Seite:Marsh Hallig 1856.djvu/161

  Hold replied, "Do you regard the saying, 'Thou shalt
love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy
soul, and with all thy mind ;' and this other, 'What-
soever things are true, whatsoever things are honest,
whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure,
whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of
good report ; if there be any virtue, if there be any
praise, think on these things ;' do you regard these as
good, pure doctrines ?"
  "Yes, certainly."
  "Then do as they command. What would you say
of a man who should pass by a table richly loaded with
choice food, because he observed a dish which he did
not relish ?"
  "I would take good care not to call him a fool," said
Oswald, "for fear you might send me at once to the
mad-house, by the extra-post of my own words. But
you must admit that your ingenious question is an eva-
sion, not an answer."
  "Let me stick to my comparison," continued the
pastor. "The guest who seats himself at the table
prepared for him, and who satisfies his hunger and thirst
with food and drink which he can not help praising,
might be allowed to ask about a dish which seemed to
him tasteless. But he who despised all on account of
that one dish has no right to inquire."
  "You have me there," said Oswald, and took leave
with his father.