Strange morality—said he, as they laid the Book aside. This patriarch, and others who happen to have been greatly favored in that age by the God of the patriarchs were guilty of more than we, with our shortsighted notions of propriety, should be very willing either to overlook or forgive—
George Burroughs—
My dear friend—what I say is very true, and to pass over David, the man after God’s own heart, I would ask you whether he who cheated his father and his brother, by the help of his mother, while he was yet a youth, and as he grew up laid before the stronger cattle the rods which he had peeled—as we have it in the Book—and suffered the cattle that were weak—as we read there—to conceive in their own way, so that “the feebler were Laban’s cattle and the stronger Jacob’s ... whether he, I say....
I see no advantage in this ... we have a faith of our own, said Rachel, interrupting him with a mild seriousness which he dared not contend with. I pray thee to spare us,—and thyself George....
Are we not to bear witness to the truth, Rachel?
It may be the truth George, but ... glancing at Elizabeth who sat as if she expected the roof to fall in, or the earth to give way under their feet and swallow them up for their dreadful impiety ... some truths we know are for the strong, and some for the weak.
Ah ... what was that! cried Elizabeth catching at her sister’s arm.
Poor child ... there George there ... thee sees the effect of thy truth ... why, Lizzy!
O I did hear something ... I did, I did! continued Elizabeth, clinging to her sister and fixing her eyes upon the roof. O I’m sure there’s something up there.
Well, and what if there is, pray? What’s thee afraid of?... Is the arm of our Father shortened or his power shrunk, that we are not safe?