"The world is ruled by a power that has far-reaching, even eternal, purpose, and the power is as great as the purpose; the power is infinite."
"I follow you."
"This power cannot act contrary to its own purpose, nor can it purpose what it will not execute."
"Please illustrate, Doctor."
"Suppose God should purpose to make a world, and instead of making a world should make a comet."
"He would not be God," said I, "unless the comet should happen to be in a fair way of becoming a world."
"Exactly; to act contrary to His purpose would be caprice or failure."
"Yes; I see, or think I do."
"Not difficult at all; I simply say that war is a crime and slavery a crime. Two truths cannot clash."
"Then you mean to say that God has proposed to bring slavery into existence, and war, also?"