AFTERMATH.
The closing of that session of the Scripture Club, in which the nature
and reward of righteousness was discussed, did not end the consideration
of the subject. Mr. Radley himself determined that, at the next meeting,
some one should move the rescinding of his own resolution to allow but
one Sunday to a verse of Scripture; and several other members, among
them Squire Woodhouse, Mr. Buffle, and Mr. Alleman, determined to put
the resolution to death at the first opportunity. In the mean time, no
member of the class, who went to and from the city on the little steamer
_Oak-leaf_, nor any one who had occasion to visit the local post-office,
was allowed to forget the subject, which, not for the first time, caused
such widely differing theories to be offered.
"You didn't have an opportunity to express your opinions last Sunday?"
said Squire Woodhouse to Mr. Alleman, at the post-office on Monday
evening, while the latter awaited the opening of the mail, and the
former lay in wait for some one upon whom to expend his pent-up
energies.
"No," replied the teacher; "and I doubt whether the expression of them
would have done any good. Men are always willing enough to be observers
of a quarrel; but to take part in one generally passes for a sign of bad
breeding, and the care that men have for the results of their bringing
up is, under such circumstances, admirable beyond expression."
"Oh, you're not exactly fair, I think," said the Squire. "Every member
of that class thinks the case of faith _vs._ works is his own; he must
be interested in one side or the other, for he believes eternity depends
upon it."
"I don't see why any one should have such an idea," said Mr. Alleman.
"It doesn't make the slightest difference which side they take, if they
really believe as they claim to do."
"Goodness!" exclaimed the Squire. "Why, are _you_ going over to the
defense of faith against works? You, who have always been preaching up
good works as the whole end of life? I'm afraid _I've_ been in too much
of a hurry, for I've been drifting over to your side very, very fast
during the past two or three weeks."
"I've not changed my principles in the least," replied Mr. Alleman.
"Either belief includes the other, if a man is really sincere in the
belief itself."
"Well," said the Squire, with humility, "you scholarly fellows can do
sums in your heads at a rate that no common man's ciphering can equal. I
thought I'd heard a great deal on this subject, both before I
experienced a change and after, but I never could see that there could
be any agreement between the two. One set of men say that faith is
everything; another say that works are the thing; both sets make faces
when they pass each other on Sunday on their way to their separate
churches, and, if I read the religious papers correctly, it's the
subject of the greatest religious fighting in the world."
"The fighting is between the men, not the ideas," said Mr. Alleman.
"Having withdrawn from the class," remarked Dr. Humbletop, who also was
present, "or, I might say, having never belonged to it, I don't know
that I have any right to take part in your conversation, but as this is
not a stated session of the class----"
"Even if it was, Doctor, you'd be free to say whatever you liked,"
interrupted the Squire. "Free speech is the rule of the class on
Sundays, and we certainly aren't going to be any narrower out of school
than in it. Besides, you've been to a theological seminary, and know the
ins and outs of this question. Now, I want to know if I'm not right and
Alleman wrong?"
"You certainly are correct in your assumptions," replied the reverend
doctor. "The Church, or, more properly speaking, the world and the
Church, have always been at war upon this important issue. It has been
the cause of battles in which precious human blood was shed, as well as
of struggles in which words, fiercer than spears and darts, have been
the weapons used, and souls instead of bodies were to be counted among
the killed and wounded."
"And the Church," remarked young Mr. Waggett, as he tore the wrapper
from a religious newspaper, which the postmaster had just handed him,
"our Church has decided in favor of justification by faith, as the only
sure way of salvation. Other churches----"
"There are no other churches," said Dr. Humbletop. "There are societies,
containing many well-meaning persons, which have works as a basis of
organization. They have built edifices for worship, founded colleges and
schools for the education of youth in their ideas, established
newspapers, settled persons who, by courtesy, are called pastors, and
formed societies which do much toward the amelioration of the physical
condition of unfortunate humanity. The respect which they manifest
toward portions of the Word of God renders it impossible to deny that
they possess religious feeling and aspiration; but to admit that they
constitute a portion of the body of which Christ is the head, is
impossible. These persons, individually and in their associated
capacity, war against the distinctive doctrine of the Church, which is,
that Christ died for all men to make atonement for sin, that all men may
become partakers in the benefits of this saving act by acknowledging him
to be their Lord and Saviour."
"There--I told you so," said the Squire to the teacher.
"The Doctor has suggested a point of difference between the two great
sections of the Protestant Church," said Mr. Alleman; "but that was not
the subject upon which we were talking."
"Why, yes, it was," said Builder Stott, who had been listening, while
pretending to be otherwise engaged. "I heard every word of it."
