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。\"