisalwaysabondoffellowshipbetweenthosewhohavebeenthroughsuchanordeal。

Theexperienceswehavehadincommonnaturallyleadustotalkoverthetheologicalquestionswhichatthistimeareconstantlypresentingthemselvestothepublic,notonlyinthebooksandpapersexpresslydevotedtothatclassofsubjects,butinmanyofthenewspapersandpopularperiodicals,fromtheweekliestothequarterlies。Thepulpitusedtolaydownthelawtothepews;atthepresenttime,itisofmoreconsequencewhatthepewsthinkthanwhattheministerdoes,fortheobviousreasonthatthepewscanchangetheirminister,andoftendo,whereastheministercannotchangethepews,orcandosoonlytoaverylimitedextent。Thepreacher"sgarmentiscutaccordingtothepatternofthatofthehearers,forthemostpart。Thirtyyearsago,whenIwaswritingontheologicalsubjects,Icameinforaveryprettyshareofabuse,suchasitwasthefashionofthatday,atleastincertainquarters,tobestowuponthosewhowereoutsideofthehigh—walledenclosuresinwhichmanypersons;notnaturallyunamiableorexclusive,foundthemselvesimprisoned。Sincethattimewhatchangeshavetakenplace！Whowillbelievethatawell—behavedandreputablecitizencouldhavebeendenouncedasa"moralparricide,"becauseheattackedsomeofthedoctrinesinwhichhewassupposedtohavebeenbroughtup？Asinglethoughtshouldhavepreventedthemaskedtheologianwhoabusedhisincognitofromusingsuchlibellouslanguage。

Much,andinmanyfamiliesmost,ofthereligiousteachingofchildreniscommittedtothemother。TheexperienceofWilliamCullenBryant,whichIhaverelatedinhisownwords,isthatofmanyNewEnglandchildren。Now,thesternestdogmasthatevercamefromasoulcrampedorpalsiedbyanobsoletecreedbecomewonderfullysoftenedinpassingbetweenthelipsofamother。Thecrueldoctrineatwhichallbutcase—hardened"professionals"shudderconesout,assheteachesandillustratesit,asunlikeitsoriginalasthemilkwhichapeasantmothergivesherbabeisunlikethecoarsefoodwhichfurnisheshernourishment。Thevirusofacursingcreedisrenderedcomparativelyharmlessbythetimeitreachestheyoungsinnerinthenursery。Itseffectsfallasfarshortofwhatmighthavebeenexpectedfromitsvirulenceasthepearlyvaccinevesiclefallsshortoftheterrorsoftheconfluentsmall—pox。Controversialistsshouldthereforebecareful（fortheirownsakes,fortheyhurtnobodysomuchasthemselves）howtheyusesuchtermsas"parricide"ascharacterizingthosewhodonotagreeinallpointswiththefatherswhomorwhosememorytheyhonorandvenerate。Theymightwithasmuchproprietycallthemmatricides,iftheydidnotagreewiththemilderteachingsoftheirmothers。IcanimagineJonathanEdwardsinthenurserywithhisthree—year—oldchilduponhisknee。Thechildlooksuptohisfaceandsaystohim,——"Papa,nursetellsmethatyousayGodhatesmeworsethanHehatesoneofthosehorriduglysnakesthatcrawlallround。DoesGodhatemeso？"

"Alas！mychild,itisbuttootrue。SolongasyouareoutofChristyouareasaviper,andworsethanaviper,inhissight。"

Byandby,Mrs。Edwards,oneoftheloveliestofwomenandsweetestofmothers,comesintothenursery。Thechildiscrying。

"Whatisthematter,mydarling？"

"PapahasbeentellingmethatGodhatesmeworsethanasnake。"

