RACHEL, _a Jewess._--REBECCA, _Sister of Rachel._--EUDORA, _a
Heathen._--JEZEBEL, _a Messenger._--RUTH, _friend of Rachel and
Rebecca._
_Eudora._ Rachel!
_Rachel._ Eudora! welcome, thrice welcome, to Jerusalem.
_Eudora._ Right glad am I, Rachel, to be once more by your side. The
sun has not shone so brightly, nor the birds sung so sweetly, since
you bade me farewell at my father's; and every moment has increased my
desire to be with you again.
_Rachel._ You have well done that you have come to me. And though I
was not conscious of robbing your lovely home of its brightness, yet
sure I am the remembrance of your true kindness and tender friendship
has been to me ever since an increase of sunshine and song; and, now
that you have come to me, the very temple itself shall look more
beautiful, and the songs of David catch a new inspiration.
_Eudora._ Still faithful, I see, to your temple and Jehovah; and so
may it ever be! But I trust you have more respect for the gods I
worship, and will not, as of yore, pronounce them false.
_Rachel._ Sorry should I be to pain a true heart, and, most of all,
that of my much-loved guest; but, still I _must_ say, the gods that
you worship are no gods. There is but one God, and that is Jehovah.
_Eudora._ As I came near Jerusalem, I remembered your earnest words on
that subject,--as what that you ever uttered have I forgotten? I
remembered, too, how nearly out of patience I often felt with you for
claiming your god to be the only God; and, so as I drew near, I felt a
desire to know him better. It being a time of worship in the temple, I
went with a Jewish friend of mine up the hill, and entered the outer
court, called, I believe, the Court of the Gentiles. And, verily, I
saw _no_ god there. Perchance he was in the temple itself.
_Rachel._ Yes, in the holy of holies: in the farther apartment of that
building which you saw rising amid all the courts, he dwells.
_Eudora._ I imagined that was his abode. But wherein differs your
worship from ours? You have a temple; so have we. You have priests
clothed in sacred robes; so have we. You have altars and sacrifices;
so have we. You have an oracle and prophets; so have we. You go up to
the dwelling-place of your God to worship and offer sacrifices; so do
we. Wherein, then, do we differ?
_Rachel._ If in nothing else, Eudora, yet in this: we have but _one_
temple and one God for our nation; you have many. And again, you
worship the work of men's hands,--images of wood and stone, that can
neither see nor feel.
_Rebecca (coming forward--Jezebel approaches)._ My heart is moved
within me; and though my sister, in her joy of seeing her friend, has
left me standing apart, yet your voice has drawn me to you.
_Eudora._ Surely the sister of my friend shall be my sister: would
that I could say her God shall be my God!
_Rebecca._ Even so may it be!
_Eudora._ And my gods hers!
_Rebecca._ But that is impossible.
_Eudora._ Why? Because, as she says, we have images for gods! But this
is not so. Is Jupiter the thunderer confined to an image? or is Juno
or any other deity? Have we not many images of all the gods in many
places, and are they not in them all? Do not our armies go forth to
war, and is not Jupiter with them and Mars also? These images are but
_reminders_ of the gods, as my father's statue is of him.
_Rebecca._ 'Tis true these many images and temples may not hold your
gods more than our synagogues hold Jehovah; but as great an error is
yours. You worship what has no existence; your gods are creatures of
fancy. Your gods, too, are of various character, and not always
agreed. This goodly world is not the patch-work of many and different
gods, but of one designing mind,--one executing power; and that one,
Jehovah.
_Eudora._ Your sister, in many hours of precious intercourse, has
almost persuaded me to believe in but one God; but why, if there be
but one, may not that one be our Jupiter, known as the father of gods
and men, as well as your Jehovah?
_Jezebel_ (To Eudora). _Because he is not._ (To Rachel and Rebecca).
Why do you talk with that stupid Heathen? You might as well convince a
Samaritan dog. I have waited here with a message from David since the
fifth hour, and all to be contaminated with idolatrous breath.
_Rachel._ Why, Jezebel, do you not remember what the wise Solomon has
said: "He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he that
ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city;" or Moses' commands
concerning the stranger and hospitality?
_Jezebel._ Well, prate not to me, daughter of Eliab; for I need it
not. Tell me if you have fulfilled the mission given you this day, and
what answer I shall make.
_Rachel._ I have. Ye only need say, "It is well." _[Jezebel departs
impatiently.]_ (_To Eudora._) Be not moved by our neighbor's unkind
manners. Did she love Jehovah, she would not thus do.
_Eudora._ And is Jehovah careful about _these_ things?
_Rachel._ Yes: every act is noticed by him; every heart is his desire;
and herein he differs from all imaginary gods. Jupiter sits apart, and
simply _rules_ the nations. Jehovah loves the children he has created,
and is careful about their least concerns. He desires their love in
return. Your gods demand conduct and sacrifices injurious and
degrading. Jehovah's every word is for his people's prosperity.
_Eudora._ And you are like your god. Your patient doing of right in
the past comes to me; and this, with your kindness to the unfeeling
and abusive Jezebel, has convinced me more, if possible, than your
arguments. Surely I see that it was such a god that I desired to
worship in Jupiter. If this be found alone in your god, then does my
heart move me to say, Jehovah, He is God, and there is none else. Oh!
may I not be mistaken!
_Rachel._ Trust in Jehovah, and thou shalt not err.
_Rebecca._ Rejoice in Jehovah, and thou shalt be glad for ever.
_Ruth (calling)._ Rachel!
_Rachel._ I come. (_To Eudora._) Let us hasten; for we have long
tarried, and many wait to welcome you. _(Singing heard._) Hark! they
are singing one of the songs of David: let us go join them.
At the close of the dialogue, the cxxxvi. Psalm was chanted; and then
another gentleman described the erroneous notions which the Jews had
of the expected Messiah. His remarks were succeeded by