cast eyes of scorn and hate on degraded and fallen woman? Dare you say of her, that mournfulest knell of the soul-'No more!. No more in the image of God!' "Dare you pass by, beyond the side of reconciliation with him who has injured you; who has deeply, lastingly, irrecoverably wronged you? Dare you say of your bitterest foe, 'He hath no hands?' Never again can he make straight, right, and beautiful paths for my feet! Perhaps he never will in this life; but what, after all, is this first chapter of existence - - but a span long! You cannot evade the truth that an eternity is before you, where God is the visible presence which draws all men to Himself. The sooner you are in a state that can be assimilated to the divine, the more glorious your hereafter for one star differeth from another star in glory. You cannot be in this state unless love reigns a perfect reconciliation to your Maker possesses, your heart and life, so that all His work shall appear harmonious, beautiful, infinitely right. Where we can't unriddle, we must learn to trust.' There is seeming evil' here, but from it we must only 'educe the good. A heart full of the love of God will not pause in the unhallowed indulgence of reasoning strife with the dear Father concerning His incomprehensible work. "As the river Clitumnus was fabled to turn all things white which drank of its waters, so let your souls drink of the river of God, whose fountain is exhaustless love, till they become purified and meet for the saints' inheritance in light." CHAPTER IV. THREE MONTHS LATER. "SINCE you insist upon my opinions of what I have heard from Universalist pulpits, and read in their books of standard theology," said Israel, “I must say, with your leave, that it seems to me I find, at least, one decided blemish." "What is that?" quickly rejoined Captain Brewster. "They too freely deal in hard words against those who differ from themselves, and especially against what are called Orthodox Christians." "Yes," said Ackerman, "I have noticed that, as Tillotson says, "The scoffers twit the Christians.' It is inelegant as rhetoricians, insignificant as philosophers, unworthy as Christians. Great men, conscious of bearing the precious archives of truth, can afford to be more magnanimous." "I have sometimes thought," continued Israel," that they believed in what amounted to a hell for their opponents." "Their pious imprecations, as well as those which are impious, are often very amusing," Ackerman went on. "I listen to you, sirs," said the captain, as the angels must have heard the buccaneers who used to pray before going upon their piratical excursions. You rave at my people with a commendable zeal for godliness." His genial smile disarmed the severity of his words. "He thinks us far gone in the sin of prejudice," said Ackerman. "No; I confess the justice of your criticism in part. But it is easily accounted for. Many of our preachers, and nearly all whose words have become our standards, were men converted to Universalism from the orthodox denominations. They had been Baptists or Congregationalists. It was impossible that they should entirely lose the marks of their early habits, associations, and education. No man is so bitter to the Universalist as the real Baptist; and several of our leading lights were Baptist preachers. Our young ministers. read their works and catch their spirit. It is a pity, but a fault, considering its origin, which cannot at once be rectified. As our denomination is more thoroughly developed, and hence becomes more selfcontained, we shall show better manners." Ackerman laughed heartily as he said, "You have extricated yourself, I confess." "There is truth as well as wit in what he says," added Israel. "Certainly," said Ackerman; "if you would get models of bad temper and its exhibition, consult what artists would call evangelical studies.". "The sea-serpent envy is master of the situation," said the captain; "but let us pass on to number two → for I dare say the objections stand along the coast of your mind like a forest of masts." "Wherever we see Universalism in the ascendant in any community," said Israel, " is there not apparent an absence of good order, such as observance of the Sabbath, and all those evidences of a God-fearing people that mark a really desirable home?” "Where Universalism, goes to seed," said Ackerman, "the place is unsightly and barren of good things." "That atheism," replied Captain Brewster, "brings forth some such results, I, myself, have noticed. But Universalism, true, Christian Universalism is eminently productive of good fruits. What people of modern times have done more for temperance than have Universalists. Some of the noblest advocates of that holy cause, you will remember, are from our ranks. Besides, who giveth more liberally to the poor and distressed than the Christian Universalist? His heart overflows with the cream of human kindness, and his purse equals his heart so far as it is endowed. If I were in trouble, without name or credentials, without an inkhorn and pen whereby my benefactor could be reported, think you, sirs, I would apply to the Calvinists? As soon would I ask for a hug from a bear, or a kiss from a gorilla. Sooner would I expect to double Cape Horn in a wash-tub, as to successfully circumnavigate their hearts." "The quality of your mercy is not strained," said Ackerman. "Nor skimmed," said Israel; "but his figure of the tub reminds me that Hercules, when he went to unbind Prometheus, sailed the length of the ocean in an earthen pot. Mr. Locke, the metaphysician, says that this represents human nature, and describes Christian resolution that saileth in the frail bark of the flesh, through the waves of the world. Now the captain's Christian resolution in his earthen wash-tub should accomplish wonders with these Calvinists, who, indeed, have often shown the disciples, as did the barbarians to St. Paul, much kindness."" "Yes," said Ackerman; "the examples of the true liberality of the straitest sects are not to be forgotten." "They cannot be forgotten," said the captain, " since they are paraded beyond all chance of escape from the world's recognition." "They are known also for many acts of private benevolence among them," said Israel. "We do not boast, like other denominations," continued the captain, but we raise moneys for denominational and charitable purposes, equal in amount, to say the least, with those who blow their own horns the loudest." "My next objection," said Israel, "is that a large proportion of those who are numbered among your people do not believe the authority of the Bible, and hence reject the most precious Christian doctrine of the divine mission of Christ." "When all the other Christian denominations have cut off their left wing, or changed it to match the right one, and so make a perfect flight in an imperfect world, to heaven, we will accept your criticism in selfabasement. He that is without sin, let him begin to Let that religious sect which has no offending members, cut off ours," answered the captain, curtly; "what next?” stone us. 66 Nothing more at present," concluded Israel, “except that your doctrine has much that the Bible can be adduced in disproof." "What doctrine has not?" concluded the other. |