Mr. Alleman gave an impatient start. "I said the disagreement was
between men, and not between ideas. Our good champion of orthodoxy, the
Doctor, cannot, with due respect to his Maker, admit that there are any
works of real value that are not prompted by a true belief in the
principles enounced by Jesus. Faith implies trust; trust of the inferior
in the superior signifies a willingness to be guided: the guidance of a
Being in whose wisdom and love we have unlimited confidence _must_ be
followed, if we really believe His utterances, and believe our own
nature to be as imperfect and sinful as we profess to think it is."
"Ah!" said Dr. Humbletop, "theories of human action may be very
beautiful, but that very imperfection and sinfulness of man makes them
of no effect. Logically, Mr. Alleman is perfectly correct, and, from his
very assertions, the Church deduces the argument whereby she brings
reason to the support of inspiration. Man is so imperfect, so sinful, so
depraved, that, when he would do good, evil is ever present with him.
This condition of man shows the absolute need of a Saviour, and, of
course, a loving God will not allow his children to lack anything which
they really need. Thus the need and the existence of a Saviour are
established, by their interdependence upon each other."
"That is hardly the point of our conversation," said Mr. Alleman. "The
question between us was, whether there was not a similar interdependence
between faith and works; whether, as either of them logically implies
the other, either is not logically inclusive of the other."
"Works include faith?" exclaimed Builder Stott. "Well, excuse me, but my
time is valuable, and I guess I'll be moving. I always like to get hold
of a real idea about religion, but that notion is too far-fetched for
anything. Why, according to you, a Unitarian or a heathen, if he does
good, is a child of God and a partaker of the promises. Christ might as
well not have lived and died, if that is all his work amounted to."
Mr. Stott started, and Squire Woodhouse exclaimed, "Why don't you keep
him?"
"Because," said Mr. Alleman, with a peculiar smile, "I'm occasionally
orthodox enough to believe that some men are predestinated to
destruction, and that men, like Stott, who never follow Christ's
teachings and dread them as they do Satan, are among the number.
Honestly, now, Squire Woodhouse, can you see how a sincere attempt to
fulfill the moral injunctions of Jesus Christ and his apostles can fail
to lead a man to faith in Christ and the Father? When a system of
morality is given, which, in terms and results, is so far above the
morality of the world that the world shrinks from it, yet which in
practice proves to be correct, do you suppose it is possible to doubt
the higher inspiration of the giver? Did any mere law-giver ever enjoin
unselfishness? Is unselfishness natural? Does not its practice, and the
spiritual influence which is felt in return for its practice, raise a
man to a plane of wisdom, tenderness, and strength, such as has never
been reached in any other way? Have not honest disbelievers in great
numbers, when they have attempted a higher morality than that of the
world in general, fallen back upon Christ as their only available
teacher, and been led to him, either by desperation or sympathy, or
both?"
The Squire had not read as much as Mr. Alleman in the controversial
theological literature of the day, and he could not reply from actual
knowledge, but he said:
"I don't know, but I'll take your word for it. I know that although I'm
a church member, and pretend to be led by the Spirit, there have been
only once in a while times when I've got outside of business rules about
matters of time and money, and that, when these times have come, I've
felt nearer to God than I've ever done even when I've been in trouble."
"Then you understand my meaning," said Mr. Alleman. "There is no
difference between faith and works, providing both are rendered in
sincerity, for neither of them can help leading to the other. And as you
have seen the truth of this fact by personal experience, you are just
the man who should support me in the effort which I hope to make next
Sunday to impress this truth upon the class, not for the sake of
presenting a new theory for discussion, but to join conflicting ideas
for the good of man and the glory of God."
"I frankly admit," said Dr. Humbletop, "that friend Alleman's idea is a
beautiful one--so beautiful that it could not have been conceived
without inspiration from on high. But should it prevail in society
instead of being confined to the individual breast, its results can
hardly fail to be disastrous. What will restrain depraved humanity from
neglecting the offer of salvation by faith in Christ, and devote itself
to working out its own salvation? How many souls will be lost if the
fear of eternal suffering is not held before them, and if they attempt
to begin through work, and finish ere the blessed time of change comes?"
"If they can trust to God's mercy while they are mere beggars for help,"
said Mr. Alleman, "they can certainly do it while they are endeavoring
to help themselves and Him. Unless," continued Mr. Alleman, with an
impatient gesture, "unless God can seem to you to be nothing but a
vengeful monster--unless he has at some unknown time withdrawn all his
merciful promises to those who do righteousness and walk uprightly."
