Page:Life in the Old World - Vol. II.djvu/255

Rh give the terrible picture of a twilight realm, where was heard the eternal lamenting and weeping of children, ‘weeping without suffering,’ says he, but yet how terrible to think of! If, I say, your understanding, enlightened by the love of Christ, should point out to you the irrationality, nay, the impiety of such a doctrine, you would not be able to reject it, would not be able to think that this ecclesiastical assembly of three hundred years ago, may not have been in error!"

“It could not have been in error; it is I who must be in the wrong!” says Père Marie Louis; “the human reason, the human heart, is full of error.” “There are, however, certain great points of agreement amongst all people, and in all times. They have accepted Christianity, and Christ has promised his spirit to every one who loves him and follows his commandments. God has given an eye for his truth.”

“But it is darkened,” replies Père Marie Louis; “We require an outward institution, an outward canon, to guide us.”

“We have that in Christ himself, and in the Scriptures, which present to us most clearly his image.”

“That is not sufficient,” persists Père Marie Louis; “We are not capable of understanding this without the help of the church.”

“Very true,” I replied; “we acknowledge that, in order more fully to explain, and the better to understand the Scriptures, we require the assistance of such as are better and more thoroughly taught; above all, of such as are more faithfully the disciples of Christ