fight for his opinions, and so was
silent, like a well-bred boy as he was; but Matilda's feeling was
different.

"I understand," she said; "at least I think I do; but, Mr. Richmond,
this does not get Norton and me out of our puzzle. You don't mean that
people ought to keep nothing for themselves?"

"'Every man according as he purposeth in his heart,'" Mr. Richmond
repeated. "That is the order. There have been people, Matilda, who have
given their all for the sake of the Lord Jesus, and kept, as you say,
nothing for themselves. It was in their heart. I cannot blame them, for
one. He did not."

"But ought every one to do so?"

"Matilda, I dare not set any rule but the rule my Master has set. _He_
said, 'He that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my
disciple.'"

"People don't do that, sir," said Norton, eagerly.

"_Ought_ they to do it, sir?" said Matilda, timidly. "To give away all
they have got?"

"He did not say, 'give away,' but 'forsake.' The word means literally
'to take leave of.' They give up thinking that what they have is their
own; and from that time stand ready to give it away entirely, if the
Master says so."

"Is that religion, sir?" Norton asked.

"But, Mr. Richmond," Matilda said, in another tone, "that is the very
thing. How are they to know when He does tell them to give these things
away?"

"We are coming to it now," said Mr. Richmond. "You want to know what
religion is, Norton. Please turn to the fifth chapter of that same
epistle to the Corinthians, and read aloud the--let me see--I think it
is the fourteenth and fifteenth verses."

Norton obeyed.

"'For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that
if one died for all, then were all dead: and that He died for all, that
they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto
Him which died for them and rose again.'"

"That is your answer," said Mr. Richmond; "that is religion. Now for
Matilda's answer--Norton, turn to the Epistle to the Colossians, and
the third chapter, and read the seventeenth verse."

"'And whatsoever ye do, in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord
Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father, by Him.'"

"There is your rule, Matilda. It is carrying out the former words. You
have only to apply that to everything you do."

"What is doing all _in the name_ of the Lord?" Norton asked.

"Not in your own name; not as though you were your own master; not as
seeking firs