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〃I do。〃
〃How can you？ Is he not the Lord God merciful and gracious？〃
〃I am glad you know that。〃
〃But if his mercy and his graciousness are not infinite； then he is
not infinite！〃
〃There are other attributes in which he is infinite。〃
〃But he is not infinite in all his attributes？ He is partly
infinite； and partly finite！infinite in knowledge and power； but
in love； in forgiveness； in all those things which are the most
beautiful； the most divine； the most Christ…like； he is finite；
measurable； bounded； small！〃
〃I care nothing for such finite reasoning。 I take the word of
inspiration； and go by that！〃
〃Let me hear then；〃 said Donal； with an uplifting of his heart in
prayer； for it seemed no light thing for Arctura which of them
should show the better reason。
Now it had so fallen that the ladies were talking about the doctrine
called Adoption when first they saw Donal； whence this doctrine was
the first to occur to the champion of orthodoxy as a weapon
wherewith to foil the enemy。
〃The most precious doctrine； if one may say so； in the whole Bible；
is that of Adoption。 God by the mouth of his apostle Paul tells us
that God adopts some for his children； and leaves the rest。 If
because of this you say he is not infinite in mercy； when the Bible
says he is； you are guilty of blasphemy。〃
In a tone calm to solemnity； Donal answered
〃God's mercy is infinite； and the doctrine of Adoption is one of the
falsest of false doctrines。 In bitter lack of the spirit whereby we
cry Abba； Father； the so…called Church invented it； and it remains；
a hideous mask wherewith false and ignorant teachers scare God's
children from their Father's arms。〃
〃I hate sentimentmost of all in religion！〃 said Miss Carmichael
with contempt。
〃You shall have none；〃 returned Donal。 〃Tell me what is meant by
Adoption。〃
〃The taking of children；〃 answered Miss Carmichael； already spying a
rock ahead； 〃and treating them as your own。〃
〃Whose children？〃 asked Donal。
〃Anyone's。〃
〃Whose；〃 insisted Donal； 〃are the children whom God adopts？〃
She was on the rock； and a little staggered。 But she pulled up
courage and said
〃The children of Satan。〃
〃Then how are they to be blamed for doing the deeds of their
father？〃
〃You know very well what I mean！ Satan did not make them。 God made
them； but they sinned and fell。〃
〃Then did God repudiate them？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃And they became the children of another？〃
〃Yes； of Satan。〃
〃Then God disowns his children； and when they are the children of
another； adopts them？ Miss Carmichael； it is too foolish！ Would that
be like a father？ Because his children do not please him； he
repudiates them altogether； and then he wants them againnot as his
own； but as the children of a stranger； whom he will adopt！ The
original relationship is no longer of any forcehas no weight even
with their very own father！ What ground could such a parent have to
complain of his children？〃
〃You dare not say the wicked are the children of God the same as the
good。〃
〃That be far from me！ Those who do the will of God are infinitely
more his children than those who do not； they are born of the
innermost heart of God； they are then of the nature of Jesus Christ；
whose glory is obedience。 But if they were not in the first place；
and in the most profound fact； the children of God； they could never
become his children in that higher； that highest sense； by any
fiction of adoption。 Do you think if the devil could create； his
children could ever become the children of God？ But you and I； and
every pharisee； publican； and sinner in the world； are equally the
children of God to begin with。 That is the root of all the misery
and all the hope。 Because we are his children； we must become his
children in heart and soul； or be for ever wretched。 If we ceased to
be his； if the relation between us were destroyed； which is
impossible； no redemption would be possible； there would be nothing
left to redeem。〃
〃You may talk as you see fit； Mr。 Grant； but while Paul teaches the
doctrine； I will hold it； he may perhaps know a little better than
you。〃
〃Paul teaches no such doctrine。 He teaches just what I have been
saying。 The word translated adoption； he uses for the raising of one
who is a son to the true position of a son。〃
〃The presumption in you to say what the apostle did or did not
mean！〃
〃Why； Miss Carmichael； do you think the gospel comes to us as a set
of fools？ Is there any way of truly or worthily receiving a message
without understanding it？ A message is sent for the very sake of
being in some measure at least understood。 Without that it would be
no message at all。 I am bound by the will and express command of the
master to understand the things he says to me。 He commands me to see
their rectitude； because they being true； I ought to be able to see
them true。 In the hope of seeing as he would have me see； I read my
Greek Testament every day。 But it is not necessary to know Greek to
see what Paul means by the so…translated adoption。 You have only to
consider his words with intent to find out his meaning； and without
intent to find in them the teaching of this or that doctor of
divinity。 In the epistle to the Galatians； whose child does he speak
of as adopted？ It is the father's own child； his heir； who differs
nothing from a slave until he enters upon his true relation to his
fatherthe full status of a son。 So also； in another passage； by
the same word he means the redemption of the bodyits passing into
the higher condition of outward things； into a condition in itself；
and a home around it； fit for the sons and daughters of Godthat we
be no more like strangers； but like what we are； the children of the
house。 To use any word of Paul's to make human being feel as if he
were not by birth； making； origin； or whatever word of closer import
can be found； the child of God； or as if anything he had done or
could do could annul that relationship； is of the devil； the father
of evil； not either of Paul or of Christ。Why； my lady；〃 continued
Donal； turning to Arctura； 〃all the evil lies in thisthat he is
our father and we are not his children。 To fulfil the poorest
necessities of our being； we must be his children in brain and
heart； in body and soul and spirit； in obedience and hope and
gladness and lovehis out and out； beyond all that tongue can say；
mind think； or heart desire。 Then only is our creation
finishedthen only are we what we were made to be。 This is that for
the sake of which we are troubled on all sides。〃
He ceased。 Miss Carmichael was intellectually cowed； but her heart
was nowise touched。 She had never had that longing after closest
relation with God which sends us feeling after the father。 But now；
taking courage under the overshadowing wing of the divine； Arctura
spoke。
〃I do hope what you say is true； Mr。 Grant！〃 she said with a longing
sigh。
〃Oh yes； hope！ we all hope！ But it is the word we have to do with！〃
said Miss Carmichael。
〃I have given you the truth of this word！〃 said Donal。
But as if she heard neither of them； Arctura went on；
〃If it were but true！〃 she moaned。 〃It would set righ