"It will not become me, Mr. Cross, to burden the brethren of the
church for that hospitality which is only due to brethren."
"But thou art in the way of grace--the light is shining upon thee--the
door is open, and already the voice of the Bridegroom is calling
from within. Thou wilt become a burning and a shining light--and
the brethren of the church will rejoice to hail thee among its
chosen. Shall they hold back their hand when thou art even on the
threshold?"
"But, Mr. Cross--"
"Call me not Mr., I pray thee. Call me plain John Cross, if it please
thee not yet to apply to me that sweeter term of loving kindness
which the flock of God are happy to use in speech one to another.
If thou wilt call me Brother Cross, my heart shall acknowledge the
bonds between us, and my tongue shall make answer to thine, in like
fashion. Oh, Alfred Stevens, may the light shine soon upon thine
eyes, that thou may'st know for a truth how pleasant it is for
brethren to dwell together in the peace of of the Lord, and according
to his law. I will, with God's grace, bring thee to this perfect
knowledge, for I see the way clear because of the humility which
thou hast already shown, and thy yielding to the counsels of the
teacher.
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