“But I am not a churchman, Mr. Hillston.”
“You cannot regard God then as your friend?”
“O yes, I suppose He is; but I do not know that God would concern Himself with so small an affair as my marriage.”
“What! if God takes note of the flight of the sparrow, and the flower of the field, think you He will totally overlook the welfare of His intelligent creatures? Do you not believe the Lord has something to do with everything that happens?”
“I do not know, sir. I am no Presbyterian. I understand they hold to some such doctrine as that. But I have never had any special liking for that denomination.”
“Neither am I a Presbyterian. I am a Baptist, as you know. But do you suppose that Presbyterians are the only people who advocate the doctrine of special providence?”
“I do not know that they are, but from all that I can learn, they push it to extremes.”
“I believe it,” said Mr. Hillston, emphatically, “as firmly as any Presbyterian I ever saw, and I believe it to its fullest extent, and in all its bearings. I am not willing that the Presbyterians shall claim as a distinctive dogma of theirs a doctrine to which the Baptist Church holds with as much tenacity as they do.”
“Do you believe, then, that God would concern Himself with so small a matter as the marriage of two human beings?”
“Do you believe, then, that God is a matchmaker?” asked Ernest, with a laugh.
“I believe God will direct His people in all their affairs, when they ask Him in faith.”
“But suppose I am not one of His people?”
“If you are not,” said Mr. Hillston, with deep solemnity, “I am very sorry for you. It is your own fault, if you are not.”
“Would it be of any avail for me to ask God’s direction, when I am not one of His people, as you call them?”
“Not if you are determined to go on in your sins. If you make a full surrender of yourself to Him, I have no doubt He will assist and guide you. However, in that case you would be one of His people. But how could you expect God’s favor and friendship, if you stand to Him in the relation of an enemy?”
“I do not know,” answered Ernest thoughtfully, and then after a moment he added, “I suppose I will have to look out for myself.”
“I dislike to hear you talk that way, my dear boy,” said Mr. Hillston kindly, “for if you proclaim your independence of the Divine Being, you will lead a most wretched life.”