"And do you think that a person of affluence and respectability sustains any loss of reputation by visiting the poor and afflicted?"
"O, no, I have often thought of doing it myself; but really, Sir, I don't know what I could say to them. I suppose it would be necessary to descend."
"Yes, Madam; the Lord of life and glory descended, when he assumed a human form to accomplish our redemption; but I rather fear, from the general strain of your remarks, that you have no accurate conception of the design of his mission, or of his death."
"O dear, Sir, I wonder at your remark. He came to teach us to be religious."
"And, Madam, the first lesson he has taught us is to this effect: 'Verily, verily I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.'"
"Do you know, Sir, I never could understand the meaning of that language; and I have asked several of my friends, but they can't tell me; and one evening when I met the Rev. Mr. Cole at a card party, I proposed the question to him, but he was so much engaged that he could not attend to it."
"But you perceive, that unless we are born again, 'we cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven.' I can tell you who can explain it to you."
"Who, Sir?"
"The Rev. Mr. Ingleby."