Ashcliffe Hall: A tale of the last centuryHolt, Emily Sarah
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Ashcliffe Hall: A tale of the last century
Holt, Emily Sarah
England -- Social life and customs -- 18th century -- Fiction; Historical fiction; Religious fiction
"Ah! there you come round to your divinity," said Philip, lightly.
"Whatever I ask you, you always centre there; and Patient will say
Amen to all your propositions, I have no doubt. But to return to our
point of departure: I hardly see your 'rank dishonesty' in the acts
of the Court. I believe this--that if the Queen thought it
dishonest, she would not do it. She is considered here a very
religious woman: not in your way, I dare say. But we freethinkers,
you know, do not set much value on small differences. If a man be
sincere, that is the chief thing; even some of the more enlightened
of the Catholic Fathers allow that. Does not the Bible say that
there are twelve gates to Heaven?[36] There is a reference for you."
"A reference that'll no hold water, Mr. Philip," said Patient,
looking up. "For though there be twelve gates into the City, there's
only door into the Fold:[37] and I'll be fain to know how you are
shaping, without passing the one door, to get in at any of the twelve
gates. For whoso 'entereth not in by the door into the sheepfold,
but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a
robber.'"[38]
"Philip," added Celia, softly, "there is but one gate and one way to
life, which is Jesus Christ."
"Ah! at it again!" said Philip, lifting his eyebrows, and finishing
his chocolate.
"Always at it," answered Celia, in the same tone. "'Out of the
abundance of the heart the mouth' must speak.[39] Philip, your idea
about sincerity will lead you terribly astray--I am sure it will.
There is but one truth; and if a man believe falsehood, will his
thinking it truth make it so? Sincerity is not the chief thing. The
chief things are faith and love in us, and the Lord Jesus Christ out
of us. 'He that hath the Son hath life: and he that hath not the Son
of God hath not life.'[40] O Philip! listen to me this once! 'It is
not a vain thing for thee, because it is thy life!'"[41]
Philip looked into his sister's earnest eyes, rose and kissed her,
and sat down again.
"You are a capital little sister," he said, "and admirably cut out
for a _réligieuse_. I am quite glad the Protestants don't take to
that amusement, or I should certainly lose you, and I like you too
well to afford it."
Celia sighed. Her words did not appear to have made the faintest
impression.
"What a sigh!" said Philip. "My dear little Celia! do you take me
for an utter reprobate, that you think it necessary to mourn over me
in that way?"
"Philip," said Celia, very solemnly, "a man must be either inside the
sheepfold of Jesus, or outside it. Without is without, whether the
door which he refuses to enter be a yard from him or a thousand
miles. Without the Fold now, without the City hereafter. And
'without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers,
and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.'"[42]
"I know mighty few people who are in, then," said Philip, whistling,
and considering the carpet.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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