"My dear young friend," said Dr. Humbletop, who had slowly been dropping
his head backward and adding intensity to the solicitude expressed by
his stare, "do you know that you have taken upon yourself the authority
to urge men from the new dispensation back to the old, and thus to set
back the work of grace for two thousand years? Do you not know that the
law alone was found to be insufficient?"
"Do _you_ not know," said Mr. Alleman, "that by that assertion you
impugn the wisdom of the Almighty?"
"God forbid!" exclaimed the doctor, starting backward so abruptly that
he nearly overturned the post-office stove. "The law was given as it was
on account of the hardness of men's hearts, as Christ himself expressly
states."
"True," said Mr. Alleman, "and 'the times of this ignorance God winked
at, but now commandeth all men to repent.' When the law was insufficient
to the needs of mankind, God sent another law-giver in the person of
Christ. And men might have obeyed him to a greater extent than they do,
had not the Church taken the position that the need of man was of more
consequence than duty to God, and that saving one's self--which human
selfishness is abundantly able to look out for without being urged to
it--is of more consequence than complying with the desires of Christ,
and through Christ, God."
"Salvation possible through human selfishness!" ejaculated Dr.
Humbletop.
"That's the sentiment which the church most appeals to," said Mr.
Alleman.
"The central truth of inspiration, revelation, and the atonement only a
concession to the fears and personal desires of mankind!" continued the
doctor. "Oh, horrible, horrible!"
"It _is_ horrible," said Mr. Alleman, "that a strong organization like
the Church, with respectability, morality, tradition, and authority on
its side, should teach such a doctrine; but your own sermons, which I
have found to be models of logic, though based upon false premises,
prove the truth of your condensation of my statements. Men are urged,
not to righteousness as taught by prophets, apostles, and the Master
himself, but to take the best possible care of Number One--urged to
something which the most miserable savage alive knows is dictated by the
strongest instinct of his nature. What must Christ, remembering the
intensity and agony of his earthly efforts, think of the Church?"
Dr. Humbletop assumed, slowly, his pulpit manner, and at length replied:
"My dear friend--for dear I must call you in remembrance of your many
self-denying efforts for the good of mankind--I must decline to discuss
this subject any further with you. For two thousand years the Church of
Christ has endured, and guided itself according to the words of Christ
himself--"
"All of his words, or only such of them as have been fullest of promise
of safety?" interrupted Mr. Alleman.
"All of them," boldly replied the doctor. "The Church has taught
everything that Christ did. I, myself, have preached from every verse of
Christ's sermon on the Mount."
"But you have carefully avoided the literal meanings of these verses in
nearly every instance," said Mr. Alleman.
"I have attached to each one such meaning as the Spirit has indicated to
me," said the doctor, with rather chilling dignity. "And I would further
say that I have treated them according to the habit of the Church during
the nineteen centuries that have nearly elapsed since Christ appeared.
If I had taught from my own understanding alone, I might have had
misgivings; but with countless prophets, apostles, and martyrs to whom
to look for example, I have felt secure in my position. You cannot,
therefore, expect me to accept your views as opposed to those of the
whole body of Christian teachers. The experience of the world is always
of value in teaching the teacher what to do and say, and that
experience--"
"Is always based upon selfishness," interrupted Mr. Alleman.
"And that experience," continued Dr. Humbletop, "has been that the
atonement made by Christ is the all in all of Scripture."
The doctor called for his letters, bowed in a dignified manner to Mr.
Alleman and the Squire, and departed.
Let no one blame Dr. Humbletop for his lack of clear vision. A more
honest, conscientious, and generous soul could not be found in Valley
Rest. Receiving an income which to many of his acquaintances would have
seemed insufficient to a man of good breeding and refined tastes, he
found ways of devoting more than a tithe of it to charities either
private or public. He was always ready to forego his own tastes and
inclinations in order to visit the sick, counsel the troubled, or pray
with the dying; his voice and vote were never lacking in affairs of
public interest, and they were always used in the interest of the
highest morality. But the doctor had been born and bred under a
religious system which he had been taught was to be accepted, not
changed, and not even to be questioned. To him, as to the wise Solomon,
the law of the Lord was perfect, the difference between the two men
being that the doctor found the whole law in the letter of a single
department of it, instead of in the Spirit, and that this peculiarity of
his mind had come to him by birth, been strengthened by a special
education, and established by habit. Whenever he for a moment questioned
his belief, he very naturally contemplated the many generations of wiser
men who had accepted beliefs like his own, and in their wisdom and their
interpretation of Scripture his soul rested.
And yet Squire Woodhouse was moved to say to Mr. Alleman:
"It seems to me the doctor begs the question."