Others, professed Christians, are believed, both by others and by themselves, to be worshippers of the true God, though they invest him with the _attributes_ of one of the evil demons worshipped by the heathen. There is hardly any professed Christian who would not be shocked at the application of the word _caprice_ to the acts of the Most High. And yet his choosing to inflict suffering on his creatures “_for no cause_” (as some theologians maintain) “except that _such is his will_,” is the very definition of caprice. But when Lord Byron published his poem of “Cain,” which contains substantially the _very same_ doctrine, there was a great outcry among pious people, including, no doubt, many who were of the theological school which teaches the same, under other _names_. Why and how any evil comes to exist in the universe, reason cannot explain, and revelation does not tell us. But it does show us what is _not_ the cause. That it cannot be from _ill will_ or _indifference_, is proved by the sufferings undergone by the _beloved_ Son. Many probably would have hesitated if it had been proposed to them to join a new _Church_ under that _name_, who yet eagerly enrolled themselves in the Evangelical _Alliance_,—which is in fact a church, with meetings for worship, and _sermons_ under the _name_ of _speeches_, and a _creed_ consisting of sundry _Articles of Faith_ to be subscribed; only not called by those _names_. Mrs. B. expressed to a friend her great dread of such a medicine as tartar-emetic. She always, she said, gave her children _antimonial_ wine. He explained to her that this is tartar-emetic dissolved in wine; but she remained unchanged. Mrs. H. did not like that her daughters should be novel-readers; and _all novels_ in _prose_ were indiscriminately prohibited; but _any_ thing in _verse_ was as indiscriminately allowed. Probably a Quaker would be startled at any one’s using the very _words_ of the prophets, “Thus saith the Lord:” yet he says the same things in the words, “The Spirit moveth me to say so and so.” And some, again, who would be shocked at _this_, speak of a person,—adult or _child_,—who addresses a congregation in extempore prayers and discourses, as being under the _influence of the Holy Spirit_; though in neither case is there any miraculous _proof_ given. And they abhor a claim to _infallibility_; only they are _quite certain_ of being under the guidance of the Spirit in whatever they say or do. Quakers, again, and some other dissenters, object to a _hired_ ministry, (in reality, an _un_hired;) but their preachers are to be _supplied_ with all they need; like the father of Molière’s Bourgeois, who was no _shopkeeper_, but kindly chose _goods_ for his friends, which he let them have for money. COMPOUND EPITHETS.