salvation, and turn from him. But let us talk no more upon the subject. It is actually painful to differ so very widely from one of whom, in points of conduct, I think so highly." Mr. Goddard, perplexed, bowed in acknowledgment to this; Mrs. Richards seemed puzzled, and the fair Eloise resumed her pencil; so, by way of affording general relief, I turned the subject of conversation into a different course; soon after which Mr. Goddard took his leave. When he had left the room, Mrs. Richards, turning to me, observed: 66 Captain Mordaunt, I think you have shown greater warmth in your discussions to-day than I have ever before witnessed. The cloud has, indeed, burst, and you have let fall a most pitiless shower." 6 "My dear madam," said I, "if I have shown a zeal' not according to knowledge,' I have added another to my numerous transgressions for which I am heartily sorry; but really when I observe the effect of this Calvinism upon the minds of those who embrace it; when I see the pride, the self-sufficiency, and presumption which the exclusive claim to salvation engenders on the one side; the dejection, despondency, and despair, on the other; when I see the stream flowing from the fountain of mercy for the benefit of all, thus confined only to a few, and these presuming to say, 'so far shalt thou come and no further,' — I own that I have feelings of indignation which I have great difficulty in suppressing, and consider it a duty incumbent upon me to protest against such principles. I have not done this either hastily or in anger, for during the several weeks I have been in this place, I have been the constant attendant, on the Sabbath and at other times,. on Mr. Goddard's ministry. What I have heard him promulgate from his pulpit, I have asked him to explain in private: I have considered all he has said with attention, and now, as the result of all, I feel it my duty to attend him no more, for my mind dissenting from his doctrines altogether, does not leave me the liberty of looking up to him as my future religious instructer. I am not surprised that the common people should so readily follow him, for by doing so, they feel the assurance that they are of the small number of the saved; and think what a vast temptation this is; for you know of no Calvinist who is not thought by others, and by himself, that he is not as other men are,' but that he is a chosen vessel; and could I bring myself conscientiously to believe the same, I would be a Calvinist also, but until that be the case, I never can. Here the voice of the watchman called upon me to suffer the invalid to retire to rest; so walking to my lodging, and spending another hour in the consideration of all that had passed, I went to bed, confirmed in the truth of the positions I had advocated. |