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〃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 right everything on
the face of the earth！〃
〃You mean far more than that； my lady！〃 said Donal。 〃You mean
everything in the human heart； which will to all eternity keep
moaning and crying out for the Father of it； until it is one with
its one relation！〃
He lifted his bonnet； and would have passed on。
〃One word； Mr。 Grant；〃 said Miss Carmichael。 〃No man holding such
doctrines could with honesty become a clergyman of the church of
Scotland。〃
〃Very likely；〃 replied Donal； 〃Good afternoon。〃
〃Thank you； Mr。 Grant！〃 said Arctura。 〃I hope you are right。〃
When he was gone； the ladies resumed their walk in silence。 At
length Miss Carmichael spoke。
〃Well； I must say； of all the conceited young men I have had the
misfortune to meet； your Mr。 Grant bears the palm！ Such
self…assurance！ such presumption！ such forwardness！〃
〃Are you certain； Sophia；〃 rejoined Arctura； 〃that it is
self…assurance； and not conviction that gives him his courage？〃
〃He is a teacher of lies！ He goes dead against all that good men say
and believe！ The thing is as clear as daylight： he is altogether
wrong！〃
〃What if God be sending fresh light into the minds of his people？〃
〃The old light is good enough for me！〃
〃But it may not be good enough for God！ What if Mr。 Grant should be
his messenger to you and me！〃
〃A likely thing！ A raw student from the hills of Daurside！〃
〃I cherish a profound hope that he may be in the right。 Much good；
you know； did come out of Galilee！ Every place and every person is
despised by somebody！〃
〃Arctura！ He has infected you with his frightful irreverence！〃
〃If he be a messenger of Jesus Christ；〃 said Arctura； quietly； 〃he
has had from you the reception he would expect； for the disciple
must be as his master。〃
Miss Carmichael stood still abruptly。 Her face was in a flame； but
her words came cold and hard。
〃I am sorry；〃 she said； 〃our friendship should come to so harsh a
conclusion； lady Arctura； but it is time it should end when you
speak so to one who has been doing her best for so long to enlighten
you！ If this be the first result of your new gospelwell！ Remember
who said； 'If an angel from heaven preach any other gospel to you
than I have preached； let him be accursed！〃
She turned back。
〃Oh； Sophia； do not leave me so！〃 cried Arctura。
But she was already yards away； her skirt making a small whirlwind
that went after her through the withered leaves。 Arctura burst into
tears； and sat down at the foot of one of the great beeches。 Miss
Carmichael never looked behind her。 She met Donal again； for he too
had turned： he uncovered； but she took no heed。 She had done with
him！ Her poor Arctura。
Donal was walking gently on； thinking； with closed book； when the
wind bore to his ear a low sob from Arctura。 He looked up； and saw
her： she sat weeping like one rejected。 He could not pass or turn
and leave her thus！ She heard his steps in the withered leaves；
glanced up； dropped her head for a moment； then rose with a feeble
attempt at a smile。 Donal understood the smile： she would not have
him troubled because of what had taken place！
〃Mr。 Grant；〃 she said； coming towards him； 〃St。 Paul laid a curse
upon even an angel from heaven if he preached any other gospel than
his！ It is terrible！〃
〃It is terrible； and I say amen to it with all my heart；〃 returned
Donal。 〃But the gospel you have received is not the gospel of Paul；
it is one substituted for itand that by no angel from heaven； but
by men with hide…bound souls； who； in order to get them into their
own intellectual pockets； melted down the ingots of the kingdom； and
re…cast them in moulds of wretched legalism； borrowed of the Romans
who crucified their master。 Grand； childlike； heavenly things they
must explain； forsooth； after vulgar worldly notions of law and
right！ But they meant well； seeking to justify the ways of God to
men； therefore the curse of the apostle does not fall； I think； upon
them。 They sought a way out of their difficulties； and thought they
had found o