ld have gone for refuge and
spiritual comfort to a creed so narrow, cold, and gloomy, admits of no
easy explanation, especially when we consider that remarkable clearness
of mental vision which enabled him to see the reason existing in all
things; often, too, when a Solomon, or a Socrates, or a Seneca, might
have stared his eyes out in trying to see it for himself. But when he
took to preaching, he was dwelling in the midst of a Hard-shell
community; and, perhaps, like the overwhelming majority of mankind, from
enlightened to savage, from Christian to fetich, Burlman Reynolds was
but chameleon to his surroundings. Yet, notwithstanding the somber
complexion of his new vocation, and the more than somber complexion of
his creed, outside of the pulpit his reverence was as genial, jolly, and
joky as the cheeriest, smilingest, comfortingest, most latitudinarian
Methodist preacher you ever had at your bedside to help you look your
latter end in the face, through the dubious issues of a surprise attack
of cramp colic, or an overwhelming onslaught of cholera morbus. Indeed,
it not unfrequently happens that the human heart is better than the
human creed, and the Rev. Burlman Reynolds was wont to square his life
by the dictates of his inward monitor rather than by the dogmas of his
outward mentor. Many of these dictates he embodied in words, a few of
which I shall take the liberty of quoting _verbatim_. Among them are
some of his religious opinions, which will be found to have a somewhat
latitudinarian smack, as is often the case where the heart is better
than the creed:

[Footnote 3: Since writing the above, the author has learned that,
outside of Kentucky, the sect alluded to still exists to some extent in
some of the neighboring States.]

"Dar's reason in all things, ef dar's reason in people."

"Baptizin' won't do you no good, onless you let it wash you clean all
ober, an' keep you clean foreber."

"Ef a pusson wants to be a Chrischun jes' about in spots, w'y, den
sprinklin' will do; but ef he wants to be a Chrischun all ober, he mus'
go clean under an' make a soaker uf it."

"De Lord ain't gwine to lub you much, onless you lub yo' neighbor."

"Don't tickle yo'se'f a-thinkin' you 'll eber be a angel up dar, onless
you's been a good S'mar'tan here."

"De Lord help dem to 'lect dem who helps to 'lect demselves."

"Don't you think, beca'se you's got a leetle grace, you kin do what you
please in dis worl', den say yo' pra