His friends
had in vain attempted to stop George's wrathful progress; but they
were in a minority.
Next Saturday a report of the scene appeared in the county newspaper,
giving full particulars, considerably exaggerated; and Mr. Broad read
all about it to Mrs. Broad on Saturday afternoon, in the interval
between the preparation of his two sermons. He had heard the story
on the following day; but here was an authentic account in print.
Mrs. Broad was of opinion that it was shocking; so vulgar, so low;
her poor dear Priscilla, and so forth. Mr. Broad's sullen animosity
was so much stimulated that it had overcome his customary
circumspection, and on the Sunday evening he preached from the text,
"Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To
visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep
himself unspotted from the world." Mr. Broad remarked that the
Apostle James made no mention here of the scheme of redemption; not
because that was not the chief part of religion, but because he was
considering religion in the aspect--he was very fond of this word
"aspect"--which it presented to those outside the Church. He called
upon his hearers to reflect with him for a few moments, in the first
place, upon what religion was not; secondly, upon what it was; and
thirdly, he would invite their attention to a few practical
conclusions.
Pages:
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330