“You, too, among the superstitious? I also, however, was brought up with that theory——”
“I suppose you went to church?”
“Yes, we went to church. And now I remember that my mother, for the reason which I have only just learned, believed that we were ourselves expiating the sins of our forefathers. It is very easy for me to go back to the language and ideas of my childhood, so much so that this morning I made a little search after a certain passage which I had well-nigh forgotten.”
“What was that?”
“It is directed against that very theory. It expresses exactly the opposite opinion. The passage is in the Prophet Ezekiel. Do you remember it?”
“No. I have never read that Prophet, and I have never considered the subject.”
“It is a very fine passage. Ezekiel is one of the finest writers possible. He ought to be read more and studied more.”
“Tell me the sense of the passage.”
“I can give you the very words. Listen.” He stood up and took off his hat, and declaimed the words with much force:
“ ‘What mean ye that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge? As I live, saith the Lord God, ye shall not use this proverb any more. Behold, all souls are Mine: as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is Mine. The soul that sinneth, it shall die. But if a man be just, he shall surely live.”