Poor,gentle,poetical,sensitive,spiritual,almostcelestialMrs。

JonathanEdwards！Ontheonehandtheterriblesentenceconceived,writtendown,giventothepress,bythechild"sfather;ontheothersidethetrustingchildlookingupather,andallthemotherpleadinginherheartagainstthefrightfuldogmaofherreveredhusband。Doyousupposesheleftthatpoisontorankleinthetendersoulofherdarling？Wouldithavebeenmoralparricideforasonofthegreatdivinetohaverepudiatedthedoctrinewhichdegradedhisblamelessinfancytotheconditionandbelowtheconditionofthereptile？WasitparricideinthesecondorthirddegreewhenhisdescendantstruckoutthatvenomoussentencefromthepageinwhichitstoodasamonumenttowhatdepthChristianheathenismcouldsinkundertheteachingofthegreatmasteroflogicandspiritualinhumanity？Itistoolatetobeangryabouttheabuseawell——

meaningwriterreceivedthirtyyearsago。Thewholeatmospherehaschangedsincethen。Itismerechildishnesstoexpectmentobelieveastheirfathersdid;thatis,iftheyhaveanymindsoftheirown。

Theworldisawholegenerationolderandwiserthanwhenthefatherwasofhisson"sage。

SofarasIhaveobservedpersonsnearingtheendoflife,theRomanCatholicsunderstandthebusinessofdyingbetterthanProtestants。

Theyhaveanexpertbythem,armedwithspiritualspecifics,inwhichtheyboth,patientandpriestlyministrant,placeimplicittrust。

Confession,theEucharist,ExtremeUnction,——theseallinspireaconfidencewhichwithoutthissymbolismistooapttobewantinginover—sensitivenatures。Theyhavebeenpeopledinearlieryearswithghastlyspectresofavengingfiends,movinginasleeplessworldofdevouringflamesandsmotheringexhalations;wherenothinglivesbutthesinner,thefiends,andthereptileswhohelptomakelifeanunendingtorture。Itisnowonderthattheseimagessometimesreturntotheenfeebledintelligence。Toexorcisethem,theoldChurchofChristendomhashermysticformulae,ofwhichnorationalisticprescriptioncantaketheplace。IfCowperhadbeenagoodRomanCatholic,insteadofhavinghisconsciencehandledbyaProtestantlikeJohnNewton,hewouldnothavedieddespairing,lookinguponhimselfasacastaway。IhaveseenagoodmanyRomanCatholicsontheirdyingbeds,anditalwaysappearedtomethattheyacceptedtheinevitablewithacomposurewhichshowedthattheirbelief,whetherornotthebesttoliveby,wasabetteronetodiebythanmostofthehardercreedswhichhavereplacedit。

InthemoreintelligentcirclesofAmericansocietyonemayquestionanythingandeverything,ifhewillonlydoitcivilly。Wemaytalkabouteschatology,thescienceoflastthings,——or,ifyouwill,thenaturalhistoryoftheundiscoveredcountry,withoutoffencebeforeanybodyexceptyoungchildrenandveryoldwomenofbothsexes。InourNewEnglandthegreatAndoverdiscussionandthehereticalmissionaryquestionhavebenumbedallsensibilityonthissubjectasentirely,ascompletely,asthenewlocalanaesthetic,cocaine,deadensthesensibilityoftheparttowhichitisapplied,sothattheeyemayhaveitsmoteorbeampluckedoutwithoutfeelingit,——asthenovelsofZolaandMaupassanthavehardenedthedelicatenerve—

