human
But, Henry, began Betsy, argumentatively,
gpt
Well, sis, teasingly interrupted John Calvin,
human
And you, rejoined his sister, playfully,
gpt
I fear must be a goat--judging by the way you're always butting in, and interrupting serious converse.
human
Oh, answered John Calvin, lightly,
gpt
I ain't bad enough to be classed with the goats, nor good enough to be a sheep, even a black one. That other parable about the wheatfield fits my case better. I reckon I'm just one of those useless tares.
human
The parable also declares that 'he who sows the tares is the devil,' and I hardly believe you are prepared to call your parents the devil, although they put you into the church by having you baptized in infancy. Then, resuming her conversation with Henry, she said,
gpt
If I am of the elect at all, Henry, I am elected already, before conversion, am I not?
human
To be sure, Henry replied.
gpt
God chose his people before the foundation of the world.
human
Bosh! exclaimed Susan, impatiently.
gpt
You don't know what God was doing before the foundation of the world, and I doubt if any of those wise brethren up at the camp do, either.
human
Besides, added the irrepressible John Calvin,
gpt
Doubtless the inhabitants of Mars or Jupiter,
human
Betsy, presently said Henry very earnestly,
gpt
I've watched you and Susan closely all during this revival, and I do believe that you both are really under conviction. The belief in your own wickedness and in the total depravity of the human heart is the first link in the chain--as Brother Weaver says.
human
But I do not believe in 'total depravity,' maintained Betsy, stoutly.
gpt
If the human race was utterly depraved to start with, how could one keep growing worse and worse all the time?
human
Ah, Betty, said Henry,
gpt
I reasoned just as you do, once; but now I understand these things better. Although I am of myself utterly vile and worthless, the mercy of God has taken hold of me and clothed and hidden me in the righteousness of his dear Son, and now I----
human
Henry, interrupted Betsy, with sudden sweetness, for the time sobered by his earnest face and voice,
gpt
Yes, said Susan,
human
I'd sooner doubt my own eyesight than your sincerity, Henry. I can understand and believe in that at least; but in other things I must be a bigger simpleton than even the 'wayfaring man'; for the way of salvation is anything but plain, if it includes the doctrines of our churches. I can't understand them at all.
gpt
Understand them! exclaimed Betsy.
human
Who can? Why, whenever one of our learned ministers is on the subject of 'reprobation,' 'predestination,' or 'effectual calling,' his reasoning is so subtle and his logic so ingenious that it must puzzle the elect angels themselves to understand his arguments.
gpt
But you surely believe in the beautiful doctrine of grace? Henry asked earnestly.
human
You believe that the saints will persevere and get home at last to glory, don't you?
gpt
We'll tell you more about that when we get there ourselves--if we ever do,
human
If the saints do persevere to glory, remarked John Calvin,
gpt
And, Henry, Betty pursued mischievously,
human
Ah, but my dear little girl, said Barton Stone, who, with Dudley, had just come up, and had laid his hand gently upon the girl's shoulder,
gpt
You'll think me a reckless girl, I'm afraid, Brother Stone, Betsy answered, laughing and coloring.
human
I shouldn't have made that speech had I known that you and Mr. Dudley were within hearing. But, nevertheless, I do not believe that I am the chief of sinners; others who have had just as good opportunities are as bad as I am, I'm sure.
gpt
Besides, if everybody who gets up in meeting and says he's the chief of sinners, is really so, there would be more chiefs in this neighborhood than in all the Indian tribes taken together,
human
The trouble with so many ministers, said Dudley, as Betty, Susan and John Calvin strolled away,
gpt
Too true, assented Stone rather sadly.
human
Dogma and doctrine contain very little of the true essence of faith. But the time is coming when people will begin to search the Scriptures for themselves; and then, just as the walls of Jericho fell before the blasts of the trumpets, so will the whole superstructure of human theology, whose four corner-stones are bigotry, intolerance, superstition and speculative doctrine, crumble into nothingness. Even now the walls are beginning to tremble. When this human-built edifice shall have fallen, and all the debris shall have been cleared away, then shall arise upon the one true foundation, Jesus Christ, a glorious structure, pure, consecrated and untrammeled, the church of the living God.
gpt
Do you really believe, inquired Dudley,
human
A union of sects? Never! replied Stone, emphatically.
gpt
Such a thing is impossible from the very nature and meaning of sect. But union, or rather unity, of Christian people there will surely be. Our Saviour's prayer was that all his people might be one. That petition will certainly be answered.
human
We seem very far from the realization of that prayer now,
gpt
Yes! assented Stone.
human
That evil spirit of intolerance, the curse of the Corinthian church, besets the churches to-day. We must first overcome that foe before unity is possible. But some day--and I pray that it may be in my day, he continued with flashing eyes--
gpt
Clergy nor presbytery nor synod has the right to stand between the people and the Bible, with authoritative creeds and confessions of faith; for the Bible is its own interpreter; and 'Equal rights to all, special privileges to none,' is a doctrine that will some day be adopted in religion as well as in civil and political matters.
human
Ah, Stone, Dudley replied,
gpt
I can stand that, Stone answered simply.
human
he continued after a pause,