Jeremylistened，andgraduallytheregrewbeforehiseyesthefigureofastrangeandterribleGod。Thiswasnonewfigure。HehadneverthoughtdirectlyaboutGod，butforaverylongtimenowhehadhadHiminthebackgroundofhislifeasPolchesterTownHallwasinthebackground。ButnowhedefinitelyandactivelyfiguredtohimselfthisGod，thisGodWhowastakinghismotherawayandwasintendingapparentlytoputherintosomedarkplacewhereshewouldknownobody。Itmustbesomehorribleplace，becausehisfatherlookedsofrightened，whichhewouldnotlookifhismotherwassimplygoing，withagoldenharp，tosinghymns。JeremyhadalwaysheardthatthisGodwaslovingandkindandtender，butthefigurewhomhisfatherwasnowdrawingforthebenefitofthecongregationwasnoneofthesethings。
Mr。ColespokeofaGodjustandterrible，butaGodWhoapparentlyforthemerestfancyputHisfaithfulservanttoterribleanguishanddistress，andthenforanotherfancy，aslightasthefirst，sparedhimhissorrow。Mr。Coleemphasisedthenecessityforobedience，theneedforawillingsurrenderofanythingthatmaybedeartous，“becausetheloveofGodmustbegreaterthananythingthatholdsushereonearth。“ButJeremydidnotlistentotheseremarks；hismindwasfilledwiththispictureofavastshadowyfigure，seatedinthesky，hiswhitebeardflowingbeneatheyesthatfrownedfromdarkrockyeyebrowsoutuponpeoplelikeJeremywho，althoughdoingtheirbest，wereneverthelessatthemercyofanywhimthatHemighthave。Thisterriblefigurewastheauthorofthehotday，authorofthesilenthouseandtheshimmeringdarkenedchurch，authorofthedecisiontotakehismotherawayfromallthatshelovedandputhersomewherewhereshewouldbealoneandcoldandsilent——“simplybecauseHewishes……“
“Fromthisbeautifulpassage，“concludedMr。Cole，“welearnthatGodisjustandmerciful，butthatHedemandsourobedience。Wemustbereadyatanyinstanttogiveupwhatwelovemostandbest……“
Afterwardstheyalltroopedoutintothesplendidsunshine。
IV