centresofthewomenwhohavefedtheirimaginationsonthefoodtheyhavefurnished。

ThegenerallyprofessedbeliefoftheProtestantworldasembodiedintheirpublishedcreedsisthatthegreatmassofmankindaredestinedtoaneternityofsuffering。Thatthiseternityistobeoneofbodilypain——of"torment"——istheliteralteachingofScripture,whichhasbeenliterallyinterpretedbythetheologians,thepoets,andtheartistsofmanylongageswhichfollowedtheacceptanceoftherecordedlegendsofthechurchasinfallible。Thedoctrinehasalwaysbeenrecognized,asitisnow,asaveryterribleone。Ithasfoundasupportinthestoryofthefallofman,andtheviewtakenoftherelationofmantohisMakersincethatevent。ThehatredofGodtomankindinvirtueoftheir"firstdisobedience"andinheriteddepravityisatthebottomofit。TheextenttowhichthatideawascarriediswellshownintheexpressionsIhaveborrowedfromJonathanEdwards。Accordingtohisteaching,——andhewasareasonerwhoknewwhathewastalkingabout,whatwasinvolvedinthepremisesofthefaithheaccepted,——maninheritsthecurseofGodashisprincipalbirthright。

Whatshallwesaytothedoctrineofthefallofmanasthegroundofinflictingendlessmiseryonthehumanrace？Amantobepunishedforwhathecouldnothelp！HewasexpectedtobecalledtoaccountforAdam"ssin。ItissingulartonoticethatthereasoningofthewolfwiththelambshouldbetransferredtothedealingsoftheCreatorwithhiscreatures。"Youstirredthebrookupandmademydrinking—placemuddy。""But,pleaseyourwolfship,Icouldn"tdothat,forIstirredthewaterfardownthestream,——belowyourdrinking—place。""Well,anyhow,yourfathertroubleditayearortwoago,andthatisthesamething。"Sothewolffallsuponthelambandmakesamealofhim。Thatiswolflogic,——andtheologicalreasoning。

Howshallwecharacterizethedoctrineofendlesstortureasthedestinyofmostofthosewhohavelived,andareliving,onthisplanet？Iprefertoletanotherwriterspeakofit。Mr。JohnMorleyusesthefollowingwords:"Thehorrorsofwhatisperhapsthemostfrightfulideathathasevercorrodedhumancharacter,——theideaofeternalpunishment。"Sismondi,thegreathistorian,heardasermononeternalpunishment,andvowedneveragaintoenteranotherchurchholdingthesamecreed。RomanismheconsideredareligionofmercyandpeacebythesideofwhattheEnglishcalltheReformation。——I

mentiontheseprotestsbecauseIhappentofindthemamongmynotes,butitwouldbeeasytoaccumulateexamplesofthesamekind。WhenCowper,atabouttheendofthelastcentury,saidsatiricallyoftheministerhewasattacking,"Henevermentionedhelltoearspolite,"

hewasgivingunconsciousevidencethatthesenseofthebarbarismoftheideawasfindingitswayintothepulpit。WhenBurns,inthemidstofthesulphurousorthodoxyofScotland,daredtosay,"Thefearo"hell"sahangman"swhipTohaudthewretchinorder,"

hewasoilyappealingtothecommonsenseandcommonhumanityofhisfellow—countrymen。

Allthereasoningintheworld,alltheproof—textsinoldmanuscripts,cannotreconcilethissuppositionofaworldofsleeplessandendlesstormentwiththedeclarationthat"Godislove。"

Wheredidthis"frightfulidea"comefrom？Wearesurprised,aswegrowolder,tofindthatthelegendaryhellofthechurchisnothingmorenorlessthantheTartarusoftheoldheathenworld。Ithaseverymarkofcomingfromthecruelheartofabarbarousdespot。

SomemalignantandvindictiveSheik,somebrutalMezentius,musthavesatformanypicturesoftheDivinity。Itwasnotenoughtokillhiscaptiveenemy,aftertorturinghimasmuchasingenuitycouldcontrivetodoit。Heescapedatlastbydeath,buthisconquerorcouldnotgivehimupsoeasily,andsohisvengeancefollowedhimintotheunseenandunknownworld。Howthedoctrinegotinamong,thelegendsofthechurchwearenomoreboundtoshowthanwearetoaccountfortheintercalationofthe"threewitnesses"text,orthefalseinsertion,orfalseomission,whicheveritmaybe,ofthelasttwelveversesoftheGospelofStMark。Wedonothangourgrandmothersnow,asourancestorsdidtheirs,onthestrengthofthepositivecommand,"Thoushaltnotsufferawitchtolive。"

