"I frankly admit," said Dr. Humbletop, "that friend Alleman's idea is a beautiful one--so beautiful that it could not have been conceived without inspiration from on high. But should it prevail in society instead of being confined to the individual breast, its results can hardly fail to be disastrous. What will restrain depraved humanity from neglecting the offer of salvation by faith in Christ, and devote itself to working out its own salvation? How many souls will be lost if the fear of eternal suffering is not held before them, and if they attempt to begin through work, and finish ere the blessed time of change comes?" "If they can trust to God's mercy while they are mere beggars for help," said Mr. Alleman, "they can certainly do it while they are endeavoring to help themselves and Him. Unless," continued Mr. Alleman, with an impatient gesture, "unless God can seem to you to be nothing but a vengeful monster--unless he has at some unknown time withdrawn all his merciful promises to those who do righteousness and walk uprightly." "My dear young friend," said Dr. Humbletop, who had slowly been dropping his head backward and adding intensity to the solicitude expressed by his stare, "do you know that you have taken upon yourself the authority to urge men from the new dispensation back to the old, and thus to set back the work of grace for two thousand years? Do you not know that the law alone was found to be insufficient?" "Do _you_ not know," said Mr. Alleman, "that by that assertion you impugn the wisdom of the Almighty?" "God forbid!" exclaimed the doctor, starting backward so abruptly that he nearly overturned the post-office stove. "The law was given as it was on account of the hardness of men's hearts, as Christ himself expressly states." "True," said Mr. Alleman, "and 'the times of this ignorance God winked at, but now commandeth all men to repent.' When the law was insufficient to the needs of mankind, God sent another law-giver in the person of Christ. And men might have obeyed him to a greater extent than they do, had not the Church taken the position that the need of man was of more consequence than duty to God, and that saving one's self--which human selfishness is abundantly able to look out for without being urged to it--is of more consequence than complying with the desires of Christ, and through Christ, God." "Salvation possible through human selfishness!" ejaculated Dr. Humbletop. "That's the sentiment which the church most appeals to," said Mr. Alleman. "The central truth of inspiration, revelation, and the atonement only a concession to the fears and personal desires of mankind!" continued the doctor. "Oh, horrible, horrible!"