Myself. The king will be the great Unseen and Eternal, the self-existent and self-created Being who rules heaven’s armies and earth’s inhabitants.
“This is the Being, is it not, whom your nation worship and adore?”
Myself. Yes; and we are to live with Him for ever, and enjoy His fellowship. And don’t you believe in Him too?
“Alas! no; I wish we did. When I consider how beautiful our clime and country are,—our friendship, associations, consciousness, friends, relations,—I often shudder at the thought of annihilation. Sometimes I am terribly oppressed with the thought of ceasing to be, and the more thoughtful of my race hold similar opinions and feelings.”
Myself. What do you and your people worship? Who is the object of your adoration?
“We worship truth; a thing not a person; an idea, not a reality; a form, beautiful though it be, and not a substance. It is awful to think that the grave is to be the end of our joys, pleasures, and delights. In the matter of worship, you are right and we are wrong; you are the wise ones, we the fools. But you have, methinks, too much of form in your manner of worshipping your Supreme.”
Myself. I agree with your last remark; but pray tell me how you have acquired such an intimate knowledge of our affairs.
“By frequent visits to your land, and by mixing with your people.”
Myself. I never saw a member of your race until I was fortunate enough to meet Prince Tippin.
“Perhaps not; but I have traversed the whole of your country, as well as other countries beyond the sea.”