“You say you believe in God—­that you do not doubt His power; but is that statement of your attitude quite true, Dr. Stanley?” Katherine gently inquired.  “If you really believed it, if all who claim that they have faith in an omnipotent God really believed it, would you or they ever assume that drugs or surgical instruments were needed to assist God to do His work?”

“Jove! that is an argument that has never occurred to me before!” Phillip Stanley exclaimed.  “But,” he went on, doubtfully, “the curse came, and man was driven to do something to mitigate it; and it has been conceded, all down the ages, that these same doctors and material remedies are agencies that were required and provided by an all-wise Providence for that purpose.”

“Yes, man, in his arrogance, has claimed that, and so has practically denied the omnipotence of God.  But this same God has said, over and over, ‘Whatsoever ye ask ye shall receive,’ and ’Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy-laden and I will give you rest.’  But he has never said, ’Ask to be healed of disease and I will send you doctors, to experiment with drugs, roots and herbs, and mechanical appliances;’ or, ’if ye are worn out with care and heavy-laden with suffering they shall build you costly sanitariums, wherein to rest and be treated.’  But only the rich or a favored few may avail themselves of these.  If these remedies or retreats were infallible and could reach all mankind, there might be some plausibility in such arguments; but such is not the case, as you must know.  Where, in God’s Word, which is conceded to be the guide for humanity, do you find authority for them?” Katherine inquired, in conclusion.

“You have me there, Miss Minturn,” rejoined her companion, with a quizzical smile; “honesty compels me to confess that I have not been much of a Bible student, at least of late years.  But allow me to say that your arguments against doctors, drugs and hospitals are very quaint, not to say convincing,” he added, with an amused laugh.

“Well, let me assure you that you cannot find an instance, from Genesis to Revelation, where God commands man to call upon physicians, or to use material remedies for sickness any more than for sin,” Katherine continued, earnestly.  “But we do find many injunctions to depend upon Him alone in such extremity.  In Deuteronomy we read, ’And the Lord will take away from thee all sickness.’  Again, we are told what the penalty is for not calling upon Him—­’Asa died because he sought the physicians and not unto God.’  David tells us, ‘It is God who healeth all our diseases,’ and there are many more passages I could quote to prove the point.”

“But why, if that is the only right way, has not God made it so plain that no one could go astray?” questioned Dr. Stanley.

“He has made it plain, and man would not go astray if he were obedient; but, in his arrogance and egotism, he has ignored God and ‘sought out many inventions’ [Footnote:  Eccles., 7.29.] to rob Him of His prerogative,” said Katherine.