"
"Dr. Guide," said the deacon, with considerable dignity, "I didn't
expect this kind of talk from you. I have been sitting under your
ministrations a good many years, and, though sometimes I didn't think
you were as sharp-set as you ought to be, still I knew you were a man
of level head and good education and knew everything that was essential
to salvation; otherwise, why did the best college of our own
denomination make you a doctor of divinity? But I've got to let out
what is in my heart, doctor, and it is this, that there is no
stopping-place for any one that begins to walk the straight and narrow
way; he has got to keep on as long as he lives, and if he don't he is
going to be crowded off to one side."
"You are quite right, deacon," said the minister; "and therefore I
object to putting any stumbling-blocks in any such person's way."
"Do you mean to say, Dr. Guide," asked the deacon, earnestly, "that all
the articles of faith that you have always taught us were essential to
salvation are to be looked at as stumbling-blocks when they are offered
to somebody like that poor dying sinner?"
"I mean exactly that, deacon," said the minister, "and I mean still
more, and I mean to preach earnestly on the subject in a short time,
and at considerable length, that they have been stumbling-blocks to a
great many members of my congregation who should by this time be better
men and women than they are.
Pages:
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123