Can you reason any more wisely touching the fall, than touching the redemption itself?  I know I am unfit to treat of matters of this profound nature,” continued Mary, modestly, though with great earnestness and beauty of manner; “but, to me, it seems very plain that the instant circumstances lead us beyond the limits of our means of comprehension, we are to believe in, and not to reason on, revelation.  The whole history of Christianity teaches this.  Its first ministers were uneducated men; men who were totally ignorant until enlightened by their faith; and all the lessons it teaches are to raise faith, and faith in the Redeemer, high above all other attainments, as the one great acquisition that includes and colours every other.  When such is the fact, the heart does not make a stumbling-block of every thing that the head cannot understand.”

“I do not know how it is,” answered Roswell Gardiner, influenced, though unconvinced; “but when I talk with you on this subject, Mary, I cannot do justice to my opinions, or to the manner in which I reason on them with my male friends and acquaintance.  I confess it does appear to me illogical, unreasonable—­I scarce know how to designate what I mean—­but, improbable, that God should suffer himself, or his Son, to be crucified by beings that he himself created, or that he should feel a necessity for any such course, in order to redeem beings he had himself brought into existence.”

“If there be any argument in the last, Roswell, it is an argument as much against the crucifixion of a man, as against the crucifixion of one of the Trinity itself.  I understand you to believe that such a being as Jesus of Nazareth did exist; that he was crucified for our redemption; and that the atonement was accepted, and acceptable before God the Father.  Now, is it not just as difficult to understand how, or why, this should be, as to understand the common creed of Christians?”

“Surely, there is a vast difference between the crucifixion of a subordinate being, and the crucifixion of one who made a part of the Godhead itself, Mary!  I can imagine the first, though I may not pretend to understand its reasons, or why it was necessary it should be so; but, I am certain you will not mistake my motive when I say, I cannot imagine the other.”

“Make no apologies to me, Roswell; look rather to that Dread Being whose teachings, through chosen ministers, you disregard.  As for what you say, I can fully feel its truth.  I do not pretend to understand why such a sacrifice should be necessary, but I believe it, feel it; and believing and feeling it, I cannot but adore and worship the Son, who quitted heaven to come on earth, and suffered, that we might possess eternal life.  It is all mystery to me, as is the creation itself, our existence, God himself, and all else that my mind is too limited to comprehend.  But, Roswell, if I believe a part of the teachings of the Christian church, I must believe all.  The apostles, who were called by Christ in person, who lived in his very presence, who knew nothing except as the Holy Spirit prompted, worshipped him as the Son of God, as one ’who thought it not robbery to be equal with God;’ and shall I, ignorant and uninspired, pretend to set up my feeble means of reasoning, in opposition to their written instructions!”