hem, and then he punished the
people who disobeyed the laws. That is the acme of tyranny: to
provide a punishment for breach of laws the existence of which were
unknown. Now we all know that there is sin against the Holy Ghost
which will not be forgiven in this world nor in the world to come.
Hundreds of thousands of people have been driven to the lunatic asylum
by the thought that they had committed this unpardonable sin. Every
educated minister knows that that part of the bible is an
interpolation, but they all preach it. What that sin against the Holy
Ghost is, is not specified. I say, "Oh, but my good God, tell me what
this sin is." And He answers, "Maybe now asking is the crime. Keep
quiet." So I keep quiet and go about tortured with the fear that I
have committed that sin. Is it blasphemy to describe God as needing
assistance from the Legislature? Calling for the aid of a mob to
enforce His will here, compare that God with a man, even with Henry
Bergh. See what Mr. Bergh has done to awaken pity in our people and
call sympathy to the rescue of suffering animals. And yet our God was a
torturer of dumb brutes.

It is blasphemy to say that our God sent the famine and dried the
mother's breast from her infant's withered lips? Is it blasphemy to
say that He is the author of the pestilence; that He ordered some of
His children to consume others with fire and sword? Is it blasphemy to
believe what we read in the 109th Psalm? If these things are not
blasphemy, then there is no blasphemy. If there be a God I desire Him
to write in the book of judgment opposite my name that I denied these
lies for Him.

Let us take another step; let us examine the Presbyterian confession of
faith. If it be possible to commit blasphemy, then I contend that the
Presbyterian creed is most blasphemous, for, according to that, God is
a cruel, unrelenting, revengeful, malignant and utterly unreasonable
tyrant. I propose now to pay a little attention to the creed. First,
it confesses that there is such a thing as a light of nature. It is
sufficient to make man inexcusable, but not sufficient for salvation;
just light enough to lead man to hell. Now imagine a man who will put
a false light on a hilltop to lure a ship to destruction. What would
we say of that man? What can we say of a God who gives this false
light of nature which, if its lessons are followed, results in hell?
That is the Presbyterian God. I don't like Him. N