"Well, now, here are two poor men, brothers, and they are homeless, and friendless, and weary, and heavy-laden; but a rich man dies and leaves them each a fortune. One of them learns this to be the case, and is relieved of care and want; the other has not heard of his good luck, and therefore is, to all intents and purposes, as poor as ever." "You mean that I may have faith and not know it, and so my faith is of no use to me?" "It brings you no present peace. Of course it would save you in the end; but meanwhile you would lead a dark, joyless life." "Sometimes I feel as if I had been changed a little," said Gabrielle, thoughtfully. "But my feelings are not alike two hours going." "Of course not. A thousand things vary our emotions. The Bible says nothing about feeling this way or feeling that, in order to be saved. It says '_believe_.'" "I think, though, that it would be easier to believe if I felt more. I keep hoping that sometime I shall feel so much that God will pity and forgive me." "In other words, you keep hoping to make yourself agreeable to Him by a great display of emotion. Do not be hurt at my saying this. Human nature is supremely self-righteous, and is not willing to take salvation as a free gift. I beg you to decide for Christ now, with your _will_; having once done that, your heart will follow fast enough." "But suppose I begin and don't hold out?" "Begin thus. Say to God: 'Let me not wander from Thy commandments;' and He will reply: 'I will put my fear in your heart that you shall not depart from me.'" "Then there are so many things to give up if I become a Christian," said Gabrielle, evasively. "There are no good things to give up, and there are thousands to gain. I cannot preach to you below the gospel-standard, which says that the friend of the world is the enemy of God." "Well, He elects some people to save, and rejects others. How can I know that I do not come under the last head?" "By electing Christ as yours, at this moment, when His Spirit is striving with you to that end. I can't tell you how it pains me to see you tampering with divine truth as if it were a straw. I believe this temporizing, argumentative temper comes from a league between Satan and your own evil heart. If you do not take care you will grieve away the Holy Ghost. For my part, I would rather offend than grieve a friend." "Do you mean that the Holy Ghost is my _friend_?" Gabrielle asked, in great surprise. "Certainly. Otherwise why should He hover around you as He is doing now, offering you the greatest prizes of life?" "Why should He love me? Why should He offer me prizes? I have never so much as given Him a thought!" "I do not know. I can only say: 'Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Thy sight.'" "Then I won't hold out against Him another minute, if God will take me, just as I am, a dreadfully naughty girl! He may have me and welcome! Only I wish I hadn't done so many things I am ashamed of."