"I don't know," said Flora. "I suppose it is a wonderful power of bearing pain, which is given people at such times." "Given to everybody?" said Meredith. "Of course, not given to everybody." "To whom, then?" "Why, to Christians." "And what is a Christian?" said Mr. Murray. "Are there two kinds, one for peace and the other for war?" "No, I suppose not," said Flora, somewhat mystified. "'Whosoever shall confess me before men, him will I also confess before my Father which is in heaven.' So the Lord said. Now in times of persecution, you know what confessing Christ meant. What does it mean in these days?" "I do not think I understand the question, Mr. Murray." "In the Roman days, for instance, how did people confess Christ?" "I don't know. They owned that they were Christians." "How did they own that? They refused to do anything that could be constructed into paying honour to the gods of the people. They might have said in word that they were Christians--but nobody would have meddled with them if they would have hung garlands of flowers upon Jupiter's altar." "No," said Flora. "How is it in these days?" "What do you mean, sir?" "I mean, how is Christ to be confessed in these days?" "I don't know," said Flora; "except by making what is called a profession of religion,--joining some church, I suppose." "Does that do it?" "I do not know how else." "Why, Uncle Eden," said Maggie, "how can one do it any other way?" "One cannot do it in that way, my pet." "_Not?_" said Flora. "How then, Mr. Murray?" "What do people join the church for, then, Uncle Eden?" Esther inquired. "Those who enlist in Christ's army must certainly put on His uniform. But who shall say that the uniform does not cover a traitor?" "A traitor, Mr. Murray?" Flora looked puzzled. "Yes. There are many traitors. There were even in Paul's time." "Traitors among the Christians?" "So he wrote. 'Many walk, of whom I have told you often, and tell you now again even weeping, that they are _enemies of the cross of Christ_.' They were professors of His name, nevertheless, Miss Flora; but confess Him before men, except in word, they did not. So my question stands, you perceive." "How to confess Christ nowadays so that there shall be no mistake about it?" Meredith added. Flora and Esther and Maggie sat looking at Mr. Murray, as at the propounder of a riddle. Fenton pricked up his ears and stared at the whole group. "What did those people do, Mr. Murray?" Flora asked. "Paul tells. He says of them that their 'glory is in their shame;' they 'mind earthly things.'" "How can one help minding earthly things, as long as one lives in this world?" "One cannot, Miss Flora. But the characteristic of a Christian is, that he seeks _first_ the kingdom of God." "How?" "First, to have the Lord's will done in his own heart; next, to have it done in other people's hearts."