第87部分(第4/7 頁)

　their　sight　for　ever；　and　much　less　that　these　should　live　on　in　suffering　for　all　uncounted　time。　Can　we　then　for　one　instance　imagine　that　the　Architect　and　Author　of　the　universe；　the　Supreme；　the　Absolute；　He　who　was　and　is　and　shall　be；　He　whose　Holy　Name　is　Love；　the　Begetter　of　Spirits　and　of　men；　desires　that　His　children　should　be　tormented；　or　die　and　not　endure；　redeemed　and　purified；　to　adore　and　serve　Him？　Not　so！　Not　for　this　does　He　count　the　sparrows　that　fall　and　number　the　very　hairs　upon　our　heads。　In　His　cup　is　the　wine　of　life　—　if　we　will　but　drink　—　not　the　henbane　of　death　eternal。　He　is　the　God　of　the　living；　not　of　the　dead。　Did　not　the　Saviour　say　it　that　we　might　know　and　believe？

And　if　your　reasonings　are　sound；　if　what　you　say　is　true；　the　reader　may　ask；　if　the　righteous　are　redeemed　and　live　to　look　upon　the　Presence　to　all　infinities；　still　what　hope　is　there　for　you　who　are　not　righteous；　who　are　but　a　mon　flesh…stained　sinner？　As　I　shall　not　then　be　here　to　answer　I　will　strive　to　answer　now；　praying　for　grace　that　I　may　do　so　aright。　With　utter　humility；　in　true　unfeigned　abasement　of　heart　and　spirit　I　will　answer。　Was　there　not　one　Mary　Magdalene　out　of　whom　Christ　cast　seven　devils？　Was　there　not　a　woman　taken　in　adultery　whom　He　refused　to　judge？　Did　He　not　declare　that　there　is　joy　in　heaven　over　one　sinner　that　repenteth？　Did　He　not　bid　those　that　were　heavy…laden　to　e　to　Him　and　taste　of　rest？　Therefore　it　is　that　millions　such　as　I；　men　who　in　the　course　of　life　have　erred　deeply　in　some　things　and　fallen　short　in　many；　may　still　dare　to　hope。　Also　who　are　the　righteous？　Even　St。　Paul　speaks　of　the　war　within　him。　Is　it　not　written　that　there　are　no　righteous　on　this　side　of　the　grave　—　none　nearly　perfect？　They　would