“To justify the ways of God to man.”

We have heard Milton’s argument, but for the realization of his vision of the time

     “When Hell itself shall pass away,
     And leave her dolorous mansions to the peering day,”

our suffering race must wait in patience.

The greater part of the discourse the reader has had before him was delivered over the teacups one Sunday afternoon.  The Mistress looked rather grave, as if doubtful whether she ought not to signify her disapprobation of what seemed to her dangerous doctrine.

However, as she knew that I was a good church-goer and was on the best terms with her minister, she said nothing to show that she had taken the alarm.  Number Five listened approvingly.  We had talked the question over well, and were perfectly agreed on the main point.  How could it be otherwise?  Do you suppose that any intellectual, spiritual woman, with a heart under her bodice, can for a moment seriously believe that the greater number of the high-minded men, the noble and lovely women, the ingenuous and affectionate children, whom she knows and honors or loves, are to be handed over to the experts in a great torture-chamber, in company with the vilest creatures that have once worn human shape?

“If there is such a world as used to be talked about from the pulpit, you may depend upon it,” she said to me once, “there will soon be organized a Humane Society in heaven, and a mission established among ’the spirits in prison.’”

Number Five is a regular church-goer, as I am.  I do not believe either of us would darken the doors of a church if we were likely to hear any of the “old-fashioned” sermons, such as I used to listen to in former years from a noted clergyman, whose specialty was the doctrine of eternal punishment.  But you may go to the churches of almost any of our Protestant denominations, and hear sermons by which you can profit, because the ministers are generally good men, whose moral and spiritual natures are above the average, and who know that the harsh preaching of two or three generations ago would offend and alienate a large part of their audience.  So neither Number Five nor I are hypocrites in attending church or “going to meeting.”  I am afraid it does not make a great deal of difference to either of us what may be the established creed of the worshipping assembly.  That is a matter of great interest, perhaps of great importance, to them, but of much less, comparatively, to us.  Companionship in worship, and sitting quiet for an hour while a trained speaker, presumably somewhat better than we are, stirs up our spiritual nature,—­these are reasons enough to Number Five, as to me, for regular attendance on divine worship.