Emerson said faith should work out that salvation. It was man’s privilege to resist the evil, to strive triumphantly; to recognise it—never! Good was always present to the soul,—was all the true soul took note of. It was a duty not to look!
Margaret thought it the climax of sin to despair. She believed evil to be a good in the grand scheme of things. She would not recognize it as a blunder. She must consider its scope a noble one. In one word, she would not accept the world—for she felt within herself the power to reject it—did she not believe evil working in it for good! Man had gained more than he lost by his fall. The ninety-nine sheep in the parable were of less value than the “lost found,” over which there was joy in heaven.
E. P. P. spoke of the Tree of Life,—which would have made immortal those who ate of the Tree of Knowledge.
Caroline Sturgis said that this probation was what she could not comprehend. We began at the circumference, and if we fulfilled our destiny must end by being near the centre. How much better to have begun there! Why could not God have made it so?
William Story began to say that God must seek the best good of all his creatures; but Caroline interrupted him by saying that there was certainly more good at the centre than at the circumference.
William White thought all this good, better, and best very puzzling.
Margaret asked Caroline if she could not see probation to be a good, as she had herself defined it?
Are we better then, than God? asked Caroline.
Not better, replied Margaret, for we cannot compare dissimilar things.
William White asked if any one could be more than good, more than pure.