TILE DISASTER IN PARIS.
[To mg EDITOR or TRZ " SPICTATOR."]
Sue—Fully alive to the theological difficulties suggested by "the terrible catastrophes which so often eclipse the faith or startle the consciences of men," I cannot see that they need do so to any greater extent than if the sum total (so to speak) of each catastrophe were distributed over such an area of space, or such a period of time, as to keep the items absolutely separable in human apprehension. Swedenborg's "quantum temporis et spatii est in ideis tuis tanto non intelligis ea," may have some application here. Every day we live there probably take place over the face of the earth a vast number of deaths, each in itself quite as terrible to the individual sufferers as any one of those which were encountered in the Church of Santiago or the Paris bazaar, or anywhere else that can be named. In the horror to the sufferers, therefore, there is nothing really exceptional, for it is not increased by companionship. What is exceptional is the shock to survivors ; and is that more irreconcilable with belief in the goodness, the love, and the omnipotence of God than is the great mystery of the existence of evil in all its branches and its tremendous whole ? Your excellent article on " The Limits of Divine Power " reminds us that " the very catastrophes which most amaze and paralyse mere lookers-on also elicit specimens of that highest kind of piety and heroism beet fitted to awaken our wonder and awe ; " and you give examples of this in the Duchesse d'Alencon and the poor plumber. In the balance of good and evil, do not the benefits of such examples infinitely outweigh the "amazement and paralysis" of survivors? Nay, and are not that very amaze- ment and paralysis, with their numberless subordinate emotions, the best agencies which all experience proves to be effective for working in man that fear of God which is the first requisite for wisdom unto salvation ? This at least is the Christian's creed.—I am, Sir, &c., J. E. KRAIPE.
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