The Way of All Flesh

第55章

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第55章

The Way of All Flesh Samuel Butler

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The Way of All Flesh
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  AshethoughtfurtherherememberedthatallthingsworktogetherforgoodtothemthatloveGod;wasitpossible,heaskedhimself,thathetoo,howeverimperfectly,hadbeentryingtolovehim?HedarednotanswerYes,buthewouldtryhardthatitshouldbeso。

  ThentherecameintohismindthatnobleairofHandel’s:“GreatGod,whoyetbutdarklyknown。”andhefeltitashehadneverfeltitbefore。HehadlosthisfaithinChristianity,buthisfaithinsomething——heknewnotwhat,butthattherewasasomethingasyetbutdarklyknownwhichmaderightrightandwrongwrong——hisfaithinthisgrewstrongerandstrongerdaily。

  Againtherecrossedhismindthoughtsofthepowerwhichhefelttobeinhim,andofhowandwhereitwastofinditsvent。Thesameinstinctwhichhadledhimtoliveamongthepoorbecauseitwasthenearestthingtohimwhichhecouldlayholdofwithanyclearnesscametohisassistanceheretoo。HethoughtoftheAustraliangoldandhowthosewholivedamongithadneverseenitthoughitaboundedallaroundthem:“Thereisgoldeverywhere。”heexclaimedinwardly,“tothosewholookforit。”Mightnothisopportunitybecloseuponhimifhelookedcarefullyenoughathisimmediatesurroundings?Whatwashisposition?Hehadlostall。Couldhenotturnhishavinglostallintoanopportunity?Mighthenot,ifhetoosoughtthestrengthoftheLord,find,likeStPaul,thatitwasperfectedinweakness?

  Hehadnothingmoretolose;money,friends,character,allweregoneforaverylongtimeifnotforever;buttherewassomethingelsealsothathadtakenitsflightalongwiththese。Imeanthefearofthatwhichmancoulddountohim。Cantabilvacuus。Whocouldhurthimmorethanhehadbeenhurtalready?Lethimbutbeabletoearnhisbread,andheknewofnothingwhichhedarednotventureifitwouldmaketheworldahappierplaceforthosewhowereyoungandloveable。Hereinhefoundsomuchcomfortthathealmostwishedhehadlosthisreputationevenmorecompletely——forhesawthatitwaslikeaman’slifewhichmaybefoundofthemthatloseitandlostofthemthatwouldfindit。HeshouldnothavehadthecouragetogiveupallforChrist’ssake,butnowChristhadmercifullytakenall,andlo!itseemedasthoughallwerefound。

  AsthedayswentslowlybyhecametoseethatChristianityandthedenialofChristianityafterallmetasmuchasanyotherextremesdo;itwasafightaboutnames——notaboutthings;practicallytheChurchofRome,theChurchofEngland,andthefreethinkerhavethesameidealstandardandmeetinthegentleman;forheisthemostperfectsaintwhoisthemostperfectgentleman。Thenhesawalsothatitmatterslittlewhatprofession,whetherofreligionorirreligion,amanmaymake,providedonlyhefollowsitoutwithcharitableinconsistency,andwithoutinsistingonittothebitterend。Itisintheuncompromisingnesswithwhichdogmaisheldandnotinthedogmaorwantofdogmathatthedangerlies。Thiswasthecrowningpointoftheedifice;whenhehadgotherehenolongerwishedtomolesteventhePope。TheArchbishopofCanterburymighthavehoppedaboutallroundhimandevenpickedcrumbsoutofhishandwithoutrunningriskofgettingaslysprinkleofsalt。Thatwaryprelatehimselfmightperhapshavebeenofadifferentopinion,buttherobinsandthrushesthathopaboutourlawnsarenotmoreneedlesslydistrustfulofthehandthatthrowsthemoutcrumbsofbreadinwinter,thantheArchbishopwouldhavebeenofmyhero。

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