human
It is easy to preach,
gpt
If you tried it once, you might think it easier to practise,
human
It might be easier to one who is not tempted.
gpt
It might be easier to one who is. No man is tempted beyond his strength, but a sermon is often beyond his powers. I let you know, young man, that a homily may come harder than a virtue.
human
How can you stand up and preach as you've been preaching, and then come out of the church and laugh about it!
gpt
I'm not laughing about what I preached on,
human
You are in high spirits! You are gay! You are full of levity!
gpt
I am full of gladness. I am happy: is that a sin?
human
Suppose there'd been a man in that room who was trying to some temptation--more terrible than you've ever known anything about. You'd made him feel that you were speaking straight at him -bidding him do right where it was so much easier to do wrong. You had helped him; he had waited to see you alone, hoping to get more help. Then suppose he had found you as you are now--full of your gladness! He wouldn't have believed in you! He'd have been hardened.
gpt
If he'd been the right kind of man, replied the parson, quickly facing an arraignment had the rancour of denunciation,
human
he added more gravely,
gpt
And do you think I have no troubles?
human
You have two troubles to my certain knowledge, said he in the tone of one bringing forward a piece of critical analysis that was rather mortifying to exhibit.
gpt
The one is a woman and the other is John Calvin. If it's Amy, throw it off and be a man. If it's Calvinism, throw it off and become an Episcopalian.
human
Did you ever love a woman?
gpt
Many a one--in the state of the first Adam!
human
That's the reason you threw it off: many a one!
gpt
Don't you know, inquired the parson with an air of exegetical candour,
human
Or if it is Calvin, continued the parson,
gpt
No--no!
human
Well, you'd better've been thinking about it! For that's what you believe. And that's what makes life so hard and bitter and gloomy to you. I know! I carried Calvinism around within me once: it was like an uncorked ink-bottle in a rolling snowball: the farther you go, the blacker you get! Admit it now, he continued in his highest key of rarefied persistency,