The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-05-19
JOHN WARD, PREACHER.

peculiar to the function of the novelist
and that finds its counterpart among
many sad experiences in every day life.
1t is the familiar case of sudden death,
striking down one who is not converted,
according to the orthodox formula, and
the sorrowful straits relatives are placed
in when they contemplate the possible
results of their friends dying in an I'M
converted condition. The character
referred to in what follows died under
these circumstances; and the converse
ton is represented as taking place be-
tween the wife of the departed and
"John Ward, Preacher
Mrs. Davis raised her head and look
ed at him. ''Tell me, you don't think
it will be counted sin to him, do you?
You don't think he died in SIM" she
asked almost fiercely.
81 wish l could say did not" he
answered.
She threw her hands up over her
head with shrill cry.
you don't think he's lost ? Say
you don't preacher, say you don't ! :"
John took her hands in his. 'Try
and think" he said gently, ''how brave
Tom was, how nobly he faced death to
save Charley. Leave the judgments of
God to God; they are not for us to
think off,
But she would not be put off in that
way. Too weak to kneel, she had sunk
upon the floor, leaning still against the
bed, with one thin, gaunt arm thrown
across her husbands body.
"You think" she demanded, THAT
my Toms lost because he was drunk
tonight ?"
NO." he said, 81 do not think that,
Mrs. Davis"
SIS he saved 2" she cried, her voice
shrill with eagerness.
John was silent. She clutched his
arm with her thin fingers, and shook
it in her excitement; her pinched, ter
rified face was close to his.
HE wasn't never converted, Il
know that but would the Lord have
cut him off, sudden-Eke, in his sin, if
he wasn't goin' to save him?"
1--WE can only trust his wisdom and
his goodness
but you think he was cut off in his
sins-you think-my Toms lost -
The preacher did not speak, but the
passionate pity in his eyes told her.
She put her hands up to her throat as
though she were suffocating, and her
face grew CHASTITY.
Remember, God knows what is best
for his Children John said. HE
sends this grief of Toms death to you
in his infinite wisdom. He loves you
he knows best"
"Do you mean" asked the woman
slowly, THAT it was best for Tom he
should die ?o
81 mean this sorrow may be best for
you" he answered tenderly. "God
knows what you need. He sends sor-
row to draw our souls nearer to him."
"Oh," she exclaimed, her voice
broken and hoarse, 81 don't want no
good for me, If Tom has to die for it.
An why should he love me instead o.
Tom? Oh, don't want his love, as
wouldn't give Tom another chance
He might "a been converted this next
revival, for you would "a preached hell
I know you would, then. No, don't
want no good as comes that way. Oh,
preacher, you amt going to say you
think my Toms burning in hell this
night, and me living to be made better
by it? Oh, no, no, no I" She crawled
to his feet, and clasped his knees with
her shaking arms. "Say he isn't
say he isn'tl"
But the presence Of that dead man
asserted the hopelessness of Johns
creed; no human pity could dim his
faith, and he had no words of comfort
for the distracted woman who chung to
him. He could only lift her and try to
soothe her, but she did not seem to
hear him until he put her baby in her
arms; at the touch of its little soft face
against her drawn cheek, she trembled
violently, and then came the merciful
! relief of tears. She did not ask the
preacher again to say that her husband
was not lost; she had no hope that he
would tell her anything but what she
already knew. 1.-THE soul that sinneth,
it shall die" She tried, poor thing, TO
find some comfort in the words he
spoke of Gods love for her; listening
with a pathetic silence which wrung
his heart.
When John left her, beating his way
home through the binding snow, his
face was as haggard as her own. He
could not escape from the ultimate
conclusion of his creed, --"He that
believeth not shall be damned" Yet
he loved and trusted completely. His
confidence in Gods justice could not
be shaken; but it was with almost
groan that he said, 80 my God, my
God, justice and judgment are the
habltation of thy throne; mercy and
truth shall go before thy face! But
justice with mercy,-justice first "
The hopelessness of the creed is well
represented in the above. Orthodoxy
has no refuge when thus brought face
to face with such thrilling sorrow, ex-
cept its vague, uncertain reliance
which it has no logical right to adopt,
upon the divine mercy. 1t is not, and
cannot be, actuated by any definite hope
or consoling belief, in regard to the de-
parted. The creed absolutely leaves
no hope for the human heart to cling
to under circumstances like this. The
wall of sorrow is its condemnation. 1t
outlines clearly what is necessary for
salvation, conversion" which rarely
occurs-which does not include one in
ten thousand of those who are sudden
ly taken off. Consequently, when the
bereaved wife or mother is called upon