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She faced the spectres of the mind
And laid them, thus she came at length
To find a stronger faith her own.
Gifted naturally with a capacity for close metaphysical analysis and a robust fearlessness in following her premises to a logical conclusion, she arrived at results startling and original, if not always of permanent value.
In 1840 she published in the
Biblical Repository an article on
Free Agency, which has been acknowledged by competent critics as the ablest refutation of
Edwards on
The will which has appeared.
An amusing incident connected with this publication may not be out of place here.
A certain eminent theological professor of
New England, visiting a distinguished German theologian and speaking of this production, said: “The ablest refutation of
Edwards on ‘The Will’ which was ever written is the work of a woman, the daughter of
Dr. Lyman Beecher.”
The worthy
Teuton raised both hands in undisguised astonishment.
“You have a woman that can write an able refutation of
Edwards on ‘ The Will’ ? God forgive
Christopher Columbus for discovering America!”
Not finding herself able to love a God whom she thought of in her own language as “a perfectly happy being, unmoved by my sorrows or tears, and looking upon me only with dislike and aversion,” she determined “to find happiness in living to do good.”
“It was right to pray and read the
Bible, so I prayed and read.
It was right to try to save others, so I labored for their salvation.
I never had any fear of punishment or hope of reward all these years.”
She was tormented with doubts.
What has the Son of God
