And for societies, I have small faith
in them."
"Well, well! I'll think about it," said Mr. Redmain, who had now
got so far on the way of life as to be capable of believing that
when Mary said a thing she meant it, though he was quite
incapable of understanding the true relations of money. Few
indeed are the Christians capable of that! The most of them are
just where Peter was, when, the moment after the Lord had honored
him as the first to recognize him as the Messiah, he took upon
him to object altogether to his Master's way of working salvation
in the earth. The Roman emperors took up Peter's plan, and the
devil has been in the church ever since--Peter's Satan, whom the
Master told to get behind him. They are poor prophets, and no
martyrs, who honor money as an element of any importance in the
salvation of the world. Hunger itself does incomparably more to
make Christ's kingdom come than ever money did, or ever will do
while time lasts. Of course money has its part, for everything
has; and whoever has money is bound to use it as best he knows;
but his best is generally an attempt to do saint-work by devil-
proxy.
"I can't think where on earth-you got such a sackful of
extravagant notions!" Mr. Redmain added.
"I told you before, sir, I had a father who set me thinking!"
answered Mary.
"I wish I had had a father like yours," he rejoined.
Pages:
570
571
572
573
574
575
576
577
578
579
580
581
582
583
584
585
586
587
588
589
590
591
592
593
594