There is another--one who cannot
be satisfied that the fairest works of his hands, or rather the
loveliest children of his heart, should be treated as you have
treated women."
"But the Deity you talk of--"
"I beg your pardon, my lord: I talked of no deity; I talked of
a living Love that gave us birth and calls us his children. Your
deity I know nothing of."
"Call him what you please: he won't be put off so easily!"
"He won't be put off one jot or one tittle. He will forgive anything,
but he will pass nothing. Will your wife forgive you?"
"She will--when I explain."
"Then why should you think the forgiveness of God, which created
her forgiveness, should be less?"
Whether the marquis could grasp the reasoning, may be doubtful.
"Do you really suppose God cares whether a man comes to good or
ill?"
"If he did not, he could not be good himself."
"Then you don't think a good God would care to punish poor wretches
like us?"
"Your lordship has not been in the habit of regarding himself as
a poor wretch. And, remember, you can't call a child a poor wretch
without insulting the father of it."
"That's quite another thing."
"But on the wrong side for your argument--seeing the relation
between God and the poorest creature is infinitely closer than that
between any father and his child."
"Then he can't be so hard on him as the parsons say."
"He will give him absolute justice, which is the only good thing.
He will spare nothing to bring his children back to himself--
their sole well being.
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