“I Laughed him out of It.”
By J. O. Corliss
UPON entering the cars a few days ago, I took my place in a double seat occupied by two gentlemanly looking men, one of whom proved to be an old friend and distant relative, while in the other, after a formal introduction, I recognized one for whom, in former days, I had formed a sincere attachment as pastor of the church which I then attended. In the course of conversation, the subject of religion was introduced, and upon hearing of my faith he was “surprised to learn that any one could so far depart from his early teaching as to embrace such a sleepy doctrine.” Then, to show his disapprobation, and perhaps to create a laugh at my expense, he indulged in some very sarcastic remarks unbecoming a minister of the gospel, in which the other participated by remarking, with a shade of derision in his manner: “Father got the same notion in his head awhile ago, but I laughed him out of it.” Thought I, What a fatal avowal to meet unrepented of in the Judgment! Such an acknowledgment may be made here in a boastful manner, but scorn and contempt will give place to shame and remorse when the heinousness of such a sin is made apparent to all, especially the guilty, to whom it will be revealed with overwhelming distinctness. And how much more aggravated will such an action appear when it involves ridicule against parents, and even threats of abandonment in old age, as I afterward learned was a fact in the above case. But this is only one of many instances which might be cited to show the tendency of the time, and the manner of proceeding, when arguments fail, to drive people from the truth and cause them to drag out a miserable existence, and finally to lose eternal life. Such a course only tends to confirm the statement so often made that some would rather see souls lost than to see them saved under a faith different from their own. This truly is an age when “truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey” to every artifice of the enemy, in which to be successful he will practice through mediums standing high in the estimation of the world, and sometimes, sad to say, of the church; yet there is a responsibility attending the reception of a knowledge of the truth which can never be thrown off by those who receive it, though opposition may arise in the form of satire and derision. God calls for men and women to be steadfast and immovable in the right, which will require principle in every decision, and courage to persevere in every movement. The cause of truth should be more dear than any earthly object besides, that when assailed on account of our choice we may say, with the firmness of one anciently, “If it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; . . . but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Josh. 24: 15. Just as long as we maintain this position the Lord will be with us to comfort and sustain in every trial (see 2 Chron. 15: 2; Ps. 37: 25), and we may be able with the apostle to affirm that “neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” J. O. CORLISS.