The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1865-10-26


In putting a money value on his earthly
existence, it seems to me that the Divine
Being would be outraged, and visit the
mercenary offender with death as a iudg-
ment."
"You havea strange idea of the Divine
Being" said !, evincing surprise in re-
turn.
"In getting your life insured, would
you purpose evil to your neighbor ~
"No, but rather good. 1 would seek,
in doing so, not only to keep my wife
and children from being burden upon
others, but to secure to them those world
ly advantages so necessary the healthy
development Of mind and body.n
"And do you think merciful God
would visit you, vindictively, for acting
with such an unselfish purpose in your
mind: How strange must be your
notion of Him who is represented to us
as being in his very nature love! Now,
we know that love seeks to impart
blessing to all-not a curse.'
"But there is such thing as running
in the face of Providence, and this life
insurance has always struck me as being
something of the kind"
"What do you mean by running in the
face of PrOvidence?"
Doing something in order to counter
act the Divine purpose"
"Do you know the Divine purpose in
regard to yourself"
"No, of course not"
"Then, how can you, knowingly, do
anything to counterfeit that purpose"
II can't knowingly; but may clio so
ignorantly.'
sThen you think the Lord sometimes
Furnishes men for acts innocently done?o
"Such an idea has been in my mind.
Man is responsible for his acts, and
should, therefore, be very guarded about
what he does. His ignorance will not
always excuse him."
"Suppose your child were to do some
thing wrong, yet you had the clearest
evidence in your mind that his inten-
tons We're good, and not evil; would
you punish him?'
"NO."
"Why not?''
II would regard his intentions"
BE. Use they made the quality ofthe
act so far as he was concerned?''
eyes"
"Will YOU make God less reasonable,
considerable, and just than yourself?
Does He not also regard the motives
which influence his children ~
Why--yes--I suppose He does. But
we ought to be sure that our motives are
right" grant you that, with all my
heart. We must take care that we are
not consenting to the death of the saints,
under the mad hallucination that we are
doing Gods service. But with reason
and revelation for our guide, are we not
in much fear of going wrong"
"No; suppose not. Still, ] c,n'tget
away from the idea suggested. feel as
if to insure my life would be trifling
! with u solemn matter"
''And that life might fail you iRcon-
sequence"
"Such is the impression, must con-
*fess."
You must, then, think that theprovi-
dence in regard to mans death is arbi-
trary and capricious"'
II don't understand much about the
matter; and my very ignorance makes
me fearful" replied MIR. Hervey.
Unjust be plain toyou on reflection
said 1, that, in u matter SO important
as the fixing of a mans eternal state by
death, the divine wisdom and mercy of
the Lord must b. exercised in most
perfect manner, SO to speak. That, in
fact, no one is called to pass from natu-
raj into II spiritual state Of existence,
except ut such time as the change will
be best for him. The mere circumstance
! of making an insurance upon the life,
with view to providing for those left
behind, who would, perhaps, suffer great
evil but for such provision, could not
| nrecinitat4 this time: for the act could