“I know. This general trust in Providence is all well enough. But it takes more mental stamina than I possess to bring it down into particular applications. My faith isn’t overly strong. If I were worth a hundred thousand dollars, the babies might come as fast as they liked. I wouldn’t call a baker’s dozen too many. No. I like babies; bless their hearts! but I like them properly cared for. If I live, I suppose all will be well enough. But life is held by the most uncertain tenure. Upon my daily exertions depend the sustenance of my family. If I were to die my wife and children would be in a sad way.” “Get your life insured,” said I promptly. Lincoln shook his head and looked grave. “Why not?” “Shouldn’t like to do that.” His face became still more serious. “Any particular objection?” “It looks like running in the face of Providence. I should feel as if I were signing my death warrant.” “That’s a strange notion.” “It’s just as I feel. I’ve thought about it a number of times. But it seems to me that life is too serious a thing to be placed on a common level with a house or a ship. In putting a money-value upon his earthly existence, it seems to me that the Divine Being would be outraged, and visit the mercenary offender with death as a judgment.” “You have a strange idea of the Divine Being,” said I, evincing surprise in turn. “In getting your life insured, would you purpose evil to your neighbor?” “No; but rather good. I would seek, in doing so, not only to keep my wife and children from becoming a burden upon others, but to secure to them those worldly advantages so necessary to the healthy development of mind and body.” “And do you think a merciful God would visit you, vindictively, for acting with such an unselfish purpose in your mind? How strange must be your notion of Him who is represented to us as being in his very nature love! Now, we know that love seeks to impart a blessing to all—not a curse.” “But there is such a thing as running in the face of Providence, and this life insurance has always struck me as being something of the kind.” “What do you mean by running in the face of Providence?” “Doing something in order to counteract the Divine purpose.” “Do you know the Divine purpose in regard to yourself?” “No; of course not.” “Then, how can you, knowingly, do any thing to counteract that purpose?” “I can’t, knowingly; but I may do so ignorantly.” “Then you think that the Lord sometimes punishes men for acts innocently done?” “Such an idea has been in my mind. Man is responsible for his acts, and should, therefore, be very guarded about what he does. His ignorance will not always excuse him.” “Suppose your child were to do something wrong, yet you had the clearest evidence in your mind that his intentions were good, and not evil; would you punish him?” “No.” “Why not?” “I would regard his intentions.” “Because they made the quality of the act so far as he was concerned?” “Yes.”