human
Well, I must confess, remarked Ned,
gpt
Practical use of Christianity, repeated Seymour, disdainfully,
human
And what is the commonest charity but the essence of Christianity?
gpt
Fiddlestick! replied Seymour, irreverently.
human
Religion is based upon the difference, in an ecclesiastical sense, 'twixt tweedledum and tweedledee.
gpt
Not the true religion of Christ, asserted Minnie,
human
Then what is your definition of religion? asked Charlie, who had been silent hitherto on the subject.
gpt
It deserves a voice, you know, since it has 'justified its existence by its success' in the words of father's favourite maxim.
human
The religion of Christ does not justify itself by success, corrected Minnie,
gpt
Well, but tell us what it _is_, according to your interpretation?
human
According to my interpretation, which is also that of the New Testament, answered Minnie,
gpt
Pure religion and undefiled, is to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep one's self unspotted from the world.
human
Well, that's simple enough at any rate. Is that your whole confession of Faith?
gpt
Yes, those are what I consider the duties of religion, but no one who has really felt its power, could ever think of them merely as duties.
human
You have shown us beyond dispute that you are capable of acting up to the first proposition. Even I, who know little about it, can see that is the easier of the two, how about the second?
gpt
There is only one way I know of fulfilling that requisition--I can't help it if it seems absurd to you--to me it is the true and only one, and that is by following closely the footsteps of that One who alone trod the world without being corrupted by its evil.
human
Well, after all, he said,
gpt
I think I don't understand you very clearly, returned she,
human
And of what use is it to those who are already freed by other means from that benighted condition?
gpt
Charlie, she said tremulously,
human
I am but newly awakened myself out of what you call 'that benighted condition,' through the influence of the Gospel of Christ, and I don't know anything of the other means you talk about. You know I am not much given to thinking, and I have never tried to argue out these matters. I only know what it has done for me.
gpt
And what is that?
human
It has saved me from a frivolous, unprofitable life on earth, and a death beyond the grave, replied Minnie, solemnly,
gpt
I don't imagine that it has the same effect on everybody, it can't, of course, as everybody isn't alike, but it must make a change of some kind, even in people who live the best lives outwardly, before they realize the power of religion, live only half-filled lives, however much work they may do--as Mrs. Browning says--'Nor man, nor nature satisfies whom only _God_ created.'
human
That's just where Minnie has us, _I_ think, put in Seymour at this juncture,
gpt
If you all feel as I do, you must acknowledge that there is something within us which isn't of a piece with the corruptible part of our nature--something that craves for an object to worship and pour itself out to, and yet nothing on earth is perfect enough to satisfy.
human
I suppose you mean the soul,
gpt
Nay, replied Seymour,
human
I say Minnie, Ned and I were talking it over--you know, what we were talking about last night--well, we had a long talk after we went to bed and we both came to the conclusion that since we always intended to go in for it some time, and knew that we could not face death without it, it would be a mean and cowardly thing to make a rush for it just at the end, and so we're determined to try for it at once.
gpt
Does not Miss Chartres go down to Hollowmell with you? I think Seymour said she was with you the night you went with Charlie?
human
Yes,
gpt
Then she won't be annoyed if we go on with what we were talking about. You see, he said turning to Mabel,
human
I can't bear to leave anything half done, and I don't see how I'm to get through this without Minnie's help.
gpt
O, but we shall, said Archie smiling,
human
And what may that be? enquired Mabel,
gpt
I am afraid there is little hope for my success if Minnie fails.
human
The way to Heaven,