Thesimpletruthisthatcivilizationhasoutgrownwitchcraft,andisoutgrowingtheChristianTartarus。Thepulpitnolongertroublesitselfaboutwitchesandtheirevildoings。Allthelegendsintheworldcouldnotarrestthedecayofthatsuperstitionandalltheedictsthatgrewoutofit。AllthestoriesthatcanbefoundinoldmanuscriptswillneverpreventthegoingoutofthefiresofthelegendaryInferno。Itisnotmuchtalkedaboutnowadaystoearspoliteorimpolite。Humanityisshockedandrepelledbyit。Theheartofwomanisinunconquerablerebellionagainstit。Themorehumanesectstearitfromtheir"BodiesofDivinity"asifitweretheflamingshirtofNessus。Afewdoctrineswithwhichitwasbounduphavedroppedoraredroppingawayfromit:theprimalcurse;

consequentialdamagestogiveinfiniteextensiontoeverytransgressionofthelawofGod;invertingthenaturalorderofrelativeobligations;stretchingthesmallestoffiniteoffensestotheproportionsoftheinfinite;makingthebabeinarmstheresponsiblebeing,andnottheparentwhogaveitbirthanddetermineditsconditionsofexistence。

Afteradoctrinelike"thehangman"swhip"hasserveditspurpose,——

ifiteverhadanyusefulpurpose,——afteradoctrinelikethatofwitchcrafthashangedoldwomenenough,civilizationcontrivestogetridofit。Whenwesaythatcivilizationcrowdsouttheoldsuperstitiouslegends,werecognizetwochiefcauses。Thefirstisthenakedindividualprotest;thevoiceoftheinspirationwhichgivethmanunderstanding。Thisshowsitselfconspicuouslyinthemodernpoets。BurnsinScotland,Bryant,Longfellow,Whittier,inAmerica,preachedanewgospeltothesuccessorsofmenlikeThomasBostonandJonathanEdwards。Indueseason,thegrowthofknowledge,chieflyundertheformofthatpartofknowledgecalledscience,sochangestheviewsoftheuniversethatmanyofitslong—unchallengedlegendsbecomenomorethannurserytales。Thetext—booksofastronomyandgeologyworktheirwayinbetweenthequestionsandanswersofthetime—honoredcatechisms。Thedoctrineofevolution,sofarasitisaccepted,changesthewholerelationsofmantothecreativepower。Itsubstitutesinfinitehopeintheplaceofinfinitedespairforthevastmajorityofmankind。Insteadofashipwreck,fromwhichafewcabinpassengersandothersaretobesavedinthelong—boat,itgivesmankindavesselbuilttoendurethetempests,andatlasttoreachaportwhereattheworstthepassengerscanfindrest,andwheretheymayhopeforahomebetterthananywhichtheyeverhadintheiroldcountry。Itisallverywelltosaythatmenandwomenhadtheirchoicewhethertheywouldreachthesafeharborornot。

"Gotoitgrandam,child;

Givegrandamkingdom,anditgrandamwillGiveitaplum,acherryandafig。"

Weknowwhatthechildwilltake。Sowhichcourseweshalltakedependsverymuchonthewaythechoiceispresentedtous,andonwhatthechooserisbynature。Whatheisbynatureisnotdeterminedbyhimself,butbyhisparentage。"Theyknownotwhattheydo。"Inonesensethisistrueofeveryhumanbeing。Theagentdoesnotknow,nevercanknow,whatmakeshimthatwhichheis。WhatwemostwanttoaskofourMakerisanunfoldingofthedivinepurposeinputtinghumanbeingsintoconditionsinwhichsuchnumbersofthemwouldbesuretogowrong。Wewantanadvocateofhelplesshumanitywhosetaskitshallbe,inthewordsofMilton,"TojustifythewaysofGodtoman。"