“I wonder that it did not, at its first appearing on earth, instantly overthrow all others.”
“And it is a still more wonderful thing that those who embraced it, having known, should have sometimes gone back to paganism? Thou dost remember that God’s chosen people, after enjoying marvels of His Providence, plunged headlong into idolatry in the very presence of His splendor at Sinai?”
“With shame I remember it. I marvel as well that this record, which evokes the ridicule of the grosser heathen, was made part of our Holy writings.”
“God’s compensation! The people stripped themselves of their jewels to make the calf; then of their garments to worship it according to the lewd rites of Apis. God since has lashed them naked around the world, as it were, by giving their history to all times. ‘Be sure your sin will find you out,’ is a stern truth haunting the conscience of the evil doer; but though exposure is a bitter medicine it is a saving one. God as such applies it.”
“I think the devil crazed the people at Sinai.”
“Yes, Rizpah, but Human Desire was his name. The revelers made their devil as well as their calf, that day.”
“But it is said ‘they rose to play.’ If so disobedient and heaven-defying how could they have found heart to play?”
“Odious, significant word that one is, here. It was a ‘play’ that engulphed all purity. No wonder they ceased to observe the ‘burning mountain!’ Only the pure in heart can see God.”
“Thank God! that thy people and mine have finally escaped, my husband.”
“So far as we have escaped, I thank Him; but, alas, the evangels of Egypt’s scarlet heresies still go about, and there are many, everywhere, led away in chains that seem of flowers at first, but are found to be of galling iron at last.”